Highlights of Vietnam
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or reverse
12 days
With its mouthwatering steaming bowls of spicy Pho, sprawling rice fields of verdant greenery, and the mesmerizing emerald waters of Halong Bay, Vietnam is a treasure trove of delights that never ceases to amaze. The Highlights of Vietnam showcases the best of the country, from the vibrant cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, historic and picture perfect Hue and Hoi An, to the stunning natural beauty of Ha Long Bay.
THIS TRIP IS FOR YOU IF…
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…you have 10-14 days to travel through Vietnam taking in the main highlights
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…you want to see the cities of Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City along with Hoi An, Hue and Halong Bay
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…you want a mix of history, culture, beaches, and amazing food
D.I.Y. YOUR HOLIDAY
Our Local Superheros
In each town or city the staff at your accommodation will be your local superhero, there to help you in times of need. Get in touch with them to help with extra bookings, advice, or emergencies.
DIY Guides
For each city or town we have put together a detailed DIY guide. You’ll see buttons linking to these within the itinerary. Click through for detailed travel info, our favourite restaurants, and more.
Prices
All prices listed in the text below are in USD and are approximate only. Prices will vary depending on time of year, available deals, and exchange rate movements.
Make Your Bookings
Throughout our itineraries are links to the best tours, accommodation, and transport - the ones we recommend to our mum when she travels. On some links we receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Itinerary Planner
Your free DIYdly Itinerary Planner. This Google Sheet is a simple tool to help you plan out your day-to-day itinerary, and contains all the links needed to book your trip. You’ll need a Google account to use this file.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Hanoi
DAY 2: Halong Bay
DAY 3: Halong Bay & Hanoi
DAY 4: Hanoi & Overnight Train
DAY 5: Hue
DAY 6: Hue
DAY 7: Hoi An
DAY 8: Hoi An
DAY 9: Hoi An
DAY 10: Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 11: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels
DAY 12: end of trip
or reverse
This itinerary is your starting point. Go ahead and slice and dice it, molding it into the trip that you want to do.
DAY 1
HANOI
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Hanoi is busy so hold on tight for a bit of a shock to the senses! Today is all about getting you settled in.
If you have time, add a day to your itinerary to spend tomorrow in Hanoi and go to Halong Bay on Day 3.
MOBILE SIM: Before leaving the airport set yourself up with internet by buying a local SIM from Viettel. Doing it at the airport means it will be done right and you’ll be all sorted for your time in Vietnam.
AIRPORT TRANSFER: Pre-book a transfer ($18), take a taxi or a bus.
ACCOMMODATION: Our hotels choices are all located in the centre of Hanoi, within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake and all the best food of the city. Book one night for tonight and another at the same hotel for Day 3.
Budget: Christina Boutique Hotel - book a superior or higher for a room with a window, great location, and breakfast.
Value: Maison d’Orient Hotel - book a standard room or better for a room with an outside window, the Cinnamon rooms are $6 more and the best value.
Comfort: Thien Thai Hotel - great classic rooms all with windows, great breakfast and awesome staff.
Swish: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa - fantastic breakfast, rooftop bar, go for a deluxe or higher for an external window.
DAY 2
HALONG BAY
CRUISE: You can’t miss Ha Long Bay, one of the iconic destinations of Vietnam. Sadly, popularity is having an impact on Halong Bay - there are a lot of boats and people, and with this comes crowding and pollution. We suggest taking in the quieter, but still awesome, Lan Ha Bay, which is really in the same body of water just divided by a provincial border.
LAN HA BAY: The Province of Hai Phong where Lan Ha is located is more protective of the Bay and have a stricter boat licensing process and higher fees to operate. So the cruises do cost more but are well worth it for the experience. For all these cruises be sure to book the shuttle from Hanoi as the trips don’t automatically include a transfer.
Budget: We don’t offer a budget level cruise yet as we have been unable to find one yet that doesn’t put you among the crowds of Halong Bay.
Value: Sena Cruises - Wonder On Lan Ha Bay ($200/person twin share)
Comfort: Orchid Classic Cruises ($240/person twin share)
Swish: Orchid Premium Cruise ($400/person twin share)
DAY 3
HALONG BAY & HANOI
CRUISE: Wake up on the waters of Halong Bay and spend the morning cruising. Return to Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours) arriving late this afternoon.
ACCOMMODATION: Book the same hotel as you had for Day 1.
THEATRE: If you are up for a bit of culture, the Water Puppets Theatre is definitely worth seeing. The one hour show is entertaining and something that you’ll not see anywhere else in the world. Currently only operating Thu-Sat. Book tickets ($9-17)
BEER: After the show head out for few beers at Bia Hoi Corner, another Hanoi feature that you won’t experience anywhere else.
