There are two types in tour in Vietnam – you can either see the country from the inside of a large bus with around 40 other people, all piling on and off at every major tourist attraction, or you can do your own private tailor-made tour accompanied by extremely knowledgeable English speaking guides, with whom you can discover the true Vietnam. Personally we would recommend the later.

The layout of Vietnam makes it incredibly simple to tour the length of the country taking in as much, or as little, as you like. There are no set itineraries (unless you opt for a pile on, pile off tour) so here are a few highlights to consider when planning your tailor-made tour.

Traditionally speaking, if touring the length of the country, the two main starting points are Hanoi in the north, or Ho Chi Minh in the south, (these being the two major international flight hubs) then travelling south or heading north respectively. However, with connecting domestic flights all over the country, you can start your tour from wherever you choose.

Hanoi – visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, a traditional stilt house, the One-Pillar Pagoda, and the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature, also known as the First University of Vietnam, along with the Ethnology Museum and the Tao Sach pagoda. In the evening enjoy a traditional water puppet show.

Sapa & The North – explore Ninh Binh, the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu, an early capital city of Vietnam that still offers some of the most beautiful limestone formations in the country, scenery that gave the area the nickname "Ha Long Bay of the rice paddies".

Stay overnight in a traditional stilt house in Pom Coong village after trekking through the stunning rice paddies and mountains. Trek through Mai Chau, Long Luong, Pa Co & Xa Linh meeting local people in their beautiful traditional costumes.

Discover the town of Son La – the territory of Black Thai and its surroundings. Skirt the Chinese border stopping at the villages of Ma (Khmer), Red Dzao & Black Dzao. Take in the sights and sounds of the charming hill town of Sapa along with the Can Cau & H’mong markets and wrap it all up with an overnight train back to Hanoi.

Halong Bay – one of nature’s true masterpieces this jaw-dropping bay is dotted with a plethora of limestone karsts and islands of all shapes and sizes in an area of over 1,500 square kilometres. The best way to experience Halong Bay is take an overnight cruise.

Dong Hoi to Hue – to the south of Dong Hoi is the Phong Nha National Park, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here you can take a boat cruise to Phong Nha Cave (meaning the cave of the Wind & Teeth) with its impressive stalagmites surrounding the entrance. Once inside, discover endless beautiful grottos off a cave system that runs for nearly 7,750 meters.

Heading south through the old DMZ (demilitarized zone) stop in Quang Tri Province to visit the tunnel of Vinh Moc, a network of underground tunnels that took 2 years to complete. Many consider these tunnels to be a far better example than the Cu Chi tunnels outside Ho Chi Minh.

Meet the friendly inhabitants of the ancient village of Phuoc Tich and visit their traditional homes that date back hundreds of years.

Hue – sitting on the banks of the Perfume River is the ancient city of Hue. Visit the Imperial Citadel and the tombs of Tu Duc, or simply explore the city’s bustling markets and local eateries. Hue is famed for its Imperial Cuisine, the most famous dish being bún bò Huế, a noodle soup served with slices of beef with a healthy portion of chili oil.  

Cycle along pretty country roads that curve through large rice fields in the countryside that surrounds Hue and visit a unique, Japanese style, tiled bridge similar to that found in Hoi An.

Hue to Hoi An – the route from Hue to Hoi An is possibly one of the most impressive coastal roads in the world, the scenic Hai Van Pass, which has become infinitely more famous in the UK, thanks to the boys at ‘Top Gear’.

There is now a tunnel through the mountain that shaves about ¾ hour off the journey time but it would be almost criminal to take it. Thankfully these days the majority of locals now use the tunnel leaving the pass itself blissfully free of traffic, a far cry from the days of being stuck for hours behind an overloaded lorry, struggling around the hairpins, churning out black smoke.

Hoi An - explore quaint cobblestone streets bordered with two hundred year old Chinese houses. Cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, discover Quan Cong Temple and the Phung Hung Chinese-style trading house. Take a cruise along the Thu Bon River, or explore the local farming and fishing communities on the way out to Cua Dai Beach.

