Vietnam folds centuries of dynastic history and French-colonial intrigue into daily life: pagodas beside Art Deco facades, imperial relics within modern cities. From Confucian courtyards in Hanoi to tailor shops in Hoi An and bustling markets in Saigon, the country rewards curiosity with flavor, texture, and hospitality.

Expect big landscapes: Halong Bay’s limestone karsts, rice valleys and cave grottos in Ninh Binh, and the Central Coast’s powdery beaches. Food is a throughline—pho steamed at dawn, turmeric-stained mì Quảng, grilled pork with aromatic herbs, and thick egg coffee that tastes like custard and caffeine fell in love.

Practical notes: Most nationalities can apply for an e-visa online; carry some cash for markets alongside apps like MoMo or ZaloPay. Dress modestly for temples, and mind road crossings—move slowly and predictably. Weather varies: October–April is cooler in the north; the south is warm year-round, with afternoon showers common from May–November.

Hanoi

Elegant and unhurried at dawn, electric by night—Hanoi blends tranquil lakes with a kinetic Old Quarter. Start days with tai chi at Hoàn Kiếm Lake, then slip into alleys where coppersmiths and bamboo merchants still trade on street names that tell their history.

Top sights include the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, French Quarter boulevards, and the atmospheric Train Street area (view from cafes only where permitted). Culinary musts: bún chả, phở, bún riêu, and the original egg coffee.

Stay in Hanoi

• Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (heritage luxury): Check rates
• Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (boutique, Old Quarter): Check rates
• Lotte Hotel Hanoi (skyline views, pool): Check rates
• Somerset Grand Hanoi (apart-hotel, families): Check rates
• More options on VRBO: Hanoi homes or Hotels.com: Hanoi hotels

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Walk Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple, then dip into the Old Quarter’s guild streets. Coffee stop: Café Giảng for the original egg coffee (rich, frothy, and slightly caramelized).

Evening: Dinner at Bún Chả Đắc Kim (grilled pork and herbs over rice noodles) or Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn (old-school broth, queue worth it). Nightcap at Pasteur Street Brewing Co. Ta Hiện for Vietnamese craft beer.

Day 2: Ninh Binh Karsts, Temples, and Countryside

Full-day tour to Vietnam’s “Halong Bay on land.” Boat among rice paddies and limestone cliffs, climb up to Mua Cave viewpoint, and explore the former capital of Hoa Lư.

Book: Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi

Tip: Pack sunscreen, a hat, and modest clothing for temples; bring small bills for local snacks.

Day 3: Halong Bay Day Cruise

Transfer to the bay for a scenic day cruise among karsts, caves, and emerald water—kayak, visit Surprise Cave, and enjoy lunch on board.

Book: BEST SELLER - Halong 5 Star Day Cruise

Optional upgrade (overnight): Top Tier: All-Inclusive Overnight Halong Cruises

Day 4: Hanoi Heritage, Markets, and a Jeep Food Tour

Morning: Visit the Temple of Literature (first national university, 1070) and stroll the French Quarter’s tree-lined boulevards. Breakfast at Bánh Mì 25 (try the roasted pork with pâté) or Xôi Yến for sticky rice bowls.

Afternoon: Explore the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area (Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda) and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology for a sweeping look at the country’s 54 ethnic groups. Coffee at Đinh Café overlooking the lake for classic Vietnamese drip.

Evening: Hop into an open-air vintage GAZ-69 for a moving feast through backstreets and local hangouts.

Book: Hanoi Jeep Tour – Food, Culture and Fun

Travel to the next city

• Hanoi → Da Nang (for Hoi An): Fly 1h20; typical fares ~$35–90 one-way. Search on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. The scenic overnight train takes ~15–16 hours; book on Trip.com (trains). Da Nang Airport → Hoi An: 45–60 minutes by taxi ($12–20) or shuttle ($6–8).

Hoi An

Hoi An is a preserved trading port where Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese influences overlap in honey-colored shop houses. By evening the Thu Bồn River glows with silk lanterns, tailors take measurements, and cooks stir woks in open courtyards.

Spend time between the UNESCO Old Town, An Bang Beach, and nearby countryside—herb-growing Tra Quế village and coconut palms where basket boats spin and laugh back at you.

Stay in Hoi An

• Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An (destination property): Check rates or Alternative link
• Anantara Hoi An Resort (riverside suites, walkable): Check rates
• Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa (beachfront): Check rates
• Hoi An Dream City Hotel (value, central): Check rates
• Tribee Bana Hostel (social, budget): Check rates
• Browse more stays: VRBO Hoi An homes or Hotels.com Hoi An hotels

Day 5: Fly to Da Nang, Settle in Hoi An

Morning: Fly Hanoi → Da Nang; transfer to Hoi An (45–60 minutes). Check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Explore the Old Town ticketed sites: Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese, and traditional merchant houses. Coffee at Hoi An Roastery (smooth arabica blends).

Evening: Lantern stroll along the river; optional sampan ride. Dinner at Morning Glory Original (Quảng Nam classics), or Com Ga Ba Buoi for fragrant chicken rice. For banh mi, try Bánh Mì Madam Khanh (“The Banh Mi Queen”).

Day 6: Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ride the cable car into the clouds to see the photogenic Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands. Amusement rides, French Village facades, and hilltop gardens round out the day.

