Vietnam is a ribbon of dramatic landscapes and layered history, from Confucian courtyards in Hanoi to the neon pulse of Ho Chi Minh City. Empires rose and fell here, leaving citadels, French villas, and temples nestled among rice paddies and karst mountains. In one week, you can taste the country’s full spectrum: northern lakes and limestone, southern markets and river life.

Food is half the journey. Breakfast arrives as steam from a pho pot, lunch crunches with herbs and pork, and evenings linger with egg coffee or Saigon craft beer. Expect scooters like schooling fish, street vendors who’ve perfected one dish for decades, and hospitality that starts with a smile and ends with a second serving.

Practical notes: Most travelers use Vietnam’s e-visa (apply at least a week ahead). The Vietnamese dong is king; carry small bills for markets. Grab ride-hailing is widely used. Pack light breathable clothing, a rain jacket, and respect temple etiquette (covered shoulders/knees). Street food is safe at busy stalls; choose vendors with high turnover.

Hanoi

Hanoi balances imperial gravitas with youthful buzz. The Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets still whisper their trades—silversmiths, paper makers, herbalists—while lakeside promenades offer calm. French-colonial façades shade cafes where egg coffee was invented in the 1940s, a clever twist when milk was scarce.

Don’t miss the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, and a peek at Train Street when it’s open under local supervision. Food here is a serious craft: bun cha grilled over charcoal, cha ca sizzling with dill, and banh cuon rolled to order.

• Where to stay (Hanoi): Classics and great-value boutiques steps from the lake.
  • Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (heritage luxury, French elegance) — Check rates
  • Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (boutique favorite with excellent service) — Check rates
  • Lotte Hotel Hanoi (modern skyline views, great pool) — Check rates
  • Browse more stays: VRBO — Hanoi vacation rentals | Hotels.com — Hanoi hotels
• Getting in and around: Book flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For regional trains (e.g., to Ninh Binh) use Trip.com Trains. HAN airport to Old Quarter is ~40–60 minutes by taxi or Grab.

Day 1 — Arrival and Old Quarter wander

Afternoon: Arrive in Hanoi. Check in and stretch your legs with a loop around Hoan Kiem Lake; step into Ngoc Son Temple for lake views and a primer on local legends. Coffee stop: Giang Café for the original egg coffee (velvety, meringue-like foam) or Cong Caphe for coconut coffee with retro décor.

Evening: Dive into dinner with bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien (honey-glazed pork, herbs, dipping sauce) or Pho Thin Lo Duc for smoky wok-tossed pho. For a first-night orientation and hidden alley bites, hop on the Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun.

Nightcap: Try fresh beer at a bia hoi corner near Ta Hien, or sample craft brews at Pasteur Street Brewing Hanoi Taproom.

Day 2 — Ninh Binh karsts, caves, and countryside (full-day tour)

Take a day trip to Ninh Binh, often called “Ha Long Bay on land.” Expect boat rides among limestone towers, pagodas, and rice fields, plus a scenic climb for a dragon’s-eye view.

Recommended tour: Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave (Boat & Bike). Hotel pickup, boat along Tam Coc, countryside cycling, and the 500-step Mua Cave climb. Typical 10–11 hours; ~$45–$65.

Dinner back in Hanoi: Cha Ca Thang Long for turmeric-dill catfish cooked tableside, or Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van for delicate steamed rice rolls. Dessert: sticky rice with ice cream at Kem Xoi near the lake.

Day 3 — Ha Long Bay day cruise (full-day)

Experience Ha Long’s jade waters and limestone islets on a comfortable day cruise departing Hanoi. It’s a big day, but worth every photo.

Recommended cruise: BEST SELLER - Halong 5 Star Day Cruise: Buffet, Wine & Jacuzzi. Expect cave visits, kayaking or a bamboo boat, a quality buffet, and sunset views. Transfer 2.5–3 hours each way; total ~11–12 hours; ~$75–$120 depending on inclusions.

Back in Hanoi (late evening): Light dinner near your hotel—Banh Mi 25 for a quick bite, or a bowl of crab noodle soup (bun rieu) at a local stall.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Saigon hums with ambition—skyscrapers, rooftop bars, and markets that never seem to sleep. Yet beneath the gloss are pagodas perfumed with incense, war-era landmarks, and alley kitchens perfecting broken rice and sizzling pancakes.

Start in District 1 for history, then branch to Cholon (Chinatown) for temples and traditional medicine shops. Coffee culture is serious here too—from thick-filter ca phe sua da to third-wave roasters.

