In this article you’ll find a lost of tourist itineraries for Vietnam. To make it easy, we’ve divided it into three categories (click on the links below to go directly to the category you’re most interested in):
If instead you’re interested in our “general” advice for traveling in Vietnam, you can read this article.
One week itineraries
Saigon, the Mekong and Dalat: History, tropical fruit plantations and floating markets
- Itinerary type: History/Nature.
- Difficulty getting around: slight, since Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City) is well connected with the major international airports and you get can between cities by various means. Along the Mekong, instead, you’ll travel aboard private boats that will take you on an enchanting cruise along the Mekong, the most important river in French Indochina (the longest in Asia and the seventh largest in the world).
- Best time to visit: The best time is the winter, when the weather is dry and mild. To be precise, from the beginning of December to February. Also because during the wettest and rainiest season, it’s no fun crossing the river in the company of mosquitos. That said, you can visit southern Vietnam just about any time of year.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our reviews on the best luxury and budget hotels in Saigon.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Saigon and visit the central post office, the Notre Dame cathedral and Ben Thanh market;
Day 2: Visit the underground tunnels and “hidden” cafes, or choose among the various districts of the city;
Day 3: Leave for My Tho, located 70 kilometers from Saigon, to start your cruise on the Mekong; arrive at Thoi Son Island, among the tropical fruit orchards; bike excursion on Ngu Hiep Island to experience the local lifestlye; sunset on the Mekong;
Day 4: Visit the Cai Be floating market on the Mekong and the artisan factories; visit the Vinh Trang pagoda (the largest and oldest in the region);
Day 5: Continue the tour on the Mekong among green oases and villages; transfer to Dalat;
Day 6: Visit Dalat, the city of flowers, coffee and strawberries;
Day 7: Transfer to Saigon.
- Other attractions that you might be interested in as a day trip: Cu Chi Tunnels, 60 kilometers from Saigon.
Hanoi, Ha Giang to Meo Vac: Authentic Vietnam and the capital
- Type of itinerary: Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: medium, in Hanoi you can take a bus, taxi, or use Grab (an app similar to Uber) to get around easily; yet to get as far as Ha Giang you can take a sleeping bus.
- Best time to visit: I recommend that you avoid the period between May and September, namely the rainy season. This is because in order to visit the northwest, from Ha Giang to Meo Vac and back, there are about 300 kilometers that would not be pleasant to cover during incessant rain. It’s, therefore, best to avoid traveling in the northwest during the period that corresponds to Europe’s winter.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our guide on how and where to book a hotel in Hanoi.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi and visit the city; tour the historic quarter and northern area of Hoan Kiem Lake; in the afternoon, you could rent a bike and go to Truc Bach Lake which borders the Tay Ho district; on the lake you’ll find a little island with really nice places to stop, such as the Standing Bar, a pub where they serve Bia Hoi, a craft beer from Hanoi, where you can also admire a beautiful sunset;
Day 2: Cultural visit of the city: women’s museum, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex, literature museum; in the evening you can see a traditional puppet show on the water or choose a gastronomic tour: In the evening, depart for Ha Giang with a sleeping bus or, for the more adventurous, on a rented motorbike;
Day 3: Tour Ha Giang and leave for the highly-praised “loop” which, as the region’s headquarters, crosses 300 kilometers of extreme adventure and breathtaking panoramas; the first stop is Quan Ba; after 40 kilometers of curves and a spectacular pass called “Heaven Gate Pass”; at Tam Son, stop at a panoramic point to sip a traditional coffee and admire the two identical hills called Fairy Bossom; spend the night in Yenh Minh;
Day 4: Leave for Dong Van in the morning: going down the winding road along the Chinese border, you’ll find yourself on stretches suspended over nothing, you’ll come across numerous villages and ethnic minorities and can enjoy a view of the impressive karst mountains;
Day 5: Dong Van, tour the village and visit the traditional market, which shouldn’t be missed on this tour. You should try to arrange this trip for the weekend because the market is held every Sunday;
Day 6: Pick up the tour toward Meo Vac: you’ll have to go through Mai Pi Leng Pass: the most spectacular 22 kilometers I can recommend; once you reach the destination go on to close the circle and get to Ha Giang in the evening;
Day 7: Relax in Ha Giang and leave for Hanoi, where you can take your return flight.
