We spent nearly four weeks in Vietnam and honestly could’ve stayed much longer. It’s an amazing country with stunning landscapes, delicious food, and plenty of adventure. Getting around is easy with public transport, and on top of all this it’s one of the most budget-friendly countries in Southeast Asia. This 14-day Vietnam itinerary takes you to some of the best places in the country: starting in Hanoi, cruising through Halong Bay, visiting Ninh Binh, exploring Hoi An, and ending in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a route that’s easy to follow and makes sure you’ll see the highlights without feeling rushed.
Best time to visit Vietnam
Vietnam is a long country in the shape of the letter S, so the weather can vary a lot between north and south. There’s no perfect time for every region, but here’s what to keep in mind:
The best time to visit overall is between November and April. During these months, the weather is generally pleasant across the whole country.
- In the north (Hanoi, Halong Bay), spring (March/April) and autumn (October/November) are ideal.
- In the central region (Hoi An, Da Nang), February to May is the driest period.
- In the south (Ho Chi Minh City), it’s warm year-round. The dry season runs from December to April, which is a great time to visit.
If you’re following this 14-day Vietnam itinerary, we suggest planning your trip between February and April for the best chance of good weather throughout.
14-day Vietnam itinerary
Day 1 to 5: Hanoi
This 14-day Vietnam itinerary starts in Hanoi, Vietnam’s vibrant capital. Depending on what time you arrive, you might be able to explore a bit on your first day. For a first taste of Vietnam, we recommend joining a street food walking tour in the Old Quarter. It’s a fun way to try local dishes and get a feel for the city’s wild traffic, scooters buzzing around you from every direction! You’ll have a local guide showing you around, which means you’ll be protected from all the craziness, no worries. 😉
Start your second day at The Note Coffee, a cute café covered from top to bottom in sticky notes. Since it’s right by Hoan Kiem Lake, you can take a relaxed stroll around the lake afterwards. Then visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, followed by a stop at Train Street, where trains pass just inches from houses and cafés. For dinner, head to Tung’s Kitchen for tasty Vietnamese food.
On day 3, start your morning at Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest temple in the city and one that many other tourists miss out on. Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you can learn more about Vietnam’s revolutionary leader. If you decide to go in, be prepared for a surreal experience. We still don’t know how to describe our visit to the Mausoleum! Continue to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and finish your day at the Temple of Literature, a peaceful spot that once served as Vietnam’s first university.
On day 4 and 5, you’ll enjoy a Halong Bay overnight cruise. Expect stunning views, great food, and a touch of luxury, all without breaking the bank. It’s the perfect break from the chaos of Hanoi! We booked this Halong Bay overnight cruise through GetYourGuide and it ended up being the highlight of our Vietnam trip. It was our first cruise experience, but definitely not the last. The views are unreal, and cruising through the limestone islands is something you won’t forget anytime soon. Yes, Halong Bay is busy, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty of the place. We think it’s 100% worth it!
Need more ideas? Check out our blog post on the best things to do in Hanoi to make the most of your visit.
Things to do in Hanoi
- Street food tour
- The Note Coffee
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Hoa Lo Prison Museum
- Train Street
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- Temple of Literature
- Halong Bay overnight cruise
Day 6 and 7: Ninh Binh
On day 6, you’ll take a bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, which takes between 2 and 3 hours. With its green rice fields, quiet rivers, limestone cliffs, and cave systems, this place is a dream for nature lovers. It was one of our favorite spots in Vietnam, life here feels slower and much more peaceful.
Most accommodations offer bike rentals, so we recommend hopping on a bike and exploring the countryside right away. In the evening, visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. It’s one of the most romantic places in Vietnam, especially at night. The temples are beautifully lit, and lanterns decorate the bridges and walkways. It has a similar feel to Hoi An, but without the crowds. If you’re hungry, there are plenty of street food stalls nearby.
On day 7, start your morning with a Trang An boat tour through dramatic limestone landscapes and caves. We recommend route 3, which passes through the longest and most impressive cave in the area. In the afternoon, head to Mua Cave Viewpoint. Be ready to climb a lot of stairs, but the views from the top are absolutely worth it. In the evening, you’ll take a night bus from Ninh Binh to Hoi An, which takes around 14 hours. Fingers crossed you get some sleep!
Want to see how to plan your time here? Check out our one-day Ninh Binh itinerary for more tips.
Things to do in Ninh Binh
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
- Trang An boat tour
- Mua Cave
Day 8 to 11: Hoi An
After a long night bus ride, you’ll arrive in Hoi An early in the morning. You probably won’t do much on your first day, so take it easy. Let your accommodation know you’ll be arriving early, some places offer an “early check-in room” so you can rest for a bit. Even if they don’t, we still recommend getting a room for the previous day as well. That way you don’t have to drag along your luggage until check-in time!
