A week is a very short period of time for a journey to Vietnam. The best option for such a short journey is to focus on a limited region. Doing so allows to enjoy your time without having to rush from one plane to another.
In this page we briefly outline a selection of seven-day itineraries in Vietnam. For each programme we give suggestions on how to organise the transfers.
Seven days in Vietnam: choice of the itinerary
Aside from visiting only Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, possibly including one or two side trips from either city, it is not practical to organise a 7-day trip between these two cities. Choosing to make long-distance transfers at night would make it possible to add a visit to Hue or Da Nang (and therefore also nearby Hoi An) but the journey would be turned into an unpleasant marathon.
In our opinion it is best to choose to focus on a limited region of the country, i.e. the surroundings of Vietnam’s two major cities (Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City). Another option is to visit the centre, between Hue and Hoi An.
All of the itineraries outlined below can easily be organised independently. Resorting to the support of a travel agency can make things easier and smoother and is practically a necessity when it comes to organising the side trips.
Seven days in Vietnam: recommended itineraries
Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City are the major destination for a 7-day itinerary in Vietnam. If you are to visit the country for the second time you choose other destinations such as the Southeast (Da Lat, Cam Ranh, Nha Trang) or the Northern region (Ha Giang, Sa Pa).
We suggest you focus your journey on one or two main destinations, devoting 3-4 days to them. The remaining 3-4 days can be used for side-trips.
You should take into account that transfers between Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City can take up to two half days. Travelling by plane offers the most convenient transfer options. Night trains are usually cheaper but less comfortable. We recommend using the train only for the Hue-Hanoi leg.
Long-distance travel by bus is not a good option as it is quite uncomfortable, which is something you want to avoid in the context of such a short journey.
Here are the itineraries we recommend for a 7-day journey in Vietnam:
Itinerary 1: Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi;
Itinerary 2: Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ha Long Bay;
Itinerary 3: Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc;
We assume that Tan Son Nhat Airport (in Ho Chi Minh City) is the point of arrival and departure. Another option is to enter and exit the country through Noi Bai Airport (near Hanoi).
If you travel from Asia you may also consider other points of entry such as the airports of Da Nang and Nha Trang.
Itinerary 1: Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi
Organising a 7-day tour between Hoi An and Hanoi is quite easy. The only problem is fitting a short excursion to Ha Long Bay. This would make the schedule very tight. If you don’t want to excluce a visit to Ha Long Bay you may want to drop another destination.
A possible schedule is the following:
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Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City; transfer to Hoi An; first visit to the city centre
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Day 2: Hoi An
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Day 3: Hoi An; excursions (to My Son Sanctuary or Cham Islands)
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Day 4: transfer to Hue by bus or car. Possible stops at Da Nang, Son Tra Peninsula, Lang Co; arrival in Hue in the evening
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Day 5: Hue; night train to Hanoi (or late evening flight)
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Day 6: Hanoi
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Day 7: Hanoi
As already said, time is very limited for an itinerary spanning such a large region. If you wish to add a visit to Ha Long Bay (typically the 2 day 1 night cruise) you will have to drop a destination or consider other options.
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically Ho Chi Minh City airport), you have to include a long transfer from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Ho Chi Minh City-Hoi An (via Da Nang by plane and by taxi or bus)
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Hoi An-Hue (by bus or taxi)
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Hue-Hanoi (by night train or plane)
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Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City (by plane)
Itinerary 2: Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ha Long Bay
The second itinerary follows our suggestion and focuses on a more restricted area, i.e. the north of the nation.
A possible route in the vicinity of Hanoi follows the schedule below:
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Day 1: arrival in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to Hanoi; first visit to the city centre
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Day 2: Hanoi
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Day 3: Sa Pa
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Day 4: Villages near Sa Pa or Mount Fansipan
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Day 5: Sa Pa, night transfer to Ha Long
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Day 6: Ha Long Bay
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Day 7: Ha Long Bay, return to Hanoi, end of the journey
This programme includes a short visit to Sa Pa. The time is very limited and the most reasonable option is to have the whole trip organised by a local agency that will also take care of making sure the return matches the schedule of cruise in the Ha Long Bay. Some operators offer combo packages (Sa Pa - Ha Long Bay).
