Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
Add oats to a large heatproof bowl and set aside. If desired, you can stir the chocolate chips and chopped almonds in at this point, rather than sprinkle them over the top.
Add butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir continuously until butter and sugar melt.
Pour the hot butter and sugar mixture over the oats and stir until combined.
Add honey and stir, making sure that oats are covered.
Lay a sheet of wax paper into the bottom of a 15½ x 10½ inch baking sheet, allowing the paper to overlap the side edges so that you can use it as a handle to removed the cooked granola bars from the baking sheet.
Spread and press the oat mixture into the baking sheet.
If using, sprinkle the chocolate chips and almonds over the top and press them into the oat mixture with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until set.
Remove from oven and place baking sheet on a wire rack to cool. Once cool, use the wax paper handles to remove the granola from the baking sheet and cut into 10-12 bars.