Vietnam and Thailand blend ancient kingdoms, colonial-era stories, and modern city buzz into one thrilling arc. In Vietnam, the Red River Delta bred dynasties and crafts, while Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) sprinted into the 21st century—fuelled by scooters, street food, and a fierce entrepreneurial spirit. Thailand’s Lanna north around Chiang Mai whispers with temple bells and mountain breezes, a soft counterpoint to big-city energy.

This 15-day itinerary spotlights hiking, boating, sightseeing, and serious food finds. You’ll cruise limestone karsts in Halong Bay, climb Mua Cave for sweeping rice-field views, squeeze through wartime tunnels, meet Mekong artisans, and trek Thailand’s highlands—then recharge in standout coffee shops from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Chiang Mai’s Nimman.

Practical notes: Vietnam offers e-visa options for many nationalities and Thailand grants visa-exempt stays for numerous passports (always check current rules before you book). Street food meals run $2–$4, local buses $0.30–$0.70, and budget rooms from $10–$25. Expect warm hospitality, temples and pagodas with modest dress codes, and weather that favors light, breathable clothing.

Hanoi

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a living museum: guild streets, French shutters, temple courtyards, and tiny stools where life happens over bowls of pho and cups of egg coffee. Lakes and leafy boulevards add calm—until Train Street’s locomotive rumbles through and the city’s pulse quickens.

Why base here for five days? You’ll savor the city’s heritage, sample Northern cuisine, take a day cruise among Halong’s karsts, and ride boats past Ninh Binh’s rice paddies—perfect for your boating and hiking wish list.

Days 1–5: Old Quarter essentials, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh

• Old Quarter & Hoan Kiem Lake: Wander around the lake at sunrise, then dive into the 36 guild streets for bun cha, banh cuon, and stainless-steel coffee counters. Don’t miss St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the covered markets for fruit shakes and snacks.
• Boating highlight—Halong Bay day cruise: Spend a full day on emerald waters with limestone towers all around.

  

  BEST SELLER - Halong 5 Star Day Cruise (full-day from Hanoi; includes lunch and cave visits).
• Ninh Binh adventure—boats and a climb: Glide through Tam Coc’s river caves, cycle quiet lanes, and hike 500 steps up Mua Cave for panoramic views.

  

  Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave.
• Local culture hit—Water Puppets: A thousand-year-old Red River Delta art form that’s lively, musical, and uniquely Vietnamese.

  

  Skip-the-Line Water Puppet Tickets.
• Eat & drink (budget-friendly):
  • Pho Gia Truyen (morning pho, silky broth) and Bun Cha Huong Lien (grilled pork with herbs) for iconic Northern flavors.
  • Banh Cuon Thanh Van for delicate steamed rice rolls; Cha Ca Thang Long for turmeric-dill fish cooked tableside.
  • Coffee: Cafe Giang for original egg coffee; Blackbird Coffee for specialty pours; Cộng Cà Phê for coconut coffee.

Where to stay (great for tight budgets; browse both to compare deals): Hotels in Hanoi (Hotels.com) | Apartments & Homes in Hanoi (VRBO)

• Top value: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (Old Quarter, stellar staff, excellent price-to-comfort).
• Classic: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (history-rich grande dame; watch for sales).
• Modern: Lotte Hotel Hanoi (skyline views; handy mall and food court for budget eats).

Getting to Hanoi: Search regional flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Within Vietnam, intercity trains (cheap but slower) are on Trip.com Trains.

Budget tip: Street meals $2–$3, egg coffee ~$1.50–$2.50, GrabBike rides often under $2. Save by booking Halong as a day trip instead of an overnight cruise.

Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon hits fast and bright: colonial boulevards, motorbike rivers, sleek cafés, and some of Vietnam’s most electric street food. It’s also your launchpad for wartime history in the Cu Chi Tunnels and slow-life canals in the Mekong Delta.

Four days here balance city icons and big-day adventures, with an emphasis on local eats and after-dark energy.

Days 6–9: Cu Chi, Mekong boats, and street food by scooter

• Travel morning (Day 6): Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City by flight: ~2h10; typical fares $50–$120 one-way on budget carriers (add $15–$30 for a checked bag). Book via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• City essentials: Notre-Dame Cathedral (exterior), Central Post Office, Ben Thanh area for snacks, and a sunset walk on Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
• History + boat day—Cu Chi + Mekong combo: Crawl a tunnel, see war relics, then swap to Delta boats and coconut workshops in Ben Tre/My Tho.

  

  Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day (Max 12).
• Eat like a local—by motorbike: Zip through districts to hidden stalls (goat BBQ, shellfish, banh xeo) and meet fellow travelers.

  

  Ho Chi Minh Street Food & Sightseeing by Motorbike.
• Optional add-on: Short landmark sweep if you like guided context.

