Just back from an awesome trip of the year – a trip to Vietnam with family!! I can’t wait to share the information with you all. As Vietnam is fast becoming a popular tourist destination among Indians and many other countries alike. And why not. Since, Vietnam is one of the most affordable tourist destinations in South East Asia. Moreover, a trip to Vietnam can be easily clubbed with a trip to Thailand and Cambodia as well. And even if you just want to visit Vietnam, it’s going to have all that you look for in a tour package. From mountains to beaches, from theme parks to cruise trips – Vietnam has something to offer to each kind of visitor. Top that with mouth watering cuisines, adventure activities and ease of getting around.
Read : Complete guide to plan a trip to Vietnam including currency, food, transport, accommodation, weather and everything else.
So, now that I have given you reason enough to plan a trip to Vietnam. Let me also tell you, it is very easy to get a Vietnam travel Visa. And unlike many other countries, you need not plan your complete itinerary in advance when planning a trip to Vietnam. Actually, you can plan things on the go. Which gives a lot of flexibility.
In fact, we booked most of our day trips and tours just the day before. So, with that, lets dive into a 7,10 and 15 days Vietnam trip itinerary for you. These Vietnam trip itineraries are planned from a family trip perspective. Because thats what we do 🙂 But I will include tips on where all you can go for adventure activities etc. as well. But before diving into the itinerary, let’s understand the geography of Vietnam a bit.
Geography of Vietnam
Vietnam is a long, narrow country located in Southeast Asia. With a diverse geography that includes mountains, rivers, coastlines, and fertile deltas. And you can broadly divided the country in 3 major parts –
- North Vietnam. Which includes the capital city of Hanoi, the famous Ha Long Bay and several other places to visit around Hanoi. And further north lies some very beautiful hill stations like Sapa.
- Central Vietnam. Which includes some of the cutest hill stations like Dalat, and some of the most beautiful beaches of the world near Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang. It also includes rich historical places like the city of Hue. Also, at the outskirts of Da Nang is located the BaNa Hills, whose Golden Bridge has become an iconic symbol of Vietnam.
- South Vietnam. Which includes the major commercial city of Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh. And several places to visit around it. Including Mekong River Delta, famous Chu Chi Tunnel from Vietnam War times. And several islands with stunning beaches that are very accessible from Ho Chi Minh.
One can start a trip to Vietnam either from the north, starting from the capital city of Hanoi. Or, from the south, starting from Ho Chi Minh. And traverse through the length of the country. There are several flights from India to Vietnam. Many from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata being direct flights. And then there is excellent connectivity of Vietnam with other South East Asian countries. And rest of the world as well.
Here’s a map of places we covered on our Vietnam trip : –
With that, lets dive into a 7,10 or 15 days Vietnam Trip Itinerary without further delay.
7 days Vietnam trip itinerary
7 days are enough to visit the highlights of Vietnam. In this itinerary, you can choose to include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and one more city in central Vietnam, either Da Nang or Hoi An as your base. Stay in each city for a couple of days. And explore in and around that city. Here’s a sample 7 days Vietnam trip itinerary:
Ho Chi Minh (along with Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnel) – 2 days
Da Nang or Hoi An (covering My Khe Beach, BaNa Hills and the Hue Ancient Town) – 2 days
Hanoi (including Ha Long Bay trip) – 3 days
Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh. Post arrival check-in into your accommodation. And have some rest. In the second half of the day, visit Chu-Chi Tunnel. You can either take this guided tour of Chu Chi Tunnel. Or, you can book a grab taxi to Chu Chi Tunnel, buy a ticket on the spot and visit the tunnels. You will need around 1 hour to reach Chu Chi Tunnel from Ho Chi Minh City. And another 2-3 hours to explore the tunnels thoroughly.
