Vietnam North to South: 12 Days
Trace the country from Hanoi's Old Quarter and Ha Long Bay down through Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City.
12 days · Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov (shoulder seasons) · Great for first-time visitors and culture-and-food travelers
Vietnam is long and narrow, so this route runs top to bottom: the cultural north around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, the central heritage towns of Hue and Hoi An, and the fast-moving south in Ho Chi Minh City. You connect the legs with a mix of short domestic flights and one or two scenic overland or rail journeys. It is a classic first-timer's sweep that covers cities, a UNESCO bay, beaches and the Mekong in under two weeks.
Day by day
- 1
Arrive in Hanoi
Land in the capital and dive into the Old Quarter.
- Check in around the Old Quarter
- Walk Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- Try bun cha or pho at a street stall
- 2
Hanoi sights
Explore the city's history, temples and water-puppet tradition.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature
- Wander Hang Da and Dong Xuan markets
- Thang Long Water Puppet show in the evening
- 3
Ha Long Bay cruise
Transfer to the coast and board an overnight junk boat.
- Drive from Hanoi to Ha Long
- Cruise past limestone karsts to Titop Island
- Explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
- 4
Bay to Hanoi, fly south
Cruise the morning bay, then return and fly to the centre.
- Sunrise tai chi and brunch aboard
- Return transfer to Hanoi
- Evening flight to Da Nang for Hue/Hoi An
- 5
Hue imperial city
Discover the old Nguyen capital and its citadel.
- Tour the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City
- Boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit a royal tomb such as Tu Duc
- 6
Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
Cross the famous coastal pass en route to Hoi An.
- Drive the Hai Van Pass with viewpoint stops
- Pause at Marble Mountains near Da Nang
- Arrive and explore Hoi An's riverfront at night
- 7
Hoi An Ancient Town
Wander the lantern-lined UNESCO old town.
- Japanese Covered Bridge and old merchant houses
- Visit a Chinese assembly hall
- Get clothes tailor-made and float a river lantern
- 8
Hoi An countryside
Slow down with bikes, beaches or Cham ruins.
- Cycle through rice paddies to An Bang Beach
- Optional My Son Cham temple ruins
- Cooking class with a market tour
- 9
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
Head south to the country's biggest, busiest city.
- Flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Check in around District 1
- Walk Ben Thanh Market and Nguyen Hue street
- 10
Saigon history
Trace the city's colonial and wartime past.
- War Remnants Museum
- Reunification Palace
- Notre-Dame Cathedral and the old Central Post Office
- 11
Cu Chi Tunnels
Day trip to the wartime tunnel network outside the city.
- Tour the Cu Chi Tunnels (Ben Dinh)
- Learn about the underground network
- Return for a rooftop-bar evening in the city
- 12
Mekong or departure
Optional delta day trip, then fly home.
- Optional Mekong Delta boat trip (My Tho/Ben Tre)
- Sample tropical fruit and coconut candy
- Transfer to the airport for departure
Plan your trip
Best time to go
Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov (shoulder seasons)
Getting around
Within cities, Grab cars and bikes are cheap and reliable. Between regions, budget domestic flights cover the big distances, while the Reunification Express train and tourist buses (such as the Hai Van Pass route) handle scenic shorter legs.
Where to stay
- Hanoi Old Quarter — walkable lanes, street food and Hoan Kiem Lake at the door
- Hoi An Ancient Town or An Bang Beach — heritage core vs. relaxed beach base
- District 1, Ho Chi Minh City — central for Ben Thanh Market, museums and nightlife
Budget
One of Asia's best-value destinations: food, local transport and many hotels are inexpensive. Ha Long Bay cruises and domestic flights are the line items worth budgeting for; book cruises by reputation rather than lowest price.
Good to know
- Use the Grab app for cheap, metered rides and food in every city.
- Fly the long Hanoi-to-central and central-to-south hops to save days; keep trains and buses for scenic short legs.
- Carry small cash for markets and street food, and always cross the road at a slow, steady pace.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Vietnam?
This itinerary is built as a 12-day route for Vietnam, with a day-by-day plan you can adapt in TripAlta.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
For this TripAlta plan, the suggested timing is Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov (shoulder seasons).
How should I get around Vietnam?
Within cities, Grab cars and bikes are cheap and reliable. Between regions, budget domestic flights cover the big distances, while the Reunification Express train and tourist buses (such as the Hai Van Pass route) handle scenic shorter legs.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
Consider Hanoi Old Quarter — walkable lanes, street food and Hoan Kiem Lake at the door; Hoi An Ancient Town or An Bang Beach — heritage core vs. relaxed beach base; District 1, Ho Chi Minh City — central for Ben Thanh Market, museums and nightlife.
How should I budget for Vietnam?
One of Asia's best-value destinations: food, local transport and many hotels are inexpensive. Ha Long Bay cruises and domestic flights are the line items worth budgeting for; book cruises by reputation rather than lowest price.
Can TripAlta personalize this itinerary?
Yes. Use TripAlta to turn the idea into a personalized plan with dates, travelers, bookings, budget notes, and day-by-day adjustments.