Planning your Vietnam route

Vietnam rewards a route that flows rather than a checklist that sprints. Most visitors arrive at Hanoi (HAN) / Ho Chi Minh (SGN) and link a handful of standout places — a classic loop runs Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City.

Below is a ready-to-use one-week plan, how to stretch it to two weeks, and how to tailor it to how you like to travel. For the full picture see the Vietnam travel guide, and once you’ve fixed your dates read the best time to visit Vietnam so you travel in the right season.

The perfect 7-day Vietnam itinerary

Seven days is the sweet spot for a first trip: enough to see the headline sights without living on buses. This plan keeps you to two or three bases and a sensible pace.

  • Days 1–3 · Hanoi (3 days) — Old Quarter chaos, lakes and egg coffee. Best for culture, food.
  • Days 4–5 · Ha Long Bay (2 days) — Limestone karsts on an overnight cruise. Best for nature, adventure.
  • Days 6–7 · Hoi An (2 days) — Lantern-lit old town and tailor shops. Best for culture, romance.

Budget roughly $175–$1,400 per person for the week depending on your style (excluding international flights) — see the Vietnam budget guide for a full breakdown, or estimate yours with the Budget Calculator.

Stretching it to 10–14 days

With more time you can slow down and add the places a one-week trip skips. A relaxed two-week version looks like this:

  • Days 1–4 · Hanoi (4 days) — Old Quarter chaos, lakes and egg coffee. Best for culture, food.
  • Days 5–8 · Ha Long Bay (4 days) — Limestone karsts on an overnight cruise. Best for nature, adventure.
  • Days 9–11 · Hoi An (3 days) — Lantern-lit old town and tailor shops. Best for culture, romance.
  • Days 12–14 · Ho Chi Minh City (3 days) — Buzzing southern hub and war history. Best for city, history.

Two weeks also leaves room for a day trip or two between bases — see the “day trips” section on each city guide, starting with Hanoi.

Tailoring the route to your style

The skeleton above flexes easily. Adjust where you spend your days based on what you’re travelling for:

Getting between stops

Fly into Hanoi (HAN) / Ho Chi Minh (SGN), then move between cities by a mix of domestic flights, trains, buses and taxis or ride apps. For multi-city trips, an open-jaw ticket (into one city, out of another) saves backtracking.

Book the longer hops ahead in Feb–Apr, Aug–Oct. Distances between the main spots in Vietnam are very doable — most of this route is short, scenic legs rather than epic overland days.

Before you go

Three things to sort early: your visa (evisa for most — see the Vietnam visa guide), your season (when to visit), and your packing (Vietnam packing list). It’s also worth a quick read of our Vietnam safety guide and the food & culture guide so you arrive ready to dive in.

Want a plan built around your exact dates and interests? Generate one in seconds with the AI Trip Planner.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Vietnam?
Seven days covers the highlights for most first-timers; 10–14 days lets you slow down, add Ho Chi Minh City and fit in day trips.
What’s the best Vietnam itinerary for first-timers?
A loop through Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City works well — two or three bases, a few days each, with travel time built in between them.
Is one week enough for Vietnam?
Yes for the main sights. If you want beaches plus cities plus nature, give yourself closer to two weeks.
How do you get around Vietnam?
Arrive via Hanoi (HAN) / Ho Chi Minh (SGN), then use domestic flights, trains, buses and taxis or ride apps between stops.
When should I go to Vietnam?
Aim for Feb–Apr, Aug–Oct for the best balance of weather, prices and crowds — full month-by-month detail in our best-time guide.
How much does a Vietnam trip cost?
Roughly $25/day budget, $60/day mid-range and $200+/day luxury per person, excluding flights.
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