Vietnam · Vietnam
10 Days in Vietnam
Three nights in and around Hanoi with a Halong Bay cruise, three in Hoi An for the Ancient Town and beach, and three in Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels, linked by two short flights.
Thomas Hirsch / User:Ravn / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Vietnam packs an extraordinary range into one long, narrow country: the old streets and lakes of Hanoi, the limestone seascape of Halong Bay, the lantern-lit trading town of Hoi An, and the fast, French-inflected energy of Ho Chi Minh City. Ten days with two short domestic flights lets you see the north, centre and south without living on the road.
If you only take one thing from this guide: fly the long legs. Vietnam is over 1,600km end to end, and the domestic flights that connect Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City turn days of overland travel into an hour in the air each.
Best for
First-time Vietnam visitors · Couples · Culture and food · A country overview in one trip · History
Daily itinerary
10 days
Rather than one city, this is a north-to-south sampler that uses two flights to skip the long overland legs, so you spend your days in the places worth the time rather than in transit.
Best time to visit
No single month is perfect countrywide because the regions run on different seasons, but March to April and October to November tend to work best across the whole route. The north is dry October to April, the centre is best February to May, and the south is dry December to April.
- December to February: North can be cool and grey; south dry and pleasant; a split-climate trip.
- March to April: Often the best all-round window across north, centre and south.
- May to August: Hot and humid nationwide; the south and north have their rains.
- September to November: Typhoon and flood risk on the central coast; October and November flood Hoi An.
Things worth knowing
- Lunar New Year (Tet, late January or February): the biggest holiday of the year; festive but many businesses close for several days.
- Hoi An’s monthly full-moon lantern festival, on the 14th day of each lunar month.
Where to stay
Hanoi Old Quarter
The dense, atmospheric heart of the capital: narrow streets each once devoted to a single trade, street food on every corner, and Hoan Kiem Lake at its edge. Chaotic, walkable and the classic first base.
Best for: First-time visitors · Street food · Culture · No car
Noisy and relentless with traffic and scooters; light sleepers should ask for a quiet room.
Halong Bay (overnight cruise)
Not a place to sleep on land so much as on the water: an overnight cruise among the limestone karsts is the way to see the UNESCO bay, with caves, kayaking and sunrise from the deck.
Best for: Couples · Scenery · A night on the water
Reached by a 2.5 to 3.5 hour transfer from Hanoi; day trips feel rushed, so an overnight is worth it.
Hoi An Ancient Town
The lantern-lit UNESCO trading town in the centre of the country: largely traffic-free old streets, a beach 15 minutes away, and some of Vietnam’s best food.
Best for: Couples · Culture · Food · Slow days
Reached via Da Nang airport; low-lying and flood-prone in October and November.
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The central district of the southern metropolis: French-colonial landmarks, rooftop bars, Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum, and the base for Mekong Delta and Cu Chi day trips.
Best for: First-time visitors · History · Nightlife · Day trips
Traffic is intense and crossing the road takes nerve; it is a big, fast city after Hoi An’s calm.
Where to sleep
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
luxury · Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Best for: Couples · A landmark colonial stay · Central Hanoi
- A restored 1901 colonial landmark near Hoan Kiem Lake and the Opera House
- Genuinely historic with a wartime bomb-shelter tour
- Walkable to the Old Quarter
- The most expensive hotel in the city
- Old-wing rooms are more characterful but smaller
- Books out well ahead
Paradise Elegance Cruise
unique · Halong Bay
Best for: Couples · An overnight on the bay · Balcony cabins
- Overnight cruise with private-balcony cabins among the karsts
- Round-trip transfer from Hanoi included on most packages
- Caves, kayaking and sunrise from the deck
- One or two nights only, so it is a segment not a base
- Cabin cruises pack a fixed group schedule
- Weather can cancel sailings in storms
Anantara Hoi An Resort
resort · Thu Bon riverside, Hoi An
Best for: Couples · Walking distance to the Ancient Town · River views
- Riverfront under a kilometre from the Ancient Town
- Colonial-style grounds and river cruises
- Close enough to walk in for the lanterns
- Low-lying riverside, exposed in the wet season
- Not a beachfront property
- Older-style rooms than the newest resorts
Park Hyatt Saigon
luxury · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Best for: Couples · A central city base · Pool and spa
- Colonial-style property beside the Opera House in the heart of District 1
- Walkable to the main landmarks and Ben Thanh Market
- A quiet courtyard pool in a loud city
- Top-tier city pricing
- District 1 traffic and noise are inescapable outside the walls
Essential experiences
Halong Bay (UNESCO)
A seascape of some 1,600 limestone islands and islets rising from emerald water, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and best seen on an overnight cruise with caves and kayaking.
Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO)
A well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, lantern-lit and largely traffic-free, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.
Hanoi Old Quarter
The tangle of historic trading streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, each once named for the guild craft sold there, and the best place to eat and wander in the capital.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square
The monumental square in Hanoi where independence was proclaimed in 1945, and the mausoleum that preserves Ho Chi Minh’s body, with a strict dress and conduct code.
