Private Vietnam tours from the UK for 2027: Heathrow nonstops to Hanoi and Saigon, 45-day visa-free entry, UK school-holiday timing, prices in pounds and a UK phone number.
Flights: Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from London Heathrow (Terminal 4) to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – about 12–13 hours (checked 4 November 2026).
Visa: British citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days; for longer, apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn.
Price: our 14-day North to South private tour starts from about £1,530 (US$2,014; converted price, you pay the amount on your invoice) per person, 2 sharing in 4★ hotels; you can pay in pounds to our UK account.
British travellers are some of our most regular guests. Many come at Christmas, February half-term or Easter for two to three weeks, like good hotels without fuss, and want a guide who knows the history as well as the food. This page gathers what you need from the UK: the Heathrow nonstops, the 45-day visa exemption, which school holiday suits which part of Vietnam, and how to pay in pounds at home.
Metta Voyage is a licensed international tour operator (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT) and an Asia DMC with its operations team in Hanoi. Every journey is private, with your own guide and driver, 4–5★ hotels chosen with you and one travel designer from first message to flight home.
FlightsNonstop Heathrow–Hanoi and Heathrow–Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam Airlines)
Flight timeAbout 12–13 h nonstop; 15–19 h with one stop
VisaVisa-free up to 45 days for British citizens
Time differenceVietnam is 7 h ahead of GMT, 6 h ahead of BST (from 28 Mar 2027)
PayIn GBP by UK bank transfer to our company account – no fee from us
PlugsTypes A and C, 220 V – bring an adapter for your Type G plugs
Checked 4 November 2026. Sources are listed under each section below.
Getting there
Flights from the UK to Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines runs the only nonstop between the UK and Vietnam, from London Heathrow Terminal 4 on Boeing 787-9s. Frequencies change by season – the winter timetable started on 25 October 2026 – so check the current days with the airline before you fix your dates.
From
How you fly (as of 4 November 2026)
Flight time
London Heathrow (LHR)
Vietnam Airlines nonstop to Hanoi and to Ho Chi Minh City
about 11 h 45 to Hanoi, 12 h 30 to Ho Chi Minh City
Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol
One stop via Istanbul, Singapore or a Gulf hub, or connect to the Heathrow nonstop
about 15–19 h in total
Edinburgh, Glasgow
One stop via Amsterdam (Vietnam Airlines Amsterdam–Hanoi), Istanbul or a Gulf hub, or via Heathrow
about 15–19 h in total
Belfast and regional airports
Connect via Heathrow, Amsterdam or Istanbul
about 16–20 h in total
Our tip: because both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are served nonstop, an open-jaw ticket works beautifully – into Hanoi, home from Saigon – with no backtracking. Gulf connections via Doha or Dubai are widely sold, but Gulf airspace has been disrupted at times in 2026, so check current schedules. Ho Chi Minh City’s new Long Thanh airport is due to open on 24 December 2026; no UK flight has been announced there.
Limestone islands in Lan Ha Bay, next to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam · Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0The Meridian Gate (Ngo Mon) of the Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam · Photo: Chainwit. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0Metta Voyage guests at Angkor Wat · Photo: Metta Voyage guests
Visa
Do British citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
No, for trips of up to 45 days. Vietnam exempts British citizens from visas under Resolution 44/NQ-CP, valid from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. Your exit-by date is stamped on arrival – check it. For a longer stay, or if you hold another nationality, use the e-visa; our e-visa service can apply for you.
What applies to you
Up to 45 days
Visa-free for British citizens, tourism or business
Longer than 45 days
Official e-visa at evisa.gov.vn: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry; US$25 or US$50
Adding Cambodia or Laos
If you leave Vietnam and come back in, check the entry rules with us when we plan the route
Passport
Valid at least 6 months after arrival, with 2 blank pages
Vietnam’s north, centre and south have different weather, so there is no single best month – only the best route for your dates (see our month-by-month guide). Dates below are for the Royal Borough of Greenwich; other councils, academies and Scotland differ, so check yours.
Halong Bay · Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Holiday (2026–27)
Dates
Where Vietnam is at its best
Christmas
21 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Warm and dry in the south, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc; Hanoi is cool. A classic winter-sun trip – book early.
February half-term
15 – 19 Feb 2027
Cool, comfortable walking weather in the north. A week is short for long-haul, so add days either side if you can.
Easter
26 Mar – 9 Apr 2027
One of the best windows for a full north-to-south trip.
May half-term
31 May – 4 Jun 2027
Hot; the central coast (Hoi An, Hue) and the mountains of the north are the pick.
Summer
from 23 Jul 2027
The central coast is at its sunniest; the north is hot and green, the south has short tropical showers.
October half-term
late October 2027
Golden rice terraces in the north; central Vietnam can be rainy, so we plan around the north and south.
