The Perfect 2-Week Vietnam Itinerary: North to South

Two weeks is the sweet spot for Vietnam. It is enough time to experience the dramatic shifts in landscape, food, and culture between north and south without rushing through every stop. This north-to-south route covers the essential highlights while leaving room to breathe.

Here is the day-by-day plan, with transport logistics, daily highlights, and real costs.

Route Overview

Hanoi (3 days) → Ha Long Bay (2 days) → Hue (2 days) → Hoi An (2 days) → Da Nang (1 day) → Ho Chi Minh City (2 days) → Mekong Delta (1 day) → Cu Chi Tunnels (1 day)

Total distance: Approximately 1,700 km north to south Best time for this route: October to April

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Days 1-3: Hanoi

Vietnam's capital is sensory overload in the best way. Ancient pagodas, French colonial boulevards, chaotic motorbike traffic, and some of the best food in Asia.

Day 1: Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake

• Morning: Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple (30,000 VND / $1.20). Watch locals doing tai chi at sunrise.
• Mid-morning: Explore the Old Quarter's 36 streets -- each named after the goods traditionally sold there (Hang Gai for silk, Hang Bac for silver).
• Lunch: Bun cha at Bun Cha Dac Kim, 1 Hang Manh (40,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Visit St. Joseph's Cathedral and explore the surrounding French Quarter cafes.
• Evening: Bia hoi corner (junction of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen) for 5,000 VND beers and people-watching.

Day 2: History and Culture

• Morning: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (free, closed Mondays and Fridays). Includes the mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house. Arrive by 7:30 AM to beat the queue.
• Late morning: One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Museum (40,000 VND).
• Lunch: Pho at Pho Gia Truyen, 49 Bat Dan (40,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Temple of Literature (30,000 VND) -- Vietnam's oldest university, dating to 1070.
• Evening: Egg coffee at Cafe Giang, then a water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (100,000 VND).

Day 3: Local Life

• Morning: Long Bien Market at dawn -- the wholesale flower and produce market under Long Bien Bridge. Incredibly photogenic.
• Mid-morning: Walk across Long Bien Bridge itself for city views.
• Lunch: Banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) in the Old Quarter (30,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Vietnamese Women's Museum (30,000 VND) -- one of Hanoi's best museums, covering women's roles in war, culture, and daily life.
• Evening: Pack for Ha Long Bay. Head to the train station or arrange your tour pickup.

Hanoi daily budget: 800,000-1,200,000 VND ($32-48) including accommodation.

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Days 4-5: Ha Long Bay

The UNESCO-listed bay with over 1,600 limestone islands rising from emerald waters is Vietnam's most iconic landscape.

Getting There

• Tour bus from Hanoi: Most tours include pickup from your hotel. The drive is 2.5-3 hours to Ha Long City or 2 hours to the less crowded Lan Ha Bay departure point.
• Budget: Day trips start at 800,000 VND ($32). Overnight cruises start at 2,500,000 VND ($100) for budget boats, 4,000,000+ VND ($160+) for mid-range.

Day 4: Cruise and Kayaking

• Board your cruise boat around noon. Lunch on the boat as you sail through the karst landscape.
• Afternoon: Kayaking through caves and lagoons. Most cruises include this.
• Evening: Sunset on deck, squid fishing (a fun onboard activity), dinner aboard.

Day 5: Caves and Return

• Early morning: Tai chi on deck at sunrise (yes, really -- many boats offer this).
• Morning: Visit Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or Luon Cave. Swimming if weather allows.
• Noon: Disembark and return to Hanoi.
• Evening: Overnight train to Hue. The SE3 or SE1 depart Hanoi around 7-10 PM, arriving Hue early the next morning. Book a soft sleeper (giuong nam) for 700,000-900,000 VND ($28-36).

Pro tip: Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba Island side) is less crowded and cheaper than the main Ha Long Bay tourist routes. Some operators combine both. Ask specifically about Lan Ha when booking.

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Days 6-7: Hue

The former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Hue is quieter than Hanoi, deeply historical, and has some of the best food in the country.

Day 6: Imperial Citadel and Tombs

• Morning: Imperial Citadel (200,000 VND / $8). Allow 2-3 hours to explore the Forbidden Purple City, the Thai Hoa Palace, and the gardens. Much of it was destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive and is being painstakingly restored.
• Lunch: Bun bo Hue at Bun Bo Hue O Phuong (35,000 VND). The city's signature spicy beef noodle soup.
• Afternoon: Tomb of Khai Dinh (150,000 VND) -- the most ornate of the royal tombs, blending Vietnamese and European architecture. Or Tomb of Tu Duc (150,000 VND) for a more serene, garden-like setting.
• Evening: Walk along the Perfume River at sunset. Dinner at Dong Ba Market night food stalls.

