Vietnam is one of my favourite countries in the world, with a huge variety of incredible destinations, from bustling cities to peaceful rice paddies, cultural and historical hotspots to countryside villages, beautiful beaches to majestic mountains, a natural wonder of the world and the largest cave in the world, and everything in between! But how do you fit it all in to a perfect itinerary?
I’m not going to lie, the more time you can give Vietnam the better – it’s not somewhere you can just whizz through and be satisfied. 10 days is the minimum amount of time I’d recommend for a trip. Vietnam is a vast country with a huge amount of diversity in its landscapes and experiences, and to get to all of the fantastic destinations you also need to factor in the travel time. Ideally, 2-3 weeks will make for a much more well-rounded and not-too-rushed exploration of this amazing country.
Below you’ll find my top recommendations for all different trip lengths, and how to travel between locations, which really does make a big difference in how an itinerary fits together! All of my itineraries start in Hanoi and end in Ho Chi Minh City, but you can do them in either direction.
In order to not repeat myself a bunch I’ve only given details about a destination if I haven’t mentioned it before – so you can skip straight to your preferred itinerary length, but it may be more useful to skim through it all to find helpful info about all the destinations you’d like to visit, and how they best fit together. You can also check my detailed destination pages for in depth breakdowns of each location.
1 week or less
If you truly are short on time but have your heart set on Vietnam, then you’ll need to do some serious prioritising, and pick only 3 locations max. Assuming one of them will need to be either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for your international flights, you’ll most likely need to stick to either the north or the south of the country. I personally love the North more, so my top recommendations would be:
5 days – North
Hanoi – 2 days
Ha Long Bay – 2 days (overnight cruise)
Ninh Binh – 1 day
Hanoi airport has a lot of easy flight connections, so this will be your base if you’re short on time. It’s also a very fun city – chaotic and cultural, and worth a couple of days exploring the old centre around Hoan Kiem Lake, and visiting sites such as the Temple of Literature and ancient Citadel. Ha Long Bay, the natural wonder of the world, is an absolute must do on any Vietnam trip. It’s around a 3 hour drive from Hanoi, so you can do it as a day trip, but I recommend an overnight cruise to get a more immersive experience sailing through the limestone karsts. Ninh Binh is sometimes called the Ha Long Bay on land, with more amazing karsts as well as rice paddies, temples and small villages. You can visit Ninh Binh as a day trip from Hanoi, or if you want to spend a night in the countryside I recommend heading straight here from Ha Long Bay instead of back to Hanoi – this is easily organised by Ha Long cruise boats and tour companies.
1 week – North
Hanoi – 2 days
Ha Long Bay – 2 days (overnight cruise)
Ninh Binh – 1 day
Hoi An – 2 days
With a full week in the north I’d stick to the same initial 5 days, and then either take a short flight or an overnight sleeper train to Hoi An for a couple of nights. Flying is cheap and easy, and a little more luxurious than the sleeper trains in Vietnam. The train is a fun experience though, and you can get on from Ninh Binh rather than returning to Hanoi station. Hoi An is the exact picture of cultural Vietnam from all the guide books – a charming old town with small streets, lanterns everywhere, cute restaurants and cafes, a lively night market, river boat rides, rice paddies, and a perfect spot to pick up some souvenirs.
4 days – South
Ho Chi Minh City – 3 days
Mekong Delta – 1 day
If visiting the south of Vietnam is more of interest to you, then Ho Chi Minh City will be your base. It’s a very international city, so while still very busy, it’s slightly less overwhelming than Hanoi. You’ll find more war history here, including the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are a half day trip out of the city. The Mekong Delta requires a full day trip, experiencing the small waterways, mangrove forests and floating markets. You can also turn this into an overnight trip for a more immersive experience, as there are some lovely homestays here.
1 week – South/Middle
Ho Chi Minh City – 3/4 days
Hoi An – 2 days
Hue – 1/2 days
I truly don’t think you need a full week in the south, and therefore with a full week available I recommend combining it with middle Vietnam. After exploring Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta for 3 or 4 days, take a flight up to Danang. This city is around 30 minutes north of Hoi An and 2.5 hours south of Hue, and you’ll need to return here to fly out, so you can visit these two cities in either order. Hoi An is the cultural highlight, while Hue is the ancient capital city, complete with a walled citadel and many tombs of ancient kings scattered across the countryside.