If you’re planning to get custom-made clothes, head to a tailor as soon as possible. From our own experience, we can tell you that you’ll need at least 2 to 3 days for fittings and possible adjustments. We went to Milan Linen Clothings & Custom Tailoring and had an amazing experience there! The shop is also (conveniently located) just a few steps from Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen, one of the best places to grab a banh mi. Want more suggestions? Check out our guide to the best banh mi spots in Vietnam.
On day 9, explore the Ancient Town and visit the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum. In the evening, take a lantern boat ride, then wander through the Hoi An Night Market. Make sure to buy some street food while you’re here, we really liked the Vietnamese pizza (Bánh Tráng Nướng).
On day 10, we recommend joining this cooking class in Hoi An that includes a basket boat ride as well. It’s a fun and active way to experience the local culture! Don’t listen to the people who say the basket boat ride is not worth it, we had an absolute blast!
On day 11, you’ve got a couple of options. You can join a guided tour to My Son Sanctuary and Marble Mountains, or join a tour to Ba Na Hills if you’re curious about the iconic Golden Bridge and theme park vibes. All of these are great day trips from Hoi An!
For more ideas, check out our blog post on the best things to do in Hoi An.
Things to do in Hoi An
- Hoi An Ancient Town
- Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum
- Lantern boat ride
- Hoi An Night Market
- Vietnamese cooking class
Day 12 to 14: Ho Chi Minh City
The final stop of this 14-day Vietnam itinerary is Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in the country. The easiest way to get there is by flying from Da Nang to HCMC, which takes about 1.5 hours. If flights are too expensive, you’re looking at a 20-hour bus ride from Hoi An to HCMC. You can check all transport options from Hoi An to HCMC here.
Since you’ll lose some time traveling on day 12, we suggest ending your day at Banana Mama Rooftop Bar & Kitchen. Go about half an hour before sunset for the best view, and enjoy a cocktail while watching the city light up. Make sure to check if it’s Happy Hour! We scored some great deals when we ordered (one too many) cocktails.
On day 13, it’s time to explore the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. Start with the quirky Cafe Apartments, then head to the beautiful Saigon Central Post Office. Take a walk through Book Street, and don’t miss Tan Dinh Church, a bright pink church. For the best way to explore it all in one day, check out our one-day Ho Chi Minh City itinerary.
Depending on your flight time on day 14, grab one last banh mi at Delicious Banh Mi Ngon. It’s more of a small restaurant than a street stall, but the banh mi is creative, delicious, and the perfect way to end your Vietnam trip. We had our best banh mi of our entire Vietnam-trip here!
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
- Cafe Apartments
- Saigon Central Post Office
- Ho Chi Minh’s Book Street
- Tan Dinh Church
Daily budget for Vietnam
During our trip to Vietnam, we spent an average of € 42 per person per day, excluding flights. Our biggest expense was accommodation, averaging € 13 per night per person. Transportation, sightseeing, and food and drinks each came to around € 9 per day. We also spent about € 3 daily on groceries and small extras.
Here’s a rough idea of what to expect based on your travel style:
- Budget travelers: Around € 20 per person per day is doable. You can stay in hostels from € 5 per night, eat local meals, use buses to get around, and focus on free or low-cost activities.
- Mid-range travelers: With € 50 per person per day, you can stay in hotels from € 20 per night (for two), eat out for every meal, and join group tours or book the occasional private one. We fall right into this category. 😉
- Luxury travelers: Around € 150 per person per day lets you stay in 5-star hotels from € 70 per night (for two), dine at upscale restaurants, enjoy rooftop bars, and book private experiences.
For a detailed breakdown of our spending and tips on visiting Vietnam on a budget, check out our full budget breakdown for 26 days in Vietnam.
Additional Vietnam tips
- Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases. Even just “hello” (xin chào) and “thank you” (cảm ơn) can make a difference.
- Grab is your best friend. It’s cheaper than taxis, shows the price upfront, and avoids the need to haggle. You do need cash for this, which we withdrew from TPBank and VPBank (no fees for foreigners).
- Be patient with transportation. Buses don’t always run on schedule, and travel times can vary a lot. We once had a bus leave 30 minutes early, so always arrive a bit earlier and leave some buffer time in your planning.
- Bring layers, even in a warm country, some night buses and indoor spaces crank up the air conditioning. A light sweater or scarf can make all the difference.
- Get familiar with the currency. The numbers are big and the bills look similar. Some people might try to scam you by handing back a 2,000 VND note instead of 20,000 VND. Always double-check your change. Again, withdraw from TPBank and VPBank for no fees.
- Carry tissues and hand sanitizer, public toilets don’t always have toilet paper or soap.
- We strongly recommend getting travel insurance. It can save you from huge costs if your trip gets cancelled, your bags go missing, or you need medical help.
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