A Vietnam Christmas Holiday: Sunil’s 9-Day Trip from North to South

A Vietnam Christmas holiday isn’t what most Australians picture when they imagine the festive season. There’s no backyard barbecue and no summer heat — instead you get cool evenings, streets strung with lights and a country that marks the season in its own quietly festive way. That’s exactly the trip Sunil and his wife had: nine days from the north of Vietnam down to the south, right across Christmas and New Year.

It all started with a few emails

Every traveller has a way they like to keep in touch. Some live on WhatsApp, others on Facebook or Instagram — Sunil preferred email, so that’s where we did all of our planning. We always try to follow whatever platform a guest feels most comfortable with, because organising a trip should feel relaxed from the very first message.

Nothing was rushed. We swapped emails steadily over time, talking through destinations, hotels and activities, and sorting the small details one by one. Bit by bit we built a trip that suited their pace and the things they actually wanted to see — which, in my experience, is always the trips that turn out best.

What a Vietnam Christmas holiday is really like

Vietnam doesn’t celebrate Christmas the traditional Western way, but the festive feeling is everywhere. Streets fill with lights, cafés play music, and in the evenings locals head out to enjoy the decorations and the cool winter air. If you’re flying in from an Australian summer, it’s a lovely contrast — a lively Southeast Asian winter celebration instead of the usual December heat back home.

North to south in nine days

Sunil’s route took them through all three regions of Vietnam, which gave them a full picture of the country in a single trip. Busy cities, local food, historical sites and everyday street life all became part of the experience. Nine days is enough to feel just how different the north, the centre and the south really are — in the landscape, the food and the rhythm of daily life — without ever feeling like you’re racing the clock.

Ha Long Bay — the part they loved most

Of everywhere they went, Ha Long Bay was the favourite. After several days of flights and sightseeing, the cruise was a complete change of pace. The limestone mountains, the soft morning fog and the gentle movement of the boat let them slow right down and simply take in the scenery. Sometimes you don’t need a packed itinerary — time on the deck, watching the bay drift past, is the whole point.

“Of everywhere they went, Ha Long Bay was the favourite.”

Tips for a Vietnam Christmas holiday

• Pack layers for the north. December evenings in northern Vietnam are genuinely cool — bring something warm for the cities and the bay.
• Build in a slow day. A Ha Long Bay cruise is the perfect breather in the middle of busy city days.
• Mornings can be tight. Cruises check out early, so if you’ve got a Hanoi city tour the same day, plan for a quick turnaround.
• Expect a festive-but-different December. Think lights, music and cool night air rather than carols and a roast dinner.

Want a trip like Sunil’s?

Like the look of their journey? It followed much the same path as our Throughout Vietnam north-to-south tour — and I’d happily tailor the same route, with a calm Ha Long Bay cruise in the middle, to suit you. Prefer a fuller loop? Take a look at our Best of Vietnam 10-day tour too. Just message me, Ivy, and we’ll start planning.

Over to you: have you already cruised Ha Long Bay, or spent a festive season in Vietnam? I’d love to hear how you found it — tell me in the comments below. Thank you!