Private Vietnam tours that suit British travellers
Two to three weeks is the sweet spot. Prices are shown in pounds sterling, converted at today’s rate from the US-dollar “from” price on each tour page (shown underneath), per person for the whole tour, 2 travellers sharing; you pay the amount on your invoice. Every tour is private and can be changed.
The Golden Bridge above the clouds at Ba Na Hills, Da Nang · Photo: Vivu Vietnam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Money
Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Cards work in most 4–5★ hotels and many restaurants; ATMs are easy to find in the cities. Sterling can be exchanged in Hanoi and Saigon, but most travellers simply use ATMs.
Plugs and power
Sockets take Types A and C at 220 V, 50 Hz. Your UK Type G plug will not fit, so bring a G-to-A/C adapter; no voltage converter is needed.
Phone and data
A local SIM or our Vietnam eSIM is cheap and works on arrival; your guide and travel designer are on WhatsApp throughout.
Travel insurance
GOV.UK advises taking out appropriate travel insurance; check it covers medical evacuation and any cycling, trekking or motorbike day in your plan.
Tipping
Tipping guides and drivers is customary but always optional. Our tipping guide gives realistic amounts.
Food and diets
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-aware meals are arranged in advance; your guide carries a note in Vietnamese for any allergy.
Plug standards: IEC World Plugs. Travel advice: GOV.UK.
Talk to us
Talk to us without an international call
Our travel designers work from Hanoi, 08:30–18:00 Vietnam time Monday to Saturday – 01:30–11:00 in the UK in winter (GMT), 02:30–12:00 in summer (BST) – so a message you send in the evening is usually answered by the time you wake up. Once you are travelling, our on-tour line answers 24/7.
Flights from Dublin, euro payments and Irish school holidays.
Pay at home
Pay in pounds, to a UK account
Metta Voyage holds a company account in the UK, so you can pay your deposit and balance in GBP by an ordinary UK bank transfer (Faster Payments) – no international wire and no fee from our side. The account details are printed on your invoice; we never change them by email alone, so if in doubt call us before you pay.
30% deposit
Confirms your trip once you accept the written quote. Nothing to pay before that.
Balance 45 days before arrival
Booking closer than 45 days? The full amount is due when you confirm.
Card option
You can also pay online by card; a 3.5% card fee applies and is shown before you pay. A bank transfer avoids it.
Prices are set in US dollars; amounts in GBP on this page are indicative and the exact amount is on your invoice. Details: how to pay · terms and cancellation policy.
Guest reviews
What British guests say
We only quote reviews you can check at the source. These are video reviews recorded by guests from the UK, on our YouTube channel:
Metta Voyage guests at a Vietnamese cooking class · Photo: Metta Voyage guests
Sapa Rice Terraces · Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsMetta Voyage guests at Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi · Photo: Metta Voyage guestsLanterns in the streets of Hoi An at night · Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions
Vietnam from the UK: your questions
Is there a direct flight from the UK to Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi and to Ho Chi Minh City, in about 12–13 hours (as of 4 November 2026). From other UK airports you fly one stop.
Do British citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Not for stays of up to 45 days: British citizens are visa-exempt under Resolution 44/NQ-CP until 14 March 2028. For longer stays, apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn (up to 90 days).
Can I pay for my Vietnam tour in pounds?
Yes. You can pay in GBP by UK bank transfer to our company account in the UK, with no fee from our side; the details are on your invoice. Card payment is also possible with a 3.5% fee.
Do you have a UK phone number?
Yes – call or WhatsApp +44 7520 660929, or email [email protected]. Our 24/7 team in Vietnam is on +84 812 247 572.
What is the time difference between the UK and Vietnam?
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and 6 hours ahead of BST. Vietnam does not change its clocks.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam from the UK?
Easter and February half-term suit a full north-to-south trip; Christmas is ideal for the south and the islands; the summer holidays are best for the central coast around Hoi An and Hue.
How many days do I need in Vietnam?
Plan 12–15 days to see Vietnam from north to south without rushing, or 18–21 days to add Cambodia, a beach stay or a trek in the north.
What is included in a private tour?
Your private car and driver, a private English-speaking guide, hotels with breakfast, the meals, cruises and entrance fees listed in the itinerary, and 24/7 support. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
Updated 4 November 2026 by the Metta Voyage team in Hanoi (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT). Flights, visa rules and school dates checked 4 November 2026 – confirm before booking. Other markets: Vietnam tours from your country.
Free itinerary in 24 hours
Plan your journey with us
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A travel designer replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and one price for the whole trip.
No payment before a written quote
30% deposit to confirm, balance 45 days before arrival
Private guide in your language (outside Vietnam subject to availability)
Metta Voyage holds company bank accounts in 13 currencies. Pay your deposit by local bank transfer with no fee from us; the account details come with your invoice.
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