PS: Read our experience visiting the Chu Chi Tunnel in Vietnam
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
You will get airbnbs, service apartments, hostels and hotels – all types of accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City. Even good hotels come at a very reasonable price. Some of the hotels I recommend include – Sherwood Residence, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Vinpearl Landmark 81. Here’s the complete list of hotels in Ho Chi Minh to browse through.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
On the second day of your Vietnam trip itinerary, dedicate half your day to visit attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. And in the second half of the day, you can visit Mekong Delta. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic city. It blends French colonial architecture, war history, modern skyscrapers, and vibrant street life. What you should not miss visiting here are:
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon – a famous church built by the French
- Saigon Central Post Office again, designed by the French
- Ben Thanh Market – a bustling street market that claims to have the cheapest items of Vietnam, and replicas of several brands at dirt cheap prices.
- Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) which is the former presidential palace of South Vietnam
While in Mekong Delta, you must not miss to take the round bamboo boat ride.
To save time, towards the end of this day, you can either take an overnight train, an overnight bus or an evening flight to your next destination – Da Nang or Hoi An.
Read : 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 3: Da Nang / Hoi An
Da Nang and Hoi An are like almost twin cities located in central Vietnam. With a grab taxi, you can reach from one to the other within 30 minutes. While Da Nang is one of the bigger cities and houses the best coastline of Vietnam. With shallow beaches perfect for swimming and sun bathing. At the same time Hoi An provides for a smaller town, rustic charm and stunning beaches. Also, Hoi An houses many old french buildings, cute little cafes and restaurants, particularly around it’s river. So, you can stay in either of the towns as your base. Arrive either late at night or early in the morning.
You can leave your luggage at your accommodation if you arrive in the morning by an overnight bus or train. And proceed to do a day trip to BaNa Hills. BaNa hills is located at almost an hours drive from Hoi An or Da Nang City. At the base, you take a cable car to ride up to the hill. On top of the hill, there is an European themed park. With restaurants, rides, aesthetic buildings, and the famous Golden Hand Bridge of Vietnam. You can spend the whole day at BaNa Hills, till 5:00pm in the evening.
Read :
Our day trip to BaNa Hills from Da Nang
How we spent 4 days in Da Nang exploring in and around the city
An evening well spent at Hoi An – the most romantic place in Vietnam
Where to stay in Da Nang, Vietnam
There are all kinds of accommodation available in Da Nang. From luxury hotels to hostels. So, depending on your requirement, you can stay in any of these. These are the major areas to stay in Da Nang, preferred by tourists –
| Budget Level | Ideal Area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Beach Relax | My Khe Beach | Water sports, vibrant beachfront resorts |
| City & Culture | City Center / Han River | Markets, landmarks, food, nightlife |
| Nature & Luxury | Son Tra Peninsula | Hiking, wildlife, tranquility |
| Nomad Vibe | An Thuong / My An | Cafes, coworking, expat-focused |
| Quiet Luxury | Non Nuoc Beach | Exclusive beaches and golf resorts |
Where to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam
| Area | Best For | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Town | First-timers, cultural lovers, short stays | Historic charm, nightlife, iconic tours nearby |
| An Hoi Island | Riverside ambiance, boutique stays, quiet charm | Scenic river views, near Old Town |
| An Bang / Cửa Đại | Beach lovers, relaxed stays, seafood fans | Great beaches, cafes, mouthed access to town |
| Cam Chau | Nature lovers, couples, longer stays | Peaceful rural setting, easy biking access to town |
| Tra Que Village | Cultural travelers, hoping to unplug | Farming environment, local life and cooking |
Day 4: Exploring My Khe Beach and Hoi An
Spend the first half of the day at My Khe Beach, the best beach of Da Nang. You can sun bathe, take a swim in the water, enjoy some water sports and food from the beachside restaurants. My Khe Beach consists of ~9 km of white sandy coastline. And it is dotted with beachside sunbeds, shower areas and restrooms for tourists.
