Before You Choose

Where do you actually want to go? Vietnam stretches over 1,650 kilometres from north to south. Trying to cover it all in ten days means spending more time on planes and in transit than in any single destination. Ten days is enough for one region done properly. Fifteen days allows for two. Twenty-one days is when the full north-to-south journey becomes genuinely rewarding rather than exhausting.

What kind of experience are you after? Highlights and iconic sights? A cultural immersion that goes beyond the surface? A mix of adventure, history and food? The answer changes everything about how your days should be structured.

OPTION 1 — 10 Days in Vietnam

Ten days is not enough to see all of Vietnam. It is, however, entirely enough to see one part of it beautifully — if you resist the temptation to do too much.

Who this suits: First-time visitors with limited annual leave. Travellers who want a genuine introduction to Vietnam without feeling rushed. Those combining Vietnam with another country on a longer Asia trip.

What you'll need to accept: You will not see everything. Pick north or centre-south and save the rest for next time.

 

Sample Itinerary A — The Northern Highlights

 

Day 1 — Arrive Hanoi   Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the Old Quarter. Afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, your first bowl of pho at a street-side stall, egg coffee on a rooftop as the city settles into evening.

Day 2 — Hanoi City The Temple of Literature at opening time. Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex. Lunch in the Old Quarter. Afternoon at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Dinner in the French Quarter.

Day 3 — Hanoi to Ninh Binh Transfer south to Ninh Binh (approximately 2 hours). Afternoon rowing boat through the limestone caves and emerald rice paddies of Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sunset from the viewpoint above the valley.

Day 4 — Ninh Binh Morning visit to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first imperial capital. Afternoon climb to the summit of Mua Cave Hill for the most iconic panoramic view in northern Vietnam. Return to the valley as the light turns golden over the rice paddies.

Day 5 — Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay Transfer to the Ha Long Bay pier (approximately 3 hours). Board your overnight cruise vessel. Afternoon kayaking through hidden lagoons, cave exploration and a sunset cocktail on the sundeck as the boat anchors in a sheltered bay.

Day 6 — Ha Long Bay / Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi Early morning tai chi on the sundeck as the mist lifts over the karst peaks. The cruise continues into the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay for a final kayaking session before returning to the pier. Transfer back to Hanoi.

Day 7 — Day Trip: Bat Trang or Perfume Pagoda A choice of day trips from Hanoi: the ceramic village of Bat Trang, where families have been producing traditional pottery for 500 years; or the Perfume Pagoda complex, a river journey and mountain hike to one of northern Vietnam's most revered Buddhist sanctuaries.

Day 8 — Hanoi to Sapa (overnight train) Free morning in Hanoi. Evening transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper to Lao Cai. A private soft-sleeper cabin and the Vietnamese countryside passing in the dark outside the window.

Day 9 — Sapa: Village Trek Arrive in Lao Cai and transfer to Sapa. Full-day guided trek through the terraced rice fields and ethnic minority villages of the Muong Hoa Valley, led by a local Black Hmong guide. Lunch with a local family.

Day 10 — Sapa to Hanoi, Departure Morning at leisure in Sapa. Transfer to Lao Cai for connection back to Hanoi and international departure.

 

Sample Itinerary B — Central Vietnam and the South

Da Nang - Hoi An - Hue -  Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

Day 1 — Arrive Da Nang Arrive at Da Nang International Airport and transfer to Hoi An (approximately 30 minutes). Late afternoon walk through the Ancient Town before the evening crowds arrive.

Day 2 — Hoi An: Ancient Town Early morning in the Ancient Town before 8am. The Japanese Covered Bridge. The Fujian Assembly Hall. The Central Market. Afternoon cooking class at Tra Que Vegetable Village. Evening lantern-lit stroll along the Thu Bon River.

Day 3 — Hoi An: Cam Thanh and Countryside Morning basket boat experience through the water coconut forest of Cam Thanh Village. Afternoon bicycle ride through the surrounding countryside: lotus ponds, rice paddies and villages that see few tourists.

