Vietnam Holidays

Vietnam grabs you from the moment you land: the food is unreal, the people are even warmer than the weather, the scenery is straight out of a film, and your money goes further than almost anywhere on the planet. Our holidays fly into Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, two of Southeast Asia's most exciting cities, and the rest of the country is on the doorstep of both.

✨ Vietnam Holiday Highlights 2026 and 2027

• The street food is the best in the world. Pho, banh mi and a glass of bia hoi (fresh draught beer) cost pocket change, so you'll eat like royalty all week.

• The landscapes are properly cinematic. Ha Long Bay's limestone karsts rising out of emerald water, the terraced rice paddies of Sapa, the Mekong Delta's floating markets and the white sand of Da Nang and Phu Quoc.

• The energy is addictive. Millions of motorbikes weaving through the streets, night markets buzzing until late, rooftop bars with skyline views, and a cafe culture built around some of the best coffee you'll ever drink.

• The history runs deep. From the ancient town of Hoi An (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Imperial Citadel of Hue, Vietnam wears its past with pride and tells its story honestly.

• It's one of the best value long-haul destinations from the UK & Ireland. Five-star hotels for three-star prices, meals out for a few pounds and taxis across town for loose change.

📌 Good to Know for your holidays to Vietnam

• ☀️ Vietnam stretches over 1,600km from north to south, so the weather varies hugely. Ho Chi Minh City is warm year-round (25-35°C) with a wet season from May to November. Hanoi has proper seasons, with cool, dry winters (14-22°C) and hot, humid summers. The sweet spot is October to April.

• 💷 Vietnam is spectacularly cheap. A bowl of pho costs around £2, a bia hoi draft beer is about 40p, and a full meal in a decent restaurant comes in at £6-8. Even top-end restaurants rarely cost more than £15-£20 a head.

• 🏍️ Vietnam has more motorbikes than any country in the world per capita. In Ho Chi Minh City alone there are over 7 million registered bikes. Crossing the road is an art form. The trick? Walk slowly and steadily, and the bikes will flow around you.

A holiday in Vietnam is perfect for you if...

• You want a city break and a food holiday in one, and you'll happily plan the day around lunch

• You like your culture with a bit of chaos: temples, night markets and a river of motorbikes on the same street

• You want a long-haul holiday where your money goes further every single day

• You'd rather try coffee with whipped egg on top than order the same flat white you get at home

• You want a Vietnam holiday that's as much about the people you meet as the places you see

Making the most of your holiday to Vietnam

"The best day of our trip was a day out of Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Picture flat green rice fields with huge limestone mountains shooting straight up out of them, hundreds of them, covered in greenery. Absolutely mental scenery. To see them, you need to get into a little boat at Trang An, then you get rowed along a river that winds round the foot of these mountains. Every so often the river disappears into a cave right through a mountain, so low you have to duck, and you come out in a different valley. Totally silent apart from the oars (take some cash to tip your rower). Then in the late afternoon we climbed the 500 steps up Mua Cave to a lookout on top of one of the peaks, with the whole valley spread out below. Absolutely magic. Two more tips. In Hanoi, queue for breakfast at Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan street, the best pho of the whole trip. And in Ho Chi Minh City, take the river bus out of the city at sunset, it's spectacular."

-Rob Brooks, OtB Holiday Expert

🏨 Hotels in Vietnam 2026 and 2027

Vietnam's hotel scene punches well above its weight. You'll find boutique stays with rooftop pools, colonial-era charm and spa treatments for a fraction of what you'd pay anywhere in Europe. Our Vietnam hotels are split between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

💑 What are the best hotels for a couples' holiday to Vietnam?

• La Siesta Premium Saigon - Five-star in the middle of District 1, with a spa and the Opera House, the Reunification Palace and Bui Vien all a stroll away. One of the best-reviewed hotels in the city.

• The Myst Dong Khoi - Five-star beside the Saigon River, with an outdoor pool, a spa and the Opera House a 5-minute walk away. Proper date-night material.

• Hanoi Le Jardin Hotel & Spa - A boutique hotel with a garden and a spa, a short walk from the Old Quarter, for when you want somewhere calm to come back to.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels for holidays in Vietnam?

• Somerset Grand Hanoi - Five-star serviced apartments in Hoan Kiem, so there's room to spread out, with a pool and a gym and the lake a short walk away.

• Somerset Chancellor Court Ho Chi Minh City - Apartments with open kitchens, a pool and a kids' club, a short walk from the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

• Novotel Saigon Centre - Indoor and outdoor pools, a children's splash area and playground, and a rooftop bar for when the kids are in bed.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels for Vietnam holiday packages?

• Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi - Hanoi's grand hotel since 1901, with a pool beside the colonial Heritage Wing and a tour of the wartime bomb shelter hidden under the bar.

• Park Hyatt Saigon - Across the square from the Opera House, with a pool in a tropical garden, the Xuan Spa and Square One, one of the city's best restaurants.

• Nikko Saigon - Five-star with a garden, a club lounge, a much-loved seafood dinner buffet and a free shuttle to the main sights.

👉 See all Vietnam hotels

Must see in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country built for exploring. Even if you're based in one city, day trips open up some of the most spectacular scenery in Southeast Asia.

• Ha Long Bay - Around 1,600 limestone islands and islets rising from emerald water. Overnight cruise boats are the classic way to see it, and they're surprisingly affordable. About 2.5 hours from Hanoi by road.

• Hoi An Ancient Town - A UNESCO World Heritage Site with lantern-lit streets, tailor shops and some of the best food in the country. Time your visit for the monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival and the whole town glows.

• Imperial City of Hue - Vietnam's former capital, with a vast walled citadel, ornate royal tombs and dragon boat rides on the Perfume River. A proper step back in time.

• Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Home to some of the largest caves on earth, including Son Doong, the world's biggest. Underground rivers, massive caverns and jungle-covered karst mountains.

• Sapa rice terraces - Cascading green terraces carved into misty mountain slopes in Vietnam's far north. Trek between hill tribe villages and stay in local homestays. Go from late August to late September, when the rice turns gold before the harvest.

• Da Nang and the central coast - Long stretches of white sand, the Marble Mountains, and the Dragon Bridge, which breathes actual fire on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

• Mekong Delta - A maze of rivers, floating markets and fruit orchards south of Ho Chi Minh City. Take a boat through the narrow canals and sample tropical fruit straight from the trees.

• Hai Van Pass - The most scenic road in Vietnam, winding along clifftops between Da Nang and Hue. Made famous by Top Gear, and best experienced on the back of a motorbike (with a driver, if you prefer).

📍 Where to Stay on Your Vietnam Holidays

Our Vietnam hotels are in two cities: Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Both are brilliant, but they've got very different vibes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay on holidays to Vietnam?

• District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - The city's central district, with wide boulevards, parks, the Saigon Zoo, museums and loads of restaurants. Easy to get around on foot or by Grab (Vietnam's version of Uber), and most family-friendly hotels are here.

• Hoan Kiem area, Hanoi - The area around Hoan Kiem Lake is compact, walkable and full of things to see. The Water Puppet Theatre, the Old Quarter's sweet shops and Ngoc Son Temple are all a short stroll away.

💑 Where should couples stay on a Vietnam holiday?

• Old Quarter, Hanoi - Narrow streets, tiny bars, egg coffee shops and the buzz of the night market. Chaotic and romantic in equal measure, and perfect for couples who like their evenings atmospheric.

• Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Minh City - The city's most elegant street, lined with French colonial buildings, upscale restaurants, rooftop bars and the Opera House. A more polished, grown-up side of Saigon.

🎉 Where should groups stay on Vietnam holidays?

• Bui Vien, Ho Chi Minh City - The backpacker strip, but don't let that put you off. Cheap beer, street food, live music and a buzzing atmosphere that kicks off every night.

• Bia Hoi Corner, Hanoi - Tiny plastic stools, fresh draught beer for pennies and the kind of atmosphere you can't manufacture. It's where locals and travellers mix, and the perfect start to a night out in the Old Quarter.

🗣️ Local Lingo

Vietnamese is a tonal language, so pronunciation is tricky for English speakers. But even a basic attempt at a few words will earn you huge smiles. Most people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City working in tourism speak some English, and Google Translate is your best friend for everything else.

• Xin chào, sin chow, Hello

• Cảm ơn, gahm uhn, Thank you

• Một, hai, ba, dô!, moht, hai, bah, yo, One, two, three, cheers! (the Vietnamese drinking toast)

• Ngon quá!, ngon kwah, Delicious!

• Tính tiền, tin tee-en, The bill, please

• Chào buổi sáng, chow boo-oy sahng, Good morning

• Xin lỗi, sin loy, Sorry / excuse me

• Bao nhiêu?, bow nyew, How much?

Cheap holidays and package holidays to Vietnam

Vietnam is MADE for cheap holidays! Sure, the flight is never gonna be as cheap as Spain, but once you're there you're living very well. Our Vietnam package holidays bundle your flights and your hotel into one booking, which saves you money compared to getting them seperately, and you only need a low deposit to secure them, so the biggest cost of the trip is sorted before you go.

After that, Vietnam is one of the cheapest long-haul destinations there is: street food, taxis and a cold beer cost pocket change, and five-star hotels cost what three-stars do in Europe.

Getting the most from cheap holidays to Vietnam is mostly about where you eat. The best food in the country is on plastic stools at street stalls, and it's the cheapest too. Bed and breakfast is the usual board here, which suits a city where lunch and dinner are half the fun, and Ho Chi Minh City stays warm all year, so it works in any month you can travel.