- Other attractions you might be interested in: however you extend your tour, I recommend that you stop and spend the night in a village halfway between Meo Vac and Ha Giang.
Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay: Mountains, rice paddies and the ocean
- Type of itinerary: Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: slight; in Hanoi you can move around freely; but to go as far as Mai Chau, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay you’ll find lots of buses both day and night since these are very touristy places.
- Best time to visit: As with other tours in the north, avoid the rainy season so as to fully enjoy the experience as well as the cruise to Halong Bay and trekking in the rice paddies.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our guide on how and where to book a hotel in Hanoi, and read our guide dedicated to the hotels of Halong Bay.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi and visit the city; tour the historic quarter and northern area of Hoan Kiem Lake; in the afternoon, you could rent a bike and go to Truc Bach Lake which borders the Tay Ho district; on the lake you’ll find a little island with really nice places to stop, such as the Standing Bar, a pub where they serve Bia Hoi, a craft beer from Hanoi, where you can also admire a beautiful sunset;
Day 2: Cultural visit of the city: women’s museum, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex, literature museum; in the evening you can see a traditional puppet show on the water or choose a gastronomic tour: In the evening, leave for Ha Giang with a sleeping bus or, for the more adventurous, with a rented motorbike; leave for Mai Chau in the evening;
Day 3: Trekking in Mai Chau through hills and rice paddies and spend the night in a homestay to enjoy the culture and traditional food;
Day 4: Leave for Ninh Binh: visit Tam Coc and the Bich Dong Pagoda to enjoy a 360 degree view of the karst formations, rivers, caves and rice paddies around;
Day 5: Leave for Halong Bay and spend the day in a traditional Vietnamese boat surrounded by the magnificent colors of turquoise waters and green mountains where hundreds of granite islands sprout out of the calm waters; cruise on the bay and visit the Me Cung caves with a local guide;
Day 6: Spend the day relaxing and snorkeling on one of the countless beaches of Halong Bay;
Day 7: Transfer to Hanoi and return back.
Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hué): Among the imperial cities and largest caves in the world
- Type of itinerary: Historical/Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: slight; for this proposed itinerary through central Vietnam, we recommend that you land in Saigon and leave from Hanoi, it’s easy enough to get around because all places are well connected in view of how many bus companies, trains and cars and drivers there are.
- Best time to visit: You can travel through central Vietnam any time of year. The summer months are the most rainy, even if the rains aren’t as abundant as in the north of the country
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our reviews on the best luxury and budget hotels in Hoi An or here to book a hotel in the other places recommended in this itinerary.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hoi An and visit the city;
Day 2: Visit the old city of Hoi An, and the other characteristic streets of the city;
Day 3: Leave for Da Nang, the city at the mouth of the Hang River, and a day at the beach;
Day 4: Visit Hué, especially the imperial citadel and the mausoleums;
Day 5: Transfer to San Trac, located about five hours from Hué, and tour Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park: an adventure among the largest caves in the world with excursions to Paradise Cave and Black Cave;
Day 6: Tour and excursion in the forest by bike along the countless rural roads;
Day 7: Transfer to the airport in Hanoi for the return.
- Other attractions that could interest you for a day trip outside of Hoi An: the ruins of May Son are a few hours south and is a religious site going back to the medieval kingdom of Champa, which once governed central and southern Vietnam.
- Other attractions that could interest you for a day trip outside of Son Trach: you could also decide on a second day to discover the country’s war history visiting the Phong Nha Museum or the Vinh Moc Tunnels, a nearly two kilometer long underground labyrinth.