How to organise the transfers
For obvious reasons the best choice for this journey is to enter and exit the country through Noi Bai Airport (near Hanoi):
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Hanoi - Sa Pa - Ha Long Bay (by bus or minivan, organised by a travel agency)
Itinerary 3: Southern Vietnam
The third itinerary is restricted to the south. As such, it is probably the best option for those who visit Vietnam in winter and are not comfortable with cold weather. Furthermore, in this season you can enjoy the sea in the southern seaside destinations.
A possible programme is the following:
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Day 1: arrival in Ho Chi Minh City; first visit to the city centre
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Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
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Day 3: Ben Tre; transfer to Can Tho
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Day 4: Can Tho; transfer to Phu Quoc
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Day 5: Phu Quoc
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Day 6: Phu Quoc;
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Day 7: Phu Quoc; return to Ho Chi Minh City, end of the journey
There are many other variants:
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Mui Ne, another major seaside destination, along the coast between Vung Tau and Nha Trang. You can include a visit to Mui Ne as part of an itinerary between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat. The latter is a popular travel destination, mostly appreciated by locals for its mountain landscape and enjoyable climate;
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Cambodia; you can combine this itinerary to a journey in Cambodia. If you plan to do so, you can cross the border at Chau Doc and reach Phnom Penh either by bus or by boat.
How to organise the transfers
In general you can easily get around by bus in the whole southern region. You can reach Phu Quoc easily by plan from Ho Chi Minh City.
You can entrust organisation of the transfers between Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre and Can Tho and the whole side trip to a local agency. Autonomous travelling though possible is not advisable for such a short journey.
Related articles:
Itineraries in Vietnam (general article) | 10 days
First journey to Vietnam: classic two-week itinerary
Da Lat is the capital of the Lam Dong Province. Nicknamed “the City of Eternal Spring”, it is a popular destination for local tourists who appreciate its luxuriant surroundings, the relief of its fresh, often even slighly cold climate, and the general aura of “romantic town”.
While the city has very little appeal when it comes to cultural heritage, art and monuments, Da Lat can still be a destination of interest, especially as a starting point for a tour across the fascinating mountainous region that lies at the southern end of the Truong Son Mountains.
Da Lat 2-day itinerary
As anticipated, it is worth visiting Da Lat when you arrange a wider itinerary in Lam Dong Province. The city itself may not offer enough to justify its inclusion in a short north-to-south Vietnam tour, especially when you have less than 3 weeks at your disposal.
Itinerary: Da Lat and its surroundings
Da Lat has lost some of its appeal as a holiday getaway mainly due to overcrowding and extensive development. The city is nevertheless still a unique urban landscape, very different from the ordinary Vietnamese towns of similar size.
The surroundings comprise a vast variety of natural landscapes and are the main reason why one should consider visiting the city.
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Da Lat 2-day itinerary City centre, lakes Evening arrival |
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Where to stay |
City centre, near the Huong Xuan Lake |
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Variants
You might want to include visits to one or more waterfalls. If you want to do so, we suggest you visit Pongour Waterfall, which you can visit on your way to Mui Ne. Quite impressive is also the Elephant Waterfall, which you encounter when you reach Da Lat from Ho Chi Minh City.
Related articles:
First journey to Vietnam: suggested 2-week itinerary
Other destinations:
Hanoi 3-day itinerary | Hue 1,5-day itinerary
Major centre of the Mekong Delta region, Can Tho offers a unique insight into the lifestyle and traditions of the fascinating world that revolves around the great river. While the city is rapidly expanding and turning into a major economic hub, large scale works have not completely changed the way most people live.
Can Tho is most famous for its floating markets but the city has more to offer. A visit to Can Tho with an excursion from Ho Chi Minh City takes at least twenty-four hours and can be easily fitted into a typical two-week itinerary.
In this page we outline a draft for a thirty-six hour tour, which in our opinion offers a wider picture of the city and its surroundings.
Can Tho 1,5-day itinerary
Can Tho can be reached by bus or private car from Ho Chi Minh City in a little less than 4 hours. Buses offer the cheapest travel option. The city is linked to all major an minor centres in the southern region. Buses from Ho Chi Minh City are very frequent and operate round-the-clock
We suggest you reach Can Tho in the early afternoon. In this way you can comfortably find your hotel, relax, have a nice meal and have a pleasant sleep. In order to visit the floating markets on the next day, you have to wake up very early, at least at 5 o’ clock if you wish to visit Cai Rang Market, the closest one.
