Vietnam north to south itinerary: 12 days

Days 1–3 · Hanoi

Day 1 : In the morning, transfer to your Hanoi hotel after arrival, allowing around 45–60 minutes from the airport depending on traffic. Spend the afternoon walking gently around Hoan Kiem Lake rather than filling your first day. In the evening, try phở at a busy local restaurant. Save your hotel address offline and use marked crossings, watching approaching vehicles and avoiding sudden movements.

Day 2 : Explore the Old Quarter’s trading streets in the morning before the heat, taking time to notice narrow-fronted houses. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature with covered shoulders, then pause somewhere cool. In the evening, order bún chả, grilled meat with rice noodles and herbs. Ask the price before ordering and keep small banknotes handy for paying at local stalls.

Day 3 : Choose the Vietnamese Women’s Museum or Museum of Ethnology in the morning, checking opening days first. In the afternoon, try cà phê sữa đá, iced coffee with condensed milk, and buy a few snacks. In the evening, eat bánh mì and pack your small cruise bag. Confirm your pickup location and ask whether your hotel can store larger luggage while you travel.

Days 4–5 · Ha Long Bay

Day 4 : Travel to Ha Long Bay in the morning, allowing roughly three to four hours by road depending on port and traffic. Board, have lunch and enjoy the limestone scenery in the afternoon; kayaking depends on the programme and conditions. In the evening, dine aboard on fish or vegetables. Mention allergies before departure and check whether transfers are included in your booking.

Day 5 : Follow the boat’s morning programme, perhaps a cave visit or gentle activity depending on conditions. After brunch, disembark and return to Hanoi, allowing roughly three to four hours. Rest at your hotel in the afternoon; in the evening, choose bánh mì nearby. Avoid fixed-time activities immediately after returning, since disembarkation and traffic can delay arrival even when the itinerary appears straightforward.

Days 6–8 · Hoi An

Day 6 : Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang in the morning, around one hour twenty minutes, with additional airport buffers. Transfer onward to Hoi An, roughly 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Check in and rest during the afternoon instead of booking an immediate excursion. Try cao lầu in the old town that evening. Confirm baggage allowances and arrange your airport pickup before departure.

Day 7 : Explore Hoi An’s historic houses and assembly halls in the morning before the strongest heat. In the afternoon, select a few monuments according to available tickets, then take a cooling break. Enjoy the lanterns and try white rose dumplings in the evening. Dress respectfully in religious places and ask before photographing residents rather than treating every doorway as a photo stop.

Day 8 : Choose An Bang Beach or a gentle rice-field outing in the morning, depending on weather. Rest in the shade during the afternoon or enjoy the sea only when conditions allow. Order bánh xèo, a savoury pancake served with herbs, in the evening. Follow swimming flags and rent a bicycle only if you feel comfortable navigating local traffic and unfamiliar roads safely.

Days 9–12 · Saigon

Day 9 : Transfer to Da Nang airport in the morning, then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, around one hour thirty minutes. Add airport procedures and ground transfers, which vary with traffic. Check in and take an introductory central walk in the afternoon. In the evening, try cơm tấm, broken rice often served with grilled pork. Save your address offline and avoid tight international connections.

Day 10 : Visit the War Remnants Museum in the morning, remembering that some images may be distressing. In the afternoon, walk around the Central Post Office and cathedral according to current access, then take a break. Try hủ tiếu soup in the evening. Bring water and adapt the museum visit for sensitive children; there is no need to see everything in one day.

Day 11 : Leave for a Mekong Delta excursion in the morning or stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Allow approximately two to three hours each way depending on stops. Afternoon activities might include a boat, orchard or lunch according to your booking. Return for fresh rolls in the evening. Confirm meals, stops and total duration before reserving rather than assuming every advertised activity is included.

Day 12 : Buy coffee or tea from a shop identifying product origins in the morning, then pack. Leave for the airport during the afternoon with a buffer for traffic and check-in rather than squeezing in a distant attraction. Dine onboard or near the terminal in the evening according to your flight. For a final local meal, choose bánh mì and keep travel documents accessible.

Practical information

• Duration: 12 days; allow longer for train travel.
• Indicative 2026 budget per person for 12 days, excluding international flights: economical €450–700; comfort €900–1,500. Ranges vary with season and inclusions.
• Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND); carry some cash.
• Vietnamese; tourism English varies. UTC+7: six hours ahead of France in winter, five in summer.
• Entry and health: check visa, passport validity, vaccinations and advice for your nationality and route. Official immigration · Official health advice (CDC).

Before booking · Plan this trip

Budget : Separate accommodation, meals, domestic flights and the cruise in your budget. Check included meals and transfers before booking. Keep a reserve for unexpected costs.

Transport: Domestic flights save time; trains and buses require more days. Confirm pickup points and baggage allowances. Avoid tight connections, especially before your international flight.

Mistakes to avoid: Match your stops to regional weather and avoid overfilled days. Book early around Tet. Check cruise cancellation conditions when bad weather changes the planned programme.

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