Ten days is enough to experience Vietnam’s greatest hits — from Hanoi’s thousand-year-old streets to the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, from Hoi An’s lantern-lit ancient town to the electric energy of Saigon. This classic north-to-south route gives you the full Vietnamese journey.
Hanoi (3 Days)
Start in the capital. Wander the 36 streets of the Old Quarter, each named for the guild that once traded there. Wake early for pho at a sidewalk stall and watch the city come alive over ca phe sua da. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, and Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn when locals practice tai chi. Explore the French Quarter’s colonial architecture. Don’t miss Train Street — a narrow alley where trains pass inches from doorsteps.
Ha Long Bay (2 Days / 1 Night)
Take the 3-hour drive from Hanoi to one of the world’s most extraordinary seascapes: nearly 2,000 limestone islands rising from emerald water. An overnight cruise is the experience — you’ll kayak into hidden lagoons, visit floating fishing villages, watch sunrise over the karsts, and sleep under the stars on deck.
Hoi An (3 Days)
Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang (1 hour), then drive 30 minutes to Hoi An. This UNESCO-listed trading port is pure magic — lantern-lit streets, wooden shophouses, tailor shops, and some of Vietnam’s best food. Bicycle through rice paddies, take a cooking class, get measured for custom clothing, and eat cao lau noodles. The night market along the Thu Bon River is unforgettable.
Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City (2 Days)
Fly from Da Nang to Saigon (1 hour). Vietnam’s largest city is a sensory explosion — 8 million motorbikes, French colonial landmarks, and rooftop bars. Visit the War Remnants Museum (sobering but essential), Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market. Take a street food tour by motorbike after dark. A half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels provides powerful historical context.
If You Have More Time
- 2 extra days: Add Sapa for mountain trekking and hill tribe villages (from Hanoi)
- 3 extra days: Continue south to the Mekong Delta for floating markets
- 5+ extra days: Add Ninh Binh (“Ha Long Bay on land”), Hue (imperial capital), and Phu Quoc island