Vietnam 2 Week Itinerary: North to South (2026)

Fourteen days is the right length for a first Vietnam trip. The country is long — about 1,650 km end to end — so you need enough time to cover the three distinct regions (north, centre, south) without spending every other day in transit. The most efficient shape is a north-to-south run: fly into Hanoi, work your way down the coast via Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang, and fly out of Ho Chi Minh City.

Two internal flights (Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City is the essential one) and one overnight train or short-haul flight from Hanoi to Hue are enough. Add a two-night Ha Long Bay cruise from Hanoi, a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City, and you have a trip that hits every kind of Vietnam — limestone karsts, imperial history, lantern-lit old town, motorbike megacity, river delta — without feeling rushed.

Days 1–3: Hanoi (Old Quarter, street food, day trip to Ninh Binh)
Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Day 6: Overnight train or short flight to Hue
Day 7: Hue imperial city and royal tombs
Day 8: Hue → Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass
Days 9–10: Hoi An old town, tailors, beach, My Son ruins
Day 11: Fly Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City
Days 12–13: Ho Chi Minh City + Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 14: Mekong Delta day trip, evening departure

This mirrors the shape used by most operators (Intrepid, G Adventures, Audley) and by the two dominant independent guides for the route. It is deliberately conservative on transit days — Vietnam's roads are slower than the map suggests, and swapping one 30-minute domestic flight for a 9-hour bus rarely pays off.

Days 1–3: Hanoi and Ninh Binh

Land in Hanoi (HAN), Grab or taxi into the Old Quarter (about 45 minutes, 350,000–450,000 VND). Spend day one walking off the jet lag around Hoan Kiem Lake and the 36 Streets, eat bun cha for lunch and pho for dinner, and turn in early. Day two: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, and an egg-coffee stop at Giang Cafe. Day three: a full-day trip to Ninh Binh (Trang An boat ride and Mua Cave viewpoint), roughly US$35–50 per person including transport, lunch and entry.

If you have to cut one thing, cut the Mausoleum, not Ninh Binh. The karsts around Tam Coc are the visual highlight of the north and photograph better than Ha Long.

Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise

Book a two-day / one-night cruise from Hanoi. Reputable mid-range operators (Paradise, Bhaya, Indochina Sails, Orchid) price around US$180–320 per person including transfers, meals, kayaking and Sung Sot cave. Budget boats exist from US$90 but skip the certified operators at your own risk. Pick up in Hanoi is 07:30–08:00, back in the city by 16:30 the next day. If you can afford the extra night, Lan Ha Bay (a less-crowded UNESCO annex south of Ha Long proper) is the smarter choice.

Day 6: Hanoi to Hue

Two solid options. The SE19 overnight sleeper (Hanoi 19:20 → Hue ~08:30) is about US$45–65 for a 4-berth soft sleeper and saves a hotel night; book on Baolau 2–3 weeks ahead. Or fly Hanoi → Hue in about 1 hour 20 minutes on Vietnam Airlines or VietJet for US$40–90 one way. Flights are faster but the sleeper is genuinely comfortable in soft-sleeper class.

Day 7: Hue

Hue was Vietnam's imperial capital from 1802 to 1945. Rent a bicycle or hire a driver for a half-day loop of the Imperial Citadel (UNESCO), the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Tomb of Khai Dinh. Combined entry runs around 420,000 VND. Eat bun bo Hue at Bun Bo Hue Ba My or O Cuong Chu Dao for lunch.

Day 8: Hue to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass

Two ways to make this a highlight rather than a transfer. The SE1 or SE3 daytime train Hue → Da Nang costs around 100,000–200,000 VND for a soft seat and delivers the Hai Van Pass coastline through the window in about 2.5 hours. Or hire an Easy Rider or private car with driver (US$60–90) that stops at Lang Co Beach, the pass summit, and Marble Mountains. From Da Nang, Hoi An is a 30-minute Grab ride (200,000–300,000 VND).

Days 9–10: Hoi An

Hoi An is the lightest day of the trip and that is the point. Wander the lantern-lit Ancient Town (UNESCO), get a tailored shirt or dress made (order on arrival, collect 24 hours later), take a bicycle out to An Bang Beach, and book a cooking class or Thu Bon River basket-boat tour. Day 10: a half-day trip to the My Son Cham ruins (leave at 05:30 to beat the tour buses).

