Custom travel to Vietnam

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's most complete destinations, an S-shaped country 1,650 km from north to south, 100 million inhabitants, 54 ethnicities, 5 distinct landscapes (Tonkin mountains, Halong Bay, central coast beaches, Mekong Delta, Highlands). Thousand-year-old Hanoi with its 36 alleys, Halong Bay (UNESCO, 1,600 karstic islands emerging from emerald water), Hoi An the lantern town (UNESCO, silk road port city), frantic Saigon, Mekong Delta (sampans, floating markets). Cuisine among the world's best (pho, bun cha, banh mi). Gripping history. One of Asia's most welcoming countries, smiles and refinement.

Highlights

• Halong Bay: 1,600 karstic islands (UNESCO)
• Hanoi: 36 alleys, old town, Hoan Kiem Lake
• Hoi An: UNESCO lantern town
• Saigon and Mekong Delta: floating markets
• Sapa: terraced rice fields and mountain ethnicities
• Hue: imperial city (UNESCO) and royal tombs

Sample itineraries

When to go

Vietnam is very long (1,650 km), varied climate. South (Saigon, Mekong): December-April (dry). Center (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang): February-August (dry, but hot June-August). North (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa): October-April (dry, cool December-February). For Sapa rice fields: March-May (green) or September (gold). Avoid July-August in center (typhoons), January-February in north (very cold at altitude).

• Winter / dry season (October – April), Whole country, ideal
• Spring (March – May), Sapa green rice fields, Hoi An
• Wet summer (June – August), South only, or cool Sapa
• Rice harvest (September), Golden Sapa rice fields

Frequently asked questions

When?

Vietnam stretches 1,650 km from north to south, with three distinct climates depending on the region. In the south (Saigon, Mekong Delta), the dry season runs December to April, the best time to visit. In the center (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang), the dry season runs February to August, but June-August is hot and humid; avoid July-August, typhoon season on the central coast. In the north (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa), October to April is dry, with a cool and sometimes very cold winter at altitude in January-February. For Sapa's terraced rice fields, two ideal windows: March-May for the vivid green of young shoots, or September for the golden harvest. October-April remains the most versatile period for a north-south itinerary combining Hanoi, Halong, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon in good conditions everywhere.

How long?

Allow 14 days for the essential north-to-south Vietnam itinerary (Hanoi 3 nights, Halong Bay junk cruise 2 nights, Hue 2 nights, Hoi An 3 nights, Saigon 2 nights, Mekong Delta 1 night), my travelers' most-chosen itinerary, with 3 domestic flights and a private car with driver. To add the northern mountains, Sapa and its terraced rice fields, with the Hanoi-Sapa night train and a trek with a Hmong family, allow 16 days. To combine with Cambodia and Angkor (direct Saigon-Siem Reap flight, 1 h), plan on 18 days for a complete Indochina trip. I recommend a minimum of 2 to 3 nights per major stop to avoid too fast a pace, since the country is long and internal transfers (flights, night train) take time.

Budget?

As a guideline, based on two people excluding international flights: the Comfort tier starts at €2,200/person for 14 days (4★ boutique hotels in Hanoi and Saigon, Bhaya junk in Halong, Hoi An riads, private car with driver, domestic flights, 5-6 guided experiences). The Premium tier starts at €3,800/person for 14 to 16 days (Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi, Au Co junk in Halong, Anantara in Hoi An, Park Hyatt in Saigon, private French-speaking guide). The Exclusive tier starts at €7,000/person for 14 to 18 days (Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Amanoi, privatized Halong junk, helicopter and private dinners possible). Add €700-1,100 per person for a round-trip Paris-Hanoi or Paris-Saigon Economy flight.

Visa?

The 30-day e-visa is mandatory for citizens of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The application is made online only, costs around $25, and generally takes 3 business days to process, worth anticipating before departure. Once on the ground, bank cards are accepted in most hotels, but cash (Vietnamese dong, VND) remains necessary almost everywhere else, street restaurants, markets, taxis. DTP and hepatitis A vaccines are recommended; anti-malarial treatment is only useful for the Mekong Delta and jungle areas.

Halong by junk: how many nights?

2 days/1 night minimum. 3 days/2 nights ideal to fully enjoy (kayak, more remote cave, sunrise).

Family?

Absolutely, from around age 8. Vietnam is a very safe destination (the only vigilance needed concerns pickpockets in the busy major cities, Hanoi and Saigon), with a warm welcome for children everywhere in the country. There's no shortage of fun experiences: a night on a traditional junk in Halong Bay with kayaking and swimming, releasing floating lanterns on the Thu Bon river in Hoi An, a sampan ride through the Mekong Delta canals, the Cu Chi tunnels for older kids. Still worth planning basic vaccines (DTP, hepatitis A), avoiding tap water, and favoring private car with driver over public transport for more comfort with young children.

How to get around?

A private car with driver is recommended for most journeys, as Vietnamese traffic is intense and local driving conditions tricky for a visitor. Vietnam Airlines domestic flights are almost essential on a north-south itinerary (Hanoi-Hue 1 h, Hanoi-Saigon 2 h, Da Nang-Saigon 1 h 30), since the country stretches 1,650 km. The Hanoi-Sapa night train (Lao Cai station, 8-h journey, sleeper cabins) is both practical and an experience in itself. Locally: Grab taxis in Hanoi and Saigon, bike to explore Hoi An, sampan to navigate the Mekong Delta canals.

Combine?

Yes: Vietnam + Cambodia (Angkor, Saigon-Siem Reap 1-h flight), Vietnam + Laos (Luang Prabang), Vietnam + Thailand.

Pho for breakfast?

Yes, it's the traditional Vietnamese breakfast. Pho Gia Truyen in Hanoi (5-10 am) is the institution.

Tips?

5-10% appreciated. Not mandatory but well received.

Do I need to speak English or Vietnamese to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnamese isn't necessary: English is widely spoken in tourist areas (hotels, restaurants, guides), and French is sometimes understood, a legacy of the colonial period, especially among older generations in Hanoi and Hue. Private French-speaking guides can be booked in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon to dig deeper into local history and culture. Outside the big cities, particularly in the ethnic villages around Sapa, a driver or guide remains useful for communicating with Hmong and Dao families.

What should I pack for Vietnam?

Light, breathable clothing for the south and center (hot and humid climate for much of the year), but also a warmer layer if your itinerary includes Sapa or Hanoi in winter (December-February, cool and sometimes cold at altitude). A power adapter (type A/C, 220 V) is essential. Bring comfortable walking shoes for the Sapa rice-field treks and the Cu Chi tunnels visit, plus a light sweater for evenings on the Halong Bay junk, cooler than daytime. A waterproof pouch is useful for kayaking and the Mekong Delta sampan. On the health side, pack sun protection, mosquito repellent, and avoid drinking tap water.