With darker evenings drawing in, Christmas around the corner and that dreaded word that we dare not utter (clue: it rhymes with shmexit), we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to escape to sunnier climes. If you need a holiday in the diary to see you through those dreary months, then check out our 6 holidays to have in 2020, to help you beat the winter blues…
Go local in Vietnam
Vietnam is a firm favourite among travellers, and for good reason too! You can pack a hefty amount into one single trip: mouthwatering foodie experiences, culture and crafts, historic memorials, natural wonders and beaches too. Plus, if you like doing as the locals do, then Vietnam is the perfect place for an immersive holiday.
In Ho Chi Minh City, one of our favourite experiences is taking an evening Vespa tour with a local guide. It’s a totally memorable way to see the city from a local’s perspective (on the back of a scooter!) and you’ll stumble upon some, otherwise hidden, streetside food spots and hole-in-the-wall cafes.
For a totally different pace of life, far away from the swarms of buzzing scooters, venture to the Mekong Delta. And if you think the Mekong Delta is just a busy maze of floating markets, then think again. Head away from the throngs of market sellers trading their wares and travel deeper along the waterways, and you’ll enter a world of diverse communities and industries. Spend the night in the home of a local family and you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience life on the Mekong; learn how to rustle up the finest Delta specialities and watch life unfold.
In Hoi An, you’re in a prime spot for some pottering about. Amble the lantern-lit streets, stopping for the occasional Vietnamese coffee, before getting crafty in a lantern-making workshop- souvenirs anyone?
No Vietnam holiday would be complete without a couple of nights in the characterful capital of Hanoi, where you can learn the local lingo with a guide and sip on a bowl of freshly steaming pho as life passes by. Bliss.