DAY 4
HANOI & TRAIN
EXPLORE HANOI: A whole day in Hanoi to fill as you please! Get out and explore. There are some really great half day tours that provide an excellent and intimate look at all that is Hanoi:
Join the traffic by taking a motorbike tour where an experienced rider/guide will show you the sites($52).
For fun on four wheels a vintage jeep tour (US$54) is a great experience.
You can also enjoy Hanoi on a tour by van ($42) if you’re not ready for the frenzy of Hanoi.
A street food tour ($31) is a great idea at the start of your time in Vietnam to get you into the amazing street food that should be a part of your travels.
Grab a map and explore by foot. We have a set of self-guided walks of Hanoi for you to enjoy.
TRAIN TO HUE: In the evening you’ll board the Reunification Express for the journey south. While it is possible to fly to Hue we think there is still a certain romance about train travel and the rail line that connects the north and south of Vietnam has much more importance than just being a rail link.
Book tickets on the overnight train to Hue - take the 7:25pm or 7:50pm train so you arrive at a good time in Hue.
If you feel like flying there are direct flights from Hanoi to Hue.
DAY 5
HUE
Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past.
TRAIN TO HUE: Arrive in Hue at approximately 10am and take a taxi to the hotel. Enjoy free time in the morning to rest or explore.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotels are great value in Hue so you’ll get a great room for a cheaper price than Hanoi. Book for 2 nights.
Budget: Hue Serene Palace Hotel - amazing standard for such a low price
Value: Jade Scene Hotel - has a pool, make sure you book with breakfast
Comfort: White Lotus Hue Hotel - swimming pool, spa, great views
Swish: Senna Hue Hotel - swish hotel at a comfort price, this is one of the best value hotels in Vietnam
IMPERIAL CITY: In the afternoon take a tour of the war-damaged ruins of the Imperial City, a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace. Or explore on your own. Here’s a self-guided walking tour of the Imperial City that takes you around all the highlights.
Note: if you choose to do the full day tour of Hue tomorrow you will see the Imperial City on this tour. Maybe do a food tour this afternoon or go for a bike ride.
DAY 6
HUE
EXPLORE HUE: We highly recommend seeing Hue on a motorbike tour rather than a regular bus tour. It’s very Vietnam, and very fun.
Experience Hue like a local on a motorbike tour ($47). You ride on the back of a motorbike with a careful experienced rider and visit villages, the 17th-century Thien Mu Pagoda, and the royal tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.
If you really can’t handle jumping on the back of a motorbike, this all inclusive full day tour by van ($55) will take you to all the highlights of Hue including the Imperial City. So if you choose this tour, on day 5 you can choose another activity to do rather than visit the Imperial City (food tour maybe…).
If you do the motorbike tour you have time to fit in the slow paced food tour by cyclo ($53) which is particularly interesting in Hue because this was the royal capital and the food here was designed to be fit for a king.
DAY 7
HOI AN
TRAVEL FROM HUE TO HOI AN: Travel over the famous Hai Van Pass, the geographic separator of north and south Vietnam. There is a lot to see on the journey so we think it’s worth taking your time and not just taking a bus.
The most fun is on an open air jeep tour ($121).
You could take a private transfer by car ($88 up to 3 people).
If you are into train travel book a train ticket for the beautiful 2.5 hour journey which gets you to Danang and take a Grab taxi from there.
You’ll arrive into Hoi An with enough time to roam around the beautifully preserved 15th century trading port, one of Asia’s most charming towns.
ACCOMMODATION: Book for 3 nights:
Budget: Legend Oasis Hoi An Boutique Hotel - located on the island across from the Old Town in a lovely garden setting
Value: Zen Boutique Hoi An - amazing value close to town with a pool and free bikes
Comfort: Laluna Hoi An Riverside Hotel & Spa - great location along the riverfront close to the Old Town with a beautiful pool
Swish: Little Riverside Hoi An - also on the riverside on the edge of the Old Town, everything you would expect from a luxury hotel
DAYS 8 & 9
HOI AN
ACTIVITIES: You have two full days to enjoy in Hoi An. Hit the beach, visit a tailor shop, do a cooking class or go for a ride. There is plenty to keep you busy.
Hoi An is a great place to learn some of the best of the local dishes on a cooking class ($45) that also includes a boat trip.
The countryside around Hoi An is perfect for a bike ride so join a bike tour ($28 or $34) or hire a bike and do it yourself.
