Iris TravelPlan my trip
Iris Travel

Private journeys, at your pace.

Indonesia & Southeast Asia
All destinations

Vietnam

City days and time in the countryside.

Private travel in Southeast Asia

Plan my Vietnam trip
Limestone peaks and a small pagoda overlook the green rice fields of Ninh Binh.

Where to spend
your time.

Start with one part of the country. Explore Hanoi and the northern landscapes, or spend more time around Hoi An’s town, countryside and coast.

People and motorbikes move along a narrow street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, seen from above.

Hanoi

Old Quarter streets, local food and the city’s history. Give yourself time for meals and walks between the main visits.

A street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Limestone peaks and a small pagoda overlook the green rice fields of Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh

Rivers, rice fields and limestone peaks around Trang An and Tam Coc. A countryside stop on a northern-Vietnam route.

Rice fields and limestone peaks in Ninh Binh

Limestone islands rise from the open water of Ha Long Bay, with small boats in the distance.

Ha Long Bay

Limestone islands and open water, with time on the bay aboard an overnight cruise. A different landscape from the rivers and rice fields of Ninh Binh.

The limestone islands of Ha Long Bay

An elevated view of a narrow Hoi An street lined with yellow buildings, tiled roofs, flowering trees and lanterns.

Hoi An

Ancient Town streets, craft traditions, countryside and nearby An Bang Beach. A separate central-Vietnam option for a trip with fewer hotel changes.

The streets of Hoi An

A trip could
look like this.

Choose a northern route with a change of scenery, or one base around Hoi An. Combining regions needs more travel time.

Limestone peaks and a small pagoda overlook the green rice fields of Ninh Binh.
Vietnam

Hanoi, countryside & the bay

7 nights

Explore Hanoi, spend two nights in Ninh Binh, then take an overnight cruise before a final night back in the city.

  1. Hanoi3 nights
  2. Ninh Binh2 nights
  3. Ha Long Bay1 night
  4. Hanoi1 night

Cruise operation and the order of stops depend on conditions and your onward connection.

An elevated view of a narrow Hoi An street lined with yellow buildings, tiled roofs, flowering trees and lanterns.
The streets of Hoi An

A longer stay around Hoi An

6 nights

Choose a town, countryside or coastal base. Spend the week between local meals, short outings and time at your stay.

  1. Hoi An area6 nights

These are ideas to start from. We can change the stops, length and stays around your dates and budget.

Talk about a Vietnam trip

What would you
make time for?

Two street vendors grill food on small charcoal braziers beside a Hanoi pavement.

Eat your way through Hanoi

A food-focused walk through Hanoi’s neighbourhoods.

Visitors in small rowing boats travel between tall limestone cliffs in Ninh Binh.

Boat through Ninh Binh

A boat excursion among the limestone scenery at Trang An or Tam Coc.

Boats travel between limestone islands on the open water of Ha Long Bay.

Ha Long Bay or Hoi An

A Ha Long Bay cruise, or Hoi An’s Ancient Town and craft visits on a central-region trip.

Before you choose your dates.

Which region suits my month?
Hanoi and Ha Long are often pleasant to plan around in spring and autumn; summer can be hot and stormy, while winter can be cool and misty. Hoi An is generally warmer and drier from February to August, with wetter weather from September to January.
How much of Vietnam should we include?
Northern and central Vietnam need a separate connection. With a week away, focusing on one region leaves more time for the places you came to see.
What needs flexibility?
Cruise plans can change with the weather, and rice-field colours change through the growing cycle. We plan around your dates and interests rather than a particular photograph.
Clear blue water meets a quiet sandy beach beneath a green cliff in Bali.

Bali

Indonesia

Ubud’s rice fields and galleries, with a few days on the south coast.

Forest-covered limestone islands rise from the calm waters of Raja Ampat.

Raja Ampat

Indonesia

Island stays, reef outings and limestone scenery reached by boat.

Your trip.
Planned together.

Have a trip to Vietnam in mind? Talk to Farhan about your dates, stays and the days you’d like to plan.