• Where to stay (HCMC): From riverside elegance to boutique calm.
  • The Reverie Saigon (opulent décor, prime District 1 location) — Check rates
  • Silverland Yen Hotel (spa vibes, great pool-on-sen rooftop) — Check rates
  • Hotel Nikko Saigon (spacious rooms, sleek design) — Check rates
  • Sherwood Residence (apartment-style, family-friendly) — Check rates
  • Budget social stay: The Common Room Project (stylish hostel) — See availability
  • Browse more stays: VRBO — Ho Chi Minh City rentals | Hotels.com — HCMC hotels
• Hanoi → HCMC travel: Morning flight ~2h10 (plus 45–60 min airport transfers). Typical fares $40–$120 one-way. Search and book via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 4 — Fly south, colonial Saigon and sunset drinks

Morning: Fly Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Taxi or Grab from SGN to District 1 (~20–40 minutes). Check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Walk the classic trio: Notre-Dame Cathedral (exterior; restoration may be ongoing), Saigon Central Post Office by Gustave Eiffel’s firm, and the Opera House. Coffee break at Shin Coffee (expert roasts) or L’Usine Dong Khoi (boutique-café in a colonial building).

Evening: Dinner at Pho Hoa Pasteur (old-guard broth) or Banh Xeo 46A (crispy turmeric crepes stuffed with pork, shrimp, sprouts; wrap with herbs). For a view, head to a rooftop near Nguyen Hue Walking Street for sundowners.

Day 5 — Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta (full-day)

Trade city streets for wartime history and river life. Crawl (optionally) through parts of the Viet Cong’s tunnel network, then cruise past coconut groves and stilted homes in the Mekong.

Recommended tour: Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta VIP Tour by Limousine. Small group, comfy transfers, boat rides, and a local lunch. ~10–12 hours; ~$70–$100.

Back in the city: Casual dinner at Quan Oc (sea snails; try lemongrass clams and scallops with spring onion oil) or Com Tam Ba Ghien (broken rice with caramelized pork chop). Night stroll along Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.

Day 6 — Markets, Cholon temples, and modern Saigon

Morning: Breakfast banh mi at Huynh Hoa (loaded fillings; go early) or a silky tofu pudding (tau hu) at a street cart. Explore Ben Thanh Market (handicrafts, spices) and the nearby “Cafe Apartment” on Nguyen Hue to see indie cafes stacked in an old block.

Afternoon: Head to Cholon (District 5): Thien Hau Temple’s incense coils and Binh Tay Market’s warren of goods. Lunch on bun thit nuong (grilled pork with fresh herbs) at a local joint like Chi Tuyen in District 1 before you go, or try a Cholon noodle house.

Evening: Modern flavors: Pizza 4P’s (house-made cheese; order burrata and clam pizza) or noodle-lover’s heaven at Pho Le (deep, southern-style broth). Cap with craft beer at Pasteur Street Brewing (Ly Tu Trong) or a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar in District 1.

Day 7 — Slow morning and departure

Morning: Brunch at L’Usine Le Loi or a Vietnamese-style breakfast of bo kho (beef stew with baguette). Last-minute shopping for lacquerware or coffee beans.

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your flight home. If time allows, pause at the War Remnants Museum for a sobering, well-curated hour before you go.

Optional add-ons and swaps

• Hanoi half-day highlights: If you skip Ninh Binh, consider Hanoi City Tour: Private Half-Day with Train Street for tailored temple, mausoleum, and Old Quarter stops.
• Overnight in Ha Long: With an extra day, upgrade to a 2D1N cruise such as Top 1 Ha Long–Lan Ha Luxury 5 Star Cruises for kayaking, caves, and sunrise tai chi. For land stays, see Ha Long hotels: Ha Long DC Hotel or Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long.

Where to book key activities (at a glance)

• Hanoi evening food-and-culture ride: Hanoi Jeep Tour
• Ninh Binh day trip: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave
• Ha Long Bay day cruise: 5-Star Day Cruise
• Cu Chi & Mekong from HCMC: VIP Limousine Tour

Eating and drinking cheat sheet

• Hanoi breakfast: Pho Gia Truyen (beef pho), xoi yen (sticky rice bowls). Coffee: Giang Café (egg coffee), The Note Coffee (post-it covered, lake views).
• Hanoi lunch/dinner: Bun cha (Huong Lien), cha ca (Thang Long), banh cuon (Thanh Van). Craft beer: Pasteur Street Brewing Taproom near the lake.
• HCMC breakfast: Banh mi Huynh Hoa; bo kho with baguette. Coffee: Shin Coffee or Bosgaurus (precision roasts).
• HCMC lunch/dinner: Pho Hoa Pasteur, Banh Xeo 46A, Oc Dao for seafood snails, Com Tam Ba Ghien for pork chop rice. Desserts: che (sweet soups) from street carts.

Transport quick facts: Ninh Binh is ~2 hours by road or 1.5–2 hours by train (from Hanoi; see Trip.com Trains). Ha Long Bay is ~2.5–3 hours by expressway from Hanoi. Within cities, Grab rides cost $2–$7 for most hops.

In one week you’ll thread Vietnam’s contrasts: scholarly courtyards in Hanoi, river-cut valleys in Ninh Binh, sapphire karsts in Ha Long, and Saigon’s restless modernity. Come hungry and curious; the country rewards both with flavor, context, and stories you’ll carry long after your flight home.