Vietnam Tours & Vacations

Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations

Overview

Witness a country of the most staggering and enchanting beauty with one of our Vietnam Tours. Our incredible Vietnam holiday packages take it all in, from the dramatic landscapes of its north, where jagged mountains and lush rice paddies straddle the Chinese border, to the dense jungles of the south, where the mighty Mekong River flows into the sea.

Vietnam is still a relatively new country which was only united in 1975, following two decades of conflict - first for independence from ...

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Group tours

Travel to Vietnam with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM

BEST EXPERIENCES

Discover Halong's quieter bays

Discover Halong's quieter bays

Escape the daytrippers and navigate these UNESCO waters to the quieter islands of the north. Soak up spectacular karst mountain scenery from your traditional junk boat and spend time exploring the small islands by kayak or on foot.

Sample Hanoi's street food

Sample Hanoi's street food

Eating on the street is a very typical activity for Hanoians and makes up an important part of the city’s unique culture. Set off on foot through the Old Quarter and discover some of the capital's culinary hotspots.

Have lunch with Buddhist nuns in Hue

Have lunch with Buddhist nuns in Hue

Learn about past and present cultural traditions as you explore Hue's rural areas and enjoy a vegetarian lunch cooked by the resident Buddhist nuns. You will be able to hear the same Buddhist nuns chanting after lunch as you sit in the tranquil gardens.

Wander Hoi An's Ancient Town

Wander Hoi An's Ancient Town

Visit the Ancient Town of Hoi An, which is home to the beautiful Chua Cau, (roofed bridge), as well as Hoi Quan, the ancient meeting places, some ancestral family homes and some of the lovely hidden pagodas.

Get your own Ao Dai made

Get your own Ao Dai made

Visit a local clothes market, choose your material and meet with one of our favorite tailors who will help you design your own unique ‘Ao Dai’. The traditional Ao Dai can be seen all over Vietnam and is a wonderful keepsake to take home.

Explore the Delta's floating markets

Explore the Delta's floating markets

The Mekong Delta is home to numerous floating markets and the best time to explore these is at dawn. Board a local boat with your guide and cruise the waterways, observing the buyers and sellers as they trade fruit, vegetable and all kinds of commerce.

Hike to a remote homestay in Sapa

Hike to a remote homestay in Sapa

Sapa offers up some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Vietnam. Take a few days and hike deep into the mountains where you can stay with a local family and learn about life in this fascinating remote area.

Explore Ho Chi Minh by motorbike

Explore Ho Chi Minh by motorbike

Get a real insight into local life in HCMC as you jump on the back of your trusted guide's motorbike and explore this colourful city. You'll be shown some of the best local hang outs and taste some of the city's culinary highlights.

Learn traditions of the Black H'mong

Learn traditions of the Black H'mong

Steeped in the traditions of the indigenous Giay and H’mong people, the villagers in Sapa still dye their traditional clothes by hand. Visit a local H’mong family to gain an insight into how their distinctive blue dyes are still produced.

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Halong Bay

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is one of the natural marvels of Vietnam, with over 3000 limestone islands rising from the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Entrancingly ...

Hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam's capital has a slow and pleasant pace, unlike most cities of the region. An amazing example of the ever changing faces of Vietnam, Hanoi reveals its past, whilst pushing towards a 21st ...

Ho Chi Minh City

In the south of the country lies Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. Formerly called Saigon it was renamed after the American withdrawal and is a city of never ending action. Its population ...

Hoi An

Once a busy international trading port, receiving ships from around the world, Hoi An is without doubt one of Vietnam's treasures and a highlight of any visit to this southeast Asian country. Now a delightful ...

Hue

The traditional religious, cultural and educational centre of Vietnam, Hue is built upon the banks of the Perfume River and is an important trade centre surrounded by rice fields. Hue was the capital ...

Sapa

A remote land littered by a patchwork of diverse ethic groups, each with its unique, rich culture, Sapa was originally built as a hill station by the French in the 1920’s. Situated in the sweeping ...

Mekong Delta

Starting over three miles above sea level high on a Tibetan plateau, the mighty Mekong River sweeps its way through China, forms the western border between Laos and Thailand, passes through Cambodia, ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Premium | Hotel

Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An

Located on the banks of Thu Bon River and offering a sweeping view of this tranquil river, the Anantara Hoi An Resort, is a four star property set within the French colonial quarter of the UNESCO World…
Premium | Boutique Hotel

Apricot Hotel, Hanoi

The Apricot Hotel provides a level of sophistication and space that can be hard to find in the Old Quarter. This lovely 4-star option has some of the best views in the city, as it is located right on…
Premium | Hotel

Azerai La Residence, Hue

Situated in the city centre, overlooking the famous Citadel, Azerai La Residence is brilliantly set on the banks of the Perfume River and offers an unbeatable location. The hotel boasts 122 stylishly…
Luxury | Resort

Azerai, Can Tho (Mekong Delta)

A hideaway in the middle of the Mekong River, the Azerai Can Tho is spread across an island only accessible by boat. The winding paths lead through the beautiful landscape, passing ancient trees to…
Premium | Resort

Boutique Hoi An, Hoi An

With views overlooking the sea, the Hoi An Boutique Resort is an elegant hotel offering guests a great place to unwind. The 86 rooms are all elegantly decorated with modern fittings including air…
Luxury | Hotel

Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Located opposite the city Opera House, the Caravelle Hotel is right in the heart of the commercial, shopping and entertainment areas of this bustling and vibrant city. This is a European styled hotel…
Premium | Boat