Day 11: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Grab from Hoi An to Da Nang airport (DAD) is 30–45 minutes. Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) flights run every hour on Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo and Vietravel — 1 hour 20 minutes, US$25–70 one way. Check in to a hotel in District 1 near Ben Thanh Market or Nguyen Hue walking street.

Days 12–13: Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi

Day 12: the War Remnants Museum (heavy but essential), the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the old post office, coffee on Bui Vien in the evening. Day 13: half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels (US$15–35 depending on transport; speedboats are worth the upcharge over minivans), afternoon back in the city for a rooftop bar at Chill Skybar or the Landmark 81 observation deck.

Day 14: Mekong Delta and departure

A full-day Mekong Delta tour from Ho Chi Minh City runs US$30–70 (My Tho and Ben Tre are the closest access points, about 2 hours each way). Back in the city by 18:00 — enough time for a final bowl of pho before your late-night flight from SGN. If your flight is earlier, swap this for Chinatown (Cho Lon) and Binh Tay Market.

Vietnam gives you four transport options between the main stops: flights, the Reunification Express train, sleeper buses, and private cars with driver. For a 14-day trip you want to use flights and trains — sleeper buses save money but burn a full day of daylight and leave most travellers exhausted.

Flights: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo Airways and Vietravel cover every domestic city pair at US$25–90 one way if booked 2–4 weeks out. Trains: the Reunification Express (Vietnam Railways SE1–SE22 series) runs the full coastal line; book soft sleeper class through Baolau, 12Go or the Vietnam Railways site. Grab and Xanh SM are the two ride-hailing apps that work in every city — install both before you land.

For a fuller breakdown of transport modes and city-pair costs across the country, our route guides hub covers Southeast Asia in more detail. Compare with Tokyo to Kyoto if you also want to see how Japan's rail network stacks up.

Vietnam has no single national dry season. Each region runs on its own cycle, and the 14-day north-to-south route straddles all three.

March to April is the only window when the whole country cooperates: Hanoi is mild and dry, Hoi An is before typhoon season, Ho Chi Minh City is still in its proper dry season. November is a close second, though the tail end of Hue and Hoi An's rains can linger.

Avoid July to September if the centre matters to you — Hoi An and Hue see genuine typhoons, and Ha Long cruises get cancelled without warning. January to February is fine for the south but the north can be cool, grey and drizzly. Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, late Jan / early Feb) shuts a lot of restaurants and shops for 5–7 days — check dates before booking.

Our best time to visit guides break weather down month by month for every major country in the region.

Most nationalities need a visa for Vietnam, and the process is fully online. The official portal is evisa.gov.vn — do not use unofficial agent sites, which mark up the fee 3–5x.

• E-visa: single- or multiple-entry, valid up to 90 days. US$25 (single) / US$50 (multiple). Processing usually 3 working days.
• Visa exemption (45 days): UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belarus.
• Visa exemption (14–30 days): most ASEAN countries; check current terms per nationality.
• USA, Australia, Canada, most of the EU: e-visa required.

Rules change — verify current fees and eligibility on the official portal before you book. Print two copies of the approved e-visa PDF; immigration keeps one.

For entry rules across the wider region, see our travel tips hub and the visa cards linked from each country page.

Vietnam remains the best value of the mainland Southeast Asian mainstream destinations. Real 2025–2026 daily numbers from three of the most detailed independent budget trackers:

• Backpacker (US$30–45 / day): dorm or budget guesthouse, street food and cheap restaurants, buses and second-class trains, one paid activity per city. 14-day total: US$420–630 excluding flights and the Ha Long cruise.
• Mid-range (US$70–120 / day): 3-star hotels in central districts, mix of street food and sit-down restaurants, domestic flights instead of some buses, a mid-range Ha Long cruise, a couple of guided day trips. 14-day total: US$1,000–1,700.
• Comfort (US$180+ / day): 4- to 5-star hotels, private transfers, premium overnight cruise (Paradise Elegance, Orchid, Aphrodite), private guides in Hue and Hoi An. 14-day total: US$2,500+.

Add international flights (roughly US$700–1,400 from Europe and North America, US$400–800 from Australia) and travel insurance (US$40–90 for 2 weeks). Compare against our Thailand trip cost breakdown — Vietnam runs about 5–15% cheaper on the ground.

For deeper country-by-country breakdowns, browse the cost guides hub.

Vietnam is one of the safer destinations in Southeast Asia for solo travellers, couples and families. The realistic risks are practical rather than dramatic.

