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Vietnam


by both air and sea, it has a tourism infrastructure which has developed at pace over the last 15 years, resulting in plenty of good beachside accommodation. Te newly opened Fusion Resort Phu Quoc, an all-villa spa hotel, is a case in point. Te island is also renowned for its diving and snorkeling, at its best between November and May. For clients looking for a quieter experience, meanwhile,


top picks include the gorgeous Ho Coc Beach, located around 80 miles south of Ho Chi Minh City, and the similarly lovely Hon Khoi Peninsula, which has the added benefit of being within easy reach of Nha Trang.


The exotic north Many visitors restrict their explorations of Northern


Vietnam to the tourist honeypots of Hanoi and Halong Bay. Tere’s no doubting the appeal of either place — the capital city is a thrilling melee of scooters and street food, while the karst peaks of Halong Bay make for one of Indochina’s most beautiful spots — but by venturing further afield, there are considerable rewards to be had. Tis is partly because Vietnam is the most ethnically


diverse country in Southeast Asia, and it’s here in the far north that its cultural minority groups are most in evidence. It’s also a very green, mountainous region with spectacular scenery. Te most visited hub in the region is the one-time hill station of Sapa, a high-altitude town surrounded by slopes layered with hundreds of rice terraces. It makes a natural base for multi-day trekking tours to nearby villages.


Te region is also much easier to get to than in years


gone by. “Te north of the country has become more accessible in recent years,” says Mundy. “Te road to Sapa now negates the need for overnight train journeys.” Sapa forms part of the so-called Northwest Loop,


a road-trip circuit that heads off the beaten track to incorporate remote valleys and tiny hamlets. It can be done comfortably in around a week, with motorbike hire a popular way of making the circuit. Te loop also gives visitors a chance to see Dien Bien Phu, the Vietnamese border town notorious for being the scene of a major battle with the French in the 1950s. A corresponding circular road trip can also be


done in the northeast, which again plays home to a variety of different ethnic groups and some impressive topography. And, across the whole of the north, distinctive ethnic costumes — such as the purple ▶


From top: Roadside food vendor, Nha Trang; rice terraces in Sapa


Samples


InsideVietnam Tours has a 12-night ‘Northern Star’ program, which travels into the northern highlands. Highlights include local markets, a boat trip across the country’s largest natural lake and stays in ethnic minority villages. Both Hanoi and Halong Bay also feature on the itinerary. insidevietnamtours.com


Luxury Travel Vietnam offers a 16-day ‘Unlock Emperor Bao Dai’s Secrets’ itinerary, retracing the footsteps of the Nguyen dynasty’s last emperor. As well as visiting the likes of Hanoi and Halong Bay, it also includes stays in some of Bao Dai’s former villas. From $3,864 per person, based on two sharing. luxurytravelvietnam.com


Pacific Holidays has a 12-night itinerary taking in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, costing from $4,630 per person, including airfare from the West Coast. Beginning in Laos, the program moves onto Vietnam to visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City before heading into Cambodia. pacificholidaysinc.com


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