Journeys in Vietnam
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Vietnam Tours and Cruises
Vietnam is a compelling mix of history and culture made all the more captivating by the warm welcome extended from the friendly locals, From the north’s fertile rice terraces and colourful markets to the remote fishing villages of the South’s Mekong Delta, Vietnam is a tapestry of glorious landscapes. Explore the lively capital, Hanoi and dynamic Saigon, the commercial and cultural heart of country. Absorb the beauty and heritage at the UNESCO sites of awe-inspiring Halong Bay and the ancient town of Hoi An with its traditional temples. Vietnam also has a wealth of unspoilt coastline, offering an alternative for a relaxing beach holiday. With a wide range of tours to Vietnam available through Bales, a rich and varied experience is guaranteed
"Vietnam has a unique and rich civilisation with amazing scenery and cultured locals. The long history of the war shall never be forgotten but Vietnam has moved on and embraced tourism. The country varies hugely from north to south and this forms the major charm that Vietnam offers."
Paul Taylow
one of our Far East Experts
Call our Far East team on 0844 488 1123 or send us an enquiry
Things to do and see
HALONG BAY
With more than 3,000 islands rising dramatically from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is one of south-east Asia's most spectacular sights. As well as cruising in the bay, you can explore the extensive caves systems on some of the islands, with their impressive stalactites and stalagmites.....
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HOI AN
One of Vietnam’s four UNESCO World Heritage sites, Hoi An is a picturesque town with a charmingly preserved collection of temples, Chinese-style wooden houses and a history that reflects the central role it played in the trade between Europe and Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries. The streets are perfect for exploring on foot or by bicycle and with great beaches close by, Hoi An is the ideal place to combine culture and relaxation....
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MEKONG DELTA
Essential to the very livelihoods of its people, the myriad network of channels and tributaries that make up the Mekong Delta offer a spectacular window upon life along the banks of this mighty river. Rich in cultural diversity and scenic splendour, the lush landscapes present an ever-changing tableau of village life, offering a stark contrast to the colonial grandeur and vibrancy of some other parts of the region. Sightseeing is predominantly based on or along the river, visiting remote fishing villages and traditional floating markets and exploring river islands and remote pagodas, enjoying the serenity of the forested hills and rice paddies and the spectacle of life amongst the tropical wetlands of south eastern Vietnam.....
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HANOI
A city of tree-lined avenues and ornate architecture, which holds more cultural sites than any other city in the country, the Vietnamese capital still exudes all the colonial elegance of its French heritage. Lying besides the Red River it has enjoyed a prominent place in Vietnam’s turbulent history for nearly 1,000 years, a factor reflected in its wealth of pagodas and temples and the myriad artisans trading amongst its colourful and diverse network of back streets.....
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SAPA
Picturesque Sapa lies amidst the spectacular mountain scenery of north west Vietnam, in the shadow of Mount Fansipan. A glorious region of indigenous hill tribes, rice terraces and verdant hills, it is a timeless landscape of water buffaloes and colourful markets, where a walk through the local villages reveals the true heart of this stunning country. Reached by overnight train from Hanoi, Sapa is one of the highlights of a visit to Vietnam.....
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HALONG GINGER CRUISE HALONG BAY
Exploring the unique delights of Halong Bay aboard a traditional wooden Junk truly encapsulates the magic and beauty of this spectacular region. The Halong Ginger is a custom built vessel which features classic design and modern convenience with 10 well appointed en suite cabins and a massage room. With ample space to relax, enjoy a cocktail, and perhaps indulge in a little early morning Tai Chi, it offers the platform to fully appreciate this mesmerising region. This overnight cruise operates daily and Halong is approximately 4 hours drive from Hanoi.....
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Majestic Hotel, Saigon
An original French colonial building, recently renovated, the Majestic is located in the heart of the city overlooking the Saigon River. There are several restaurants and bars to choose from, including a rooftop restaurant and bars with superb views. All rooms have electronic safes, IDD telephone, minibar, hairdryer and satellite TV. Other services include same day laundry, currency exchange, florist and gift shop.....
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R.V Mekong
Launched in 2003, the R.V. Mekong has 34 twin cabins on 3 decks. All cabins have private facilities including a shower room. Cabins on the main deck have portholes, whereas the cabins on the middle and upper decks have windows and an outside seating area. There is a spacious dining room on the middle deck that during the day is open to the river breeze and at night can be closed and air conditioned. The bar is on the upper deck. There is a large sun deck area above, half covered by an awning. The cuisine is a mixture of Asian or European.....