DAY 10
HO CHI MINH CITY
A busy day of travel takes you to Ho Chi Minh City - the big smoke of Vietnam. HCM City is a city of excitement. It hustles and bustles 24 hours a day. Once through HCM Airport head to your hotel then get out and walk.
TRAVEL FROM HOI AN TO HO CHI MINH CITY: There are 3 steps to get your from hotel to hotel:
Book a transfer to Danang Airport ($6/$19) or take a taxi. Allow about 45 mins for the drive and check in at least 1 hour before your flight.
Book your flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City, there are a number of airlines flying this route.
Book a transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport to your hotel ($37) or grab a taxi.
ACCOMMODATION: Book for 2 nights
Value: Sanouva Saigon Hotel - centrally located but away from the manic part of the city
Comfort The Odys Boutique Hotel - great location, very comfortable, great staff, fantastic rooftop restaurant and bar
Swish: Hotel Majestic Saigon - historic hotel with old world charm and elegance
MOTORBIKE TOUR: In the evening get out and join the masses on a motorbike tour of Saigon ($27). A mix of food and fun, this is a true Saigon experience.
DAY 11
HO CHI MINH CITY
CU CHI TUNNELS: Head out of the city to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the famous Vietnam War network of underground passageways where the Viet Cong sought refuge from enemy forces during the Vietnam War. Tours take half a day which leaves the other half of the day to discover more of Ho Chi Minh City. There are two main ways to see Cu Chi Tunnels:
Go on a bus tour ($33) to the quieter Bed Duoc Tunnels.
For something a little different you can take a boat tour ($87) where we suggest the early departure to avoid the crowds.
DAY 12
END OF TRIP
After an amazing trip it will be time to head home or continue on with one of our ‘Keep Travelling’ suggestions below.
AIRPORT TRANSFER: Book a transfer to the airport ($37) or take a taxi. Tan Son Nhat Airport is only 6km from the city centre but allow at least 30 mins to get there, more if travelling at peak hour.
KEEP TRAVELLING
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Vietnam in Depth
A more in depth experience that includes trekking in Sapa, Ninh Binh and the Mekong Delta.
18 days -
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Phu Quoc
Finish your trip in Vietnam with some chill out beach time on the tropical island paradise Phu Quoc.
4 days or more -
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Explore Angkor
Fly to direct to Siem Reap in Cambodia and explore the amazing Angkor Temples and surrounding region.
4 days -
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Across Cambodia
Travel overland from Ho Chi Minh City to visit Phnom Penh and the Angkor Temples.
8 days
FAQs
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Download our Itinerary Planner and work out your day to day. Add or remove days to suit what you want to do.
Check availability of transport as your trip won’t work if you can’t get from place to place. Note: train tickets have restrictions on how far in advance they are released.
Start booking. Use the links in the Itinerary Planner or choose your own. You don’t have to book day trips straight away. They can even be left until the last minute if you want to keep an open mind.
Prepare to travel. Download the Tour Guide Cheat Sheets and read our Travel 101 notes to make sure you are ready to go.
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Hotels in Vietnam are great value. Even our budget options are very comfortable and you’ll gt a good night’s sleep staying at this level all the way through your trip.
In general the hotel recommendations are as follows:
budget: 2 star - less than US$26 / AU$37
value: 2-3 star - US$35-45 / AU$50-64
comfort - 3-4 star - US$60-80 / AU$80-110
swish - 4-5 star - US$100+ / AU$140+
In all the accommodation we recommend there is a range of rooms to choose from providing even more choice and prices. The prices we quote are for the room standard we recommend.
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Give a Budget, Value, Comfort & Swish levels estimate of accom and activity bookings…
Excluding the costs of your DIYdly bookings expect to pay anywhere from $20-$100 per person per day on meals, transport, drinks, and shopping.
Vietnam is a relatively inexpensive place to be but as with anywhere if you only frequent high end restaurants and bars, and like to shop it is easy to spend a lot of money.
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No worries! This trip runs perfectly well in the reverse direction. Just work in reverse following the same links and bookings.
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For an express version of this trip you could look at one or more of these options:
Jump straight on the overnight train in Hanoi on the same evening you return from Halong Bay.
Drop a day in Hue.
Drop a day in Hoi An.
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Add a day in Hanoi when you first arrive. Flying takes its toll, so a day to relax and recover, get used to the timezone change and conditions can help get into the trip.
Add more time in Hoi An. This works well if you stay on the beach and want a few days on a stunning beach.
Ho Chi Minh is always worth a few days. So much to do there.
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Well done. Top of the class you go. Please let us know via our feedback form. We don’t claim to be perfect but we will keep trying until we are.