Two week itineraries
After the one week itineraries, in this section I will illustrate the other tours suited for a trip of two weeks. Consider too that you can create your personal itinerary by combining two of those already presented. I also feel I should recommend that you stay in Vietnam for at least two weeks, since you could only see a small portion of it in a week.
Authentic northern Vietnam in the mountains, rice paddies and ocean
- Type of itinerary: Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: Medium, if you travel by motorbike. Slight if you get around by train, bus or car and driver.
- Best time to visit: the Autumn is best for this itinerary: for enjoying a cruise on Halong Bay, for the best trekking through the Ninh Binh rice paddies and be sure to get a tour (highly recommended) between Ha Hiang and Meo Vac.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our advice on how to book a hotel in Vietnam.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi and visit the historic district; in the afternoon you can rent a bike and go to Truc Bach Lake which borders with the Tay Ho District; on the lake you’ll find a little island with really nice places to stop, where you can also admire a beautiful sunset;
Day 2: A cultural visit of the city through museums and traditional shows; leave for Ha Giang on a sleeping bus or, for the more adventurous, with a rented motorbike;
Day 3: Leave for the famous Ha Giang “loop” which, as the region’s headquarters, crosses 300 kilometers of extreme adventure and breathtaking panoramas; the first stop is Quan Ba; after 40 kilometers of curves and a spectacular pass called “Heaven Gate Pass”; at Tam Son, stop at a panoramic point to sip a traditional coffee and admire the two identical hills called Fairy Bossom; spend the night in Yenh Minh;
Day 4: Get back on the road for Dong Van: along the Chinese border you’ll find sections hanging out over nothing among villages, mountains and different ethnic groups;
Day 5: Arrival in Dong Van; if you can, arrive on a Saturday so as to enjoy the traditional Sunday market;
Day 6: Continue the trip toward Meo Vac, crossing the Mai Pi Leng Pass: 22 spectacular kilometers that will take your breath away suspended between land and sky. Keep going toward Ha Giang and spend the night;
Day 7: Relax in Ha Giang and leave for Hanoi to delight your palate with a gastronomic tour;
Day 8: Leave for Mai Chau; half day trekking through hills and rice paddies; spend the night in a homestay to learn respect and support the local population;
Day 9: Half day of trekking Mai Chau and leave for Ninh Binh in the evening;
Day 10: Visit Ninh Binh and Tam Coc; boat tour along the river to admire the particular karst formations, caves and rice paddies;
Day 11: Visit Ninh Binh;
Day 12: Leave for Halong Bay and spend the day in a traditional Vietnamese boat surrounded by the magnificent colors of turquoise waters and green mountains where hundreds of granite islands sprout out of the calm waters; cruise on the bay and visit the Me Cung caves with a local guide;
Day 13: Spend the day on one of the countless beaches of Halong Bay with lunch and snorkeling;
Day 14: Transfer to Hanoi and departure.
Sapa and Halong Bay, trekking and boat tours
- Type of itinerary: Historic/Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: low, because the places on the tour are rather well-known and touristy.
- Best time to visit: The best season to visit is in the Autumn, when the weather is dry and mild. You can visit the places recommended here any time of the year, keeping in mind that the rainy season is a little tricky for certain activities.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our advice on how to book a hotel in Vietnam.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi and visit the city;
Day 2: Leave for Sapa and walk through the town; visit the museum of traditional customs and clothing in the area;
Day 3: Excursion through the valleys of Sapa, trekking with a local family;
Day 4: Tour to Bach Ha for the Sunday market and return to Sapa in day;
Day 5: Visit Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam; leave for Mai Chau;
Day 6: Another day of trekking, this time in Mai Chau, through hills and rice paddies; spend the night in a homestay to enjoy the culture and food of the region;
Day 7: Excursion in Mai Chau valley: you could rent a bike and lose yourself in the surrounding countryside, sign up for a cooking lesson or take a kayak trip along the river;
Day 8: Leave for Ninh Binh, visit the Bich Dong Pagoda;
Day 9: Arrive at Tam Coc to take a tour along the river, visit the caves;
Day 10: Arrive at Halong Bay and take a day trip on a Vietnamese boat with lunch onboard. Leave for a three night cruise to admire the unforgettable sunrises and sunsets on the famous bay, one of the 7 wonders of the world;
Day 11: Visit the Thien Cung Caves, near Ha Long Bay, and a floating fishing village;
Day 12: Day of cruising, relaxing and snorkeling and return to Hanoi in the evening;
Day 13: Visit Hanoi: you can rent a bicycle and visit West Lake (Ho Tay), a route of 17 kilometers surrounding this immense body of water (officially the largest lake in Hanoi), located just 2 kilometers from the historic quarter;
Day 14: Transfer to the airport and departure.