In the second half of the day, proceed to Hoi An. Explore the Hoi An Ancient Town that presents a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, French, and Vietnamese architecture. As the evening approaches, enjoy the lantern-lit streets, cultural heritage, and riverside charm of Hoi An. There is a Japanese Bridge at the centre of the Hoi An river. Across this bridge lies several restaurants, cafes and street side shops. There is a night market also set here, which is a perfect spot for street side shopping.
You can also take a boat ride or lantern-floating cruise on the Thun Bon River, which is a lifetime experience.
Day 5: Hanoi
Today, take an early morning flight to Hanoi from Hoi An or Da Nang. You can also take a late night bus or train the night before. But flight charges are also competitive and will save you a lot of time. Upon arrival in Hanoi, check-in into your accommodation or leave your luggage at the accommodation. And explore the main attractions of the town of Hanoi which include :
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh
- Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university, dedicated to Confucius.
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – Excellent museum showcasing the culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
- Tran Quoc Pagoda – the oldest Pagoda of Hanoi
- West Lake – the largest lake of Hanoi and Tay Ho Temple located on it’s bank
- One pillared Pagoda
Later in the day visit the train street – another iconic Vietnamese experience where you can experience the thrill of a train passing at full speed just inches from you!!
Further Reads for you :
Is train street in Vietnam overhyped? Find out from our experience visiting train street Vietnam
Iconic places to see in Hanoi in a day
Where to stay in Hanoi, Vietnam
| Area | Best For | Vibe | Distance to Old Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Quarter | First-timers, nightlife, food | Lively, bustling | Heart of it |
| French Quarter | Luxury, culture, history | Elegant, quiet | Walking distance |
| Ba Đình | Families, history lovers | Calm, green | 10–15 min |
| Tây Hồ | Long stays, expats, chill travelers | Relaxed, spacious | 15–20 min drive |
| Trúc Bạch | Foodies, quiet central location | Charming, local | 5–10 min walk |
Day 6: Ha Long Bay day trip
Today, you can do a full day tour of Ha Long Bay from Hanoi. It is going to be a long day. It takes around 3 hours to reach Ha Long Bay from Hanoi. There are numerous guided tours available. We booked this guided tour of Ha Long Bay from Hanoi on a day long cruise. Also, read about our day trip to Ha Long Bay. Most of the day tours to Ha Long Bay follow almost the same itinerary. Wherein they pick you up from Hanoi at around 8:00am. There are multiple pickup points. And you can select one near your hotel.
You will reach Ha Long Bay Port around 11:30am. There are also a few stops on the way like a shell museum. You will on-board your cruise by lunch time. And have lunch on board the cruise. Post which the cruise starts sailing. Most of the cruises take route no.2. Wherein the first stop is Sung Sot Cave – the largest cave in Ha Long Bay. And a stunning limestone cave. The second stop is for boating and kayaking in the Ha Long Bay. And the third and final stop is an island – the Ti Top Island – the most famous among tourist. But the downside is that this island is small, and tends to get very crowded. But overall the cruise through the numerous limestone islands is totally worth it.
You will be back at the Ha Long Cruise port by around 6:00pm. And then you will start on your return journey to Hanoi. Reaching Hanoi by around 9:00pm.
Read : Ha Long Bay : One day tour or overnight stay package ? Which Route to take ?
Day 7: Hanoi
Keep the last day of your trip to Vietnam a little light and breezy. Depending on the timing of your return flight out of Hanoi, you can plan the day. Assuming you have the flight in the evening, you can plan to visit Dong Xuan Market – Hanoi’s largest indoor market. And Old Quarters of Hanoi. As the name suggests, the area consists of old French style buildings. It is a maze of 36 historic streets each named after an ancient trade. And a great place to try street food, shopping, and soaking in local life of Hanoi. There are several boutique hotels in the old quarter. So, you can stay right here as well. That will make it so much easier to explore the different streets.
Some are famous for shoes, while others for tea and coffee shops, some sell bamboo and ceramic wares while others are dedicated to selling flowers or kids toys. Every street has something different to offer. And it’s a perfect place to pick some souvenirs as well.