Day 7: Pagodas and Departure

• Morning: Thien Mu Pagoda (free) -- Hue's most iconic pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. The seven-story tower dates to 1844.
• Mid-morning: Rent a motorbike or bicycle and ride to the countryside around Hue. The rice paddies and back roads are stunning.
• Lunch: Banh beo, banh nam, banh loc set (Hue steamed cakes, 40,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Bus or private car to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass. The direct route is 2.5-3 hours. If you can arrange it, ride the Hai Van Pass by motorbike (or with the Top Gear-famous Easy Rider) -- one of the most scenic coastal roads in the world.

Hue daily budget: 600,000-1,000,000 VND ($24-40).

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Days 8-9: Hoi An

Vietnam's best-preserved ancient town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a paradise for food, shopping, and lantern-lit evenings.

Day 8: Ancient Town and Tailoring

• Morning: Explore the Ancient Town -- Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Ancient House. Buy the 120,000 VND ($4.80) heritage ticket for 5 site entries.
• Mid-morning: Get measured for custom tailoring. Hoi An's tailors can produce a custom suit, dress, or ao dai in 24-48 hours. Quality varies -- Yaly Couture and BeBe are well-regarded. Budget 1,500,000-4,000,000 VND ($60-160) for a suit.
• Lunch: Cao lau at the Central Market (45,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Cooking class (600,000-900,000 VND / $24-36) -- includes a market visit and 4-5 dishes. Red Bridge and Thuan Tinh Island are popular options.
• Evening: The Ancient Town lit by lanterns after dark is magical. Walk along the river, release a floating lantern (10,000 VND).

Day 9: Beach and Countryside

• Morning: Rent a bicycle (30,000 VND/day) and ride to An Bang Beach (4 km from town). Swim, relax, and have a beachside lunch.
• Afternoon: Cycle to Tra Que Vegetable Village -- a 300-year-old farming village where you can join farmers in the fields. Or visit the Cam Thanh coconut forest for a basket boat ride (150,000 VND).
• Evening: Final evening in the Ancient Town. Pick up your tailored clothes.

Hoi An daily budget: 800,000-1,500,000 VND ($32-60), higher if tailoring.

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Day 10: Da Nang

A short 30-minute drive from Hoi An, Da Nang is Vietnam's most livable city with spectacular beaches and the famous Marble Mountains.

• Morning: Marble Mountains (40,000 VND entry + 15,000 VND elevator). Climb through caves, temples, and viewpoints. The Huyen Khong Cave is the highlight.
• Lunch: Mi Quang -- Da Nang's signature turmeric noodles (40,000 VND).
• Afternoon: My Khe Beach -- regularly rated among Asia's best beaches. Relax or swim.
• Evening: See the Dragon Bridge breathe fire (Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM only). Catch your evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City (1.5 hours, from 800,000 VND / $32).

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Days 11-12: Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon (everyone still calls it that) is Vietnam's electric southern megacity -- faster, louder, and more chaotic than Hanoi, with incredible food and powerful history.

Day 11: War History and District 1

• Morning: War Remnants Museum (40,000 VND). Deeply moving exhibition on the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Allow 2 hours.
• Late morning: Reunification Palace (65,000 VND) -- where the war ended on April 30, 1975. The interiors are preserved in 1960s time-capsule condition.
• Lunch: Banh mi at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, 26 Le Thi Rieng (45,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (exterior only, under restoration) and the Central Post Office -- a gorgeous French colonial building still functioning as a post office.
• Evening: Explore Bui Vien Walking Street for backpacker nightlife, or head to a rooftop bar on Nguyen Hue boulevard for skyline views.

Day 12: Markets and Local Life

• Morning: Ben Thanh Market -- iconic but touristy. Good for souvenirs and dried goods. Bargain hard (start at 40% of asking price).
• Mid-morning: Chinatown (Cho Lon) -- Binh Tay Market is less touristy and more authentic than Ben Thanh. Thien Hau Pagoda nearby is stunning.
• Lunch: Com tam (broken rice) at Com Tam Ba Ghien (40,000 VND).
• Afternoon: Jade Emperor Pagoda (free) -- the most atmospheric temple in HCMC, thick with incense smoke and ornate carvings.
• Evening: Street food tour of District 4 -- the locals' favorite neighborhood for cheap, excellent food. Banh xeo at Banh Xeo 46A (50,000 VND).