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THE EMERAUDE HALONG BAY
One of the great natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay in northern Vietnam covers an area of 1,500 km over which are scattered thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald waters. An overnight cruise around Halong Bay on The Emeraude gives ample opportunity to enjoy the scenery in comfort. The boat is a replica of one of the classic steamships of the French colonial era.With 39 luxurious air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant, two bars and a sundeck, this is the ultimate Halong Bay experience.....
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VICTORIA CAN THO HOTEL & THE MEKONG DELTA
The attractive colonial-style Victoria Can Tho Hotel is set in lush gardens on the banks of the Hau River, one of the Mekong Delta’s nine estuaries. It has a total of 92 ensuite rooms, including 84 spacious and beautifully decorated single/twin rooms and 8 Victoria Suites with spectacular views. Room facilities include airconditioning, IDD telephone, satellite TV, minibar, individual electronic safe, hairdryer and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant serving international and Vietnamese cuisine and a bar. One of the highlights to a trip to the Delta is a visit to the early morning floating market. See the town come alive as produce is brought in by an assortment of craft from neighbouring communities and towns. By 7.00am the floating market is bustling with local colour and trade. Travel by sampan for a close look at the traders selling their wares and journey up one of the tributaries for a look at rural river life.....
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HOI AN RIVERSIDE HOTEL
The Hoi An Riverside Hotel is in an idyllic location on the banks of a river, located halfway between town and the beach. The hotel is built within mature gardens and the 60 rooms are designed like a French style villa, each villa comprising four rooms, two upper level and two on the ground floor. All rooms have mini-bars, 24-hour room service, safe, hairdryers and airconditioning. The picturesque port of Hoi An is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site and a lovely place to explore on foot. In the 17th Century, Hoi An was an important trading port, and you get the feeling that little has changed since then. The town centre is pedestrianised and the narrow streets are great for exploring. Places of interest include the Old Merchant House, The Hoi An Museum, Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge. From Hoi An you can also visit My Son, Vietnam’s most important Cham site.....
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THE SOFITEL METROPOLE HOTEL HANOI
The Metropole Hotel is the French equivalent of Raffles, originally opened in 1901 and now restored to its turn of the century elegance and charm. It has a classical white façade, green shutters and the original wrought iron detail. The design of the hotel is such that the garden area is totally enclosed in a large courtyard with lush vegetation and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel has 210 rooms and suites, including several nonsmoking floors. Excellent French cuisine can be enjoyed at the Le Beaulieu restaurant and refined Hanoi specialities at the Spices Garden. There are 3 bars – the Bamboo Bar, Le Club and the Met Bar - and 5 function rooms, a business centre, swimming pool and fitness centre.....
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Victoria Express Train
Victoria Express Train. Victoria own 2 carriages on the train that runs from Hanoi to Sapa. Your accommodation for the journey is based on sharing a 4-berth cabin although there are a limited number of 2-berth cabins, which are subject to availability at time of booking for a supplement (please ask for details). The train has a restaurant car where clients can get meals and snacks and there are communal washrooms (toilet and sink) at the end of each cabin. During overnight journeys the cabins are converted into beds complete with crisp linen and during the day these are converted back to comfortable seating.....
Victoria Sapa Hotel
Victoria Sapa Hotel is located amongst the Hoang Lien Mountains, in Lao Cai Province, near the Chinese border. It is located at 1650 metres above sea level and has fantastic scenery and a cool climate. The hotel restaurant overlooks Vietnam's highest peak, the 3143 metre Mount Fansipan. The hotel has 77 cosy rooms, including two spacious suites. Each room is en-suite, and has a queen size bed or twin beds, a comfortable sitting area with sofa, mini-bar and a large writing desk. Rooms all have either a balcony or terrace. Umbrellas and boots can be hired from the hotel for a nominal fee.....
Ana Mandara Ninh Binh
The Ana Mandara Ninh Binh is located approximately 10 minutes drive from Ninh Binh City, on the edge of the Van Long Nature Reserve. The resort is set in delightful tropical gardens, styled with traditional Vietnamese elements and natural materials in line with the resorts environmental commitment. There are 172 guest rooms in villa style, all with LCD televisions, satellite channels, air conditioning, complimentary WiFi, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities. There are a choice of dining options from Vietnamese cuisine to Asian specialities and western favourites and the bar serves a wide range of wines, local and imported beers. You may also like to try a unique and personalised dining experience such as a private barbeque by torch light with personal chef, or champagne breakfast. Leisure facilities include a fitness centre, swimming pool, sauna, steam, and a spa offering a wide range of therapies to revive and rejuvenate. ....