Book: Full Day Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills Small Group Tour

Day 7: Countryside Ride, Cooking Class, and Beach Sunset

Morning: Cycle to Tra Quế Vegetable Village for farm-to-table herbs. Join a short cooking class to master mì Quảng or cao lầu, learning why the noodles’ texture depends on Hoi An’s ancient wells. Coffee at Rosie’s Café (bright, airy) or Sound of Silence by the beach (slow vibes).

Afternoon: Head to the coconut palms near Cẩm Thanh for a basket-boat spin and crab spotting. Late lunch at Bếp Tre Hoi An (home-style dishes). Tailor time: get measured for a linen shirt or silk dress; first fitting by evening.

Evening: An Bang Beach for golden hour; drinks at Shore Club or Soul Kitchen. Dinner at Mango Mango (creative Vietnamese) or Bale Well (DIY skewers, herbs, and rice paper) for a casual feast.

Travel to the next city

• Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Fly ~1h25; fares ~$40–110 one-way. Search on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. The train takes ~17–19 hours (overnight options) via Trip.com (trains).

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City hums—scooters weave, markets buzz, and rooftop bars sparkle over the Saigon River. French-colonial landmarks frame a skyline of glass, while alleys hide some of the best bowls and bánh xèo in the country.

District 1 is your launchpad for museums, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and Ben Thanh Market; Cholon (District 5) offers pagodas and herbal apothecaries, and Thao Dien (District 2) brings cafés and boutiques.

Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

• The Reverie Saigon (opulent, central): Check rates
• Hotel Nikko Saigon (modern comfort, great breakfast): Check rates
• Silverland Yen Hotel (stylish boutique with tea time): Check rates
• Sherwood Residence (aparthotel, families): Check rates
• The Common Room Project (top-rated hostel): Check rates
• Explore more: VRBO Saigon homes or Hotels.com Saigon hotels

Day 8: Fly In, First Taste of Saigon

Morning: Fly Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City. Check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Walk District 1’s landmarks: Notre-Dame Cathedral (facade under periodic restoration), Central Post Office, Book Street, and the Reunification Palace (modernist time capsule). Lunch at Pho Hoa Pasteur (since the 1960s) or Propaganda Bistro (creative Viet plates).

Evening: Join a scooter food safari through hidden districts to sample bún thịt nướng, bánh xèo, fresh spring rolls, and grilled scallops.

Book: Ho Chi Minh Street Food & Sightseeing by Motorbike

Day 9: Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta

Full-day combo: crawl into history at the Cu Chi Tunnels—ingenuity, traps, and life underground—then shift to the Mekong’s watery maze for a sampan ride, tropical fruit, and riverbank villages.

Book: Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta VIP Tour

Alternative (city focus): Zip around in a classic Jeep to key sights with commentary: Ho Chi Minh City Private Half-Day Tour by U.S Army Jeep

Day 10: Markets, Chinatown, and Departure

Morning: Coffee at Shin Coffee or Cà Phê Cheo Leo (traditional clay-pot brew). Shop Ben Thanh Market for pepper, cashews, and textiles. Or head to Cholon for Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple’s incense coils.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bánh Xèo 46A (crispy turmeric crepes) or Cục Gạch Quán (home-style dishes in a nostalgic villa). Transfer to the airport for your flight.

Evening: In transit.

Dining Cheat Sheet (by city)

• Hanoi: Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn; Bún Chả Hương Liên; Bánh Mì 25; Chả Cá Thăng Long (turmeric-dill fish); Café Giảng (egg coffee).
• Hoi An/Da Nang: Morning Glory; Com Ga Ba Buoi; Bánh Mì Madam Khanh; Mì Quảng Bà Mua (Da Nang); Soul Kitchen (An Bang sunset).
• Ho Chi Minh City: Pho Hoa Pasteur; The Lunch Lady; Bánh Xèo 46A; Ốc Ông Già (sea snails); The Deck (riverside drinks in Thao Dien).

Getting In and Out

• International flights: Fly into Hanoi (HAN) and out of Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) for efficiency. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Trains in Vietnam: Comfortable soft-sleeper options connect major cities; check timetables/prices on Trip.com (trains).

Why this route works: North-to-south minimizes backtracking and matches weather patterns. You’ll hit three distinct flavors of Vietnam—imperial and literary Hanoi, artisan and coastal Hoi An, and cosmopolitan, culinary Saigon—with two iconic day trips in the north and a history-and-delta immersion in the south.

Optional Add-Ons if you have more time: Hue’s imperial citadel (train or car from Hoi An), a Phu Quoc beach break (short flight from SGN), or Sapa trekking (overnight train from Hanoi).

Booking tip: Reserve domestic flights 3–6 weeks ahead for best prices; tailor fittings in Hoi An usually require 24–48 hours and at least one fitting.

Day-by-Day Snapshot

• Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, Old Quarter and lake sunset.
• Day 2: Ninh Binh day tour (limestone rivers and temples).
• Day 3: Halong Bay 5-star day cruise.
• Day 4: Hanoi culture + evening Jeep food tour.
• Day 5: Fly to Da Nang, settle in Hoi An’s Ancient Town.
• Day 6: Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge day trip.
• Day 7: Tra Quế herbs, basket boats, beach sunset.
• Day 8: Fly to Saigon; District 1 landmarks + motorbike food tour.
• Day 9: Cu Chi Tunnels + Mekong Delta VIP day.
• Day 10: Markets/Chinatown; depart.

Ten days in Vietnam sweeps you from tranquil lakes and limestone peaks to lantern-lit rivers and a metropolis that eats late and laughs louder. With smart flights, flavorful food stops, and a few unforgettable tours, you’ll leave with stories that taste like star anise and sound like scooter symphonies.