The guide-team blog of Metta Voyage
Long, unhurried trips in Vietnam — planned the way our guides would plan them
Routes for 10, 14 and 21 days, the 4–5★ hotels we actually book, honest costs per day and the small things that make a long trip easy for families with teenagers and for couples who like a slower pace.
Who is David?
“David” is the shared pen name of the guide team at Metta Voyage, a Hanoi-based tour operator that has looked after 10,100+ travellers on 2,000+ bookings (Tripadvisor 4.9). The advice here comes from the itineraries our guides run and the hotels our team books — not from one person’s diary. When you ask us for a trip, Metta Voyage plans it, quotes it and operates it. More about us · How this blog works.
Start with a route
Two Weeks in Vietnam, North to South: How Our Guides Pace It
A paced private route for two weeks in Vietnam: Hanoi, Sapa, Lan Ha Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Saigon, with day-by-day plan, 4–5★ hotels and per-day costs.
Ten Days in Vietnam Without Rushing: A Guide Team’s Route for a First Visit
A calm ten-day private route for a first visit to Vietnam: Hanoi, one night on Lan Ha Bay, three nights in Hoi An and Saigon, with a beach-ending option.
Three Weeks in Vietnam: The Slow Route Our Guides Would Choose
A slow 21-day private route through Vietnam: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, two nights on Lan Ha Bay, Hue, four nights in Hoi An, a beach break and the Mekong Delta.
Vietnam and Cambodia in Two Weeks: From Hanoi to Angkor at an Easy Pace
A private two-week Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary from Hanoi to Angkor: day-by-day route, 4–5★ hotels, from-prices and pacing advice from our guide team.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in Three Weeks: Our Guides’ Indochina Route
A private three-week Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos route: day-by-day plan from Hanoi to Angkor via Luang Prabang, 4–5★ hotels, from-prices and visa tips.
Hotels, costs and practical advice
Where to Stay in Vietnam at 4–5★: The Hotels Our Team Books, Region by Region
Where to stay in Vietnam at 4–5★: the hotels, resorts, ships and train our guide team books in Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An, Da Nang and the coast.
Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay? How Our Guides Choose an Overnight Cruise
Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long? How our guides choose an overnight cruise: ships compared, one night or two, and advice for older travellers.
What a Private 4–5★ Trip to Vietnam Costs Per Day (and What’s Included)
A private 4★ Vietnam trip starts from 140 USD per person per day. See worked examples for 10, 14 and 21 days, group discounts and what's included.
When to Go to Vietnam: North, Centre and South Month by Month
North, centre and south Vietnam have different seasons. Our month-by-month table, typhoon season in the centre, Tet, and how our guides plan around it.
Vietnam for Older Travellers: Pace, Health and Comfort Advice from Our Guides
How our guides plan Vietnam for travellers over 60: unhurried pace, train or flight, CDC and WHO health advice, heat, cruise steps and easy hotels.
How a private trip with us works
- Tell us the basics — dates, who is travelling, the pace you like. Request form, about two minutes.
- Get a day-by-day plan with named hotels and a price per person, usually within one working day.
- Adjust until it fits. Nothing is booked until you approve the written quote.
- Confirm with a 30% deposit (balance 45 days before arrival) plus a non-refundable 100 USD per traveller holding fee. Domestic flights are quoted separately.
Private trips start from 140 USD per person per day (2 travellers, 4★ hotels, private guide and driver in Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos), confirmed in your quote. Groups of 4 save 5%, groups of 6 save 8%. What the per-day price includes.