Day 4 — Hoi An to Hue via Hai Van Pass Drive north along the coast, stopping at the Hai Van Pass for panoramic views over Da Nang Bay. Arrive in Hue mid-morning. Afternoon dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda.

Day 5 — Hue: Imperial City Full day in Hue. The Citadel and its ornate palaces in the morning. Lunch at a traditional garden house restaurant serving royal Hue cuisine. Afternoon at the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Tomb of Khai Dinh. Evening at Dong Ba Market.

Day 6 — Hue to Ho Chi Minh City Morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Afternoon at the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Evening street food exploration in District 1.

Day 7 — Ho Chi Minh City Morning at the Cu Chi Tunnels (go early, go with a guide, allow at least 3 hours). Afternoon at the War Remnants Museum. Late afternoon through the streets and temples of Cholon, the city's historic Chinatown.

Day 8 — Mekong Delta: Ben Tre Day trip to Ben Tre. Boat trip through the narrow back canals of the Coconut Kingdom. Lunch at a family home with traditional southern Vietnamese dishes. Bicycle ride through the coconut groves.

Day 9 — Ho Chi Minh City: Free Day A day at your own pace. Optional morning at the Fine Arts Museum or the History Museum. Afternoon in one of the city's French-era cafés. Evening rooftop bar with views over the Saigon skyline.

Day 10 — Departure Transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight.

10-Day Budget Guide

Per person, private tailor-made journey. International flights not included. Includes accommodation, domestic transport, guided activities and entrance fees.

 

OPTION 2 — 15 Days in Vietnam 

Fifteen days is, in our experience, the duration that produces the most satisfied travellers. It is long enough to move between regions with genuine depth, and short enough to maintain momentum throughout.

In fifteen days, you stop rushing. You have time for the unexpected: the morning market you weren't planning to stop at, the extra night in a place you fell in love with.

Who this suits: Travellers making their first serious trip to Vietnam. Anyone who wants to cover the country's most iconic destinations without feeling like they're ticking boxes.

 

Sample Itinerary — North to Centre ⭐ Most Popular / Recommended Choice 

Hanoi · Ninh Binh · Ha Long Bay · Hue · Hoi An · Da Nang

Day 1 — Arrive Hanoi Arrive and transfer to the Old Quarter. Afternoon walk to Hoan Kiem Lake. First bowl of bun cha for dinner.

Day 2 — Hanoi City Temple of Literature at opening time. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and Ba Dinh Square. Afternoon at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Egg coffee at dusk on a rooftop terrace.

Day 3 — Craft Villages Day Trip Full-day excursion to the traditional craft villages: Bat Trang for ceramics, Van Phuc for silk, and Phuong Duc for lacquerware.

Day 4 — Hanoi to Ninh Binh Morning transfer to Ninh Binh. Afternoon boat trip through Trang An. Sunset from Mua Cave Hill. Overnight in the valley.

Day 5 — Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay Morning visit to Hoa Lu before transferring to the Ha Long Bay pier. Board your cruise vessel for an afternoon of cave exploration and kayaking. Dinner on board anchored in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Day 6 — Ha Long Bay / Lan Ha Bay Full day on the water. Morning kayaking into the narrow channels of Lan Ha Bay. Swimming in secluded coves. Afternoon on the sundeck. Overnight on board.

Day 7 — Ha Long Bay to Hanoi, Evening Flight to Hue
Early morning on the sundeck for a final kayaking session before the cruise returns to the pier. Transfer to Hanoi and on to Noi Bai Airport for the evening flight to Hue (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a quiet first evening beside the Perfume River.

Day 8 — Hue to Hoi An
A full day in the imperial city. Begin at the Imperial Citadel, followed by lunch of royal Hue cuisine at a garden house restaurant. Visit the Tomb of Khai Dinh and Thien Mu Pagoda in the afternoon, then drive south over the Hai Van Pass, stopping for panoramic views over Da Nang Bay. Arrive in Hoi An in the evening for a first stroll along the lantern-lit Thu Bon River.