Along with exploring the old quarters you can also explore the Hoan Kiem Lake which is located in the heart of the old Quarters with a peaceful walking path. At the center: Turtle Tower and the Ngoc Son Temple on a small island. While on one side of the lake lies one of the oldest Churches of Hanoi.
Later in the evening, catch your flight back home from Hanoi.
Read : Our experience wandering through the streets of Old Quarters, Hanoi
10 days Vietnam trip itinerary
If you are planning a 10 days Vietnam trip itineray, you can add one or two more destinations to your 7 days Vietnam trip itinerary above. There are two options that I present you –
2 days Ho Chi Minh (along with Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnel)
2 days Da Nang or Hoi An (covering My Khe Beach, BaNa Hills and the Hue Ancient Town)
3 days in Hanoi (including Ha Long Bay trip)
2 days in Sapa
1 day in Hanoi again
After following the above 7 days Vietnam trip itinerary till day 7, on the night of day 7, take an overnight bus from Hanoi to Sapa.
Day 8 & 9 : Explore Sapa
Spend the next day exploring Sapa – one of the cutest hill stations of Vietnam. The vibe of Sapa is somewhat similar to the hill stations of South India like Munnar or Ooty. But it has it’s own charm. In Sapa you can explore the main town square and market on foot, visit the Moana Park (a photogenic place to take perfect instagram shots and enjoy valley view), visit the Cat-Cat Village – which will remind you of Mausinram that we visited on our trip to Meghalaya, India. And take a cable car ride up the hill to Sunworld Resort.
Read : Exploring Sapa in couple of days – places to see and things to do in Sapa
Visiting Moana Sapa – is the instagram location worth it?
Stumbling upon a cute pet farm in Sapa Vietnam
A half day trip to Cat Cat Village – Sapa Vietnam
On the night of day 9, again take an overnight bus back to Hanoi.
Where to stay in Sapa, Vietnam
| Area | Best For | Vibe | Distance to Sapa Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town Center | First-time visitors | Lively, convenient | Central |
| Cat Cat Village | Culture + views | Quiet, scenic | 1–2 km |
| Ta Van Village | Trekking, rural immersion | Authentic, remote | 8–10 km |
| Mountain Retreats | Romance, nature escape | Peaceful, private | 5–15 km |
Day 10: Hanoi
Enjoy a water puppet show in Hanoi. And later, take a flight back to your hometown from Hanoi.
2) Visit Dalat and Nha Trang
Ho Chi Minh (along with Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnel) 2 days
Nha Trang (Including Hon Tre Island) 2 days
Da Nang or Hoi An(covering My Khe Beach, BaNa Hills and the Hue Ancient Town) 2 days
Hanoi (including Ha Long Bay trip) 3 days
Often not on the usual tour packages – I found Dalat and Nha Trang to be the two prettiest places in Vietnam. You will need to sqeeze these in between Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang / Hue on your 7 days Vietnam trip itinerary like this :
Day 2: Take an overnight train from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang
Where to stay in Nha Trang, Vietnam
| Area | Best For | Vibe | Beach Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tran Phu Beach | First-time visitors | Lively, touristy | Direct |
| North Nha Trang | Quiet + cultural sights | Local, relaxed | Close |
| Nha Trang Bay Islands | Romance, luxury | Secluded, exclusive | Private beach |
| West Nha Trang | Budget, long stays | Local, everyday life | Short drive |
Day 3: Nha Trang to Hon Tre Island day trip
Hon Tre Island has a huge Island theme park developed by Vinpearl. The theme park consists of several rides, restaurants and European themed resorts and hotels. You can take a cable car ride across the sea from the Nha Trang city to the Hon Tre Island. Or, you can take a boat as well. If you are visiting the theme park, your cable car tickets will anyways be included in the theme park tickets.
But, you can otherwise also visit the Hon Tre Island from Nha Trang. Using a speed boat or a regular boat. A speed boat takes just 10 minutes to reach the Hon Tre Island from mainland. The rest of the island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and some of the world class resorts like the Marriott Hon Tre Island. You can easily spend a day here and return back to the main land by 8:00pm or so after having dinner in Hon Tre Island itself.
