Rural Routes

Whichever combination you choose, exploring northern Vietnam’s less-visited spots shows you the country from a different angle, connecting you with an agricultural pace of life that has endured for centuries, growing and adapting with each generation. Find comfortable eco-lodges to hunker down in each evening, whilst during the day you can revel in the opportunity to be out hiking or cycling in the fresh air.

Hundreds of miles south, in the Mekong Delta, much of life takes place beside and on the water, lending itself perfectly to leisurely exploration on foot, by bike and aboard the traditional sampan boats used to traverse these waterways for centuries. 

Chat with our destination specialists about how best to fit these rural regions into your tailor-made journey, and in the meantime here are some ideas to get you thinking about the shape of your trip…

Different paths…

The classic route through Vietnam takes you from the Mai Chau valley’s rural idyll to Ninh Binh’s towering karst formations, before heading south to the cities. Mai Chau feels like stepping into another world: a comfortable, 4-hour drive from Hanoi, the rice terraces cling to the hillsides, turning from vivid green to soft gold and brown depending on the season, and the traditional stilt houses are suspended over the landscape. Ninh Binh’s karst hills rise from the rippling green fields, providing an excellent alternative to the crowds of Halong, and an immersive experience of life in the north.

However, there are other paths to take that show you a different perspective on the subtleties and customs that have shaped this multi-layered region. Bac Son’s sheltered valleys and peaks stretch out towards the horizon, with traditional Tay stilted houses peppering the landscape. Contrast time here days amid the flowing waterfalls and calm lakes of Ba Be National Park’s wild protected terrain. Alternatively, wander through the ancient streets of Nam Dinh in the heart of the Red River Delta, stepping between temples and cathedrals before discovering the cool wilderness and cloud-touching peaks of Binh Lieu, with a pilgrims’ climb up Yen Tu in between.

Mekong dreaming

The Mekong Delta is just as stunning as the rural north, with its own distinctive character. Navigate wide rivers, winding channels and picturesque narrow canals by boat, passing under wooden ‘monkey bridges’ and past farms producing fruit, flowers and rice, before cruising to a floating market. Disembark to learn about the Delta’s flourishing cottage industries and to visit traditional settlements, old French-Colonial houses, and Chinese temples. Resist the temptation to tick off the Mekong Delta as a day trip, and instead stay a night or two at a riverside hotel, in a rural lodge, or onboard a boat. If you’re keen to spend more time on the water, continue on towards the nearby border with Cambodia.

Cultural & culinary capital 

Many visitors’ first taste of urban Vietnam is the characterful and vibrant capital city of Hanoi: the perfect place to top or tail an adventure into the rural north. This energetic city can feel like it’s constantly on the move (not least because of the infamous motorbike traffic!) and it’s a great place to delve deeper into the country’s rich history. Visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where you can learn more about the different communities who live in northern Vietnam, and explore the atmospheric Old Quarter, the stately French Quarter, the Temple of Literature, and the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. 

Those looking for inner-city tranquillity can rise early to witness the Vietnamese Flag Raising Ceremony at Ba Dinh Square, before taking a morning stroll past locals gathering to practice tai chi or badminton. Keen cyclists can pedal through the Hanoi traffic towards the historic Long Bien Bridge, an iconic structure built over a century ago. Watch the boats on the Red River, and cycle down through lush farms, growing everything from corn to kumquats! Learn about life here, sample tropical fruits and green tea, and visit a farm smallholding to get a taste of local hospitality, before finishing your morning with a strong Vietnamese coffee back amid the main Hanoi buzz.

Bright lights, big city

Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) is an ideal jumping off point for exploring southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. High-rise offices tower over wide, elegant boulevards and neoclassical French architecture, clearly marking the city's status as Vietnam’s modern economic hub. If you pause to look closer, you’ll see the everyday details of day-to-day city life as you mingle with locals in District 1’s narrow alleyways, or in the bustling commercial Cho Lon. There’s history aplenty in the stately architecture, presidential palaces and secret resistance storerooms, all seemingly frozen at separate moments in the past, while just outside the city are the ingenious underground Cu Chi Tunnels constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters. 

As an antidote to the rural peace and serenity of the rest of your trip, Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife is perfect. Enjoy an evening drink at a rooftop bar before working your way through the thriving restaurant scene that offers everything from European fine dining to Pan-Asian fusion and home-cooked Vietnamese cuisine. Book a table at one of our favourites, enjoy a home cooked dinner with a local resident, or travel between a variety of diverse eateries on the back of a Vespa.