Hoi An to Quy Nhon – the lengthy trip from Hoi An to Quy Nhon (around 7 hours) firstly takes you through endless stretches of stunning rice paddies but the landscape dramatically changes along the coast road into Quy Nhon.

The route also offers the possibility to stop at the village of Son My, the scene of the atrocity that started the huge swing of the American public’s opinion against the war.

Quy Nhon – the sandy beaches in the region are excellent and virtually deserted and the surrounding country is dotted with some outstanding examples of Cham towers such as the 22 meter high Banh It Tower.

Quy Nhon to Nha Trang – considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in South Vietnam (a journey often missed from a plane seat at 30,000 feet) the journey from Quy Nhon to Nha Trang passes along white sandy beaches and the turquoise South China Sea.

Nha Trang – most decide to put their feet up for a while in Nha Trang, and with long stretches of sun baked, sandy beaches it is easy to understand why. If, however, you can resist the pull of the warm waters and the sand between your toes, Nha Trang has plenty more to offer.

Walk to see the immense fishing fleet moored in the old part of town and watching the boats come in after a hard day at sea from the Po Nagar Cham Temple is an impressive sight.

A short taxi ride to the south you can take the hair-raising 3,300 meter cable car, over the sea to the Vinpearl Amusement Park Island, where endless roller coasters and waterslides await (if that’s your thing).

After a hard day, an evening’s stroll along the seafront comes highly recommended punctuated with a stop or two at some great bars & restaurants that have sprung up along the beach.

The region also offers some of the finest diving within all of South East Asia.

Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh – the journey south to Ho Chi Minh offers two options after leaving Nha Trang. Head inland, and climb steeply up to the charming hill town of Dalat or continue to hug the coast and continue on to Phan Thiet.

The road from Nha Trang up to Dalat involves a climb of nearly 5,000 feet and offers some of the most breathtaking views looking back to the coastal lowlands and Nha Trang.

The incredibly diverse journey from Nha Trang to Phan Thiet takes you through lush coastal low lands covered with rice paddies and dragon fruit farms on to rugged coastal roads and finally to the near moonscape of the towering sand dunes that surround Phan Thiet itself. 

Dalat – explore the bustling markets of this quaint hill town, and the Thien Vuong Pagoda, a Chinese pagoda built in 1962 by the Chinese congregation of Canto. Visit the summer palace of the Bao Dai Emperor (the last King of Nguyen Dynasty) that borders the beautiful Lak Lake, a large natural lake surrounded by the picturesque villages of M'nông. No visit to Dalat would be complete without a quick look around the bizarre Hang Nga Guesthouse often referred to as the ‘Crazy House’.

Phan Thiet – another perfect stop to put your feet up for a couple of days but if you still have a thirst for more exploration there is plenty in and around Phan Thiet to keep you occupied.

The towering red & white sand dunes offer a wonderful playground for the budding photographer especially and dawn & dusk, while the strong costal winds draw windsurfers and kite-surfers from all over the globe.

At the northern end of Mui Ne Bay is Lang chai Mui Ne, the original fishing village and market town for the region where you can buy fresh steamed crabs.

To the south Ke Ga Bay offers a wonderful stroll along the beach to see the towering old French colonial lighthouse on its northern tip.  

Ho Chi Minh - visit some of the more historic landmarks in Saigon, including the Old Saigon Post Office, the impressive Notre-Dame Cathedral, the harrowing War Remnants Museum, the bustling Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Pagoda. If you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket then head to the shoppers paradise that is Dong Khoi St.

The Mekong Delta – the Mekong Delta is easily reachable as a day trip from Ho Chi Minh, (especially with some of the huge new bridges built in the last few years) but a day will never do justice to this sprawling delta.

A constant hive of activity, this vast area is home to endless floating markets, green rice paddies crisscrossed by canals as far as the eye can see and an incalculable amount of sleepy villages all inhabited by some of the friendliest people in Asia.

Not just a side trip from Ho Chi Minh, the Mekong River offers a great way to cross from Vietnam into Cambodia and an overnight stop in Can Tho or Chao Doc comes highly recommended.

*All our tailor-made tours include transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles with a driver & local English speaking guide.