Temple of Literature, Hanoi
Founded in 1070, Vietnam’s first university, with courtyards, pavilions and stone stelae recording the names of doctoral graduates carved on the backs of turtles.
War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City
The city’s most-visited museum, documenting the Vietnam War through photography, aircraft and artillery in the courtyard, and hard-hitting exhibits inside.
Cu Chi Tunnels
The preserved network of Viet Cong tunnels northwest of the city, a national historic site where visitors crawl short sections and see the underground war infrastructure.
Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City
The landmark covered market in District 1 for street food, souvenirs and a sense of the city’s trade; livelier and cheaper at the surrounding night market.
Food & drink
- Pho: The national noodle soup; the Hanoi style is broth-forward and restrained, the southern version sweeter with more herbs.
- Bun cha: Grilled pork patties and belly in a dipping broth with noodles and herbs; a Hanoi lunch speciality.
- Banh mi: The French-Vietnamese baguette sandwich, filled with pâté, grilled meats, pickles and herbs.
- Cao lau: A Hoi An-only noodle dish with pork, greens and crisp croutons, traditionally made with local well water.
- Com tam: Broken rice with grilled pork, a Saigon everyday plate.
Street food is where much of the best eating happens, on low plastic stools; point, sit and eat. Each region has its own specialities, so eat the local dish in each city.
Where to eat
Bun Cha Huong Lien
institutionThe bun cha spot where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate in 2016; the table is now preserved and the restaurant is Michelin Guide listed.
Last researched 2026-07-15
Banh Mi Phuong
institutionThe Hoi An banh mi shop made internationally famous after Anthony Bourdain featured it; expect a queue.
Last researched 2026-07-15
Ben Thanh street food stalls
marketThe stalls in and around Ben Thanh Market are an easy first taste of southern street food; the night market outside is livelier.
Last researched 2026-07-15
Sunrises
Halong Bay cruise deck
Sunrise over the karsts from the top deck is the quiet highlight of an overnight cruise, often paired with an early tai chi session before the day boats arrive.
Year-round
Sunsets
Saigon Skydeck, Bitexco Financial Tower
The 49th-floor observation deck over Ho Chi Minh City, with the best light in the late-afternoon window as the city switches on below.
Year-round
Thu Bon riverfront, Hoi An
As the light drops in Hoi An the lanterns come on along the river and boats sell floating candles; the classic central-Vietnam evening.
Year-round
Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi
The lake at the edge of the Old Quarter draws an evening crowd; on weekends the surrounding streets go car-free for a walking promenade.
Year-round
Day trips
Ninh Binh and Trang An (from Hanoi)
The UNESCO-listed Trang An karst landscape, often called Halong Bay on land, with rowboat trips through caves and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
About 1.5 to 2 hours each way from Hanoi · Full day
Mekong Delta (from Ho Chi Minh City)
A day into the river-and-canal lowlands south of the city: sampans through the palms, floating markets and fruit orchards.
About 1.5 to 2 hours each way to My Tho or Ben Tre · Full day
Cu Chi Tunnels (from Ho Chi Minh City)
The preserved Viet Cong tunnel network northwest of the city; crawl a widened section and see the underground war infrastructure.
About 1 to 1.5 hours each way · Half day
Daily itinerary
Ten days in Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Saigon
North to south by two short flights: three nights around Hanoi with a Halong cruise, three in Hoi An, three in Ho Chi Minh City, plus arrival and travel days.
- 1
Arrive Hanoi
relaxedArrive and settle in the Old Quarter.A first bowl of Hanoi pho.Walk Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter streets.Hoan Kiem Lake as the evening crowd gathers.Bun cha at Huong Lien or a street-food stall.A slow walk through the lit Old Quarter.No car; the Old Quarter is walkable, use Grab if tired.Estimate: A water-puppet show near the lake if you have the energy.
- 2
Hanoi sights
moderateThe Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square, then the Temple of Literature.Lunch near the Temple of Literature.The Old Quarter and a coffee at a street-side cafe.A rooftop or lakeside drink.Dinner in the Old Quarter.Pack for the early Halong transfer.Grab or taxi between the sights; short hops.Estimate: Swap the mausoleum for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
- 3
To Halong Bay
moderateTransfer to Halong and board the overnight cruise.Lunch on board as you sail into the karsts.A cave visit and kayaking or a swim.Sunset from the top deck among the islands.Dinner on board.Squid fishing or a quiet deck night.Cruise transfer handles the 3-hour road leg from Hanoi.Estimate: A two-night cruise if you want a slower bay leg.
- 4
Halong to Hoi An
fullSunrise and tai chi on deck; brunch as the cruise returns to port.Light lunch en route back to Hanoi.Transfer to Hanoi airport; fly to Da Nang.Arrive Hoi An; first walk to the riverfront.Cao lau in the Ancient Town.A lantern-lit walk to settle in.Cruise transfer to Hanoi, then a short flight to Da Nang and a car to Hoi An.Estimate: If flights are tight, overnight near Da Nang and start Hoi An fresh.
