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A wild patchwork of remote, colourful hill tribes

Rarely visited and sometimes not even accessible, Vietnam‘s cool Northern Highlands is a rural medley of diverse hill tribes, deep valleys and soaring mountains.

Bordering China to the north and Laos to the west, with tribes descending from Tibet and Myanmar, this region is home to a myriad of unique languages, ancient traditions and colourful dress which promise an entirely authentic experience.

Alongside these alluring cultures is a spectacularly beautiful landscape where adventures through untouched rivers, waterfalls, mountains and caves and an altogether different look of Vietnam awaits.

Highlights

Meander past bamboo groves and paddy rice fields to visit a local village and learn about traditional customs.

Enjoy the peaceful experience of cycling past rice paddies and villages on a guided bike tour in Mai Chau.

Visit Xa Linh village to meet its residents, members of the H’mong hill tribe.

Explore mountain trails and kayak across Ba Khan Lake.

In Mai Chau, limestone mountains and rolling valleys meet in a breathtaking panorama. I recommend cycling to the Hmong village of Xa Linh to learn about rice farming and textile weaving.

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Lucy Bate

Travel Designer

Why book with Jacada?

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your The Northern Highlands adventure, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

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Can Tho

The buzzing cultural and commercial centre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho sits on the southern bank of the Hua River, one of the Mekong’s main distributaries as it flows out past endless paddy fields into the South China Sea.

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Con Dao

An archipelago of 16 islands located off the south coast of Vietnam in the tranquil waters of the South China Sea, Con Dao is a tropical paradise of stunning natural beauty which spells adventure, relaxation and lazy sun-filled days.

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Dalat

With its cooler climate and French colonial feel, you’ll find the charming city of Dalat to be uniquely different from the rest of Vietnam. Known as “The City of Eternal Spring”, Dalat boasts a very temperate climate and its surrounding green countryside is blessed with lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forests and gardens.

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Danang

Danang is central Vietnam‘s largest city, an important port sat at the half way point between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

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Halong Bay

Over 2,000 limestone islets and plinths rise out from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin to make up the exquisite Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Hanoi

Hanoi is a bustling and fascinating place – a whirlwind of colours, smells and sounds and a wonderful place to get a real flavour of life in Vietnam.

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Ho Chi Minh

A booming economy has given Ho Chi Minh City (often still referred to as Saigon) a new energy and lease of life. Socially the city is flourishing with a sophisticated café culture, an exciting dining scene and burgeoning interest in eclectic art.

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Hoi An

With its pretty architecture and beguiling riverside setting packed into its neat size, Hội An is small enough to stroll around and soak up its rich wealth of heritage.

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Hue

Hue sits on the banks of the Perfume River and is another of Vietnam’s safeguarded heritage sites under UNESCO and an interesting blend of old and new.

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Lan Ha Bay

Limestone outcrops blanketed in lush vegetation rise up from the still, jade coloured water. Your boat glides smoothly across the glassy surface, the shapes and shadows of the islets changing as you navigate this watery paradise. This is Lan Ha Bay, the smaller, quieter and altogether more serene neighbour of Ha Long Bay.

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Mekong River Cruises

Spanning 4,350 kilometres, the Mekong River is the lifeblood to innumerable communities across Asia. From its icy beginning on the Tibetan Plateau, the river then winds through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before breaking into Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.

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Nha Trang

The Nha Trang area is home to some of Vietnam‘s best luxury beach escapes, set in hidden coves well away from the vibrant town itself.

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Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

Rather than a destination in its own right, Ninh Binh is an excellent location from which to explore the breathtaking and quintessentially Vietnamese countryside that surrounds it.

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Phu Quoc

A sleepy palm fringed island a short flight from Saigon, Phu Quoc is an idyllic retreat after exploring the highlights of Vietnam.

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Sapa

Escape the heat of Hanoi as you travel through breath-taking rice terraces to the former French hill station and current trekking haven of Sapa.

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Meet your Asia team

When to visit

Vietnam is warm year-round. There are two monsoon seasons which hit the south, central and northern parts of the country at different times. In general the start of the year is the best time to go.

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Trekking in the north

Sept - Nov/Mar - May

When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam?

When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam?

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Plan your trip to The Northern Highlands

Whatever you want from your adventure in The Northern Highlands, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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