Dragon's Legend, Halong Bay

Sail around Ha Long Bay in style on the Dragon Legend. The cruise ship boasts twenty-four cabins with traditionally Vietnamese interiors and handmade artwork, as well as modern luxuries such as…
Luxury | Resort

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Located on a private beach near the ancient port of Hoi An, The Nam Hai is the ultimate luxury retreat in this part of the world. The resort offers villas and pool villas, all enjoying a prime location…
Premium | Boat

Halong Jasmine Junk, Halong Bay

This unique cruise offers you the perfect way to explore the waters of Halong Bay in comfort and elegance. Board ‘Jasmine’, one of the three traditional wooden junks known as the ‘Three Sisters’ and…
Luxury | Hotel

Hotel Des Arts Saigon - MGallery, Ho Chi Minh City

A beautiful and chic hotel, Hotel Des Arts is one of the newer options in Saigon, located on a bustling street just minutes away from some of the city’s main sites. Part of the M Gallery series, this…
Luxury | Hotel

Hotel Royal Hoi An - MGallery, Hoi An

Blessed with a riverside location within the UNESCO Site of Hoi An, Royal Hoi An is inspired by Vietnamese culture and Art Nouveau design. Observe the best panoramic views of the city from the rooftop…
Luxury | Resort

Intercontinental Danang, Danang

Set in the hills of the stunning Son Tra Peninsula, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort offers a range of luxury accommodation, from classic resort rooms designed with Vietnamese touches…
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L’amour Junk, Halong Bay

Experience the romance of Halong Bay on a luxury traditional junk sailing boat. The boat only has one deluxe double cabin with a big sea view window providing an exclusive, romantic getaway. The use of…
Superior | Boutique Hotel

La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi

La Siesta Classic Ma May (formerly Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa), is the first of the La Siesta group and stands as one of our favourite mid-range properties in Hanoi. Promising a warm welcome and…
Premium | Resort

La Siesta Hoi An Hotel, Hoi An

This lovely retreat, a short drive from Hoi An’s old town, captures the history of the ancient part of town. Elegant period furniture is used throughout the hotel for a classic Vietnamese look. The 107…
Premium | Hotel

Majestic Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Opened in 1925, the charming Majestic Hotel is a four star hotel that enjoys one of the city's finest locations in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, overlooking the Saigon River. Within walking distance…
Luxury | Hotel

Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

Opened in July 2005, the Park Hyatt Saigon has the edge as Ho Chi Minh City's top-ranking five star hotel. In prime position, overlooking the Opera House in Lam Son Square, the Hyatt is a successful…
Premium | Hotel

Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa, Hue

The Pilgrimage Village is a four-star boutique hotel located in a rustic village setting in the countryside of Hue, just four kilometres from the centre of the city. Designed in Kingpost architecture,…
Luxury | Hotel

Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi

A classic from the French colonial period that exudes charm and class and located within minutes of Hoan Kiem Lake. Following extensive refurbishment, this is an impeccably restored…
Superior | Boutique Hotel

Topas Ecolodge, Sapa

Located 18 km out of Sapa town in northern Vietnam, Topas Ecolodge nestles on top of a hill looking down on the green valley below. Brought about by a cooperation between a Danish tour operator and a…
Premium | Hotel

Victoria Hotel Sapa, Sapa

The Victoria Hotel Sapa in Lao Cai is nestled among the Hoang Lien Mountains which contain Vietnam's highest peak. The only luxury hotel in Sapa, this four star property is built in traditional…

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WHEN TO GO

In general terms the best time to visit Vietnam is the months from October through to March when the weather should be warm without being too stifling.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Vietnam though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Vietnam. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.

Currency

In Vietnam the official unit of currency is the Dong.  
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.

Cultural Sensitivity

On our tours we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your guides will be able to advise you accordingly. 

At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring. 

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition, we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.  

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result, we ask that you refer to the Responsible Travel section of this document which highlights the Wild Frontiers Foundation, which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.  

Language & Religion

In Vietnam, the major language is Vietnamese. English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and German are popular foreign languages. The religions of Vietnam are varied and rarely clear-cut. Although some people call themselves Buddhists, they do likely practice Confucian and Taoist principles, ancestral worship, a little animism, and superstitions as well. Actual beliefs have developed over centuries from a melting pot of many ideas. 

The strong influence of Buddhism resulted in certain characteristics of Vietnamese people such as: gentleness, tolerance, hospitality, generosity, non-violence, compassion and humility.  Other religions practiced in Vietnam include Christian, Catholic, and Cao Dai. 

Time

Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT. 
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.

Food and drink

Rice is the foundation for meals in Vietnam, and almost all dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients such as vegetables, freshwater fish, poultry, duck, pork, beef or water buffalo. Lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander give the food its characteristic tang, and various fermented fish concoctions are used to salt the food. Hot chillies, garlic, mint, ground peanuts, tamarind juice, ginger and coconut milk are other seasonings. 

Most local people drink watery beer or strong local alcoholic drinks, similar to Mekong whiskey, made from sugar cane or rice. Popular brands of beer include 333, Saigon Export, Saigon Lager, Castel, Huda and Halida. Local brands tend be flat and more watery than the national brands. Bia hoi is the name for cheap, draft beer mostly associated with Hanoi and northern Vietnam. BGI is a golden lager brewed in My Tho by a joint venture between the French BGI group and the Vietnamese government. Foreign brands brewed under license in Vietnam include Carlsberg, Heineken, Thai-produced Singha beer, Singapore-produced Tiger beer. Chinese brands of beer are sometimes available.

Travelling Solo In Vietnam

All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.