9 extraordinary journeys that take you to Vietnam's hidden corners

1: Cycle through Vietnam’s rural heart

Vietnamese woman cycling through Hue (Dreamstime)

Ride through the heart of rural Vietnam as you follow the Ho Chi Minh Highway from Hanoi to Hue on this 10-day cycle tour with KE Adventure Travel.

It’s a journey in tune with the slower pace of life in this part of Vietnam, and one that will bring you into contact with local ethnic groups like the Hmong and Dao. The landscape is varied and spectacular, from the incredible ‘karst’ landscapes of the Truong Son Mountains to the riverside city of Hue, Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Imperial City. Passing through jungle, farmland and numerous traditional villages, this is a journey guaranteed to put you in contact with authentic Vietnam.

 

2: The ultimate Mekong luxury cruise

Life on the Mekong River (Dreamstime)

Explore one of the world’s great rivers in style on this 12-night luxury Mekong cruise with Cox & Kings Travel.

Sailing aboard the Jahan, you’ll enjoy impeccable service and facilities of the highest order as you soak up Vietnamese river life from your private balcony. Calling at small riverside villages and quiet temples, the Jayavarman is the ideal way to visit areas that are inaccessible by road and well off the tourist trail. This is an unforgettable Mekong experience and a treat for all your senses.

 

3: Discover Vietnam’s Tonkinese Alps

Child riding a buffalo in the Tonkinese Alps (Dreamstime)

Explore a corner of northern Vietnam that very few people get to visit on this 14-day adventure through the Tonkinese Alps with TravelLocal.

Wedged between the Gulf of Tonkin and the Chinese province of Yunnan, this remote corner of Vietnam is one of the few areas in Asia where modernity is yet to encroach, and the local Tai Dón people still follow their traditional ways. It’s a trip bound to appeal to adventurous travellers, with trekking in the rugged Muong Hoa valley and a glimpse of rural Vietnamese life.

 

4: Your own private Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi (Dreamstime)

Experience the best of Vietnam on this excellent-value private tour with Bamboo Travel.

Designed for those who want to get under the skin of this fascinating country, you’ll enjoy an overnight cruise around Halong Bay on a junk boat, wander the historic towns of Hue and Hoi An, and stay overnight in the Mekong Delta. You’ll get time in the two main cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as well, staying in centrally-located local-style hotels close to the sights, shops and restaurants.

 

 

5: Vietnam top to bottom

Junk boats in Halong Bay (Dreamstime)

Visit Vietnam’s main attractions, as well as its hidden corners, on this in-depth tour of the entire country with Wild Frontiers.

Vietnam remains one of South-East Asia’s most diverse destinations. This trip balances visits to some of the country’s better-known hotspots, like Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, with more off-beat places like Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, with its stunning cave systems, and Bach Ma hill station, with its faded French colonial mansions.

 

6: Take a break in the Mai Chau Valley

Morning breaks in the Mai Chau Valley (Dreamstime)

Get back to nature and recharge your batteries on this three-day nature break in the Mai Chau Valley with Buffalo Tours.

Based at Mai Chau Lodge, you’ll discover a world of waterfalls, towering limestone mountains, rice paddies, corn fields, bamboo groves and terraced tea plantations. You can cycle and trek through the area and visit local tribes, or simply kick back by the pool, enjoying the tastiest Vietnamese food and a view unlike anywhere else in the world.

 

7: Taste all the flavours of Vietnam

Fresh fruit for sale at the floating market (Dreamstime)

Let your stomach be your guide on this tasty tour through Vietnam’s vibrant food culture with Travel The Unknown.

You’ll discover the beauty, charm and elegance of Vietnam through its food – learning culinary secrets from passionate local chefs, trying your hand at making coconut candy, and meeting local honey wine producers. You’ll also be taught how to make rice noodles, and go shopping for fresh ingredients at the Mekong Delta's floating markets. It's guaranteed to be delicious.

 

8: Go underground in the countryside

Entering Phong Nha cave complex by boat (Dreamstime)

Go beyond Vietnam’s bustling cities and coast, and discover the rural charms and caves of the countryside on this 15-day adventure with Selective Asia.

Bookmarked by stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and an overnight junk cruise in Halong Bay, this trip will take you deep into the rural regions of Phong Nha and Ninh Binh, a land of paddy fields and small villages where traditional lifestyles prevail. It is here you will find the impressive Phong Nha cave complex, hidden amongst spectacular limestone karst formations – an undoubted highlight of your trip.

9: Explore Vietnam’s Central Highlands

Sunrise over Dalat (Dreamstime)

Immerse yourself in the highlights of central Vietnam, on this adventurous tour of Vietnam’s Central Highlands with Audley.

Beginning on the delightful cobbled streets of Hoi An, you’ll follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail through the villages of Kon Tum and Buon Ma Thuot. Here, you’ll visit traditional rong houses, before continuing south to the faded colonial grandeur of the former French hill retreat of Dalat. Finally, you will reach Ho Chi Minh City where your journey ends with an exhilarating night tour of the city on the back of a Vespa.