10 days
You still need to be a little selective with a 10 day itinerary, and decide to prioritise either nature and adventure or culture and history. Here are my recommendations for each:
Nature
Hanoi – 2/3 days
Sapa/Ha Giang – 3/4 days
Sapa is the area with the iconic rice paddies, great for trekking from village to village and staying at homestays or eco lodges. Ha Giang is home to the backpacker famous motorbike loop through some of the most stunning scenery in the entire country in my humble opinion. They’re both amazing, but a little tricky to add into a short itinerary. They’re both around a 6 hour drive (which is likely to take more like 8 hours on a bus), so 3 days in Sapa becomes 1 full day and 2 half days once travel time is factored in. For Ha Giang the fastest loop tour is 3 full days so the travel time would need to be on top of this. You can take overnight buses to save time, which are surprisingly luxurious in Vietnam with full lie-flat cabins for sleeping. If opting for Sapa, there is also a train option. Just make sure you don’t plan your trip in such a way that you’re too tired to fully enjoy these amazing destinations. For the return journey, the overnight train will not get you back in time to be picked up for a Halong Bay transfer, so you either need to split up your time in Hanoi or take an extra day.
Ha Long Bay – 2 days
Ninh Binh – 1 day
Culture and History
Hanoi – 2 days
Ha Long Bay – 2 days
Hue – 2 days
Hoi An – 2 days
Ho Chi Minh City – 2 days
This one involves a fair amount of moving, but since these are all the main cities the connections are fairly easy. Flying from Hanoi/Haiphong to Hue, and then Danang to Ho Chi Minh City will save time, as will the overnight train from Halong to Hue (I wouldn’t recommend the train from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City, definitely fly this leg).
2 weeks
With 2 weeks, everything becomes a little more leisurely, so you don’t feel too rushed off your feet and can make the most of every location. I’ve listed the destinations to prioritise below, and how much time to give them, so you can mix and match which ones suit your travel style (adventure vs culture vs nature vs history) to create your ideal 2 week itinerary. To do all of the below, you’d be looking at 16 days.
Hanoi – 2/3 days
Depending on your arrival flight your first day in Hanoi may be quite short, or compromised by jetlag. I would allow at least 1 full day in Hanoi, but it’s up to you and your timeline whether this plus an arrival day is sufficient, or if you’d like to take a full 2 days to see the sights and introduce yourself to Vietnamese culture and cuisine. I personally love this city and its vibe, so I’d recommend the 2 full days. If you want to visit Ninh Binh on a day trip, make it 3.
Sapa or Ha Giang – 3/4 days
Halong Bay – 2 days
A cruise package will include your transfer from Hanoi in the morning of day 1 (leaving at around 8am so be aware of this if travelling back to Hanoi from Sapa or Ha Giang on an overnight bus). On the second day, most itineraries will have you disembarking around noon and back in Hanoi by mid-afternoon. Instead of transferring back to central Hanoi, you can book this package to drop you off at the train station, and catch the overnight sleeper train to Hue/Hoi An. These trains are a lot more comfortable than you might think, and a great way to maximise your time by doing the long journey in your sleep and leaving your days free for exploring. Alternatively you can fly to Hue from Hanoi or Haiphong airport which is closer to Ha Long port.
Ninh Binh – 1 day
If including this stop, travel here directly from Ha Long Bay and then continue south on the overnight train, otherwise you’ll need to return to Hanoi to fly south.
Hue – 2 days
Hoi An – 2 days
The drive time from Hue to Hoi An is 3 hours, but this route goes over the Hai Van Pass, so instead of getting a bus straight there I recommend taking a private car and stopping at all the amazing viewpoints along the way. You will also drive through Da Nang, and can stop at all the sites here without having to add a day.
If skipping Hue you’ll need to fly to Danang or disembark at Danang station if getting the train, as Hoi An does not have its own train station or airport but it’s only a 30 minute taxi.
Ho Chi Minh City – 3 days
From Hoi An you’ll need to drive back to Danang airport (takes around 1 hour), and then fly directly to Ho Chi Minh City with an easy 1.5 hour flight. Ho Chi Minh is another bustling city with lots to explore, but it’s also the jumping off point for the Mekong Delta. A tour here will take up a full day, hence the longer stay here than in the other locations – it’s essentially 2 destinations in 1!
3 weeks
Honestly I wouldn’t change much from the 2 week to the 3 week itinerary, I’d just make it more relaxed!
Hanoi – 3 days
You could consider doing 2 days before and 1 day after your trip to Sapa or Ha Giang, to recover from the travel time and not feel overly rushed before heading on to Ha Long Bay.
