The major gateway cities would be Hoh Chi Ming in the South formally Saigon (although the locals still use Saigon for the centre of the city) and Hanoi in the North. When planning a trip to Vietnam it is often dictated by weather and flight connectivity. We chose to start in the warmer south and finish in the slightly cooler north. 

Over the years of tailoring itineraries on behalf of clients and with my own travels, the most important factor is often pace. See too little and you may feel you missed out, cram in too much and it becomes a bit of a blur, and you may need another holiday after the one you are on! When doing a lot of travelling and particularly navigating busy cities it's important to have some down days, to go off the beaten track on your own, spend a day at the pool or beach or pamper yourself in a spa. Meeting the locals on your own bat is an important factor too. 

First up Ho Chi Minh City, fast‑paced and modern, with sleek skyscrapers, rooftop bars and a thriving food scene. After a few hours rest, we dove straight in and done a scooter tour around the city. There are approximately 7.5 million scooters/motorbikes in HCM City, and the traffic must be seen to be believed. There are minimal traffic lights and a system of beeps in place and holding a hand up in the air for pedestrians crossing the street. Among our stops on the tour were the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, the Central Post Office, Opera House, Emperor Jade Pagoda and Nguyen Hue Street (Walking Street) to finish up with an iced coffee. 

The following day we set off earlier for just over a 90 minute journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a huge network of underground tunnels built originally for the war against the French colonists in the 40's and expanded extensively in the 60's by the Viet Cong for the Vietnam War.  Today, it stands as a preserved memorial park and one of Vietnam's most iconic historical destinations. You can walk through the forested site and see original, cleverly disguised tunnel entrances, learn how people lived, worked and moved underground during the war.

From Ho Chi Minh City, we flew north to Hue and stepped straight into Vietnam’s imperial past. The city is on the banks of the Perfume River, and its moated Citadel, royal tombs and pagodas tell stories of emperors and dynasties of the past. During a guided tour we wandered through the walled Imperial City, exploring courtyards, palaces, royal tombs in the surrounding countryside of the once imperial capital of Vietnam. Hue has a more relaxed, unhurried feel to it after the buzz of HCM City. It is a lovely place to slow down, enjoy a dinner in a restaurant and the riverside setting.

On leaving Hue, we decided to build in a full day of touring as we wound our way down the coast to Hoi An. We travelled via the dramatic Hai Van Pass, a winding coastal road that hugs the mountainside with spectacular views enroute. Along the way we had various stops tailored to our requirements by our driver, plenty of photo opportunities, among the highlights was the Marble Mountains. The outstanding highlight of the day was Sun World's Ba Na Hills theme park, a resort built in the mountains about half an hour from Da Nang city. This was truly spectacular, an amazing feet in terms of engineering, design and construction. The mountain resort is over 1,400 metres above sea level and connected by a series of cable cars, so long that they hold multiple Guinness World Records including the longest nonstop single track cable car. Among the spectacular sights are the Golden Bridge, French Village, Le Jardin D’amour flower garden, Debay Wine Cellar, Linh Ung Pagoda & Fantasy Park. There are also various rides, theatres and all sorts happening in the resort including Octoberfest celebrations taking place during our visit. So much so, in hindsight I think a full day trip from Da Nang or even an overnight in one of the onsite hotels is required to partake in the many attractions. 

Arriving in Hoi An, the atmosphere softens and the pace slows once more. This riverside town is one of Vietnam’s prettiest places. After dark it transforms, with lanterns everywhere, including on the boats that glide along the river, turning it into a floating blanket of light. A guided tour through the narrow lanes of the old town is a must, taking in the historic merchant houses, bustling markets and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. Hoi An is also renowned for its tailors, so you can have something special made to remember your trip or to wear for a future occasion.

After a short flight from Da Nang, we arrived at our final stop of Hanoi. We stayed in the bustling old quarter just opposite Hoan Kiem Lake (Green Lake) and it was a superb location. Our few days there coincided with a local holiday so the streets around the lake were pedestrianised, and the locals and tourists were all out adding to a great atmosphere in the evenings. A guided tour with a local is recommended to see the must see sights the highlight among them Hao Lo Prison, which earned the nickname of the Hanoi Hilton with the American GIs. The next day we set off early for the 2.5 hour transfer to the UNESCO world Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, over 1,600 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters. We sailed around the islands on a traditional junk boat, visiting other islands with options to swim, hike, kayak and ride on a bamboo boat. What a magical day and sight to behold. Our final 2 free days in Hanoi were mainly spent relaxing, meeting with locals and doing some trainspotting on the famous train street, a must do on a visit to the city. 

This was one of those trips we did so well that I honestly thought we’d never go back, because it could never be bettered. Yet after having the worst case of holiday blues I’ve ever experienced on our return, I’m not so sure. There is simply so much to see that we couldn’t possibly fit into our two-and-a-half-week stay. The value on the ground is superb. Another real highlight was the people: they are genuine, warm and incredibly friendly. Most Vietnamese working in hospitality or tourism speak excellent English too, which makes it even easier to connect and adds to the feeling of a truly welcoming, magnificent country.