What are the best value hotels in Vietnam?

Although all hotels in Vietnam provide exceptionally good value, here are 3 of our favourites...

• Oriental Suites Hotel & Spa - In the Old Quarter, a couple of minutes' walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, with a spa, sauna and steam room. One of the best-reviewed hotels in Hanoi, for a lot less than most of them.

• Harmony Saigon Hotel & Spa - An indoor pool and a spa, usually sold with breakfast, a 12-minute stroll from Ben Thanh Market.

• Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon - Five stars, an outdoor pool, a spa and three restaurants for four-star money. It sits between the centre and the airport, so you'll be taking a Grab into town.

Vietnam Holidays Travel Guide 2026/2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a family holiday in Vietnam?

• Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi - A uniquely Vietnamese art form where carved wooden puppets dance across a water stage to live traditional music. Shows last about 50 minutes, tickets are cheap, and kids are mesmerised.

• Make your own pot at Bat Trang - A riverside pottery village 30 to 45 minutes from Hanoi, where kids can sit at a wheel with an instructor and make something to take home. Pieces need firing first, so ask about collecting or posting them.

• Weekend nights round Hoan Kiem Lake - From Friday evening to Sunday night the streets round the lake close to traffic, and the whole city comes out for tug of war, skipping, shuttlecock kicking and street performers.

• Cu Chi Tunnels - A day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Kids can crawl through sections of the wartime tunnel network (widened for visitors), and the outdoor exhibits make history feel tangible. Best for older children.

• Botanical Gardens and Zoo, Ho Chi Minh City - One of the oldest zoos in the world, founded in 1864 and set in shady tropical gardens. A peaceful escape from the city heat, and it won't break the bank.

💑 What are the best things to do on a couples' holiday in Vietnam?

• Egg coffee at Cafe Giang, Hanoi - The family that invented ca phe trung (egg coffee) in 1946 still serves it here: whipped egg yolk and condensed milk that tastes like liquid tiramisu. Tiny, atmospheric and a Hanoi institution.

• Overnight junk boat on Ha Long Bay - Wake up surrounded by limestone islands rising out of emerald water, kayak through hidden lagoons and watch the sunset from the deck with a cold beer. Most cruises leave from Hanoi and include meals.

• A cooking class in Hanoi - Most start with a walk round a local market to buy the ingredients, then you cook three or four classics, bun cha and spring rolls usually among them, and eat the lot.

• Rooftop cocktails in Ho Chi Minh City - The Saigon skyline at night is something else. Social Club Rooftop Bar, 24 floors up at Hôtel des Arts, serves craft cocktails with views that make you feel like you're in a film.

• Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City - In Cholon, the old Chinese district. Giant coils of incense hang from the ceiling, each one carrying somebody's wish, and burn for weeks. Free entry, and properly atmospheric.

🎉 What are the best things to do in Vietnam on a group holiday?

• Motorbike food tour, Ho Chi Minh City - Hop on the back of a scooter and let a local guide take your group through back alleys and markets, stopping for pho, banh xeo and grilled seafood. Chaotic, brilliant fun.

• Karaoke in Hanoi - Private karaoke rooms are everywhere and cheap, and Vietnamese karaoke culture is massive. Joining in is one of the best group nights out you can have.

• Bia hoi crawl, Hanoi - The ultimate budget night out. Fresh beer brewed that morning, served on tiny plastic stools at street-corner joints for pennies. Start at Bia Hoi Corner (Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen) and see where the night takes you.

• A day on the Mekong Delta - About two hours from Ho Chi Minh City. The highlight is a little rowing boat through narrow canals under the coconut palms, with fruit orchards and a riverside lunch along the way.

🌏 More Holiday Destinations

Southeast Asia

• 🇹🇭 Thailand Beaches, temples, incredible street food and prices that make your jaw drop. Phuket is the big hitter for package holidays from the UK & Ireland.

• 🇯🇵 Japan Ancient temples, neon cities, bullet trains and the best food culture on earth. A completely different flavour of Asia.

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia Bali is the star of the show. Rice terraces, surf beaches, temple ceremonies and sunset cocktails at a fraction of European prices.

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur's skyline, Langkawi's beaches and Penang's legendary street food scene. A brilliant mix of city buzz and tropical escape.

• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong Dim sum, harbour views, hiking trails and some of the most exciting shopping in Asia. Compact, electric, and easy to navigate.

South Asia & Indian Ocean

• 🇮🇳 India The Taj Mahal, Goa's golden beaches, spice-scented bazaars and food that'll change your life. A full-on sensory adventure.

• 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Tea plantations, elephants, ancient temples and golden beaches. A proper adventure destination that's getting more popular every year.

• 🇲🇻 Maldives Overwater villas, turquoise lagoons and the kind of peace and quiet you can't find anywhere else. The ultimate couples' escape.