Vietnam rewards the curious: emperors and artisans shaped its citadels and markets, while rivers and limestone towers made the north a dreamscape. From Hanoi’s French-era boulevards to Hoi An’s lantern-lit lanes and Saigon’s headlong energy, this 10-day itinerary balances culture, nature, and cuisine—plus an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise straight out of a silk painting.

Expect big flavors—fragrant pho before sunrise, caramelized clay-pot fish at lunch, smoky bánh xèo at night. Coffee is a ritual here: egg coffee in Hanoi, phin-drip in Hoi An, and modern roasters in Saigon. Street food is a highlight, yet Vietnam’s dining scene expands to heritage restaurants and inventive kitchens.

Practical notes: most travelers can apply for a Vietnam e-visa (up to 90 days) online in advance; carry some cash (VND) though cards and e-wallets are increasingly accepted. Grab is the go-to ride-hailing app. Best seasons for this route: March–April and October–November for milder temps and fewer downpours.

Hanoi

Hanoi mixes poetic temples, lakes, and narrow Old Quarter streets where guilds once defined each lane. You’ll hear roosters, horns, and the rhythmic clack of sidewalk tea cups—and you’ll taste history in every bowl of pho and bun cha.

• Top sights: Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature, Long Bien Bridge, Train Street (view only from permitted cafés), and the Old Quarter’s guild streets.
• Where to stay (Hanoi): Browse VRBO Hanoi stays or Hotels.com Hanoi. Favorites: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (colonial icon), Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (beloved boutique), Somerset Grand Hanoi (spacious suites), Lotte Hotel Hanoi (skyline views).
• Getting there: Fly into HAN with Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. In-city, walk Old Quarter lanes, use taxis/Grab, or book a guided experience below.

Day 1 — Arrive in Hanoi

Afternoon: Land at HAN and settle in. Stretch your legs around Hoan Kiem Lake; peek into Ngoc Son Temple for lake panoramas and the famed giant turtle legend.

Evening: Dinner on low stools at Bun Cha Huong Lien—grilled pork patties with herbs and rice noodles—the spot that hosted a certain Obama-Bourdain meal. Follow with classic egg coffee at Café Giang, the 1940s birthplace of this custardy pick-me-up. Cap the night on Tạ Hiện “beer corner” with a crisp bia hoi.

Day 2 — Hanoi’s icons + Jeep adventure

Morning: Join a vintage open-top adventure: Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep. You’ll weave past the Mosaic Mural, West Lake, back alleys, and snack stops—part sightseeing, part storytelling.

Afternoon: Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university; then Hoa Lo Prison for context on French colonial rule and the Vietnam War era. Coffee stop: The Hanoi Social Club for mellow music and cakes, or Cong Caphe for coconut coffee with a retro-Viet vibe.

Evening: See traditional water puppetry near Hoan Kiem. Dinner at Cha Ca Thang Long—turmeric-dill catfish cooked at your table with herbs and peanuts, a Hanoi specialty dating to the 19th century. Nightcap at Polite & Co, a speakeasy with skilled classic cocktails.

Day 3 — Day trip to Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Mua Cave)

Morning: Depart Hanoi around 7:30–8:00 for Ninh Binh (2 hours by road). Explore Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital amid karst peaks. Lunch on goat meat specialties and crisp river prawns—regional must-tries.

Afternoon: Drift through Tam Coc’s rice-paddy valley in a sampan rowed by foot through grottoes; then hike the 500 steps up Mua Cave viewpoint for sweeping views of the “Ha Long on land” limestone maze.

Evening: Return to Hanoi (~6:30–7:00 pm). Grab noodles at Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan (go early; it sells out), or slurp a smoky bowl at Pho Thin Lo Duc. Sample Vietnamese craft beer at Pasteur Street Brewing’s Hanoi taproom.

Day 4 — Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise (Day 1)

Shuttles collect you around 8:00 am for the 2.5–3-hour ride to the bay. Board your ship, settle into your cabin, and sail into a seascape of 1,600 jungle-topped islets. Expect kayaking in calm coves, swimming, a cave visit, and sunset on deck before a seafood-forward dinner under the stars.

Book a quality boat via: Featured: All-Inclusive OVERNIGHT Halong Cruises - many options (choose from budget to luxury).

Day 5 — Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise (Day 2) → Return to Hanoi

Begin with sunrise tai chi and coffee on deck. After brunch, disembark late morning and return by shuttle to Hanoi mid-afternoon.

Evening: Dinner at Quan An Ngon for a “night market” of regional dishes in one place—try bun bo Hue, banh xeo, and fresh spring rolls. Walk Long Bien Bridge at dusk for river breezes and city views.

Hoi An (with Da Nang)

Hoi An’s Old Town—UNESCO-listed—glows each evening with lanterns. Artisans still tailor suits in 24 hours, boatmen float the Thu Bon River, and cooks perfect cao lau noodles with well water and ash-cured noodles.

• Where to stay (Hoi An): Search VRBO Hoi An or Hotels.com Hoi An. Top picks: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An (seafront villas), Anantara Hoi An Resort (riverfront), Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa (An Bang beach access), budget-friendly Hoi An Dream City Hotel or social Tribee Bana Hostel.
• Prefer Da Nang’s beaches? Consider InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (architect Bill Bensley’s dramatic bay), Furama Resort Danang, or budget Danang Backpackers Hostel and Funtastic Beach Hostel.
• Getting from Hanoi to Da Nang: Morning flight HAN→DAD (~1h20; ~$35–$90) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Train option: Reunification Express (~15–16 hours; soft sleeper ~$35–$60) via Trip.com Trains. Da Nang → Hoi An transfer: 45–60 minutes by car.