Southern Vietnam: History, floating markets and relaxing along the Mekong
- Type of itinerary: History/Natural.
- Difficulty getting around: slight, since Saigon is well connected with major international airports and you can get around the city by various means. To reach Phu Quoc Island you can opt for either a flight or boat.
- Best time to visit: the best time to visit this part of Vietnam is the winter, because temperatures don’t reach elevated levels and the weather is dry.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our advice on how to book a hotel in Vietnam.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Saigon and visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Ben Thanh market;
Day 2: Visit the underground tunnels and “hidden” cafes, or choose among the various districts of the city;
Day 3: Depart for My Tho, located 70 kilometers from Saigon to start a cruise on the Mekong;
Day 4: Visit the Cai Be floating market on the Mekong and the artisan factories; visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda;
Day 5: Visit the Cai Rang floating market, where you can learn how they make rice vermicelli in a traditional village;
Day 6: Transfer to Dalat and spend the afternoon at the Crazy House;
Day 7: Visit Dalat, the city of flowers, coffee and strawberries;
Day 8: Transfer to Phu Quoc Island;
Day 9: Visit the pearl factory; in the evening you can tour the Duong Dong night market: a street full of stalls where you can taste good food while sipping fresh fruit juice;
Day 10: Visit the northern part of the island and pepper farms where you can also see how the process is done; relax;
Day 11: A day relaxing in Bai Dai, the longest beach on Phu Quoc, with its characteristic palms, white beaches and seafood;
Day 12: A day relaxing on Bai Sao beach, known as star beach, one of the most beautiful on the island; visit the village of Ham Ninh;
Day 13:Transfer to Saigon with a free day to explore the city;
Day 14: Departure.
- Other attractions that might interest you: If you want to learn about the history of the Vietnam War, you might be interested in the Cu Chi Tunnels, 60 kilometers from Saigon. In Phu Quoc, should you be traveling with kids, you can visit the Vinpearl Safari to admire lots of wild animals.
Untouched nature and history: Rice paddies, caves and imperial cities
- Type of itinerary: History/Natural/Modern.
- Difficulty getting around: slight, here you’ll find our advice on how to get around in Vietnam.