- 5
Hoi An Ancient Town
relaxedBuy the heritage ticket and walk the Ancient Town.White rose dumplings and com ga at a market kitchen.Rest through the heat, then the tailors and lantern shops.The Thu Bon riverfront as the lanterns come on.Dinner in the Ancient Town.A boat with floating candles on the river.No car; the Ancient Town is walkable.Estimate: A cooking class if the weather turns.
- 6
Beach and My Son
moderateCycle to An Bang beach for a morning swim.Seafood at a beach shack.An afternoon trip to the My Son Sanctuary, or a slower beach day.Back at the river or an An Bang beach bar.Banh mi and street food.A quiet night.Bicycle to the beach; tour or car for My Son.Estimate: Swap My Son for a Cham Islands boat day if the sea is calm.
- 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
moderateA last Ancient Town walk or swim.Lunch in Hoi An before the transfer.Car to Da Nang airport; fly to Ho Chi Minh City.A District 1 rooftop as the city lights up.Com tam or a first southern meal.A short walk around District 1.Car to Da Nang airport, short flight south, Grab to the hotel.Estimate: An overnight train instead of the flight if you have a spare day.
- 8
Ho Chi Minh City
moderateThe War Remnants Museum and the colonial-era landmarks.Lunch near Ben Thanh Market.Ben Thanh Market and the Central Post Office.The Saigon Skydeck at the Bitexco tower.Dinner in District 1.A rooftop bar or the Ben Thanh night market.Walk the central cluster; Grab for longer hops.Estimate: Swap the museum for the Cu Chi Tunnels as a half-day.
- 9
Mekong Delta day trip
fullHead into the Mekong Delta for the canals and orchards.A riverside lunch in the delta.Sampan through the coconut canals and a floating market.Back in the city by evening.A final southern dinner.A last rooftop or a night-market wander.Organised tour or private car handles the delta day.Estimate: Swap the delta for Cu Chi if history interests you more than rivers.
- 10
Departure
relaxedA last coffee and any final shopping.An early lunch depending on the flight.Transfer to the airport.Departure.Leave buffer for city traffic to the airport.Estimate: If you fly late, add a spa morning or a final market run.
Getting around
- Most trips start at Hanoi (Noi Bai, HAN) in the north and end at Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat, SGN) in the south, or the reverse.
- Most nationalities need an e-visa, applied for online before travel at the official portal.
- Two short domestic flights (Hanoi to Da Nang for Hoi An, then to Ho Chi Minh City) skip the long overland legs.
- Within cities, the Grab app and taxis are cheap and easy; the Old Quarter and Hoi An Ancient Town are best on foot.
- Halong Bay is reached by a road transfer from Hanoi, usually included in the cruise package.
Things worth knowing
- · Trying to do the north-to-south route overland and losing days to travel.
- · Booking a Halong day trip rather than an overnight, and spending most of it in transfers.
- · Leaving the e-visa application to the last minute.
Budget
| Low | Expected | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation style / per night | ₫500,000 | ₫1,600,000 | ₫4,500,000 |
| Food style / per day | ₫200,000 | ₫500,000 | ₫1,300,000 |
| Local transport / per day | ₫100,000 | ₫350,000 | ₫900,000 |
| Estimate / per day | ₫150,000 | ₫400,000 | ₫900,000 |
Estimate · VND · 2026-07-15. Figures in Vietnamese Dong, per room per night for accommodation (two sharing). Estimates from widely consistent 2025 to 2026 travel cost guides rather than a single official source, and exclude the two domestic flights; the Halong cruise is a separate, larger line item.
Things worth knowing
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Vietnam?
For a north-to-south sampler, yes. Ten days with two short flights covers Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City without living on the road; it does not cover everything, so pick these four and go deep.
Should you go north to south or south to north?
Either works. Most itineraries run Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City so the trip builds from the historic north to the energetic south, but flying the reverse is just as easy.
When is the best time for a Vietnam trip?
March to April and October to November tend to work best across all three regions, since the north, centre and south run on different seasons. Avoid the central coast’s September to November typhoon window if you can.
Do you need domestic flights in Vietnam?
For a 10-day route, yes. Vietnam is over 1,600km end to end, and the flights linking Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City turn days of overland travel into an hour each.
Is a Halong Bay overnight cruise worth it?
Yes. A day trip spends most of its time in transfers, while an overnight lets you reach quieter water, wake to sunrise over the karsts, and kayak before the day boats arrive.
Sources (4)
- Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site · unesco · 2026-07-15
- Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site · unesco · 2026-07-15
- Vietnam e-visa is issued online via the official government portal · government · 2026-07-15
- Vietnam regional weather and travel overview · tourism-board · 2026-07-15