Day 4: Nha Trang
Today explore the attractions of the Nha Trang City . Including:
-
Nha Trang Beach – Long stretch of white sand and clear blue water along Tran Phu Street ideal for swimming and sunbathing
-
Po Nagar Cham Towers (Tháp Bà Ponagar) – Built by the Champa Kingdom between the 7th and 12th centuries dedicated to goddess Yan Po Nagar. This temple showcases the distinctive Cham architectural style, characterized by red brick structures and intricate carvings.
-
Long Son Pagoda famous for its giant white Buddha sitting on a hill and intricate dragon mosaics.
Day 5: Nha Trang to Dalat
Dalat is a cute hill station located at just around 3 hours drive from Nha Trang. You can either take a day trip from Nha Trang to Dalat or you can visit Nha Trang to Dalat and then take an evening flight from Dalat to the next destination. The main places to explore in Dalat include –
-
Crazy House Dalat – A surreal, Gaudí-style architectural marvel designed by Vietnamese architect Đặng Việt Nga. Which resembles a fairy tale house with winding and challenging stairs. It was the hit in Dalat with my kid.
-
Linh Phuoc Pagoda – Known for its elaborate mosaic architecture made from broken glass, pottery, and porcelain.
-
Valley of Love – Romantic park with lakes, flower gardens, swan boats, and heart-shaped sculptures.
Apart from these, you must stroll along the Dalat Lake which is in the centre of the town. And have a few meals in the restaurants dotting the banks of this lake. If time permits, you can also do boating on the lake.
Read : Our road trip from Dalat to Nha Trang
2 days Nha Trang Trip Itinerary
Where to stay in Dalat, Vietnam
| Area | Best For | Vibe | Distance to Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Center | First-timers, nightlife | Busy, lively | Walking distance |
| Xuan Huong Lake | Couples, scenery | Calm, romantic | 5–10 min walk |
| French Quarter | History, architecture | Elegant, quiet | 10–15 min walk |
| Outskirts/Countryside | Nature, retreats | Peaceful, green | 15–30 min drive |
Later, take a flight in the night from Dalat to Da Nang or Hoi An, and from here onwards you can follow the same itinerary that you would follow on your 7 days Vietnam trip itinerary above.
15 days Vietnam Trip Itinerary
Ho Chi Minh(along with Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnel) 2 days
Nha Trang(Including Hon Tre Island) 2 days
Da Nang or Hoi An(covering Da Nang, My Khe Beach, BaNa Hills, Hue Ancient Town) 3 days
Hanoi (including Ha Long Bay trip) 3 days
Sapa round trip from Hanoi – 2 days
Hanoi again 1 day
Overall 15 days is a very decent time to visit Vietnam. If you are doing a 2 weeks Vietnam trip itinerary, you will be able to include not only the highlights of Vietnam in your trip. But also other places which you miss on shorter itineraries. These are some of the extra things that you can include in your 15 days Vietnam trip itinerary :
-
Nha Trang and Hon Tre Island trip
-
Spending couple of days in the sweet little hill town of Dalat exploring it’s attractions
-
A day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue – a historical town holding marvellous architecture. But not just Hue, the road trip from Da Nang to Hue is one of the best you will take on your trip to Vietnam
-
Including Sapa – the northern hill station of Vietnam in the trip
-
Also, including Ninh Bin – a beautiful day trip destination from Hanoi
This Vietnam trip itinerary also gives you more time to explore the towns of Vietnam better as you spend more time in each destination. So, here’s how the overall 15 days trip to Vietnam would look like :
South Vietnam – Day 1 to 6 – Covering Ho Chi Minh, Dalat and Nha Trang
-
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh and exploring Chu Chi Tunnel. Book this guided tour to Chu Chi Tunnel from Ho Chi Minh including transfers.
