Vietnam travel guide
Ten Days in Vietnam: North to South
The best first-timer route: Hanoi (2 nights), Ninh Binh or Ha Long bay (2), fly to Da Nang for Hoi An (3), then Ho Chi Minh City (3) with a Cu Chi or Mekong day trip. One domestic flight keeps it efficient; two weeks lets you add Sapa or Phu Quoc.
Ten days at a glance
| Days 1–2 | Hanoi — Old Quarter, Train Street, water puppets |
|---|---|
| Days 3–4 | Ninh Binh (karst boat rides) or a Ha Long bay overnight cruise |
| Days 5–7 | Fly to Da Nang — Hoi An old town, lanterns, An Bang beach |
| Days 8–10 | Ho Chi Minh City — District 1, war history, Cu Chi tunnels or Mekong delta |
Days 1–2: Hanoi
Vietnam’s capital rewards walkers: the Old Quarter’s guild streets, Hoan Kiem lake at dawn, Train Street’s cafes, and an egg coffee or three. Our 3-day Hanoi itinerary and where to stay guide set you up. Street food dinners run 40,000–80,000 VND (~A$2.50–5) a dish.
Days 3–4: Karst country
Pick one. Ninh Binh (2 h south by train or van) gives you Trang An’s sampan rides through cave rivers and the Mua cave viewpoint — easy, cheap, day-trippable. Ha Long bay means an overnight cruise (from ~US$100 per person for mid-range): kayaks, squid fishing, sunrise on the deck. The cruise costs more and eats two full days; Ninh Binh leaves a spare evening back in Hanoi. See day trips from Hanoi.
Days 5–7: Hoi An
Fly Hanoi to Da Nang (1 h 20 m; advance fares from ~800,000 VND / ~A$48 on VietJet or Vietnam Airlines), then 45 minutes by car to Hoi An. Three nights covers the lantern-lit old town at dusk, a tailor fitting, a cooking class or basket-boat morning, and half a day at An Bang beach. Our Hoi An itinerary has the detail. Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains fit the arrival or departure day.
Days 8–10: Ho Chi Minh City
Fly Da Nang to HCMC (1 h 20 m, similar fares). Day 8: District 1 — the Notre-Dame square, central post office, Ben Thanh market, rooftop sunset. Day 9: the War Remnants Museum (40,000 VND) and Independence Palace. Day 10: a morning at the Cu Chi tunnels or a full Mekong delta day. Base near Dong Khoi or Ben Thanh — see where to stay in HCMC and the 3-day itinerary.
With two weeks
Add Sapa (2–3 nights) after Hanoi — see our Hanoi to Sapa guide — or tag on beach days at Phu Quoc or Nha Trang at the end. Money: mid-range travellers should budget roughly US$50–80 (~A$75–120) per person per day all-in; domestic flights booked two to three weeks out are cheap and save entire days versus the train. October to April suits this north-to-south route best — details in when to visit Vietnam.
Keep planning Vietnam
Vietnam itinerary — FAQs
Is 10 days enough for Vietnam?
Enough for the highlights — Hanoi, karst country, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City — with one or two domestic flights. Two weeks adds Sapa or beach time without rushing.
Should I start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
Either works; north-to-south (Hanoi first) finishes in the warmer south and pairs naturally with flying home from HCMC. Book open-jaw flights to avoid backtracking.
How much does 10 days in Vietnam cost?
Mid-range travellers should budget roughly US$50–80 (~A$75–120) per person per day including hotels, food, domestic flights and activities.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.