Day 9 — Hoi An
Early morning in the Ancient Town before 8am, when the streets are quiet and the light is golden. The Japanese Covered Bridge, the Fujian Assembly Hall and the Central Market. In the afternoon, choose between a cooking class at Tra Que Vegetable Village or a basket boat experience through the water coconut forest of Cam Thanh. Evening free for tailoring, shopping or dinner by the river.

Day 10 — Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Morning at leisure, then transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes). Afternoon introduction to Saigon: the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace. Evening street food tour of Districts 1 and 3 by motorbike.

Day 11 — Ho Chi Minh City
Morning at the Cu Chi Tunnels (go early and allow at least three hours). Afternoon at the War Remnants Museum, followed by a late walk through Cholon, the city’s historic Chinatown, and Thien Hau Temple.

Day 12 — Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre
Morning drive to Ben Tre (approximately 2 hours), known as the Coconut Kingdom. Boat trip through the narrow back canals, followed by lunch at a family home with traditional southern dishes. Afternoon bicycle ride through the coconut groves and a visit to a small coconut candy workshop. Overnight in a riverside homestay.

Day 13 — Ben Tre to Can Tho
Early morning rowing boat through the quiet canals as the island wakes up. Continue to Can Tho (approximately 2.5 hours). Afternoon stroll along the Ninh Kieu waterfront and a visit to the Binh Thuy ancient house. Overnight in a riverside hotel in Can Tho.

Day 14 — Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Dawn boat trip to the Cai Rang Floating Market, when dozens of wooden boats laden with produce converge on the river. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by midday. Afternoon free for the Fine Arts Museum, a French-era café or a rooftop bar over the Saigon skyline.

Day 15 — Departure
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight.

15-Day Budget Guide

Per person, private tailor-made journey. International flights not included. Includes accommodation, domestic flights, private transfers, guided activities, entrance fees and overnight cruise.

 

 

OPTION 3 — 21 Days in Vietnam

Twenty-one days is when Vietnam truly opens up.

Within three weeks, you can travel the length of the country without rushing a single day. You can spend time in the northern highlands that most visitors never reach. You can take the overnight train rather than flying everywhere. You can afford to stay an extra night somewhere because you fell in love with the morning view.

Who this suits: Travellers on a longer sabbatical or career break. Those returning to Vietnam who want to go deeper than their first trip. Anyone who has always wanted to do Vietnam properly and is finally doing it.

Sample Itinerary — The Complete Vietnam

 

Day 1 — Arrive Hanoi Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to the Old Quarter. Afternoon at leisure. First dinner in Hanoi — pho at a street stall, followed by egg coffee overlooking the rooftops.

Day 2 — Hanoi City Full day exploring the capital. Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Old Quarter's 36 guild streets.

Day 3 — Hanoi to Ha Giang Early morning drive northwest toward Ha Giang (approximately 6 hours, with stops through the Tuyen Quang river valley). Arrive in Ha Giang city by early evening.

Day 4 — Ha Giang: Quan Ba and Yen Minh Enter the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. The Heaven's Gate pass above Quan Ba, where twin limestone hills rise from a valley floor far below. Continue through winding mountain roads to Yen Minh, through forests of pine and bamboo and villages of the Lo Lo minority community. Overnight in Dong Van.

Day 5 — Ha Giang: Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng Pass Morning at the Dong Van old town. Drive the Ma Pi Leng Pass, 20 kilometres of road carved into the cliff face above the turquoise Nho Que River. Overnight in Meo Vac.

Day 6 — Ha Giang: Meo Vac and Return Morning at the Meo Vac market if visiting on a Sunday. Drive back through the plateau via a different route, stopping at villages and viewpoints before returning to Ha Giang city.

Day 7 — Ha Giang to Hanoi
Morning drive back to Hanoi (approximately 6 hours), with a lunch stop along the route. Afternoon at leisure after the highlands: a slow walk through the French Quarter, a foot massage or an early night.

