Vietnam’s S-shaped spine holds a thousand stories—imperial dynasties in Hue, French boulevards in Hanoi, Cham ruins in the hills, and a modern pulse in Ho Chi Minh City. Over 20 days, you’ll trace this arc from the Red River to the Saigon River, tasting regional food traditions and wandering lanes where incense and espresso mingle.

Expect contrasts: lotus-still lakes to scooter swarms, jade-green karsts to amber lanterns, noodles pulled at dawn to rooftops that hum past midnight. Highlights include an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise, a countryside day in Ninh Binh, Hoi An’s Old Town and beaches, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, and the Mekong’s floating markets.

Practical notes: Many nationalities can apply online for a Vietnam e-visa (often up to 90 days). The best weather window for this north–south route is typically February–May and October–December. Cash rules for small vendors; carry VND and try a local eSIM for reliable data. As of March 2025, the sights, restaurants, and tours below are operating.

Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital is equal parts scholar and gourmand—Confucian courtyards, lakeside strolls, and street kitchens sizzling with bun cha and pho. French-era villas peek over banyans, while coffee houses perfect egg coffee and robust robusta brews.

Use Hanoi as your northern base for Old Quarter heritage, a Ninh Binh countryside day, and a classic Ha Long Bay overnight cruise.

Days 1–3: Old Quarter, Lakes, and Living History

• Hoan Kiem Lake & Old Quarter: Start at Ngoc Son Temple and meander 36 guild streets where copper, silk, and spices once defined the neighborhood. Catch the Thang Long Water Puppet performance for folk tales born in rice paddies.
• Temple of Literature & Hoa Lo Prison: The 11th-century Confucian academy pairs well with the sobering French-colonial prison museum—two portals into Vietnamese resilience.
• Train Street (timed cafés): Sip coffee as the train inches past; local cafés operate around scheduled windows—ask staff for safe viewing times.

Food & drink (Hanoi favorites): For breakfast, try Pho Gia Truyen (beef broth masterclass) or Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van (steamed rice rolls). Lunch on Bun Cha Dac Kim (grilled pork and herbs) or Cha Ca Thang Long (dill-flecked turmeric fish cooked tableside). At night, book a table at Ngon Garden (regional classics in a leafy courtyard) or Home Hanoi (refined northern recipes in a villa). Coffee stops: Giang Café (egg coffee originator) and The Note Coffee (sweet notes and lake views).

Day 4: Ninh Binh Karsts, Caves, and Countryside (Full-Day)

Nicknamed “Ha Long on Land,” Ninh Binh delivers rice fields and river caves beneath limestone cliffs. Glide a sampan through Tam Coc or Trang An, bike quiet lanes, and climb Mua Cave steps for a dragon’s-eye panorama.

Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike

Tip: Wear sneakers for the 500 steps to the Mua viewpoint and bring small bills for boat tips.

Days 5–6: Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise (2D1N)

Board a classic junk for karst-studded waters, kayaking into lagoons, and sunrises over a jade archipelago. A 2-day/1-night cruise balances caves, Ti Top or Cat Ba islets, and unhurried deck time.

Top Tier: All-Inclusive OVERNIGHT Halong Cruises - many options

Prefer to hand-pick a specific boat? Consider Paradise Elegance Cruise for modern cabins with balconies and a piano lounge.

Day 7: Back in Hanoi—Hidden Alleys and Street Eats

Wrap your Hanoi stay with a vintage jeep ramble through backstreets, French quarters, and farm-fringed Red River banks—stopping for hole-in-the-wall bites.

Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep

Where to stay (Hanoi): Grande-dame elegance at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi; boutique comfort at Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa; roomy suites at Somerset Grand Hanoi; skyline views at Lotte Hotel Hanoi. Browse more stays: Hotels in Hanoi or Hanoi vacation rentals on VRBO.

Getting in & onward travel: Fly into HAN via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. To Central Vietnam, take a morning flight to Da Nang (DAD)—~1h20, typically $40–$95—then 45 minutes by car to Hoi An; or the Reunification Express sleeper to Da Nang/Hue (15–16 hours, $35–$70 berths) via Trip.com Trains.

Hoi An (Central Coast Base)

A 16th-century trading port with Chinese assembly halls, Japanese merchant homes, and riverside teahouses, Hoi An Ancient Town glows under lanterns by night. Stay here for heritage, tailor-made outfits, bicycle lanes, and An Bang’s sandy arc.

Use Hoi An to explore the coast—beaches, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, and an imperial-day detour to Hue via the Hai Van Pass.

Days 8–9: Hoi An Old Town, Tailors, and Lantern Evenings

• Old Town Pass: Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese, and old merchant houses. Time your stroll for sunset when lanterns glow and boats drift the Thu Bon River.
• Tailoring & crafts: Commission a linen suit or silk dress; pick up hand-dyed textiles and hand-cut leather goods made within a day or two.

Eats & sips: Sample Hoi An’s signature cao lau noodles at Cao Lau Ba Le, turmeric noodles with fish at Mi Quang Ong Hai, and chicken rice at Com Ga Ba Buoi. Evenings: riverside set menus at Mango Mango (fusion flair) or Morning Glory Original (classics done right). Coffee: Reaching Out Tea House (quiet, social enterprise) and Phin Coffee (meticulous pours).

Day 10: Beaches and Village Biking

Bike to An Bang Beach for an easy swim and seafood lunch; continue to Tra Que Vegetable Village for herb gardens and farm-to-table cooking. Return for a sunset basket boat spin in the coconut palms of Cam Thanh.

Day 11: My Son Sanctuary (Morning) + River Evening

Beat the heat with a dawn trip to My Son, the spiritual capital of the Champa Kingdom. Back in Hoi An, take a sunset wooden boat ride—lanterns bobbing on the current, street musicians on the quays.