Fusion Maia
Fusion Maia embodies a concept that is Asia’s one of a kind. All spa treatments are on free and unlimited offer. Guests have extensive freedom to enjoy deluxe spa services including massage, beauty and body treatments. Meanwhile every single villa has its own private pool, and breakfast is served any time and place at no extra cost. This newest addition to Central Vietnam’s beach resorts has 80 spacious, stylishly decorated pool villas, 4 spa villas (2 bed rooms) and 3 luxurious beachfront villas (2/3 bedrooms) that ensure an intimate yet contemporary atmosphere. ....
An Lam Saigon Private Residence
An Lam Saigon River Private Residence is a captivating and exquisite luxury lifestyle boutique hotel. Located on the fringe of Ho Chi Minh City a 15-minute boat ride from the city’s centre, the property blends utmost privacy with serenity and exclusivity. The property comprises seven luxurious riverside villas set in vibrant tropical gardens, and offering extraordinary views of the Saigon River. The hotel has excellent facilities including a bar, wi-fi in public areas, swimming pool and spa facilities. The villas host a total of sixteen guestrooms, each exclusively designed and furnished with its own contemporary identity and with elegant Vietnamese touches. All villas are equipped with modern amenities and are designed with large terraces open to breathtaking views of the river.....
The RV Tonle Pandaw
The RV Tonle Pandaw has 28 twin bedded and 10 single cabins distributed over the lower, main and upper deck. All cabins have private facilities including a shower room. She offers a spacious dining room on the middle deck that during the day is open to the river breeze and at night can be closed and air conditioned. On the upper deck there is a spacious bar. There is a large sun deck area above, half covered by an awning, which affords the best views of the river life around. The sun deck also has a bar. She is crewed by a mixture of Cambodian and Vietnamese under the direction of a professional Burmese Fleet Manager. The cuisine will be a choice of Asian or Western and there will be permanent English language guides on board and other language guides can be arranged and accommodated on request. ....
The Majestic Hotel
The Majestic Hotel in Saigon, is an original French colonial building, located in the heart of the city and overlooking the Saigon River. There are several restaurants and bars to choose from, including a rooftop restaurant and bar with fantastic views. The rooms are en-suite and have electronic safes, IDD telephone, mini-bar, hairdryer and satellite television. Other services include same day laundry service, currency exchange, florist and gift shop. (www.majestic-saigon.com) ....
Hotel de l’Opera
The Hotel de l’Opera is superbly located in the historic quarter of the city in close proximity to the Hanoi Opera House, the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. The 107 rooms are spacious, with wooden floors and lavish décor. The rooms benefit from a great range of facilities for a comfortable stay, including generously sized bathrooms, LCD televisions with cable channels, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary WiFi. There are several restaurant choices ranging from fine dining to International all day dining, and the hotel bar ‘La Fée Verte’. Leisure options include swimming pool, spa, bowling, golf practice, badminton, and tennis facilities. ....
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi is located in the heart of the city's business district, approximately 10 minutes walking to the centre and 40 minutes drive from the international airport. There are 154 well-appointed rooms and suites. All rooms are equipped with LCD flat screen TVs and a wide selection of international cable TV channels. Mini-bar, IDD telephone, personal safe, tea and coffee making amenities are also available. Broadband cable and WiFi Internet is accessible in all guest rooms and throughout the public areas of the hotel.....
Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Built in colonial style, with low-rise French architecture, the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel, is located in the heart of the Mekong Delta on the banks of the Bassac River at the Three River Crossing, and is entirely part of the bustling life of the river. This 93 room property features a riverside restaurant and bar and has leisure facilities including a swimming pool and fitness centre.....
Toum Teav
Sailing the waterways of the Mekong River, the M/V Toum Tiou is a traditionally built Khmer wooden cruiser. Plying the waters between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap the boat provides just the right ambiance for a relaxing journey through the timeless heartlands of Cambodia. The Toum Teav offers high standards of accommodation in 10 cabins each with en suite bathroom with shower. On board you will also find a library salon, a sundeck and an open restaurant serving a selection of regional and European cuisine.....
The Victoria Hoi An Resort
The Victoria Hoi An Resort is situated 5 km from the little town of Hoi An, along a stretch of white sand beach, one side of the resort facing the river delta and the other side, the sea. Reflecting Hoi An's history and mix of cultures, the resort has 100 rooms and is built like a small fisherman's village with water ponds, clay-tiled roofed houses and Chinese cloth lanterns.....
Luxury Nile Cruising the Bales Way
Watch the inspirational video of life on board one of our exclusive and privately owned dahibiyya’s for a taste of Nile cruising at its most authentic and luxurious.