Luxury Vietnam holidays
Historically, travellers may have unwittingly overlooked Vietnam for its neighbour across the Gulf of Thailand, but with its mesh of bustling cities, hill tribe communities and beautiful coastlines, this resilient country is turning the tables.
Historically, travellers may have unwittingly overlooked Vietnam for its neighbour across the Gulf of Thailand, but with its mesh of bustling cities, hill tribe communities and beautiful coastlines, this resilient country is turning the tables.
Much of the country enjoys a languid mood, but life in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is wonderfully disordered. Scooter mad locals bundle as much as possible atop their two wheels, the streets swarming with life as people buy, sell and barter. Everything here moves quickly, but few visitors leave town without first educating themselves at the Cu Chi Tunnels; a stark contrast to cruising down the Mekong Delta past mangroves and rice paddy workers in conical straw hats.
Hanoi is bigger, cooler and greener, acting as a base from which to explore the UNESCO Halong Bay, where cruising the still waters provides some calm after the storm. Then there are the beaches, their golden sands seeming a world away from the cities while never being too far.
In pursuit of…
...the new dragon of Asia
Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan. Linked by their rapidly growing economies, together they make up the four dragons of Asia. A turbulent past may have hindered Vietnam’s edge in this arena, but with a confluence of cultures evident in its architecture, ever-changing landscapes from lime karsts to ribbed rice paddies, a cuisine scene that has made it into the dictionary and a new generation ready to revive the old traditions (water puppetry is something to behold), it’s firmly put its hat in the ring. Rising from the ashes stronger than ever, Vietnam is ready to join the ‘flight’.
“They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived… You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from.”
01
03
A sense of place
Get to know our favourite spots in Vietnam, from the no-fuss lifestyle in the south’s riverside communities to the beauty of the north that goes far deeper than its vistas.
-
![Aerial view of boats at Hạ Long Bay]()
Northern Vietnam
Epitomised by its panoramas, the northern territory’s beauty not only lies in its landscapes but in its cultures. This is where local life is put on full display from the winding streets of Hanoi to the rice paddy villages of Sapa. Although stepping away to cruise the beauty of Halong Bay isn’t to be put on hold.
-
![Lighting up giant sticks of incense at Thien Hau Pagoda in Saigon]()
Central Vietnam
Look one way and there’s the Imperial Palace, look another and you’re pulled into the Royal Cuisine scene. Here is for the history buffs and foodie fanatics who want to revel in the ancient times of the Nguyen Dynasty, and savour the flavours of the country with a local chef.
-
![Wooden boats at a dock on the Mekong River]()
Southern Vietnam
Combining the best of all worlds, Vietnam’s south seems to have it all. There’s essential learning in Ho Chi Minh to be done, a laid-back riverside life to be experienced cruising along the Mekong Delta, and the ultimate detox experience to be had on the mystic Con Dao islands.
01
03
Its essence...
DIVERSEDIVERSE
DIVERSE
DIVERSEDIVERSECOMPLIMENTARYCOMPLIMENTARY
COMPLIMENTARY
COMPLIMENTARYCOMPLIMENTARYBOUNTIFULBOUNTIFUL
BOUNTIFUL
BOUNTIFULBOUNTIFULPassages from a journal A week spent here
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 7
Day 8
Day 10
Day 11
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 7
Day 8
Day 10
Day 11
-
![A old concrete temple building on a mound on Hoàn Kiếm Lake]()
6:12pm
Today we explored the city, beginning unconventionally by joining a group of local people practicing Tai Chi and aerobics at Hoan Kiem Lake. We then headed to a traditional café with only one thing on our brains – the local iced coffee. After, it was time for our first Vietnamese dish of the trip, a banh mi at a street food stall.
-
![A busy road with people riding motorcycles with a coffee shop on the corner]()
10:32am
Delving into Hanoi's famed Old Quarter is on the agenda today, where we’re told we’ll meet legendary pilot Nguyen Hong My – the first Vietnamese pilot to shoot down an American fighter jet in 1972. He’s retired now and lives in a small house on the Red River. I’m told we’ll get tea with a side of fascinating stories.
