Two Weeks in Vietnam: North to South

Two weeks is the sweet spot for Vietnam. Less and you rush. More and you risk temple fatigue. Here's the full-country north-to-south route.

The arc

Hanoi (3 nights) → Ha Long Bay (1 night) → Hoi An (3 nights) → Hue or Da Nang (1 night) → Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights) → Mekong Delta (2 nights) → fly home.

Days 1-3: Hanoi

Old Quarter — 36 streets, each historically dedicated to one craft (silver, silk, etc.). Base in a small hotel or boutique in Old Quarter ($35-80/night).

Day 1: Walk the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple. Day 2: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free, bring passport), Temple of Literature (30,000 VND), Hanoi Hilton prison museum (30,000 VND). Day 3: Vietnamese cooking class ($25-40), water puppet show ($8), coffee at an egg coffee cafe (Giang Cafe is the OG).

Must-eat: pho at Pho Gia Truyen, bun cha where Obama ate (Bun Cha Huong Lien), bia hoi (fresh draft beer) on the corner of Ta Hien Street.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise

Essential: do an overnight, not a day trip. Day trips are rushed and hit only the most touristic spots. Overnight cruises range $100-300/person.

Recommended operators: Bhaya Cruises, Indochina Sails, Paradise Luxury. Book via agencies in Hanoi or in advance online. Includes kayaking, cave exploration, sunset + sunrise on the bay.

Alternative: Bai Tu Long Bay, next to Ha Long, way less crowded, same limestone karst scenery.

Days 5-7: Hoi An

Flight Hanoi to Da Nang ($50, 80 min), taxi to Hoi An (30 min, $15).

Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO site and the single most charming place in Vietnam. Yellow walls, red lanterns, tailors, tiny cafes.

Day 5: Wander ancient town. Japanese covered bridge. Tailor shopping (Yaly Couture for quality suits/dresses, 24-48 hour turnaround, ~$150-250 for tailored suit). Day 6: An Bang Beach morning (4 km away, bike or taxi), cooking class at Morning Glory Cooking School in afternoon ($40). Day 7: My Son Sanctuary day trip (ancient Cham ruins, ~1 hour away, $30 tour).

Evening: Lantern boats on the river (~$5 for a ride).

Day 8: Hue or Da Nang

Hue has imperial history (Forbidden Purple City, royal tombs). Da Nang has the beach + Marble Mountains + Golden Bridge.

One night. Either works.

Days 9-11: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Flight Da Nang to HCMC ($60, 90 min).

Different energy entirely from Hanoi — brash, modern, neon. Base in District 1.

Day 9: War Remnants Museum ($1.50, harrowing but essential), Reunification Palace ($1.50), Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only as of 2026, under renovation). Day 10: Cu Chi Tunnels day trip (~$25). Vietnam War tunnels used by Viet Cong. Crawl through some. Day 11: Street food crawl — banh mi at Huynh Hoa, bun bo hue at various places, pho at Pho Hoa Pasteur.

Evening: Rooftop bar (Chill Skybar, Social Club).

Days 12-13: Mekong Delta

Bus or minivan to My Tho or Can Tho (2-4 hours). Cai Rang floating market at 5 AM (the iconic photo op). Coconut candy factories, rice noodle factories.

Overnight in a homestay or basic hotel ($25-50/night).

Day 14: Back to HCMC, fly home

Cost (2 people, 14 days)

Flights (US): $900-1,400
Domestic flights: $220 for 2
Hotels: $45/night avg × 13 = ~$585
Ha Long cruise: $350 for 2
Food: $25/day × 14 = $350
Sights + tours: $300 for 2

Total: $2,700-3,200 with international flights.

Vietnam is one of the 2-3 best value-for-money destinations in the world right now.