Vietnam is a tapestry of dynastic citadels, lantern-lit alleys, and river deltas brimming with life. In one slender S-shaped country, you’ll step from Confucian temples and French façades into alleyway kitchens turning out bowls of pho and sizzling bánh xèo. The landscapes are just as dramatic: the karst towers of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh look like nature’s jade cathedrals.

Across centuries, Vietnam has blended influences—Chinese, Cham, French, and American—into something unmistakably Vietnamese. You’ll taste it in Hanoi’s smoky bún chả, hear it in a water puppet orchestra, and feel it as a train slips past café doors in the capital. In the south, Saigon pulses with motorbikes, neon, and relentless invention—best met on two wheels and with an open appetite.

Practical notes: most travelers use Vietnam’s e-visa; check requirements for your nationality. The north (Hanoi/Ha Long/Ninh Binh) is cooler from Nov–Mar, while Ho Chi Minh City stays tropical year-round. Grab ride-hailing is reliable, cash is common, and small bills help. This plan assumes an afternoon arrival on Day 1 and an afternoon departure on Day 7.

Hanoi

Hanoi is Vietnam’s historic heart: a city of lakes, gilded pagodas, and the maze-like Old Quarter where guild streets still whisper their trades. Mornings begin with tai chi around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and end with bia hơi (fresh beer) on low stools along Tạ Hiện.

Top hits include the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh complex, French Quarter boulevards, and fragrant street eats—bún chả, phở, and chả cá. Don’t leave without sipping egg coffee, a wartime invention that’s become a local obsession.

• Stay (Hanoi): Classic elegance at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, boutique comfort at Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa, skyline views at Lotte Hotel Hanoi, or apartment-style at Somerset Grand Hanoi. Browse more stays on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.
• Arriving flights: Book international tickets to Hanoi (HAN) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi/Grab to the Old Quarter takes ~45 minutes (~$15–20).

Day 1: Arrival, Lake Strolls, and Old Quarter Flavors

Morning: In transit to Hanoi. If you’re already in town, start gently with a lakeside walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and peek into the Ngọc Sơn Temple.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress with a slow coffee. Try Café Giảng for the original creamy egg coffee, or Cong for a coconut coffee pick‑me‑up. Wander the Old Quarter’s guild streets: Hàng Bạc (silversmiths), Hàng Gai (silk), and Hàng Mã (paper offerings).

Evening: Dinner at one of Hanoi’s essential kitchens:

• Bún Chả Hương Liên for smoky pork patties and rice noodles (the “Obama combo” is a local legend).
• Chả Cá Thăng Long for turmeric-dill catfish sizzling at the table.
• Phở Gia Truyền for northern-style beef noodle soup, clean and aromatic.

After dinner, sip bia hơi on Tạ Hiện Street or a craft beer at Pasteur Street Brewing’s taproom (Hanoi outpost).

Day 2: Hanoi by Vintage Jeep, Temples, and Theater

Morning: See the city the fun way on the Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep (4–4.5 hours, typically $45–$65). You’ll roll past the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, French Quarter villas, and hidden backstreets with snack stops.

Afternoon: Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university (1070), and stroll the shady courtyards. For lunch, try bún bò Nam Bộ (beef noodle salad) at Bún Bò Nam Bộ on Hàng Điếu or a humble bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls) at Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền.

Evening: Catch a traditional water puppet show (Thăng Long Theater) to hear folk tales come alive with drums and splash. Dinner options:

• Green Tangerine for French-Vietnamese plates in a colonial courtyard.
• Bếp Prime for elevated northern flavors with seasonal produce.

Round off with a rooftop nightcap at Lighthouse Sky Bar overlooking the Old Quarter.

Day 3: Full-Day Ninh Binh—Hoa Lư, Tam Cốc Boat, and Múa Cave Views

Swap city streets for rice fields and karsts on the Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike (10–11 hours, ~$45–$85 with lunch and transfers). Kayak or row among limestone cliffs in Tam Cốc, cycle quiet lanes, and climb ~500 steps at Múa for the dragon-crest lookout.

Tip: Pack water, sunscreen, and sneakers; expect a 2–2.5 hour drive each way. Back in Hanoi, reward yourself with a late bowl of phở or xôi xéo (mung bean sticky rice) from a night stall.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay 5-Star Day Cruise

Tick off a UNESCO wonder on the BEST SELLER - Halong 5 Star Day Cruise: Buffet, Wine & Jacuzzi (12–13 hours door-to-door, ~$65–$120 including transfers). Sail among limestone pillars, visit caves, and kayak or swim between stops; a buffet lunch is typically included.