-
![Gray rocky coastline beside blue sea]()
11am
Leaving Hanoi, we decided to take the road route to Halong Bay. Now, aboard our traditional junk, Ginger, we’re cruising this World Heritage Site packed with natural wonders. We’re about to visit Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba, before returning to the boat for a cooking class with the chef and sundowners on the deck before dinner.
-
![Patterned concrete archway of the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc]()
7:03pm
After an early swim and Tai Chi on the deck, we flew to Hue yesterday where we are for one more night. Here, we’ve explored the emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel. We were totally enchanted by the Garden Houses and couldn’t believe some of the artefacts from the days of the former Royal Empire.
-
![Green grass field under white sky during daytime]()
5:50pm
We’ve been in Hoi An for the past few days slowing down the pace. Well, not really. We’ve already been for a walking tour through the ancient town and taken a boat to An Nhien farm, which is a sustainable gardening, low-impact communal living and youth education project. Despite this being a beachy destination, we just have to explore.
-
![A red and blue hanging lantern]()
8:56am
Today we had the honour of meeting up with a local family. Getting to do these things just makes a trip all the more special. We chatted a bit about their lives here and then had a masterclass in lantern making. Later we’re going for a chilled out cycle along the countryside trails just to wind down.
-
![City skyline during night time seen from across a river]()
10:45pm
After arriving in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) we wasted no time hopping onto the back of a vintage Vespa with a guide zipping us around to the best street food eateries and coffee shops. Today, we took a trip to the city’s most historic landmarks and went underground to see the Cu Chi tunnels led by a Viet Cong veteran.
-
![A blue river tourist boat docked on a brown muddy river]()
8:05am
We’re not wasting any time on our last day, but we do want it to be a little more subdued. So we’ve opted to venture to meet some local families along the Mekong Delta to discover what it’s like living amongst the rice paddies and fruit farms.
0:00
The leading line-up
Vietnam
-
-
![Worldwide, Vietnam, Six Senses Can Dao, Panoramic View]()
VietnamSix Senses Con DaoNestled on the largest island of the Con Dao archipelago off the south east coast of Vietnam, the resort exemplifies the Six Senses ethic of luxurious pampering underpinned by environmental responsibility; Con Dao has been built with the very lightest ecological footprint.
-
-
Extraordinary
experiences
-
-
![Ha Long Bay white small cruise boat on the water]()
Cruise Halong Bays’ waters and cook up a stormAboard a traditional junk, sail the waters where Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba are the main attractions, relaxing and soaking in the scenery. Then, lunch comes in the form of a live cooking class in the junk’s nearly 360-degree light-filled restaurant.
-
-
-
![A woman preparing food at a food cart that is full of different foods]()
Zip around Saigon’s foodie spots on a vintage VespaExperience the city’s nightlife like the locals do, taking in a food-crawl of some of the best joints in town. The tour puts Chinatown and Districts 3 and 4 on the map before finishing off in a local coffee shop where live music wafts through the open windows.
-
-
-
![A white bicycle parked up on a concrete road next to green fields]()
Cycle Hoi An’s countryside and cook with a local familyOnce kitted out with helmets and handle bars are in hand, set off to explore the hidden passageways and winding streets of Hoi An before continuing to the villages of Quang Nam. Here, a family welcomes with a lesson on how to make banh beo and stories from the elders.
-
-
-
![A white house at waters edge between two cliffs]()
Visit the Cu Chi tunnels by speedboatA vital part of the country’s history, a speedboat is the mode of transport to Cu Chi. Glide over the Mekong Delta taking a peak through the window of river life before moving onto the tunnels. Here a veteran waits, ready to tell the stories of his time in the area in an eye-opening light.
-
Destination essentials
SEASON
Flight
Time difference
Currency / Language
FROM THE READING ROOM
RELATED ARTICLES-
![Yaowarat china town in Bangkok]()
Tasting history
Grand, theatrical feasts can resurrect the pomp and ceremony of vast historical empires while private meals can unlock a door into a quiet, spiritual way of life. So many of Asia’s rich cultures and traditions find their clearest manifestation in their cuisine.