-
Exploring Mekong Delta. (Here is the link to the guided tour to Mekong Delta) and later city attractions of Ho Chi Minh (including Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Saigon Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and Independence palace). Later take an overnight train or flight to Nha Trang
-
Explore Hon Tre Island from Nha Trang, taking a cable car ride to Hon Tre Island. Here’s a full package ticket to Hon Tre Island Vinwonders Park including Cable car ride that you can book.
-
Explore the beaches and attractions of Nha Trang (Including Nha Trang Beach, Po Nagar Cham Towers, Long Son Pagoda famous etc.)
-
Morning transfer by road from Nha Trang to Dalat. Reach Dalat by noon. Explore the Dalat lake side – town vibes, restaurants, cafes etc. You can book this taxi for a a private transfer from Nha Trang to Dalat or this Nha Trang to Dalat bus transfer for a more economical option.
-
Explore Dalat (including town attractions like Crazy House, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Datanla Waterfalls and Valley of Flowers). Read : our 2 days Dalat trip itinerary.
Central Vietnam – Day 7 to 9 – Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, BaNa Hills
7. Take a flight from Dalat to Da Nang. Reach by noon. later, take a half day trip from Da Nang to Hoi An. In the beautiful ancient town of Hoi An, explore the old quarters, the French buildings, the cute cafes and restaurants around the river etc. Spend the evening on the riverside, exploring the street market of Hoi An, enjoying the lantern lit atmosphere and taking a boat ride on colorful lantern lit boats. End your day with a dinner in Hoi An. Here’s a guided tour of Hoi An from Da Nang that I recommend.
8. From Da Nang, take a full day trip to BaNa hills and Golden Bridge. You can book this guided tour to BaNa Hills.
9. Today, take this full day trip from Da Nang to Hue. A road trip from Da Nang to Hue is one of the most beautiful ones that you will take. And it involves some historical sites and amazing viewpoints on the way. Here’s our complete writeup on a road trip from Da Nang to Hue.
North Vietnam – Day 10 – 15
10. Take a morning flight from Da Nang to Hanoi. Later in the day explore the Hanoi Old Quarters, Hoan Kiem Lake, Turtle Tower and the Ngoc Son Temple. And at night, you can visit the famous train street of Hanoi. Here’s a guided tour through Hanoi Old Quarters.
11. From Hanoi, take a full day trip to Ha Long Bay. We did this Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi.
12. Explore the city attractions of Hanoi. Including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Tran Quoc Pagoda – the oldest Pagoda of Hanoi. And West Lake – the largest lake of Hanoi. Also Tay Ho Temple located on it’s bank. And you can explore the city of Hanoi via a Hanoi bus hop on hop off tour or this full day private Hanoi Sightseeing tour. Finally, at night take an onvernight bus from Hanoi to Sapa
13. Explore Sapa, including the main town square and market on foot, Moana Park, the Cat-Cat Village. And take a cable car ride up the hill to Sunworld Resort.
14. Explore the rest of the attractions in Sapa. And the Sapa market. Take an overnight bus back to Hanoi.
15. Spend the day at ease in Hanoi. Shopping for some souvenirs. And if time permits, you can do a half day trip to Bat Trang Pottery village. Where you will get beautiful ceramic and stoneware at very cheap prices. You can book this guided tour to Bat Trang Village as well. Take the evening flight back home.
Booking Resources
- Ho Chi Minh list of hotels. Recommended : Sherwood Residence, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Vinpearl Landmark 81
- Nha Trang list of hotels.
- Dalat Hotels
- Hotels in Da Nang
- List of hotels in Hoi An
- Hanoi Hotels
- List of hotels in Sapa
We recommend doing your accommodation booking through our trusted partner – agoda.com. Also, we booked most of our day trips, guided tours and even internal land transfers from one city to another through klook and getyourguide. We compared the prices across the two, along with the offers, and chose the best suited. I have provided the links to the exact tours that we took all through the article while explaining the itinerary. Feel free to click on them and book your tours.