Expect a 2.5–3 hour limousine-van transfer each way. On return, keep it simple with dinner at Bún Thang Cầu Gỗ (elegant Hanoi chicken noodle soup) or duck into a late-night nem rán (fried spring roll) spot.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City—still called Saigon by locals—moves fast and eats faster. Here, glass towers and French boulevards frame a high-octane food scene best explored by scooter. It’s also where 20th-century history becomes palpable, from the Reunification Palace to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Spend days chasing strong cà phê sữa đá, slurping hủ tiếu, and bargaining for fruit at Ben Thanh. When the sun drops, rooftops glow and alley grills awaken.

• Stay (HCMC): Opulence at The Reverie Saigon, serene style at Silverland Yen Hotel, spacious suites at Sherwood Residence, value-social vibes at The Common Room Project, or modern comfort at Hotel Nikko Saigon. Browse more on Hotels.com or VRBO.
• Getting there from Hanoi (Day 5 AM): Fly 2h10m–2h20m, ~$40–$120 one-way. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to District 1 is ~30–45 minutes by Grab (~$8–$12).

Day 5: Fly South, Saigon Orientation, and Craft Night

Morning: Depart Hanoi on an early flight to Ho Chi Minh City (assume 2+ hours plus airport transfer). Check into your hotel and refresh.

Afternoon: Walk the city’s historic core: Notre-Dame Cathedral (exterior while restoration continues), Central Post Office by Gustave Eiffel’s company, the Book Street, and the Reunification Palace exterior. Coffee break at The Workshop (lofted specialty roasts) or Shin Coffee (meticulous Vietnamese beans).

Evening: Join the acclaimed Ho Chi Minh Street Food & Sightseeing By Motorbike (Safe & Fun) (4 hours, ~$38–$65). Expect 7–12 dishes—from grilled scallops with scallion oil to bột chiên and fresh spring rolls—while zipping between districts with local guides.

After, try a craft pint at Pasteur Street Brewing (the tangerine wheat is a favorite) or a skyline cocktail at Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar.

Day 6: Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta (VIP Small Group)

Make it a north-to-south history-and-river day with the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta VIP Tour by Limousine (10–11 hours, ~$55–$95). Crawl through widened tunnel sections, see wartime ingenuity, then cruise Delta canals by motorboat and sampan with a riverside lunch.

Back in the city, keep dinner casual:

• Com Tâm Ba Ghiền for caramelized broken rice with grilled pork and fish sauce.
• Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa for the city’s most loaded bánh mì.
• Phở Hòa Pasteur for consistently rich southern phở.

Finish with a cocktail at Alley 50 or a chic speakeasy along Dong Khoi.

Day 7: Markets, Pink Church Snap, and Departure

Morning: Browse Ben Thanh Market early for spices, coffee, and lacquerware, then detour to Tân Định’s candy‑pink church for a quick photo. Brunch ideas: bánh xèo at Bánh Xèo 46A (crispy turmeric crêpes) or crab soup and iced coffee at a local quán.

Afternoon: If time permits before your flight, a breezy city circuit in a vintage jeep—Ho Chi Minh City Private Half-Day Tour by U.S Army Jeep (3.5–4 hours, ~$45–$80)—is a great finale, covering district highlights and riverfront views.

Head to SGN for your afternoon departure. For flight options, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com; aim to arrive 2–2.5 hours pre-flight.

Eating and Coffee Shortlist (Save This!)

• Hanoi must-eats: Bún chả (Hương Liên), chả cá (Thăng Long), phở (Gia Truyền), bún thang (Cầu Gỗ), egg coffee (Café Giảng).
• Saigon must-eats: Bánh mì (Huynh Hoa), cơm tấm (Ba Ghiền), bánh xèo (46A), phở (Hòa Pasteur), grilled seafood on Vĩnh Khánh Street.
• Great cafés: The Workshop, Shin Coffee (HCMC); Blackbird Coffee, Tranquil Books & Coffee (Hanoi).

Practical Getting-Around

• Rides: Grab is the easiest way to get around in both cities. Short hops run $1–$3.
• Trains: Vietnam’s north–south train is scenic but long (30–35 hours Hanoi–HCMC). For a 7-day trip, flying is best. If you’re train-curious elsewhere in Asia, browse Trip.com Trains.

Optional Hanoi Extras (If You Have More Time)

• Hanoi City Tour: Private Half-Day Customized with Train Street — private highlights plus a safe, timed Train Street visit with a guide.

Summary: In one week, you’ve tasted Vietnam from north to south—Hanoi’s heritage, Ninh Binh’s emerald paddies, Ha Long’s seascapes, and Saigon’s irresistible street food, with effortless travel between. Keep this guide close; the best trips here are equal parts plan and curiosity.