Vietnam’s coastline stretches for over 3,400 kilometres from the Chinese border to the Mekong Delta, encompassing environments as diverse as the UNESCO World Heritage karst landscape of Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, the white sand beaches of Da Nang and Hoi An, and the remote national park island of Con Dao in the South China Sea. Yachts available from 125,000 euros per week in Vietnam are typically 40 to 60 metres, with professional crews of eight or more familiar with Vietnamese cruising regulations and port requirements.
Ha Long Bay is the most internationally known destination on the Vietnamese coast, and justifiably so, but Vietnam’s growing charter circuit extends well beyond it. The Cham Islands near Hoi An are a marine protected area with excellent visibility and diverse reef life. Phu Quoc, the island province in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border, has developed rapidly as a resort destination and remains accessible by charter yacht. Con Dao, the remote southern island group, is a national park with pristine beaches and nesting sea turtle populations.
At 125,000 euros per week, the charter fee covers the yacht and crew. The Advance Provisioning Allowance of 25 to 30 percent covers fuel, provisioning and port dues. Vietnamese port regulations require advance notice and local agent arrangements at each port of call. All-in weekly budgets typically run to 155,000 to 165,000 euros.
The best charter conditions vary by region: Ha Long Bay is clearest from March through May and September through November, while the central coast is best from February through August and the south from November through April.