Sapa/Ha Giang – 3-5 days
Halong Bay – 3 days
Halong Bay cruises are generally 1 or 2 nights, and half a day on either side. A cruise package will include your transfer from Hanoi in the morning of day 1 (leaving at around 8am so be aware of this if travelling back to Hanoi from Sapa or Ha Giang on an overnight bus). On the final day, most itineraries will have you disembarking around noon and back in Hanoi by mid-afternoon, so a 1 night trip really doesn’t give you a ton of time actually sailing around Ha Long Bay. With more time I highly recommend the 2 night option, which means having a full day exploring in the middle with the opportunity to swim, kayak, and take full advantage of the ship’s amenities.
Ninh Binh – 2 days
This is the new addition from the 2 week itinerary. Ninh Binh can be explored on a day trip from Hanoi, but it’s a great area to spend a night in a traditional homestay and truly immerse yourself in the Vietnamese countryside.
Hue – 2 days
Hoi An – 3 days
Spend a day at the beach if this feels like too long in town.
Ho Chi Minh City – 3/4 days
You could consider adding a night at a homestay in the Mekong Delta, rather than visiting it as a day trip.
My itineraries so far have all suggested doing either Sapa or Ha Giang, not both. This is because they’re fairly similar types of destination – outdoors and active – and there are plenty of other destinations in Vietnam to create a more varied trip. But if you’d like to visit both of course this is totally doable, especially with 3 weeks to play with. Here’s my suggested adaption including both Sapa and Ha Giang:
Hanoi – 2 days
Sapa – 3 days
Ha Giang – 4/5 days
You can do these two in either order – check transport options to figure out which way round works best for your itinerary.
Hanoi – 1 day
I’d definitely recommend a day back in Hanoi after a 7 day trip to the north to do both Sapa and Ha Giang.
Ha Long Bay – 3 days
Hue – 2 days
Hoi An – 2/3 days
Ho Chi Minh City – 3 days
Ultimate itinerary (if you have all the time in the world)
With a month or more in Vietnam you can truly explore all this amazing country has to offer in depth. You can also add in some stops that are more about relaxation than sightseeing, something the shorter itineraries don’t really leave time to do!
If you did everything on this itinerary it would take 6 weeks at a minimum, so pick and choose your destinations according to your personal preferences. Or, if you’re a backpacker on a gap year and able to go as slow as you want, make the most of it! Vietnam is one of the best places in the world you could choose to spend your time.
Hanoi – 2 days
Sapa – 3 days
Ha Giang loop – 4/5 days
The loop can be done on a 3 day itinerary, but the 4 day itinerary is better!
Hanoi – 1 day
Halong Bay – 2/3 days
Cat Ba island – 1/2 days
Instead of heading back to the city after the Halong cruise, stay a couple of extra days on Cat Ba, the main island in Halong Bay.
Ninh binh – 2 days
Phong Nha – 1/2 days
The largest cave in the world, this is on the way from Hanoi to Hue, and a cool stop if you’ve got the time for it.
Hue – 2 days
Danang – 1 day
The main airport hub for middle Vietnam, Danang has a few sites to see that make it worth stopping as you make your way from Hue to Hoi An.
Hoi An – 3 days
Nha Trang – 2/3 days
A beach break is exactly what you need after this long on the road. Take a day to do nothing but chill, or visit Vinwonders for a fun waterpark day.
Dalat – 2 days
A mountain town set in the misty hills of southern Vietnam, this is a cool stop in both senses of the word.
Mui Ne – 2/3 days
Another beach destination, but this time with a more laidback vibe than Nha Trang, and more activities on offer both on the water and in the dunes.
Ho Chi Minh City – 3 days
Mekong Delta – 1/2 days
Opt for an overnight homestay here to discover life on the water.
Phu Quoc – 3 days
As an island it doesn’t fit in the standard north to south (or vice versa) mainland itinerary, so often gets skipped. But if you do choose to make the trip, you’ll be met with stunning beaches, cute European-style architecture and bioluminescent waters. Magical.
So there you have it – the best Vietnam itineraries whatever your trip length! All of these destinations and what to see in all of them are inlcuded on my Ultimate Vietnam Google Map, downloadable below. Don’t forget to check out my posts on how to plan a perfect Vietnam trip or cultural etiquette for visiting, or head to my Vietnam page to find all of my guides.
If you need help creating an itinerary that maximises your time, get in touch and I’ll help the best I can! And if you’re interested in my personal experience in Vietnam, you can read the story here.