• Traffic: the single biggest risk. Cross roads slowly and predictably; do not stop. Rent a scooter only if you already ride and hold an International Driving Permit valid for Vietnam.
• Scams: mostly petty — inflated taxi fares, cyclos overcharging, motorbike-taxi drivers who "forget" the agreed price. Use Grab or Xanh SM.
• Food and water: tap water is not potable. Bottled or filtered only. Street food is generally safe at busy stalls with high turnover.
• Cash: ATMs are everywhere; Vietcombank, BIDV, TPBank and HSBC accept foreign cards with modest fees. Carry small VND notes for street food and taxis.
• Etiquette: temples require covered shoulders and knees; remove shoes when entering homes and some pagodas; do not point feet at people or altars.

If you have 10 days instead of 14: cut Hue (fly Hanoi → Da Nang direct) and skip the Mekong Delta day. You still get Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.

If you have 17–21 days: add Sapa (3 days from Hanoi by overnight train) at the start, or Phu Quoc (3–4 beach days from Ho Chi Minh City by short flight) at the end.

Beach-heavy version: swap Ninh Binh for a Cat Ba Island add-on after Ha Long, and give Hoi An a full extra day at An Bang Beach.

Culture-heavy version: add a night in Hue, add My Son at sunrise from Hoi An, and swap the Mekong day for a Chinatown / Cho Lon deep-dive in Ho Chi Minh City.

• North-to-south is the standard shape: fly into Hanoi, out of Ho Chi Minh City.
• Two internal flights (Hanoi → Hue optional, Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City essential) plus one train segment (Hue → Da Nang for the Hai Van Pass) is the right transport mix.
• Book Ha Long cruise, e-visa and any overnight sleeper 2–4 weeks ahead.
• March–April is the best month for the full route; November is a close second; avoid July–September in the centre.
• Budget US$70–120 per day mid-range, US$30–45 backpacker, US$180+ for comfort — international flights extra.
• Use Grab or Xanh SM in cities; only use the official e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn.

• Is 2 weeks enough time in Vietnam?

  Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first Vietnam trip. It gives you three days in the north (Hanoi + Ha Long or Ninh Binh), four to five days in the centre (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang), and three to four days in the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta), with two internal flights or one overnight train to move between them. Less than 10 days forces you to skip a region; more than 15 days is only worth it if you add Sapa or Phu Quoc.
• Should I travel Vietnam north to south or south to north?

  North to south is the more common route for two reasons: you land in Hanoi (which needs a couple of days to acclimatise to before the heat of the south), and you finish in Ho Chi Minh City, which has better long-haul flight connections back to Europe, Australia, and North America. South to north works fine — it just flips the pacing.
• Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

  Most travellers do, and the process is now fully online. Vietnam's national e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn issues single- or multiple-entry visas valid up to 90 days, usually within 3 working days. As of 2024 the fee is US$25 (single entry) or US$50 (multiple entry). Citizens of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and a handful of ASEAN countries get 45 days visa-free. Always confirm current rules on the official portal before booking flights.
• When is the best time to visit Vietnam for a 2-week trip?

  March–April is the only window when the whole country is reliably dry and warm — Hanoi is mild, Hoi An is pre-typhoon, and Ho Chi Minh City is in its dry season. November is a strong second choice. Avoid July–September for the centre (typhoons and flooding in Hue and Hoi An) and January–February in the north if you dislike cool, grey days.
• How much does 2 weeks in Vietnam cost?

  Backpackers spend around US$30–45 per day (dorms, street food, buses), mid-range travellers US$70–120 per day (3-star hotels, mixed transport, sit-down restaurants and a Ha Long cruise), and comfort travellers US$180+ per day (4- to 5-star hotels, private transfers, a premium overnight cruise). For 14 days that works out to roughly US$450–630 backpacker, US$1,000–1,700 mid-range, and US$2,500+ upper. International flights are extra.
• Is the Reunification Express train worth taking?

  For one segment, yes — most people pick Hue to Da Nang for the Hai Van Pass views (about 2.5 hours, one of the world's great short rail rides) or an overnight Hanoi–Hue sleeper (roughly 13 hours) to save a hotel night. The full Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City run takes 32–37 hours and eats too much of a 14-day trip. Book on Baolau or the Vietnam Railways site 2–3 weeks ahead for a 4-berth soft sleeper.