HCMC daily budget: 800,000-1,500,000 VND ($32-60).

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Day 13: Mekong Delta Day Trip

The vast river delta south of HCMC is Vietnam's rice bowl -- a water world of floating markets, fruit orchards, and narrow canals.

• Getting there: Organized day trips from HCMC start at 500,000 VND ($20) including transport, boat rides, and lunch. Or take a bus to Can Tho (3.5 hours, 150,000 VND) and arrange boats locally.
• Early morning: Cai Rang Floating Market (from Can Tho) or Cai Be Floating Market (closer to HCMC). Farmers sell produce directly from their boats. Arrive before 8 AM for peak activity.
• Mid-morning: Narrow canal boat ride through coconut palm-lined waterways. Visit a coconut candy workshop and a honey farm.
• Lunch: Elephant ear fish (ca tai tuong) -- a Mekong specialty grilled whole and wrapped in rice paper with herbs.
• Afternoon: Return to HCMC.

Pro tip: The Mekong Delta deserves more than a day trip. If you have flexibility, spend a night in Can Tho and visit the floating market at dawn independently by hiring a small boat (300,000 VND / $12) -- far better than the tourist group experience.

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Day 14: Cu Chi Tunnels

A powerful and fascinating half-day trip to the tunnel network used by Viet Cong fighters during the Vietnam War.

• Getting there: Tour buses from HCMC take 1.5 hours. Half-day tours start at 250,000 VND ($10). Or take public bus 13 from Ben Thanh to Cu Chi town and then a xe om (motorbike taxi) to the tunnels.
• Morning: Explore the Cu Chi Tunnel complex (110,000 VND / $4.40 entry). Crawl through widened sections of the original tunnels, see weapon workshops, and learn about the extraordinary ingenuity of the tunnel system.
• Lunch: On-site or back in HCMC.
• Afternoon: Return to HCMC for final shopping, a massage (250,000-400,000 VND for 60 minutes), or simply a last bowl of pho before your departure.

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Transport Summary

Route	Best Option	Duration	Cost
Hanoi → Ha Long Bay	Tour bus (included in cruise)	2.5-3 hours	Included
Hanoi → Hue	Overnight train (SE3/SE1)	13 hours	700,000-900,000 VND
Hue → Hoi An	Private car or bus via Hai Van Pass	2.5-3 hours	150,000-300,000 VND
Hoi An → Da Nang	Grab or taxi	30 minutes	150,000-200,000 VND
Da Nang → HCMC	Flight (VietJet, Vietnam Airlines)	1.5 hours	800,000-1,800,000 VND
HCMC → Mekong Delta	Tour bus or public bus	2-3.5 hours	150,000-500,000 VND
HCMC → Cu Chi	Tour bus or public bus	1.5 hours	100,000-250,000 VND

2-Week Budget Estimate

Category	Budget Traveler	Mid-Range
Accommodation	2,500,000 VND ($100)	7,000,000 VND ($280)
Food	2,100,000 VND ($84)	4,200,000 VND ($168)
Transport	2,500,000 VND ($100)	4,500,000 VND ($180)
Activities & Tours	2,000,000 VND ($80)	5,000,000 VND ($200)
Ha Long Bay Cruise	2,500,000 VND ($100)	5,000,000 VND ($200)
Total	11,600,000 VND ($464)	25,700,000 VND ($1,028)

Excludes international flights and visa.

Alternative Routes

For Beach Lovers

Replace Hue with Phu Quoc Island (fly from Da Nang, 2 hours). Add 2-3 days of white sand beaches, snorkeling, and sunset seafood.

For Culture and History Buffs

Add Ninh Binh (2 days) between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. The "Ha Long Bay on land" has stunning karst landscapes, ancient temples at Hoa Lu, and boat rides through Tam Coc caves.

Off the Beaten Path

Swap Ha Long Bay for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (accessible by train to Dong Hoi, 8 hours from Hanoi). Home to the world's largest cave (Son Doong) and several other spectacular caves at a fraction of Ha Long's crowds.

Fast-Paced 10-Day Version

Cut Hue (fly Hanoi to Da Nang directly), reduce HCMC to 1 day, and skip one of the day trips.

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Two weeks gives you the full spectrum of Vietnam -- the brooding mountains and rich broth of the north, the imperial grandeur and spice of the center, and the buzzing energy and sweetness of the south. Every city on this route will surprise you in a different way.

For budget planning, see our Vietnam on a budget guide. New to Vietnam? Start with our first-time visitor guide.