- Best time to visit: travel beginning in April will allow you to enjoy much more “interesting” landscapes thanks to the cultivation of rice and coffee, which come to life in the Spring. But the humid weather will be a bit suffocating, so choose according to your needs.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our advice on how to book a hotel in Vietnam.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi and tour the historic quarter; afternoon on bicycle at Truc Bach Lake where you’ll find a little island with characteristic places where they serve Bia Hoi, Hanoi’s craft beer and you can also admire evocative sunsets;
Day 2: Cultural visit of the city such as the women’s museum and literature museum: visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex, in the evening you can opt for a show or gastronomic tour; leave for Mai Chau or Ninh Binh in the evening;
Day 3: Trekking in Mai Chau through hills and rice paddies and spend the night in a homestay to enjoy the culture and traditional food; or, you can choose to go directly to Ninh Binh,
Day 4: Leave for Ninh Binh: visit Tam Coc and the Bich Dong Pagoda to enjoy a 360 degree view of the karst formations, rivers, caves and rice paddies around;
Day 5: Day cruise on Halong Bay with lunch onboard;
Day 6: Transfer to San Trach, five hours from Hué, and tour to Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park with excursions to Paradise Cave and Black Cave, among the largest in the world;
Day 7: Excursion on bike through the forest on countless rural roads; or visit the Phong Nha museum or take a tunnel tour of Vinh Moc, a nearly two kilometer long underground labyrinth from the war;
Day 8: Visit the imperial city and the Hué mausoleums;
Day 9: Leave for Danang, the city at the mouth of the Hang River; and spend a day at the beach;
Day 11: Arrive at Hoi An, tour the ruins of May Son located a few hours to the south (this is a religious site that goes back to the medieval kingdom of Champa);
Day 12: Visit Hoi An or spend a day at the town beach;
Day 13: Spend a day discovering Hoi An, the city of lanterns, with its alleys in the historic center and admire the magic of the lanterns along the river and take part in a cooking class;
Day 14: Transfer to the airport and return.
Three week itinerary
Three weeks from north to south of Vietnam (or viceversa)
- Type of itinerary: History/Natural/Modern.
- Difficulty getting around: medium. You can also opt for the “Reunification Express”, the train that connects the north and south of the country, for a trip of about 35 hours, where you can pick which cities you’d like to get off at and when you want to continue. Or you can buy a motorbike and make the trip through Vietnam on two wheels. Or if you’re interested in a slow and sustainable trip you can cross the country on bicycle, but you’d better have more than three weeks available or are willing to forego a few of the stops I’m about to recommend.
- Best time to visit: Vietnam has a length of about 1600 kilometers, so as you can imagine the temperatures change drastically going from north to south in the country. Generally, however, I recommend the period between January and May to find the most temperate weather in almost all of Vietnam.
- Recommended hotels: Click here to read our advice on how to book a hotel in Vietnam.
- Tour operator: If you’re interested in an organized tour, whether as a group or privately, click here to learn more and get a free quote.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Visit Saigon, pick which neighborhood interests you the most among the various districts in the city and be transported by the chaotic, fascinating city;
Day 2: Still in Saigon, visit the cathedral and the main attractions;
Day 3: Visit the Mekong Delta: two days on a cruise discovering ethnic and fishing villages, fruit plantations and floating markets;
Day 4: Finish the cruise on the Mekong; and transfer to Da Lat;
Day 5: Visit Da Lat;
Day 6: Visit the imperial city of Hué;
Day 7: Visit Hoi An;
Day 8: Visit Hoi An, and take a cultural tour to the ruins of the religious site of My Son;
Day 9: Visit Danang: spend a day at the beach;
Day 10: Excursion to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, in the largest caves in the world with the possibility to go kayaking or other adventures;
Day 11: Excursion to the countryside around Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park;
Day 12: Visit the Vinh Moc tunnels, built during the Vietnam War in the Sixties;
Day 13: Transfer to Ninh Binh; bicycle tour among the temples of the region;
Day 14: Excursion to Ninh Binh, along the river among rice paddies and karstic mountains;
Day 15: Transfer to Halong Bay; cruise for two days and one night;
Day 16: Second day of cruising on Halong Bay;
Day 17: Transfer to Mai Chau; trekking;
Day 18: Visit Mai Chau; transfer to Hanoi;
Day 19: Visit the old city of Hanoi, choose from gastronomic tours and artisanal shops;
Day 20: Visit Hanoi: free day for visiting the city and its cultural sites;
You can choose whether to arrive in Hanoi or Saigon and then continue on either to the north or south.
I personally preferred going from south to north because I covered all of Vietnam during the month of May, when the temperatures began to rise, and I preferred a little more rain in the north to the humidity of the south and the cities.
In addition, you can combine itineraries of one or two weeks that I mentioned above, to create a personalized itinerary according to your needs and the type of trip you’d like to take.
Photo Credits: Photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay
