STEAL THIS TRIP
A dream cultural adventure in Vietnam
Planned by Keely Asia Specialist
Vietnam visitors tend to focus their trips around the 5 big Hs – Hanoi, Hoi An, Halong Bay, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a classic route for a reason: hitting the main sights, tasting the best food, and seeing the most spectacular views.
But we always encourage our travellers to venture a little further afield, too – which is why I enjoyed putting this trip together.
The travellers
I planned this trip for the Malone family: Tighearnach, an amateur photographer, Mary, an ex-serial backpacker, and their two teenage kids. They came to us wanting a family trip that would introduce them to more unique ways of travel, in a destination they’ve been desperate to visit for years: Vietnam.
The trip
Rather than scaling the entire country in two weeks, I focused most of their trip close to Hanoi, so they could spend time diving into some very Vietnamese experiences, like meeting communities in Pu Luong and taking in the limestone karsts at cloud level.
The adventure
Hanoi - embrace the chaos and energy
The Malones’ trip starts in Hanoi – where they'll jump right into the city’s fantastically chaotic energy.
It’s a place that never stops moving – and neither should they, if they want to get across the roads (pro tip: step out at a moment where there’s a gap in the stream of mopeds, walk steadily and keep going. The traffic will weave around you.)
I love Hanoi for the sound of mopeds mingling with the smell of bun cha (pork noodles), the powerlines criss-crossing overhead, and the people crouching street-side on plastic stools as they enjoy their pho.
It’s also great for shopping – and I’ve suggested spending time in the Old Quarter, where the 36 streets are named after their wares, like the famous Hang Gai (Silk Street) or Hang Duong Street (Sugar Street), for sweet, salty and spicy snacks.
Hanoi’s not all chaos, though. In the early morning, walk down to the central Hoan Kiem Lake – you can loop it in half an hour, and if you’re there around 7am, you’ll see older locals practising t’ai chi, power walking furiously, or taking lake-front dance lessons.
Pu Luong – explore Vietnam’s countryside, without the crowds
When people ask me where I think Vietnam should be known for, I say Pu Luong.
The Pu Luong nature reserve, for me, is the epitome of the country’s aesthetic – with rippling rice paddy terraces, domineering karst mountains and clusters of thatched roofs. But tourists often miss it, heading to Sapa instead.
The Malones’ trip will coincide with the rice harvest – meaning the landscape will be lush, and it’s an ideal time for trekking, biking, and exploring the waterfalls and limestone caves.
There’s a great opportunity to experience a home-stay in a bamboo-walled, family bungalow in a regional farming village. There, you can eat the freshest, locally-grown produce and chat to locals whose bright, traditionally coloured clothing contrasts against the natural landscape – capturing the colours and communities of rural Vietnam.
Ninh Binh – take a sampan ride through rice paddies and trek deep into caves
Some say Ninh Binh is the dry land version of world-famous Halong Bay, and I’m sure Tighearnach will be filling his camera roll here.
First, I’ve planned for the family to take a traditional sampan boat ride, steered by their guide through flooded fields carpeted with rice plants, lotus and waterlily. It’s a very chilled out way to take in the landscape - cutting through caves, spotting temples deep in forests, and passing water buffalo bathing on the riverbanks.
Back on dry (ish!) land, the Malones can hike up through the limestone karsts to get an aerial overview of the fields and rivers. Some of these are small enough to climb in a satisfying 30 min – so it won’t take all day to catch a view.
Lan Ha Bay – the more secluded sister to Halong
The Malones had Halong Bay high up their Vietnam wish list - famous for its azure seascape and (yet more!) limestone karsts.
But with international fame bringing in the crowds, I thought Lan Ha Bay, Halong’s lesser-known neighbour, would be more up their street. It holds 200 of the limestone pinnacles – but sees a little less boat traffic.
Most people take in Lan Ha Bay by boat, but for a wholly different perspective, I’ve booked the Malones a sea plane ride – which is an experience in itself.
A sea plane is a true amphibian of a vehicle. Starting on land, it drives into the sea, floats for a few moments and then takes off. It is loud, it is rickety, and it is 100% my favourite way to see the bay, from the sky. The best views come from the front and right side of the plane, so grab your spot swiftly when boarding.
Hoi An – get a tailor-made garment and taste coconut coffee
Hoi An is most famous for its lanterns and feels very European, with push bikes parked up and bright yellow buildings with colourful shutters. The Old Town is a UNESCO world heritage site and no cars are allowed through its ancient streets.
The city is also renowned for its skilled seamstresses. The Malones wanted to have their own suits and dresses made – so I’ve lined up a visit to my favourite tailor.
They’ll choose designs, head to the market round the corner to pick from smart linen or patterned silk, and then get measured up – ready to collect their clothes the very next day. Afterwards, they can nip into the nearby Espresso Station to try a Vietnamese speciality: iced coconut coffee.
For dinner, I recommend the family heads to Vy’s Market – which holds 12 different restaurants with a fun, street food vibe. You can try lots of different dishes with good veggie options – including Hoi An’s famous ‘rose dumplings'.
Did you know?
The central Vietnamese accent is known to be the hardest to understand – even for the Vietnamese from other regions themselves. It’s like someone from deepest Cornwall trying to understand Cockney slang, or a Londoner speaking to a Glaswegian bus driver.
Vietnam's secret power:
Vietnam’s food is balanced across five flavours, based on the elements: metal (spice), wood (sour), fire (bitter), water (salty) and earth (sweet). Each dish aims to perfectly balance these tastes. With this formula, it’s no wonder it’s seen as one of the most delicious in the world.
Did you know?
The central Vietnamese accent is known to be the hardest to understand – even for the Vietnamese from other regions themselves. It’s like someone from deepest Cornwall trying to understand Cockney slang, or a Londoner speaking to a Glaswegian bus driver.
Vietnam's secret power:
Vietnam’s food is balanced across five flavours, based on the elements: Metal (Spice), Wood (Sour), Fire (Bitter), Water (Salty) and Earth (Sweet). Each dish aims to perfectly balance across these five tastes. With this formula, it’s no wonder it’s seen as one of the most delicious in the world.