Vietnam 2-Week Itinerary 2026: The Classic North-to-South Route

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). The airport is 45 km from the city center — budget about 45–60 minutes by taxi or Grab (cost: 250,000–350,000 VND). Avoid unlicensed taxis outside arrivals.

Day 1: Settle into the Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem District). Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the evening. Eat pho on Bat Dan Street; try bun cha for lunch. Find a café on Dinh Liet Street for Vietnamese coffee.

Day 2: Morning — Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), the country’s first university, founded 1070. Afternoon — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and One Pillar Pagoda. Evening — water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre.

Day 3: Day trip to Ninh Binh (2 hours by bus or train) for boat tours through Trang An gorges — this is often called “Ha Long Bay on land.” Return to Hanoi for the night. Alternatively, explore Hoa Lo Prison and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Board a cruise from Hanoi (transfers usually included). Ha Long Bay has ~1,600 limestone islands and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A good overnight cruise lets you kayak, explore caves, and watch the sunrise before returning.

• Budget cruises: $80–120/person (2-day/1-night)
• Mid-range: $150–250/person (include better food and smaller group)
• Luxury: $300–600+/person (private cabin, premium service)

Return to Hanoi late on Day 5. Take the overnight train or an evening flight to Hue (train is more scenic — the Reunification Express covers Hanoi–Hue in ~12 hours).

Hue was Vietnam’s imperial capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen Dynasty. The Perfume River runs through it. The city moves slower than Hanoi or Saigon, which is part of its charm.

Day 6: Imperial Citadel (Hue Citadel) — a UNESCO site, it takes 3–4 hours to explore properly. Afternoon: cycle along the Perfume River. Dinner: try bun bo Hue (Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup, more complex than Hanoi pho).

Day 7: Hire a motorbike taxi or join a boat tour to visit the royal tombs: Khai Dinh Tomb (elaborate French-Vietnamese fusion architecture) and Tu Duc Tomb (peaceful gardens). Afternoon: Thien Mu Pagoda. Catch the afternoon train or bus to Da Nang (2.5 hours — the Hai Van Pass route is spectacular by motorbike or train).

Da Nang is central Vietnam’s modern hub. It has a great beach (My Khe), strong infrastructure, and is perfectly placed for day trips to Hoi An (30 min south) and Hue (2.5 hours north).

Day 8: Marble Mountains (Non Nuoc) — five marble and limestone hills with caves, Buddhist temples, and panoramic views. Worth 2–3 hours. Afternoon: My Khe Beach. The Dragon Bridge (Con Rong) breathes fire on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9pm — worth staying for if your schedule aligns.

Day 9: Ba Na Hills day trip (optional, half-day) — French colonial hill station with the famous Golden Bridge (held by giant stone hands). Touristy but visually unique. Alternatively, use Day 9 to head directly to Hoi An by taxi (30 min, ~150,000 VND via Grab).

Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO-listed merchant port frozen in the 15th–19th centuries. No cars in the core; lanterns everywhere. It’s one of the most photogenic places in Southeast Asia — but it’s also heavily visited, so go early morning or after 5pm for the best experience.

Day 10: Buy a combined ticket (120,000 VND) for the Old Town heritage sites — Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, traditional merchant houses. Afternoon: browse the tailor shops (good-quality custom clothes in 24–48 hours). Evening: lantern-lit riverside.

Day 11: An Bang Beach (5 km from town, far quieter and cleaner than Cua Dai). Afternoon: Tra Que Vegetable Village for a cooking class. Evening: final dinner in the Ancient Town before taking the night bus or flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon (HCMC) is Vietnam’s largest city and economic engine. It’s fast, loud, dense, and exhilarating. Fly in from Da Nang (1 hour, domestic flights are cheap) to arrive fresh.

Day 12: Reunification Palace (the preserved 1975 South Vietnam government headquarters — walk-through included). War Remnants Museum (sobering but essential). Ben Thanh Market for street food at night. Try banh mi from Huynh Hoa or Nhu Lan.

Day 13: Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (2 hours from HCMC) — the underground network used by Viet Cong guerrillas during the war. Afternoon: Jade Emperor Pagoda in District 3. Evening: rooftop bar in District 1 for the Saigon skyline.

Day 14: Mekong Delta day trip (Ben Tre or My Tho) — boat tours through river channels, visit floating markets, try fresh coconut products. Return to HCMC for your international departure from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN).