Travelisto destinations
Vietnam holidays
Hanoi's old quarter, Halong Bay's limestone karsts, Hoi An tailors and the Mekong Delta — Vietnam from north to south is one of Asia's best-value trips.
Overview
Welcome to Vietnam
Vietnam is the long-thin country that runs 1,650 km north to south, packing genuinely different cultures, climates and cuisines into one trip. The headline Vietnam route — Hanoi in the north, Halong Bay overnight junk, Hoi An on the central coast, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the south, Mekong Delta day-trip — covers the classic loop in 12-14 days. It is one of the most reliable mid-haul holidays our team books.
Hanoi is the northern cultural capital — the Old Quarter's 36 trade streets, the Temple of Literature, the bia hoi (street beer) corners, and a phở culture worth flying for. Halong Bay is the UNESCO-listed limestone-karst seascape — most travellers do an overnight on a traditional junk boat (or one of the upgraded modern versions). 2-3 days from Hanoi.
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Hoi An on the central coast is the gentlest, prettiest Vietnamese town — the UNESCO-listed yellow-walled old quarter, the tailors (custom suits and dresses in 24-48 hours), the lantern-lit night markets, and the surrounding beach and rice paddies. Three nights minimum. Pair with Hue (the former imperial capital, 3h drive north) and Da Nang (the modern resort beach, 30 min drive).
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the southern dynamic capital — Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Basilica, the War Remnants Museum (powerful, essential), and the Mekong Delta day-trip from the city. Different country than Hanoi — warmer, more chaotic, more contemporary food scene.
The seasonal rhythm is unusually tricky because of the country's north-south span. North (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa): dry and pleasant October-April, hot and rainy May-September. Central (Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang): best February-July, typhoon risk September-November. South (Saigon, Mekong, Phu Quoc): dry and best November-April, monsoon May-October. The "best" Vietnam time is February-April when most of the country works.
Vietnamese food rewards travellers obsessed with depth. The pho (north) versus banh mi (south) versus bun bo Hue (central) regional split is essential to taste. Add the cao lau of Hoi An, the egg coffee of Hanoi, and the Mekong river-fish hot pot. Cooking classes available at every level.
Best time
Oct–Apr (north varies)
Flight from UK
~13h via SE Asia
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND); USD widely accepted
Language
Vietnamese
From the team
Why we love Vietnam
Vietnam is the country I keep going back to, and the one I most consistently send our travellers on for a deeper Southeast Asian experience. Hanoi to Saigon in 14 days, with a Hoi An tailor stop and a Halong Bay night, is the trip — over and over again.
My quiet recommendation: spend at least three nights in Hoi An. The food, the tailors, the lantern light, and the beach within easy reach — it's the Vietnam moment that comes home as a love affair.
Abraham Abraham, Founder & Travel Designer · LGBTQ+ & Vietnam specialist Meet our Travel DesignersMain areas
Where to go in Vietnam
3 distinct regions — they pair beautifully two or three at a time.
Hanoi & the North
Hanoi
Halong Bay
Sapa
Ninh Binh
Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang)
Hoi An
Hue
Da Nang
My Son
Saigon & the South
Ho Chi Minh City
Mekong Delta
Phu Quoc
Cu Chi Tunnels
Find your trip
Holiday types in Vietnam
Pick a holiday style — or combine two. Each section links straight to the next step.
Beach holidays
Beach destinations grouped by resort area — pick the cluster that matches your pace.
City breaks
Vietnam's cities reward 2-4 nights each — pair two for a tailor-made multi-centre trip.
Hoi An
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Cruises
Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's great cruise destinations — Halong Bay's overnight junks are a category of their own, and the Mekong river-cruise circuit links Saigon to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Most ocean cruises also call at Da Nang and Halong.
Escorted tours
64 escorted tours through Vietnam — guided, customisable, fully ATOL-protected.
Every Travelisto tour runs with a small group (max 16), an English-speaking local leader, and is fully ATOL-protected. Most tours are also bookable as private departures — same itinerary, your party only, your dates.
Tailor-made
Everything you see above is a starting point — we'll shape any of these around how you actually want to travel.
Bespoke Vietnam itinerary
Pick your headlines and we design the route, brief private guides, and book the hotels and transfers.
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Multi-generational Vietnam
A pace and accommodation style that suits three generations.
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Vietnam + cruise
Pair the headlines of Vietnam with a cruise — booked end-to-end with us.
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Honeymoon or special celebration
A milestone trip with the romantic flourishes quietly arranged.
EnquirePractical info
Knowing before you go
When to go
Jan
31°
Feb
33°
Mar
34°
Apr
34°
May
33°
Jun
32°
Jul
31°
Aug
31°
Sep
31°
Oct
32°
Nov
31°
Dec
30°
February-April is the sweetest country-wide window. North dry October-April; central best February-July; south dry November-April. Tet (Vietnamese New Year, late Jan-Feb) sees mass internal travel.
Flights & how to get there
Flights from major UK airports to Vietnam — typically ~12h to Hanoi or Saigon (1 stop). Internal flights and trains link the main destinations.
Visa & passport
UK passport holders get 45 days visa-free entry (extended in 2023). Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond entry. For up-to-date entry requirements and safety advice, check the UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam.
Currency & money
The Vietnamese Dong (VND). Card payments common in cities; carry cash for markets, taxis and rural areas. Tipping: 10% on a sit-down restaurant meal in tourist-facing places.
Language & tipping
Vietnamese. English widely spoken at hotels and tour operators in major tourist areas.
Health & safety
Discuss with your GP 6 weeks before travel. Routine UK vaccinations recommended; hepatitis A, typhoid commonly advised for South and Southeast Asia. Drink bottled or filtered water only outside top hotels. Buy comprehensive travel insurance before you travel.
FAQs
Vietnam — your questions
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
October–April is generally the dry season. The north (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa) is best October–April. The centre (Hoi An, Hue) is dry February–August. The south (Saigon, Mekong) is dry November–April.
Is the Halong Bay cruise worth it?
Yes — it's the trip's signature experience. Pick a 2-day/1-night cruise minimum; 3-day/2-night on quieter Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long is better still.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
UK passport holders get 45 days visa-free for tourism. Longer stays need an e-Visa applied for online before travel.
Can I combine Vietnam with Cambodia or Laos?
Yes — Hanoi–Luang Prabang is 1.5h; Saigon–Siem Reap (Angkor) is 1h. 14-day Vietnam + Cambodia is one of our most-booked Asia itineraries.
How do I avoid food and water issues?
Drink only bottled or filtered water; avoid ice in cold drinks at street stalls. Eat freshly cooked food (Vietnamese street food is generally very safe — hot and made-to-order). We brief every traveller.
Make this trip yours
Plan your Vietnam holiday with a Travel Designer
Pick from any of the options on this page or tell us what you have in mind — we'll build it around how you actually like to travel. ATOL protected, flights included, real humans available 9am–7pm.
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