A Guide To Booking a Holiday to Vietnam

A Guide To Booking A Holiday To Vietnam

View Photos (1) Image © 2009 Sam Clark

Flights

Most international flights arrive and depart daily from Ho Chi Minh City (still referred to as Saigon locally) and Hanoi. There is also an international airport on the central coast at Danang with about 2 international flights a week.

There are no direct flights to Vietnam from the UK; the two quickest options are usually Cathay Pacific from London via Hong Kong or Singapore Airlines from Manchester or London, via Singapore. There are also several direct flights from the UK to Bangkok and numerous onward connections from there to Vietnam.  There are also options from regional airports in the UK.  All airlines will allow you a stopover in the city they transit should you wish to break the journey.

Alternatively you can access Vietnam from Laos or Cambodia should you be combining these destinations. Flights are frequent but many people enjoy traveling from Cambodia into southern Vietnam via the Mekong River, or overland from Laos into northern Vietnam.

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When to travel and which beach resort?

While the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) is sub-tropical and generally enjoys the best weather from mid October through to April, the north (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa) can get fairly cool at this time and has a much less clearly delineated rainy season.  The centre of the country (Hoi An, Hue) tends to see the best weather between March and August and can experience floods later in October and November. 

We find that most people know that they want to visit the historical and cultural sights of Vietnam but they often want to fit in a beach stay as well. As its a vast country there are different weather systems and this can cause confusion as to which beach is best and when.

The main beach destinations are Phu Quoc Island, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Hoi An.  As a rough guide the best time to visit Phu Quoc and Mui Ne is mid October to April and the best time to visit the central region Nha Trang and Hoi An is January through to August.  The best prices on hotels throughout the country are generally found from 1^st May to October 31st.

Phu Quoc Island is off the South Coast of Vietnam and is best for a magical and quiet beach escape, with fantastic beaches, great snorkeling and a peaceful laidback atmosphere on a large undeveloped island.  It is accessed by a short flight from Saigon or a 2.5 hr boat service from Rach Gia (in the Mekong Delta region)

Phan Thiet/Mui Ne is still in the southern part of Vietnam about 4 hours drive North of Hoi Chi Minh City (Saigon). It is accessible only by a longish drive but is a good southern option with a lovely wide beach, a good choice of restaurants and a wide range of hotels. 

Nha Trang is actually a city and the main part of it is therefore the busiest of the beach resorts with bars and nightlife. Snorkeling and diving is good in the area and there are numerous boat trips available.  Outside the city but not far away are way some quiet and lovely beach escapes.  Nha Trang has good domestic flight connections, is on the coastal rail route and can also be accessed by road from Dalat.

Hoi An combines the best of Vietnam – the old world Asian charm of Hoi An town, the Cham ruins and peaceful rural life around, with miles of wide sandy beaches and some excellent hotels.  The town itself is a charming place and there are numerous great restaurants and little shops along the town’s river. The town lies about 5 miles from the beach, whether you stay in the town or at the beach it’s very easy to shuttle between the two. Danang is very close to Hoi An and has an airport and railway station on the coastal “Reunification Express” route. There are numerous domestic flights as well as twice weekly international flights to Singapore and Siem Reap. 

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The Weather

Vietnam is much more than a beach destination so we would not rule out a tour of the country at any time of year as the weather can be vastly different from one end to the other. if the beach is your priority, but  While the south is sub-tropical and generally enjoys the best weather from mid October through to April, the north can get fairly cool at this time and has a much less clearly delineated rainy season.  The centre of the country tends to see the best weather between March and August and can experience floods later in October and November. 

The weather is quite difficult to predict or guarantee in Vietnam but if you do want a beach holiday or at least partly a beach holiday, think about the south during the UK winter and the centre during the UK spring and summer.  

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Travel within Vietnam

Air travel is essential to Vietnam as the distances are so huge and therefore internal flights are quick easy and straightforward.  Another great option is train travel.  It’s a great way to see the country and meet the people too and many of the journeys are overnight.  Speak to us about ensuring you book a private cabin to yourselves at extremely low prices.    Our local guides take you to the station and meet you at the other end so it is a simple and easy process.  For shorter journeys we can arrange vehicles generally with a driver and a private guide if needed.  The roads are of a decent quality, though much more hectic than European roads in general.

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Medical and Emergency

The majority of Vietnam is now malarial free and it is unlikely you would be booking to go any place you need to worry about anti-malarials. There are also no compulsory injections, but the NHS does advise you should ensure you have been vaccinated against Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Hospital and emergency services are of a reasonable standard in Vietnam though are much better in the main cities. Travelers should ensure they hold adequate travel insurance. 

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Published on 5/27/09