If you have been reading about Vietnam recently, this post will help you design your perfect Vietnam travel itinerary. These itineraries are tailor-made for you by the Vietnamese pair of Two Nomads One World, so you can rest assured that you will find some good ideas here!
How to make a great Vietnam travel itinerary?
You probably have known that the three pillars of planning a travel plan are your allocated time, budget, and health. Also, a great itinerary should be oriented, flexible, and simple.
- Oriented: You know yourself and your own preferences best. Before any trip, you should have researched about places, foods, and activities that you want to experience. Being oriented gives you a travel compass to guide your daily pursuits.
- Flexible: Occasionally, things may not happen as expected. Giving your itinerary some spaces for modification and back-up plans is highly recommended.
- Simple: A complicated travel plan may cost you an ample of time and lose your interests. We find it motivated and effective to keep a simple itinerary, from which we can add more ideas on the way.
Tailor-Made Travel Itineraries in Vietnam
3-7 days: On A Rush
Whether Vietnam is a short layover before visiting other countries or you only have a limited time on a business trip, we are here to help you cherry-pick the best places to visit in Vietnam, depending on your preferences.
Option 1: If you prefer history, food and adventure …
When you have only a few days, you should visit the North of Vietnam, especially Hanoi. The capital of Vietnam is going to impress you with the length of its history and incredible street food. You may spend one to two days in Hanoi to fully get immersed in a vibrant scene of the Old Quarter, before considering these two further spots:
a. Going up North to Sapa to begin a hiking experience on the Fansipan Mountain. Furthermore, the area, called the Ha Giang Loop, located at the North West of the country features breath-taking sights, amiable tribal people and challenging uphill roads for fearless motorbike lovers, and you should go there if you may fork a week in Vietnam.
Suggested itinerary for adventurers: Hanoi – Sapa – The Loop – Hanoi
Day 1:
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and observe the laid-back lifestyle of local people.
- Watch the water puppet show.
- Explore Hanoi’s famous Old Quarter. You can visit the night market at the weekend to avoid unwanted entering vehicles. The weather is too hot? Sit down to the stools on the pavement and grab a glass of self-brewed beer at 25 cents apiece.
Day 2:
- Experience a Vietnamese wet market at Dong Xuan Market. Reward yourself with a bowl of Pho or Bun Cha here.
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Take the night train from Hanoi to Sapa
Day 3:
- Hike to the Fansipan Peak.
b. However, if you are a bit less adventurous, you may opt for a tour to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province. Together with Hoi An, Ha Long Bay is the UNESCO heritage site with a surreal view to the East Sea that you cannot afford to miss. A trip to Ha Long bay often costs less time than that to Sapa, so you may have extra days in Hanoi for other activities.
Suggested itinerary for sight spotters: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
Day 1:
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and observe the laid-back lifestyle of local people.
- Watch the water puppet show.
- Explore Hanoi’s famous Old Quarter. You can visit the night market at the weekend to avoid unwanted entering vehicles. The weather is too hot? Sit down to the stools on the pavement and grab a glass of self-brewed beer at 25 cents apiece.
Day 2:
- Experience a Vietnamese wet market at Dong Xuan Market. Reward yourself with a bowl of Pho or Bun Cha here.
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Dine at the West Lake
Day 3:
- Day trip to Ha Long Bay
Option 2: Wavy Beach or Coffee-Colored River?
A lot of travelers come to Saigon, the old name of Ho Chi Minh City, from neighboring cities like Phnom Penh, Bangkok or Singapore. One day tour around the city center is usually enough for the curious city hopping minds. You can take the vespa food tour around the evening to further experience Saigon in deeper levels. If you are really into the Vietnam War and have watched all the documentaries from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, then we recommend you to pay a short trip to Cu Chi Tunnel, where you will explore about the guerrilla tactics and complex tunnel system. You can even try crawling through the tunnel yourself.
Just a few hours away from Saigon, Mekong Delta provinces welcome you with the utmost hospitality and tropical fruits that you are unable to resist. Most travelers will make a first stop at Can Tho, the biggest city in the Mekong Delta, before exploring other farther provinces such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu or An Giang. If you have a tight schedule, you can always book a short day trip to the surrounding cities like Tien Giang or Ben Tre. Those places will give you a glimpse into the Southern life, and of course, you will have your chance to paddle through the coffee-colored river while singing along.
- Short time: Saigon – Cu Chi – Day trip to Ben Tre/Tien Giang – Saigon
- Longer time: Saigon – Cu Chi – Can Tho – Chau Doc/Ca Mau/Bac Lieu – Saigon
7 – 14 days:
15 days +:
You are a true traveler and Vietnam lover.
Recommending best places to see in Vietnam is undoubtedly one of our most difficult times being Vietnamese, and we hope we have done a decent job. Should you have any comments, please do not hesitate to drop us a line in the comment box.
(hei, this post is incomplete … come back for more)
Originally posted 2019-09-21 10:30:07.