Vietnam Itinerary: 7, 10, 14 & 21 Days (2026 Day-by-Day Guide)

Vietnam stretches 1,650 km from Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta. Most first-time visitors focus on three regions: the North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa), the Centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An) and the South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta). The itineraries below assume you fly into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and work your way through the country by train, bus or domestic flight.

Most travellers from the US, Australia, India and Canada need an e-visa for Vietnam; the official portal is evisa.gov.vn. If you prefer someone to handle the application, visa-vietnam.app can do it. visa-vietnam.app is run by the same publisher as this site.

01Why Every Itinerary on This Page Includes the Centre

I live in Da Nang. The Centre is where Vietnam's geography, history and practicality converge. Hue was the imperial capital from 1802 to 1945; its Citadel and royal tombs are UNESCO World Heritage sites (whc.unesco.org). Hoi An, 30 km south of Da Nang, is a preserved trading port, also UNESCO-listed, with intact wooden merchant houses and Japanese bridges. Da Nang itself is Vietnam's fifth-largest city, the main transport hub of the Centre, with an international airport (DAD), a railway station on the North-South line and beaches that attract both Vietnamese families and foreign visitors.

Every itinerary below spends 3 to 5 days in the Centre because it is the easiest region to navigate: Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An are 30 to 100 km apart, connected by frequent trains (8 to 12 departures daily, according to dsvn.vn, Vietnam Railways), buses every 30 minutes and taxis. You can stay in Da Nang and day-trip to both Hoi An and Hue, or stay in each town. The Centre also sits halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which makes it a natural stop on any north-to-south or south-to-north route.

For more on Da Nang itself, see Da Nang, Vietnam: The Complete Guide to Moving There in 2026.

02North-to-South or South-to-North: Choosing Your Direction

Vietnam's climate is regional. The North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa) is coolest from November to March, with occasional drizzle and temperatures of 15 to 20°C. The Centre has a dry season from February to August and a rainy season from September to January, with the heaviest rain in October and November. The South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) is hot year-round, with a rainy season from May to November.

If you travel between November and March, start in the North (Hanoi) and work south: you will catch the North's cool season, the Centre's tail-end rains (which ease by late January) and the South's dry season. If you travel between April and August, start in the South (Ho Chi Minh City) and work north: you will catch the South before the heavy rains, the Centre's dry season and the North's hot summer. For a month-by-month breakdown, see Best Time to Visit Vietnam: Month-by-Month Guide (2026-2027).

The itineraries below are written north-to-south (Hanoi first), but every table works in reverse.

037-Day Vietnam Itinerary: North and Centre

A 7-day itinerary covers the North and the Centre. You skip the South entirely. This itinerary suits a first visit when you have limited time and want to see Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang.

Transport notes: The Hanoi–Hue night train is comfortable (4-berth soft sleeper, air-conditioned) and costs 600,000 to 900,000 VND (approximately 24 to 36 USD, as of September 2026, using the Vietcombank rate of 25,000 VND per USD). Book at dsvn.vn or at Hanoi station. If you fly Hanoi–Hue (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways), the flight is 1 hour 20 minutes; prices range from 800,000 to 2,000,000 VND (32 to 80 USD) depending on the date.

Hue to Da Nang by train takes 2.5 hours (8 to 12 departures daily, 80,000 to 150,000 VND, 3 to 6 USD). The train crosses the Hai Van Pass, a scenic stretch with sea views on one side and mountains on the other. Buses (Phuong Trang, Hanh Café) take 3 hours and cost 100,000 to 150,000 VND (4 to 6 USD).

What you miss: Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc island. If you have 10 days or more, add the South.

0410-Day Vietnam Itinerary: North, Centre and South

A 10-day itinerary adds Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta to the 7-day route. You see the three main regions but move quickly.

Transport notes: Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City by air takes 1 hour 30 minutes (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 VND, 40 to 100 USD). The train (SE1, SE3, SE7) takes 17 to 19 hours and costs 800,000 to 1,400,000 VND (32 to 56 USD) for a 4-berth soft sleeper; it is scenic but eats a full day. Most visitors fly.

Mekong Delta day trips from Ho Chi Minh City are offered by every bus company and hotel tour desk; expect to pay 400,000 to 800,000 VND (16 to 32 USD) for a guided group tour, or rent a private car with driver for 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 VND (60 to 80 USD) for the day.

What you miss: Sapa (northern mountains), Phong Nha caves, Nha Trang beaches, Dalat highlands, Phu Quoc island. If you have 14 days, add one or two of these.

0514-Day Vietnam Itinerary (Two Weeks): North, Centre, South and One Extra Region

A two-week itinerary lets you slow down in the Centre and add either Sapa (northern mountains), Phong Nha (caves) or Nha Trang (beaches). The table below includes Phong Nha, which lies between Hanoi and Hue and is home to Son Doong (the world's largest cave, according to whc.unesco.org) and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO World Heritage).