Day 12: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge (Full-Day)

Ride one of the world’s longest cable cars to the Golden Bridge, held by giant stone hands, then wander French Village façades and alpine gardens in the hills above Da Nang.

Hoi An/ Da Nang - Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge Deluxe Small group

Day 13: Hue Day Trip via the Hai Van Pass

Cross the coastal mountains and lagoon vistas to Hue, former imperial capital. Visit the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, and an Nguyen emperor’s tomb (Khải Định’s ornate blend dazzles).

Transport: Train Da Nang–Hue is 2.5–3 hours each way ($6–$15) via Trip.com Trains; a private car over the Hai Van Pass allows scenic stops. Lunch ideas in Hue: Bun Bo Hue O Phuong (spicy beef noodle soup) or Les Jardins de La Carambole (heritage villa, imperial recipes).

Where to stay (Hoi An): Beachfront indulgence at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An or Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa; riverside elegance at Anantara Hoi An Resort; great-value central stays at Hoi An Dream City Hotel; social vibes at Tribee Bana Hostel. Browse: Hotels in Hoi An or Hoi An vacation rentals on VRBO.

Prefer Da Nang? Consider InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (architect Bill Bensley’s hill-to-sea playground) or Furama Resort Danang for a classic beachfront stay; budget: Danang Backpackers Hostel or Funtastic Beach Hostel. Browse: Hotels in Da Nang or Da Nang vacation rentals on VRBO.

Onward travel: Take a morning flight Da Nang (DAD) → Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), ~1h30, usually $45–$100 via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Saigon runs on momentum—glass towers, colonial façades, markets that wake before dawn, and a food scene that thrills at every price point. District 1’s icons meet District 3’s leafy cafés and craft beer dens.

Days 14–15: Landmarks, War History, and Rooftops

• City loop: Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral (façade visits during renovations), Reunification Palace, and the sobering War Remnants Museum.
• Markets & boulevards: Browse Ben Thanh’s fabric and spice stalls; stroll Nguyen Hue Walking Street by night, and detour to Turtle Lake for student-favorite snacks.

Where to eat & drink: Start with banh mi at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa or breakfast op la eggs at Au Parc. Lunch on Com Tam Ba Ghien (broken rice, grilled pork). Dinner choices: The Deck Saigon (riverfront, modern Vietnamese) or Nhau Nhau (creative drinking food). Cocktails at Chill Skybar (city lights) or Rex Hotel Rooftop Garden Bar (Saigon history).

Day 16: Night Street Food Ride by Motorbike

Hop on the back of a scooter to taste a dozen regional bites—goi cuon, banh xeo, grilled scallops, and sweet soups—while weaving through local districts you’d never find alone.

Ho Chi Minh Street Food & Sightseeing By Motorbike (Safe & Fun)

Day 17: Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta (VIP Day Trip)

Trace Vietnam War history in the Cu Chi Tunnels—ingenuity carved underground—then swap to palm-lined canals of the Mekong Delta for a sampan glide, local honey tea, and fruit orchards.

Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta VIP Tour by Limousine

Days 18–19: Optional Mekong Overnight (Ben Tre or Can Tho)

Stay a night in the Delta for dawn at Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho) or coconut-grove canals in Ben Tre. It’s 2.5–4 hours from Saigon by car or bus; private car offers the most flexibility for photo stops and village walks.

• Can Tho stays: Riverfront serenity at Victoria Can Tho Resort or Azerai Can Tho; good value at Kim Lan Hotel. Browse: Hotels in Can Tho.
• Ben Tre stays: Riverside charm at Ben Tre Riverside Resort or homestyle comfort at Mango Home Riverside. Browse: Hotels in Ben Tre.

Delta eats: Look for banh xeo with river shrimp, hu tieu noodle soup, and ca loc nuong trui (grilled snakehead fish). In Can Tho, Sao Hom at Ninh Kieu Wharf is a scenic pick; snack on nem nuong grilled pork rolls and coconut candy en route.

Day 20: Saigon at Your Pace + City Jeep Option

Wrap with shopping on Dong Khoi and a spa session, or cruise broad avenues by open-top jeep to snap final cityscapes.

Ho Chi Minh City Private Half-Day Tour by U.S Army Jeep

Where to stay (Ho Chi Minh City): Downtown polish at The Reverie Saigon, excellent value at Silverland Yen Hotel, apartment-style at Sherwood Residence, premium comfort at Hotel Nikko Saigon, or hostel community at The Common Room Project. Browse: Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon vacation rentals on VRBO.

Local logistics: In Saigon, Grab rides are fast and affordable. For intercity flights, use Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com; typical fares run $40–$100 per leg. If you love trains, Saigon–Da Nang/Hue sleepers take 16–19 hours ($35–$75) via Trip.com Trains.

Suggested Day Grouping Summary

• Days 1–7 (Hanoi & North): Old Quarter, lakes, Ninh Binh day trip, Ha Long 2D1N, jeep food-and-culture tour.
• Days 8–13 (Hoi An & Central Coast): Ancient Town, beaches, My Son, Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge, Hue day trip via Hai Van Pass.
• Days 14–20 (Ho Chi Minh City & South): City icons, street food by motorbike, Cu Chi & Mekong VIP, optional Mekong overnight, final jeep or free day.

Bonus lodging links for side-trips: If you extend Ha Long, browse Ha Long Bay stays including Ha Long DC Hotel and Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long.

Twenty days in Vietnam lets you taste the country’s breadth without rushing—heritage quarters, bays and mountains, beaches, and river life, all threaded together by outstanding regional cuisine. You’ll leave with a tailormade outfit, a camera roll of karsts and lanterns, and a list of dishes you’ll crave long after the plane lands.