  

  Small-Group Saigon City Tour (4 hours).
• Food & coffee stops:
  • Banh Mi Huynh Hoa for the city’s most stacked baguette; Banh Xeo 46A for crispy turmeric crêpes; Oc Oanh for night snails with chili-lime dip.
  • The Workshop Coffee (lofty roastery and pour-overs); Shin Coffee for Vietnamese arabica; L’Usine for brunch and AC between sightseeing.
  • Sweet finish: Che Ba Thin for Vietnamese desserts or a rooftop sugarcane juice along Bui Vien (people-watching central).

Where to stay: Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (Hotels.com) | Apartments in Ho Chi Minh City (VRBO)

• Best budget social stay: The Common Room Project (friendly vibe, great for solo travelers).
• Value boutique: Silverland Yen Hotel (compact spa, central for walking).
• Apartment-style: Sherwood Residence (kitchenettes help stretch the budget).

Budget tip: Lunch specials under $3, drip coffee $1–$2, and city buses for pennies. If you’re wiped after a long day, a $4–$6 GrabCar home can be worth it.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the soulful capital of the north—moated Old City, golden stupas, monk chants at dawn. By day you’ll trek in cool mountain air; by night, feast at markets and sip impeccable roasts from local beans.

This is your hiking base, with easy access to Doi Inthanon’s cloud forests and day trips to dazzling contemporary temples near Chiang Rai.

Days 10–15: Temples, Doi Inthanon trek, cooking, and markets

• Travel morning (Day 10): Ho Chi Minh City → Chiang Mai by flight: ~2h15–2h30 direct on select days/seasons or ~4–5h via Bangkok. Typical fares $80–$160. Compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Temple circuit + overlooks: Start with Wat Chedi Luang’s ruined stupa, then ride up to gleaming Wat Phra That Doi Suthep for city views. Add a forest stop at Wat Pha Lat for quiet trails and mossy shrines.

  

  Chiang Mai Best City Tour with Doi Suthep, Pha Lat & Chedi Luang.
• Hiking day—Doi Inthanon: Thailand’s highest peak, cloud forests, waterfalls, and Hmong/Karen village paths—great moderate trekking with cool temps.

  

  Doi Inthanon Trek with Waterfalls & Lunch.
• Cook northern Thai favorites: Shop, pick herbs on an organic farm, then master khao soi and spicy larb.

  

  Half-Day Thai Cooking Class (Organic Farm).
• Optional big day—Chiang Rai temples: Marvel at the surreal White Temple and serene Blue Temple on a small-group trip.

  

  Chiang Rai Temples Small-Group Tour.
• Markets & coffee culture:
  • Chang Phuak Gate Night Market (try the “cowboy hat lady” braised pork), Saturday Wua Lai or Sunday Walking Street for snacks and crafts.
  • Cafés: Ristr8to for latte art, Akha Ama for social-impact beans, GRAPH for creative cold brews—perfect rest stops between temples.
  • Local dishes to hunt: khao soi (try Khun Yai or Mae Sai), sai ua (herby sausage), and nam prik ong (tomato-chili dip) with crunchy veggies.

Where to stay: Hotels in Chiang Mai (Hotels.com) | Apartments in Chiang Mai (VRBO)

• Budget: Green Sleep Hostel (clean, social, central).
• Great value eco: Green Tiger House (vegetarian kitchen, calm courtyard).
• Classic splurge: 137 Pillars House or Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai (watch for off-season deals).

Budget tip: Rent a bicycle, use shared songthaews (~$1–$2 rides), and eat at markets for $2–$4 per plate. Coffee flights run $3–$5 and are worth the treat.

Getting home

Fly out of Chiang Mai (CNX) with connections via Bangkok; search options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Aim for a morning departure after your final market snacks and one last pour-over.

At-a-Glance Day Blocks

• Days 1–5 (Hanoi): Old Quarter, street eats, Water Puppet show; Halong Bay day cruise; Ninh Binh boats, biking, and Mua Cave hike.
• Days 6–9 (Ho Chi Minh City): Fly south; landmarks walk; Cu Chi + Mekong Delta combo day; evening motorbike street food tour; coffee crawl.
• Days 10–15 (Chiang Mai): Fly to Thailand; temple loop with Doi Suthep; Doi Inthanon trekking; farm-to-table cooking class; night markets; optional Chiang Rai day trip; depart.

Extra budget savers: Travel light to avoid checked bag fees, use refillable water bottles where stations exist, and bundle tours on consecutive days to score multi-booking discounts when available.

In two unforgettable weeks you’ll boat through Vietnam’s karsts and canals, taste your way across two capitals of street food, and hike the highlands of northern Thailand. Expect big views, bigger flavors, and a very friendly bill at the end.