Boats depart from Ninh Kieu Port, which is in the very centre of the city. Visiting farther markets requires an earlier departure. It is advisable to enquire with the travel company of ypur choice.
Itinerary: historic centre, Cai Rang Market, Con Son
For a 36-hour tour we assume you will choose to visit the main Cai Rang Market. Other options are available but they require the support of a good travel agency.
The following itinerary is more suitable to travellers who wish to get around independently.
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Can Tho 1,5-day itinerary Historic centre, Cai Rang Market, Con Son Morning arrival |
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Where to stay |
City centre, near Ninh Kieu Port |
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Morning arrival
If you reach Can Tho in the evening, you will have to opt for a 24-hour tour. In this case you might have to give up excursions and side-trips.
Related articles:
First journey to Vietnam: suggested 2-week itinerary
Other destinations in the region:
TP Ho Chi Minh 3-day itinerary
Thirty-six hours is very little time for a visit to Hoi An but with a wise choice of destinations and careful planning, you can still have a nice sightseeing experience.
As time is too little, it is reasonable to give up excursions and side trips in favour of a long visit to the historic centre of Hoi An.
Hoi An 1,5-day itinerary
Hoi An is the only city in Vietnam that preserves considerably large clusters of historical and traditional architecture. Hoi An has quickly become a popular travel destination.
Mass tourism has had a negative impact on this city, especially relating to the economic changes and the proliferation of activities that are not linked to the traditional way of life of the population. Despite this and the chaos that occasionally spoils the atmosphere, you can still see a quaint and peaceful countryside town, especially if you choose to find accommodation outside of the city centre.
Itinerary: historic centre, Cam Thanh
Two localities, Cam Chau and Cam Nam offer a convenient location, very close to the centre but far enough from the tourist bubble. High-end hotels and resorts as well as a few guest houses are to be found near the northern coast.
In Cam Chau there is plenty of cheap and comfortable nha nghi (Vietnamese traditional homestays). In Cam Thanh are also atmospheric guest houses that cater to those who seek the serenity and tranquillity of the Vietnamese countryside.
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Hoi An 1,5-day itinerary Historic centre, Cam Thanh Evening arrival |
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Where to stay |
Cam Chau, Cam Nam |
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Morning arrival
If you reach Hoi An by noon, you can keep the same schedule. Make sure you take into account of the closing hours of the sightseeing places (usually around 17:00).
Related articles:
First journey to Vietnam: suggested 2-week itinerary
Other destinations:
If you have very little time and prefer spending time in the Mekong Delta or in Mui Ne, you may choose to visit Ho Chi Minh City in only one day and a half.
In this page we outline a 36-hour programme, suitable for the first visit to the city.
Ho Chi Minh City 1,5-day itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City is a large metropolis. The heat, traffic, chaos in the city may be too much for many. If you travel to Vietnam with the aim of seeing untouched landscapes, serene remote swathes of land where life still follows the rhythms of nature, you may choose to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for as little as possible. In our opinion you should give it no less than 36 hours.
In this way you can visit the most significant landmarks and the museums linked to its recent history.
Itinerary: District 3, city centre
Staying at a hotel located between Ben Thanh and Ben Nghe makes all movements easy and comfortable. Cheaper options can be found a little further away from the city centre. District 3, which lies between the centre and Tan Son Nhat airport, is a great choice if you seek more comfort (and you are willing to pay for it). Here are also a few good Western style 4-star hotels.
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Ho Chi Minh City 1,5-day itinerary District 3, city centre Evening arrival |
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Where to stay |
City centre (Ben Nghe or Ben Thanh) |
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Morning arrival
If you reach Ho Chi Minh City by noon, we suggest you leave your baggage at the hotel and begin your journey right away. We may begin with the city centre and programme the excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum for the next day. Many tour operators offer suitable packages.
Related articles:
First journey to Vietnam: suggested 2-week itinerary
TP Ho Chi Minh 3-day itinerary
Other destinations:
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