-
![Vietnam farming]()
Tokens of travel
A souvenir can be so much more than a simple keepsake. Capture precious moments and shared histories in vivid detail forever with an experience where memories and mementos intertwine. Sights, smells and feelings will come to life all over again.
-
![Amanpuri Thailand Swimming Pool]()
Immerse your-'SELF'
Wellness has become a shorthand for self-improvement. But at its core, the concept is about re-discovering the ‘you’ that is already there, beneath the cobwebs of life’s monotonies. Take a tour of Aman’s Wellness Immersions.
-
![Cyclist in field in Vietnam]()
The principle of yin and yang
Find balance and test your senses in Vietnam with a food-filled itinerary of colourful and flavourful dishes, picked out by locals.
-
![Coastline bird eye view]()
100 ideas on where to travel in 2025
The ultimate trip planner for the year ahead; with so many destinations to choose from we’ve rounded up some spots to watch as well as a few old favourites to create a list of 100 ideas on where to travel in 2025.
01
05
Get in touch your way…
We customise every trip to you and our quotes are bespoke. We’re here to offer advice, recommendations and answer your questions.
-
Online
-
Talk to us
-
In person
-
Online
-
Talk to us
-
In person
01
10
Asia
Despite the jetlag and plane journeys that can eat up two days in one, some places are just worthy of the long-haul; and when it comes to the likes of Asia distance really does make the heart grow fonder.
-
![Angkor Wot temple as the sun sets behind it]()
Asia
Cambodia
ExploreCambodia exudes a mysticism that’s hard to emulate, the not-so-secret ingredients of which come in the form of its extraordinary jungle ruins, Khmer villages, buttery beaches and cities of old-meets-new.
-
![Two boats with red sails on water with a city in the background]()
Asia
Hong Kong
ExploreGoing way beyond its famed cuisine, Hong Kong serves up a feast for the senses; from the fascinating skyline and lively street markets to a surprising amount of green spaces.
-
![An aerial view of a blurred streak of people as they pass through a busy street]()
Asia
India
ExploreIf there’s a satiating ingredient to inspire a zest for life, India’s got the whole recipe. But let the chaos quickly subside and even one of the oldest cities of all time might reveal its vivacious energy starts with a little something called community.
-
![A green field with trees and mountains in the background]()
Asia
Indonesia
ExploreWhere rice paddies trip down hills and a gateway to wellness is opened to all; the secrets of sacred peace are whispered throughout the land in Indonesia.
-
![The view from Chureito Pagoda in Fujiyoshida looking down to the city and the snow-capped Mount Fuji beyond]()
Asia
Japan
ExploreA country that lives for both the past and future, shaped by the changing seasons and the spirits of nature; in Japan, there’s a completely unique adventure to be had with each rising of the sun.
-
![A green rice paddy hill with mountains stretching into the distance]()
Asia
Laos
ExploreStep back to a time of oxen-pulled ploughs and sleepy market towns within the pretty panoramas of Asia’s best kept secret.
-
![An adult and a baby orangutan climbing a tree]()
Asia
Malaysia
ExploreWith a fusion of Asian cultures, rainforests that mingle with beaches and two skyscrapers standing watch over the capital city, the answer to where to find it all is surely Malaysia.
-
![Looking up at a walkway bridge with people crossing at Singapore airport]()
Asia
Singapore
ExploreIn the time that it takes to utter its name, Singapore’s probably transcended your idea of the future; but what makes it all so special is its consistent attention to tending the roots that it came from.
-
![Three people fishing from stilts in the sea]()
Asia
Sri Lanka
ExploreBringing everything from timeless temples and caramel-scented tea fields to its very own Big 5 favourite, this admirably humble teardrop country is making much more of a splash in the ocean.
-
![Two boats from the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with one having fruit and another with hats]()
Asia
Thailand
ExploreIts popularity has risen like the tallest temple tower and images of its Buddha-flanked streets, corrugated rice paddies and otherworldly beaches are bountiful. So it could be argued that, nowadays, Thailand is in no need of an introduction… perhaps.
01
10