Direct flights bring Vietnam closer for British travellers

Direct flights bring Vietnam closer for British travellers
From Thursday, Vietnam Airlines will begin twice-weekly services between Gatwick and Hanoi and the same number between Gatwick and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The flights will take approximately 12 hours, cutting several hours off the journey to Vietnam – until now only possible via regional hubs such as Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Vietnam and neighbouring Cambodia and Laos have been attracting a growing number of British visitors since opening up to tourists some two decades ago. Last year, 80,000 Britons visited Vietnam, exploring the Mekong Delta and Halong Bay by boat, heading to the hills of Sapa, engaging with the legacy of the Vietnam War and relaxing on one of the country’s many beaches. Cambodia, home to the Angkor Wat temple complex, drew some 103,000 British visitors. Laos attracts those looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, beautiful scenery and the Buddhist charms of Luang Prabang.

“In Vietnam itself most people travel from one end of the country to the other, taking in all the different highlights along the way. With these new flights it will be possible to fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City – or vice versa.”

“For travellers wanting to explore south-east Asia, this new route will make things much easier and should mean one less flight at each end of the journey,” said Natalie Lewis of Audley Travel, a company that began as a south-east Asia specialist 15 years ago.

Best of Britain: hotels, walks and attractions

Best of Britain: hotels, walks and attractions:
Brighton
Our comprehensive guide to the best of Britain, from hotels and pubs to walking routes and unusual attractions.
Brighton manages to be both hip and quaint in a very British seaside kind of way; it’s also a shopping mecca.
Knoydart Peninsula, Highlands

Often described as Britain's last wilderness, the remote and rugged Knoydart Peninsula is cut off by road from the rest of the Scottish mainland by a ring of forbidding mountains. Those who do make the sea crossing from Mallaig to get there will be rewarded by pristine highland scenery in all its glory. There are walks to suit all fitness levels, ranging from gentle coastal meanders with views across to Skye to more challenging ascents of munros and corbetts such as Ladhar Bheinn and Sgurr Coire Choinnichean.

The latter gives spectacular views across the peninsula and conveniently starts and finishes at the Old Forge, the only pub in the tiny village of Inverie (population 80). The weather this far north can be unpredictable and those who are not familiar with this terrain are advised to use the services of the local rangers who run guided walks.

Alternatively they could sign up for a tour with an adventure company such as Wilderness Scotland , which operates winter walking holidays with tuition on using crampons and an ice axe.