Vietnam Made Easy
We’re constantly evaluating what makes a truly satisfying trip - the kind where you’ve seen and done plenty you’ve always wanted to, and still return relaxed and refreshed. Where you feel you’ve gotten under the skin of a country, rather than merely scratched the surface. Although we understand the temptation to cram as much as possible into one visit, we also know that it really pays to keep things slow. In fact, that’s one of our core values, and Vietnam is an ideal place to apply it.
Dazzling cities and towns, like Hanoi and Hoi An, are obvious candidates for strolling, people-watching, or just whiling away an afternoon in a cool bar or street-side restaurant, without constantly feeling compelled to move on to the next thing on the list. Crucially to the laid-back spirit of this trip, however, we defy you not to fully unwind while wandering between the green hills and rippling rice fields of Mai Chau, or reclining on the soft sands of one of Vietnam’s secluded central beaches.
A leisurely pace means ample time to enjoy some of Vietnam’s more unusual, stylish and luxurious hotels, which offer so much more than just somewhere to lay your head. Almost everywhere in Vietnam is well worth spending a few extra nights getting to know. A train journey on the famous Reunification Express line is another great way to slow your pace, and shorter journeys can feel even more relaxing - this is a holiday, after all, not an exercise in endurance! If keeping your travels slow sounds good, let us know and we’ll get creative...
Lakeside life
At first glance, Hanoi doesn’t look like a city which naturally lends itself to taking things slowly! Well known for its bustling Old Quarter, vibrant street life and chaotic motorbike traffic, there’s always something different to explore. Visit historic sites such as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the elegant architecture of the French Quarter, alongside contemporary bars, restaurants and galleries. In all the buzz, there’s tranquility to be found if you choose to slow down.
Spend leisurely hours joining the locals for morning Tai Chi or evening strolls around Hoan Kiem Lake (very much the heart of the city) or soaking up West Lake’s general air of affluence. Dedicate a day to sampling the local street food and craft beers, safe in the knowledge that there’s no rush and you can savour each mouthful. Our favourite properties offer stylish sanctuaries and rooftop bars, where you can relax above the crowds without forgoing any of the city’s vibrant atmosphere.
Gentle rural rhythms
After the energising rush of Hanoi, Mai Chau offers the perfect counterbalance of a tranquil rural pace, stunning scenery, and plenty of space to unwind, with a little light luxury here and there. Driving through the hills towards the sheltered Mai Chau Valley, the landscape opens up, and you can feel everything take on a different rhythm.
Take relaxing wanders and bike rides along winding pathways between the hills and rice fields as the sunset turns the countryside an amber gold, and enjoy warm hospitality (and delicious food) at out-of-the-way, family-run eateries. Watch the comings and goings of daily life from a sheltered eco-lodge terrace, or spend leisurely hours watching little boats make their way across the wide, still, impossibly blue waters of Hoa Binh Lake. However you choose to spend it, time in Mai Chau is all about recharging your batteries.
If you’re super keen to include a Halong Bay region cruise in your stay, this would be the point to do it with a boat trip (away from the biggest crowds) around Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long, but we must admit we’d much rather spend our leisure time on land…
Laid-back in Hoi An
Take time to linger in the increasingly popular, and relentlessly charming, port town of Hoi An. It’s almost impossible to rush when every few steps through the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town heralds architectural treasures, such as the ancient Japanese Covered Bridge, elaborate temples, and perfectly preserved merchant's houses. There are shops selling curios and antiques, and tailors showcasing elaborately crafted (yet extremely reasonably priced) suits, alongside cafes and restaurants serving everything from local specialities to elaborate fusion menus.
Hoi An can easily be explored at your own pace, with guides offering their expert insight and extra trips out to the archaeological site of My Son and the semi-tropical rainforest of Bach Ma National Park. One quintessential Hoi An experience to take your time over is a local cookery lesson, where you can learn how to properly recreate some of your favourite Vietnamese dishes. When your feet are tired of wandering, return to the serenity of the nearby Hoi An Chic boutique hotel to relax amidst the rice fields: a real ‘best of both worlds’ option.
Secluded beaches & snorkelling adventures
Sit back and settle into the 6-hour train journey south aboard the iconic Reunification Express - perhaps even treating yourself to some top-end Vietage carriage luxury - and you’ll disembark within splashing distance of some of Vietnam’s finest beaches. Mile after mile of pristine sands stretch out from Quy Nhon, a town still relatively unknown to most travellers. Set on a secluded peninsula, and designed to reflect the area's rich history and culture, the Zannier Bai San Ho’s private villas look out over the surrounding paddy fields, dramatic hilltops, and powdery white sands. At this point you might, understandably, have slowed down to a complete stop! However, if you still have the inclination to explore, you can go snorkelling on the virtually untouched coral reef, within swimming distance of the shore. Tour the bay by catamaran, take a trip with a local fisherman, or trek along a choice of winding trails.
Riverside relaxation
After your blissful beach stay, head on towards the bright lights of Vietnam’s southern powerhouse: Ho Chi Minh City. This former capital, still known to many as Saigon, holds deep layers of culture and history, its glittering contemporary shopping boulevards sharing space with elaborate architectural giants from past eras. It’s an ideal city for taking leisurely ambles past key sights and busy markets, whizzing between evening street food delights by Vespa, pausing at side-street cafes for cooling salted ca phe, or people watching from rooftop bars.
Your guide will show you a network of bustling alleyways surrounded by wide, tree lined streets and neoclassical architecture - a legacy of its time under French rule - now towered over by modern skyscrapers. Stay downtown to explore the city's temping eatery scene.
More train travel and fewer flights?
It’s possible to take the train for more of this trip if you wish, as long as you’re OK with giving more time over to each transfer. The famed Reunification Express runs the entire length Vietnam, meaning that you can remove most domestic flights and take it easy on the scenic route…
A note on cost…
The guide price of £2,490US$3,290 is a per person price (not including international flights) for 2 people staying 3 nights in Hanoi, 2 nights in Mai Chau, 3 nights in Hoi An, 3 nights on the beaches of Quy Nhon to the south, and finally 2 nights in Ho Chi Minh City; all in our favourite mid-range hotels, other than a deluxe resort in Quy Nhon.
