Private journeys in Southeast Asia
Festival journey
Vietnam at Tet
Nine days across the north and centre during the one week of the year when the whole country stops working, goes home, and cooks.
The idea
Why travel during Tet
Tet is the lunar new year, and it is the only week of the year when Vietnam genuinely stops. Cities empty as people travel back to the province they came from. Kitchens run all day. Streets that were all commerce the week before turn quiet and domestic.
It is a strange and rewarding time to visit, with two honest drawbacks: many family-run restaurants and shops close for several days, and domestic transport books out weeks ahead. We plan around both. What you get in return is a country doing the thing it cares most about, in front of you.
The dates move every year with the lunar calendar — usually late January or February. Tell us your year and we will send the exact window.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive in Hanoi
Met at the airport and driven into the Old Quarter. Nothing scheduled — the first evening is for walking to the lake and eating something hot.
Day 2
Hanoi before the holiday
The flower markets in the days before Tet are the best street theatre in the country: kumquat trees and peach branches strapped to motorbikes in quantities that should not be possible. Morning with your guide, afternoon free.
Day 3
Ninh Binh
A day south among limestone hills and flooded fields, rowed through caves by boat. Back in Hanoi for the evening.
Day 4
New year's eve in Hanoi
A quieter city by the hour. Your guide takes you to a market while it still functions, then the evening is yours; the streets fill again near midnight.
Day 5
Fly to Hue
South to the old imperial capital. Tombs and the citadel in the afternoon, which are at their best when half-empty.
Day 6
Over the pass to Hoi An
The coast road over the Hai Van Pass with stops you choose, arriving in Hoi An by mid-afternoon.
Day 7
Hoi An
A cooking morning in a family kitchen, since this is the week when everyone else is cooking too. Afternoon free for the beach or the tailors.
Day 8
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
A different country by dinner: hotter, louder, and back at work sooner after the holiday than the north.
Day 9
Depart
Free until your transfer to the airport.
Price
What it costs
| Travellers | Three-star hotels | Four-star hotels |
|---|---|---|
| 2 travellers | On request | On request |
| 4 - 6 travellers | On request | On request |
| 7 - 12 travellers | On request | On request |
The practical part
What is included
What the price includes
- Eight nights in three- or four-star hotels, twin or double
- Private guide in each city and a private car and driver throughout
- Two domestic flights, Hanoi to Hue and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Breakfast daily, plus four lunches and the cooking class
- All entrance fees on the itinerary
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
What it does not include
- International flights and visa fees
- Dinners, so you can follow your appetite
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal spending
- Length
- Nine days, eight nights
- Starts
- Hanoi
- Ends
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Group
- Private departure, up to 12
- Pace
- Easy — one main activity a day
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the country at its most itself
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Will everything be closed?
Some of it, for about three days. Museums and major sites mostly stay open; small family restaurants shut. Your guide knows what is trading and will reroute the day around it.
Is it more expensive?
Domestic flights and hotels cost more over the holiday week and sell out early. Booking two to three months ahead makes a real difference to both price and choice.
Can we join a family celebration?
Sometimes, and only where the invitation is genuine rather than arranged. We will tell you honestly whether it is on offer for your dates instead of promising it in advance.
Could we do this in reverse, starting in the south?
Yes. It usually works better for people flying in from Bangkok or Singapore, and we will re-time the domestic flights to match.
Journey ideas
Where a private route could take you
Start planning
Let’s plan your journey
Five quick questions. Your coordinator will take it from there.
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