From air

Helicopter Tours

All Vietnam on palm

ChillDry 15–60 minutes Year-round (except storm warnings) 3 places

What it is and why

Helicopter walk is only chance to realize true scales of Vietnamese nature. No boat will give such angle on thousands of islands of Halong bay, as flight at height of several hundred meters. This best way to quickly cover main sights, avoiding tourist crowds on ground.

In large cities flights allow to see contrast between colonial architecture and modern glass towers, and in mountains — evaluate dizzying pattern of rice terraces. Most often used modern helicopters Eurocopter or Bell, ensuring maximal review through wide panoramic windows.

Where to do it in Vietnam

Points on the map are real places where this activity can be done. Numbers in the list match the markers.

Halong Bay
Quang Ninh
Flight over thousands of karst islands. Most popular route in Vietnam.
Da Nang and Son Tra peninsula
Da Nang
Panorama on coast, Marble Mountains and city bridges.
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh
Urban tour over skyscrapers and channel of Saigon river.

Tips

Book flight for morning hours (8:00–10:00) — transparency of air at this time maximal, and chances on cloudiness lower.
Shoot without flash directly at glass, to avoid glare in frame.
Necessarily take passport — for registration on flight in airports and on helipads this strict requirement.
If you get motion sickness in transport, take tablet for 30 minutes before departure.

Caution

Flights completely depend on weather conditions. Administration can cancel or transfer departure at last moment due to fog or strong wind.
In some border zones and places with military objects aerial photography forbidden by law.