Alternative for day 11–12: Skip Nha Trang and spend an extra day in Da Nang (visit Ba Na Hills, Son Tra Peninsula, or the Cham Museum) or add a second day in the Mekong Delta (stay overnight in Can Tho for the Cai Rang floating market at dawn).

Transport notes: Phong Nha lies 50 km west of Dong Hoi, the nearest railway station. Trains from Hanoi to Dong Hoi (SE3, SE5, SE7, SE19) take 7 to 8 hours and cost 300,000 to 500,000 VND (12 to 20 USD). From Dong Hoi station, take a bus or taxi to Phong Nha village (1 hour, 100,000 to 200,000 VND, 4 to 8 USD). Phong Nha to Hue by bus takes 3 to 4 hours (Phuong Trang, Hanh Café, 150,000 to 250,000 VND, 6 to 10 USD).

Da Nang to Nha Trang by train takes 10 hours (SE1, SE3, SE7, 400,000 to 700,000 VND, 16 to 28 USD). By air, the flight is 1 hour 10 minutes (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, 800,000 to 1,800,000 VND, 32 to 72 USD). Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City by train is 9 hours; by air, 1 hour 15 minutes.

0621-Day Vietnam Itinerary (Three Weeks): The Full Loop with Sapa and Phu Quoc

A three-week itinerary covers the North (including Sapa), the Centre, the South and adds Phu Quoc island (beaches, snorkelling, sunsets). You travel at a comfortable pace with time to rest.

Transport notes: Hanoi to Sapa by night train (SP1, SP3) takes 8 hours and costs 400,000 to 600,000 VND (16 to 24 USD) for a 4-berth soft sleeper. Buses (Sapa Express, Hung Thanh) take 6 hours and cost 250,000 to 350,000 VND (10 to 14 USD). Sapa sits at 1,600 m altitude; bring a jacket even in summer.

Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc by air takes 1 hour (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, 800,000 to 2,000,000 VND, 32 to 80 USD). Phu Quoc has an international airport (PQC); you can fly out directly to Bangkok, Singapore or back to Hanoi.

What you skip: Dalat (Central Highlands, coffee plantations, waterfalls) and Ninh Binh (Trang An karst landscape, UNESCO World Heritage, 2 hours south of Hanoi). If you have an extra week, add both.

07Practical Tips for Every Itinerary

Book trains in advance: Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn) releases tickets 30 days before departure. Sleeper berths on popular routes (Hanoi–Hue, Hanoi–Sapa, Da Nang–Nha Trang) sell out during Vietnamese holidays (Tet in late January or early February, National Day on 2 September). Book as early as you can.

Domestic flights: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways connect Hanoi (HAN), Da Nang (DAD), Nha Trang (CXR), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Phu Quoc (PQC). Prices range from 800,000 to 2,500,000 VND (32 to 100 USD, as of September 2026) depending on the route and how far in advance you book. Check-in luggage is often extra on Vietjet and Bamboo Airways; read the fare rules.

Buses: Phuong Trang (Futa Bus Lines) and Hanh Café run frequent buses between all major cities. Buses are cheaper than trains but slower and less comfortable on long routes. For short hops (Hue–Da Nang, Da Nang–Hoi An), buses are fine.

Accommodation: Book hotels and hostels on Booking.com or Agoda. In Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang, prices range from 300,000 VND (12 USD) for a hostel dorm to 1,500,000 VND (60 USD) for a mid-range hotel, as of September 2026. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, expect to pay 20 to 30 per cent more. Book ahead during Tet and Vietnamese school holidays (June to August).

Food: Street food costs 30,000 to 60,000 VND (1.20 to 2.40 USD) per meal. A sit-down restaurant meal costs 100,000 to 250,000 VND (4 to 10 USD). For detailed food budgets, see Food Prices in Vietnam in 2026: Real Budget and Costs.

Money: Withdraw VND from ATMs (withdrawal limit: 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND per transaction, depending on the bank; ATM fee: 30,000 to 50,000 VND, 1.20 to 2 USD). Vietcombank, BIDV and Techcombank ATMs are reliable. Notify your bank before you travel. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and large restaurants but not in street stalls or small shops.

08What to Remember

A 7-day itinerary covers the North and the Centre. A 10-day itinerary adds the South. A 14-day itinerary adds Phong Nha, Nha Trang or an extra day in the Centre. A 21-day itinerary covers the full loop with Sapa and Phu Quoc. Every itinerary spends 3 to 5 days in the Centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An) because it is the easiest region to navigate and sits halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Book trains early, check the weather for your travel dates and carry cash for small purchases. Your next step is to decide your travel dates and book your international flight into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.