Destination Guide

Vietnam

Emerald karsts and misty rice terraces, the world's largest caves, lantern-lit ancient towns and some of the finest food on earth — guided by a South African who has called Vietnam home for six years.

Best seasons
Spring · Autumn
Climate
Tropical monsoon
Currency
VND
Language
VN & ENG
Visa
Required
Flight time
16 – 19 hours
Time zone
GMT+7

Why travel to Vietnam with us

An Afrikaans-speaking guide who lives the culture — something no other operator offers.

An exceptional guide who calls Vietnam home

Your guide, Jurgie Schoeman, is a South African who has lived in Vietnam for close to six years. He speaks fluent Vietnamese, is deeply connected to local communities, and guides in Afrikaans, English and Vietnamese. It’s a rare combination — and it means you’ll experience Vietnam through the eyes of someone who truly knows it, opening doors most travellers never even see.

Itineraries designed by people who know Vietnam

Our journeys weren’t designed from behind a desk. Journey curator Hanri Loubser lived in Hanoi for three years, and CEO Jurgens Schoeman has travelled extensively across the country. Every destination, activity and place to stay has been personally chosen to show you the very best of Vietnam.

Beyond the typical tourist trail

Of course you’ll see Vietnam’s famous highlights — but that’s only part of the story. Our tours are built to reveal the real Vietnam: hidden gems, authentic local experiences, incredible food, rich culture and unforgettable places most travellers never discover. And, as always with Live the Journey, adventure never means compromising on comfort.

As seen on kykNET’s Elders

Vietnam features in the latest season of Elders, kykNET’s much-loved travel programme presented by Erns Grundling, who joins Jurgie on the ground in Vietnam to explore exactly the kind of journey you’ll experience with us. If the country captured your imagination on screen, this is your invitation to live it for yourself.

Why visit Vietnam

Why Vietnam gets under your skin.

Scenery that stops you in your tracks

From the emerald karsts of Ha Long Bay to the misty rice terraces of Sapa, Vietnam serves up some of the most breathtaking landscapes in all of Asia.

Some of the world’s best food

Fragrant pho, fresh spring rolls, sizzling street food and regional specialities — Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, varied and endlessly delicious.

A history you can walk through

Thousand-year-old cities, imperial citadels, wartime tunnels and French colonial streets bring Vietnam’s layered past vividly to life.

Warm, welcoming people

Vietnam is famous for its hospitality. Shared meals in family homes and roadside smiles are often travellers’ most treasured memories.

Incredible value for money

World-class food, comfortable stays and unforgettable experiences.

Caves unlike anywhere on Earth

Central Vietnam holds the planet’s largest caves, including Hang En and Son Doong — vast underground worlds very few travellers ever see.

Coffee culture worth crossing the world for

As the world’s second-largest coffee producer, Vietnam turns coffee into an art — from silky egg coffee to creamy coconut coffee.

Wonderfully off the beaten track

Beyond the famous sights lie hidden valleys, remote villages and untouched corners — exactly where Live the Journey loves to take you.

Available tours in Vietnam

Four scheduled 2027 departures — or book any of them as a private, bespoke journey.

Filter all tours
When to go

Vietnam’s weather varies from north to south — there’s almost always somewhere at its best.

Jan
cool north
Feb
our tours
Mar
our tours
Apr
our tours
May
warm · green
Jun
hot · wet
Jul
hot · wet
Aug
hot · wet
Sep
central rains
Oct
central rains
Nov
central rains
Dec
cool north
Prime — ideal for all activities
Good — shoulder season, fewer crowds
Do not recommend — weather or seasonal limits
Prime · Feb – Apr · Nov

The best all-round conditions across the country — exactly why we have timed our 2027 journeys for February to April. November brings clear, dry days too.

Good · Jan · May · Sep – Oct · Dec

Shoulder months that travel well. The far north is coolest in December and January, while central Vietnam — Hoi An and Hue — has its wettest spell from October to December.

Do not recommend · Jun – Aug

Vietnam’s hottest and wettest stretch. Heat and humidity peak, and heavy rain limits travel across much of the country.

What Vietnam is known for

The signature experiences this country is famous for.

H
Ha Long Bay

Thousands of limestone islands in emerald sea.

S
Street food & pho

Fragrant noodle soups and sidewalk feasts.

V
Vietnamese coffee

Egg coffee and world-beating brews.

R
Breathtaking rice terraces

Living cultural landscapes in Sapa and Pu Luong.

L
Hoi An’s lanterns

A glowing, UNESCO-listed Ancient Town.

C
The world’s biggest caves

Phong Nha’s vast underground realm.

G
The Ha Giang Loop

One of Asia’s greatest road trips.

M
A sea of motorbikes

Millions weaving through buzzing streets.

How to travel Vietnam

Two wonderful ways to experience Vietnam with us.

Small-Group Tour

Choose from 4 itineraries

Four unique small-group journeys — from the remote Ha Giang Loop and a night inside Hang En Cave to Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Pu Luong and Hoi An. Available as a bespoke tour.

View the tours →

Bespoke

Tailor it

Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll craft a private, tailor-made journey built entirely around you — your dates, your pace, your interests and your travel companions.

Design my trip →

Did you know?

A few things about Vietnam most visitors don’t expect.

01
It’s so much more than the war.

For many, Vietnam means one chapter of history — but the war is a small part of a rich, thousand-year story of dynasties, culture and resilience.

02
The north gets genuinely cold.

Vietnam isn’t tropical from top to bottom. The northern mountains turn misty and chilly in winter — a world away from the warm southern beaches.

03
Exceptional quality.

Photo gallery

Vietnam through our travellers’ lenses.

Imagining your own Vietnam?

Vietnam, beyond the expected.

Prefer to travel on your own terms? We'll craft a private, tailor-made journey built entirely around you — your dates, your pace, your interests and your travel companions.

Browse all tours Plan a bespoke trip