2-Week Vietnam Holiday Itinerary - Phu Quoc Island & Ho Chi Minh

Hanoi is a capital city crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards. You’ll stay near the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and we’ll arrange a unique introduction to Hanoi and the Vietnamese language with a local guide who’ll double as your tutor. It’s a great way to get to know the city like a local.

A turquoise bay peppered with tropical outcrops, Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as neighbouring Halong, but with fewer crowds. Rich in stunning views, you’ll drift between emerald karst islets and laze on tiny beaches. You’ll stay aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat, rocked to sleep by the rhythm of the water.

Watch lanterns twinkle along the river and meet the local tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. A jumble of crumbling Chinese shop houses, artist studios and riverside restaurants, it’s crammed with charm. The pace is slow and the food is scrumptious. In recent years, Hoi An has become something of a national treasure with its day dreamy, timeless atmosphere.

During your stay you will be getting crafty making your own souvenirs from bamboo! You’ll be collected from your hotel in Hoi An and transferred the 20 minutes to the Bay Mau Coconut village where you’ll meet your teacher. This local family have been creating household items from bamboo for three generations and once they’ve shown you the ropes, it’s your turn to get creative. You’ll be supported along the way but what you create is up to you!

Now for a rural escape into the Central Highlands to explore the lush landscapes and minority villages surrounding Lak Lake, the largest natural body of water in the area. Set on a hill overlooking the picturesque lake, your eco-friendly luxury tented accommodation awaits. Here it’s all about getting away from it all: trekking to hidden waterfalls, learning about local culture and taking a breather from the bustling city streets.

Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls. You’ll stay in a comfy hotel near the central market.

Sink your toes into powdery white sands on sleepy Phu Quoc Island. Sleeping in a cosy resort just steps from the beach, you can snooze in a hammock, take barefoot strolls and slow down to the lazy pace of island life. You’ll take a snorkelling tour to the tiny An Thoi islets, where you can float over coral-clad seabeds and watch clownish dart between the rocks.