Day 8 — Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Morning transfer south to Ninh Binh (approximately 2 hours). Afternoon rowing boat through the limestone caves of Trang An, as the karst cliffs turn golden toward evening. Overnight in the valley near Tam Coc.

Day 9 — Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay
Early morning bicycle ride through the back roads of the valley, past lotus ponds and villages that see few visitors. Transfer to the pier on Cat Ba Island (approximately 4 hours including the boat transfer) and board your overnight cruise. Afternoon kayaking into hidden lagoons and swimming in secluded coves, then a sunset drink on the sundeck. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 10 — Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi, Evening Flight to Hue
Early morning tai chi on the sundeck as the mist lifts, then breakfast and a final kayak session before the cruise returns to the pier. Transfer to Hanoi and on to Noi Bai Airport for the evening flight to Hue (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). Overnight in Hue.

Day 11 — Hue: Imperial City
Morning at the Imperial Citadel, followed by a royal lunch at a garden house restaurant. Afternoon at the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Tomb of Khai Dinh. Late in the day, a dragon boat along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then an evening wander through Dong Ba Market.
Day 12 — Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass

Morning at the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Tomb of Khai Dinh to complete your time in the imperial city. Drive south over the Hai Van Pass, stopping for panoramic views over Da Nang Bay. Arrive in Hoi An late afternoon for a first stroll along the lantern-lit Thu Bon River. 

Day 14 — Hoi An: Countryside and Cooking
Early morning stroll through the Ancient Town before the day-trippers arrive. Late morning basket boat experience in the water coconut forest of Cam Thanh. Afternoon cooking class at Tra Que Vegetable Village, starting in the garden. Evening free for tailoring or dinner by the river.

Day 15 — Hoi An to Da Nang Beach
Morning at leisure in Hoi An. Transfer to Da Nang (approximately 45 minutes) and check in to your beachfront hotel. Afternoon on My Khe Beach, then a riverside dinner with the Dragon Bridge lit up over the Han River.

Day 16 — Da Nang: Beach Day
A free day on the coast. Swim and rest on My Khe Beach, or choose an optional excursion: Ba Na Hills for the Golden Bridge, or the Son Tra Peninsula and Marble Mountains for a quieter alternative.

Day 17 — Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
Morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes). Afternoon at the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace. Evening street food tour of Districts 1 and 3 by motorbike.

Day 18 — Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre
Morning at the War Remnants Museum. Drive to Ben Tre (approximately 2 hours), known as the Coconut Kingdom. Afternoon boat trip through the narrow back canals, followed by a bicycle ride through the coconut groves. Dinner and overnight in a riverside homestay.

Day 19 — Ben Tre to Can Tho
Early morning rowing boat through the quiet canals as the island wakes up, then lunch at a family home. Continue to Can Tho (approximately 2.5 hours). Late afternoon stroll along the Ninh Kieu waterfront. Overnight in a riverside hotel.

Day 20 — Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Wake before dawn for the Cai Rang Floating Market, when dozens of wooden boats laden with produce converge on the river. After breakfast, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 3.5 hours). Afternoon in Cholon, the city’s historic Chinatown, with a visit to Thien Hau Temple. Evening rooftop bar with views over the Saigon River.

Day 21 — Ho Chi Minh City, Departure
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight.

21-Day Budget Guide

Per person, private tailor-made journey. International flights not included. Includes all accommodation, domestic flights, private transfers, English-speaking guide throughout, guided activities, entrance fees, overnight cruise and Mekong Delta extension.

 

 

Start Planning Your Journey

Whether you have a clear idea of what you want or are still figuring out where to begin, we are here to help. Every quote we provide is free, personalised and comes with honest advice about what is realistic for your dates, your budget and the kind of traveller you are.

 

Vietnam Itinerary, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Trip Planning, 10 Days Vietnam, 15 Days Vietnam, 21 Days Vietnam, Private Tours Vietnam, Tailor-Made Travel, Vietnam Budget, Typic Travel,

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