Chasing the Past in Vietnam’s Cultural Heartland

15 days from £6,875 for 2023 per person

• Hanoi
• Ky Son
• Mai Chau
• Ninh Binh
• Dong Hoi
• Hue
• Hoi-An

This itinerary is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Cultural Holidays.

Probably best known for her beaches and 20th Century history, Vietnam’s centuries of rich imperial history and many diverse inland hill tribes, who have largely managed to avoid the sprint towards modernity, are often overlooked. With the recent openings of a handful of hotels in the northern cultural heartland, it has now become possible to get off the beaten track without having to slum it.

Start your trip with a blast of the organised chaos that comprises Hanoi. A walk through the night market will give you a taste of Vietnamese cuisine with its countless street food stalls. Take in the city’s highlights on a whistle stop day tour, including the Confucian Temple of Literature and the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh.

From Hanoi, set off on a road-trip loop of the inland north; an area of outstanding natural beauty with the cultural artery of the Red River running through it’s centre. The scenery during the drives are as much a part of the experience as any of the specific destinations. First stop is the hamlet of Ky Son, where traditional rural architecture is beautifully displayed in a clutch of 200-year-old houses. Known as Vietnam’s ‘Home Counties’ it is considered the homeland of the nation’s culture and has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years. Next stop is Mai Chau, where hiking and biking is on offer to explore the lush surrounding area. Drive on to Ninh Binh, which is often described as Halong Bay on land owing to the towering limestone karst mountains, and visit the first royal Vietnamese capital at Hoa Lu before taking a leisurely boat journey through the UNESCO listed Trang An Grottoes.

Board the ‘Reunification Express’ train from Ninh Binh which whisks you down to the coastal city of Dong Hoi.  In nearby Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the world’s largest cave system, explore the network of towering stalactites and stalagmites.  On the drive to Hue - the last and most elaborate imperial capital of Vietnam – stop at the old DMZ and the Vinh Moc Tunnels, an untouched underground network of tunnels built to escape bombardment during the American War. The tour ends with a drive up and over the Hai Van Pass and a descent down to Hoi An for a couple of days unwinding on the beach.

This tour is purely a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is, or used as a starting point for creating your own luxury tailor-made holiday to Vietnam. If you'd like to see similar tours, take a look at our favourite Epic Journeys, as well as our Beach Holidays, Active Holidays and Spa & Wellness collections.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson