Luxury Travel to the Northern Highlands made for you
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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.
Experiences picked by our Northern Highlands specialists
A word from one of our experts
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.
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in The Northern Highlands
There are many incredible places to stay in The Northern Highlands. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
Why book with Jacada?
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.
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.
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.
Trip inspiration
Get inspired with our The Northern Highlands example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
15-Day Trip
Luxury Tour of Vietnam
15-Day Trip
Luxury Tour of Vietnam
11-Day Trip
Active Adventure in Vietnam and Laos
11-Day Trip
Active Adventure in Vietnam and Laos
Where to go
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.
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.
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.
Danang
Danang is central Vietnam‘s largest city, an important port sat at the half way point between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Phu Quoc
A sleepy palm fringed island a short flight from Saigon, Phu Quoc is an idyllic retreat after exploring the highlights of Vietnam.
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.
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.
Trekking in the north
Sept - Nov/Mar - May
Vietnam travel guides
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.
Don't take our word for it
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.