Day 6 — Fly to Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An

Morning: Fly HAN→DAD; private car to Hoi An. Check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Old Town orientation walk. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, and the Fukian Assembly Hall; buy the Old Town ticket at a kiosk for entry to heritage sites. Coffee break at Reaching Out Tea House, a serene, silent teahouse supporting hearing-impaired staff.

Evening: Lanterns light up the riverfront—take a short boat glide at sunset. Dinner at Morning Glory Original (Ms. Vy’s kitchen classics—white rose dumplings, smoky cao lau). Nightcap at Q-Bar for cocktails in a heritage space.

Day 7 — Countryside cycling, basket boats, and beach time

Morning: Espresso at The Espresso Station, then cycle to Tra Que Vegetable Village to see herbs grown in seaweed-rich soil; many farms offer a quick herb foot soak and garden demo. Continue to Cam Thanh Coconut Village for a bamboo basket boat spin through nipa palms.

Afternoon: Late lunch at Bánh Mì Phượng (order the pâté + roast pork) or Com Ga Ba Buoi (Hoi An chicken rice with fragrant rice and herbs). Head to An Bang Beach for a swim and a lounger.

Evening: Consider a cooking class to master fresh spring rolls and clay-pot dishes. Or dine at Bale Well—wrap-your-own skewers, herbs, and rice paper for a festive, hands-on meal. Dessert: mango sticky rice or coconut ice cream from a riverfront cart.

Day 8 — Da Nang’s Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge (full day)

Ride into the clouds to stroll the photogenic Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands, explore the European-style “French Village,” and sample rides and arcade fun at Fantasy Park. Hotel pickup from Hoi An or Da Nang is typically included.

Book it: Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Full-day Tour from Da Nang.

Return around sunset. Dinner back in Hoi An at Cao Lau Ba Le (house-made noodles and tender pork) or elevated riverside dining at Anantara’s Hoi An sensation if you’re celebrating.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Saigon hums with ambition—sleek towers, heritage apartments hiding indie bars, and food on every curb. History is close at hand: war-era sites, pagodas, and colonial architecture cluster within easy reach.

• Where to stay (HCMC): Browse VRBO HCMC or Hotels.com HCMC. Standouts: The Reverie Saigon (opulent river views), Silverland Yen Hotel (spa-like boutique), Sherwood Residence (aparthotel for families), value Hotel Nikko Saigon, or social The Common Room Project.
• Getting from Da Nang to HCMC: Morning flight DAD→SGN (~1h25; ~$40–$100) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Allow 45–60 minutes from SGN airport to District 1 by taxi/Grab depending on traffic.

Day 9 — Fly to Saigon, landmarks, and a motorbike feast

Morning: Fly DAD→SGN; check in and refresh. Coffee at The Workshop—industrial-chic roastery pouring V60s and espresso flights.

Afternoon: Visit the War Remnants Museum (sobering yet essential), then stroll to the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral (facade under restoration as of 2025, still photographable). Pause on Nguyen Hue Walking Street for people-watching and snacks.

Evening: Hop on the back of a scooter for a progressive feast: Ho Chi Minh Street Food & Sightseeing By Motorbike (Safe & Fun)—crisscrossing districts for bánh xèo, bo la lot, fresh shellfish, and sweet che.

After, toast the skyline at Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar (live music) or Chill Skybar for neon-lit views.

Day 10 — Markets, pagodas, and farewell

Morning: Breakfast with broken rice at Com Tam Ba Ghien (chargrilled pork, pickles, fish sauce). Shop Ben Thanh Market for pepper, coffee, and lacquerware. Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda (Taoist carvings and incense haze) or Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown for temple architecture.

Afternoon: Quick bowl of bun thit nuong or a crispy bánh xèo at Banh Xeo 46A. Head to SGN for your flight. If your departure is late evening, you can squeeze in a tightly timed half-day to the Cu Chi Tunnels (plan ~5–6 hours round-trip), but only if your flight schedule allows comfortable buffer time.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time

• Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho & Ben Tre) for coconut workshops and sampan canals.
• Hue day trip from Da Nang via the scenic Hai Van Pass for imperial palaces and royal tombs.
• More north? Swap Ninh Binh for additional Hanoi museum time or a village craft visit.

Handy transport recap

• International and domestic flights: compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Trains (Hanoi–Da Nang): check schedules and classes on Trip.com Trains.
• City transfers: Grab is widely available; Hoi An transfers run 45–60 minutes from Da Nang.

Featured tours used in this plan (bookable)

• Hanoi city experience by Jeep: tour link

  

• Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise: tour link

  

• Golden Bridge day trip: tour link

  

• Saigon street food by motorbike: tour link

  

Summary: In ten days you’ll taste Hanoi’s timeless soul, sleep among Ha Long Bay’s limestone peaks, wander Hoi An’s lantern-lit lanes, pose on Da Nang’s Golden Bridge, and ride Saigon’s after-dark avenues for an unforgettable street food safari. It’s a balanced Vietnam itinerary that layers history, scenery, and flavor—leaving just enough unscripted moments to feel like your own discovery.