A Vietnam itinerary 2 weeks long can cover Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City if you plan the transfers carefully.
Vietnam stretches 1,650 kilometers from north to south — roughly the distance from London to Barcelona.
This 2 weeks in Vietnam itinerary travels north to south: Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City.
The route uses two domestic flights — Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City — to avoid long overland journeys.
This itinerary gives you a clear route — with honest travel times, real costs, and links to deeper guides so you can plan without the overwhelm.
🗺️ Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Route at a Glance
This route covers Vietnam’s three most distinct regions: the north (Hanoi + Ha Long Bay), the centre (Hoi An + Da Nang), and the south (Ho Chi Minh City + Mekong Delta). It’s the sweet spot for first-timers: enough variety without insanity.
| Days | Location | Highlights | Getting There |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Hanoi | Old Quarter, street food, egg coffee, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature | Fly into Hanoi (HAN) |
| 4–5 | Ha Long Bay | Overnight cruise, limestone karsts, kayaking | Bus from Hanoi (~3 hrs) |
| 6–8 | Hoi An | Lantern-lit Old Town, tailoring, An Bang Beach | Flight to Da Nang + 40min taxi |
| 9–10 | Da Nang | My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Son Tra Peninsula | 30-min transfer from Hoi An |
| 11–14 | Ho Chi Minh City | War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta | Flight from Da Nang |
Two internal flights do the heavy lifting — Hanoi to the centre, and the centre to the south.
📅 Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Hanoi (Days 1–3)
Hanoi is chaotic in the best way. Scooters in every direction, bowls of pho on every corner, and a city that never fully shuts up. Base yourself in the Old Quarter — it’s where the food, the lake, and the hotels all sit within a 10-minute walk.
Where to stay: Look for hotels around Ma May Street or Hang Be Street — close to street food, walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 1 — Arrival + Old Quarter: Take a taxi or ride-hailing service from Noi Bai airport; the fare varies by traffic and pickup point. Walk to Hoan Kiem Lake at sunset, try phở bò, and finish with an egg coffee at Café Giảng, a well-known historic café.
Day 2 — Culture day: Visit the Temple of Literature, associated with Vietnam’s first national academy established in 1076. Explore the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, then finish at Ta Hien Street for a glass of bia hơi; prices vary by venue.
Day 3 — Hanoi streets + local eats: Explore the Old Quarter and enjoy bún chả or phở at a local restaurant. Access to Hanoi Train Street is restricted and can change, so do not enter railway tracks or assume cafés are open to tourists.
Insider tip: Book your Ha Long Bay cruise before you arrive. Independent booking on the day is risky, especially in peak season (November–April).
Explore more: Vietnam weather by month — check if your dates align with the best time for the north.
🚢 Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Ha Long Bay (Days 4–5)
Take a bus from Hanoi (~3 hours) to the coast and board an overnight cruise among the limestone karsts. Expect kayaking or a bamboo boat through the lagoons, a cave or two, sunset from the top deck, and tai chi at dawn.
The quieter option: Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay offer much the same scenery with fewer boats.
One night vs two: One night is the classic choice, though two lets the bay empty out after the day trippers leave.
Compare cruise routes, departure ports and what is included before booking.
🏮 Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Hoi An (Days 6–8)
Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang — a short domestic flight (~1.5 hours). From Da Nang airport, take a taxi to Hoi An (40 minutes, ~$15–$20).
Hoi An is the slow-food-and-lanterns reset. The mustard yellow walls, the bougainvillea overhanging streets, and the lantern-strewn corners make it the most photogenic town in Vietnam.
Day 6 — Arrive + Old Town wander: Walk through the Ancient Town. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the old merchant houses, and the Assembly Halls.
Day 7 — Tailoring + cooking class: Hoi An is famous for custom tailoring — you can have a suit or dress made in 24–48 hours. Take a cooking class in the countryside — you’ll learn to make fresh spring rolls and cao lầu.
Day 8 — An Bang Beach: Escape the Old Town crowds and spend the day at An Bang Beach — a stretch of sand with seafood restaurants and sun loungers.
Must-eat in Hoi An: Cao lầu (pork and noodle dish only found here), white rose dumplings, and fresh seafood at An Bang Beach.
🏖️ Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Da Nang (Days 9–10)
Da Nang is a short road journey from Hoi An; allow extra time for traffic and your exact pickup location. The city has broad boulevards, long sandy beaches and a lively café scene.
Day 9 — My Khe Beach + Dragon Bridge: Spend the morning at My Khe Beach. If your visit coincides with a scheduled show, watch the Dragon Bridge breathe fire and water at 9 PM on Friday, Saturday or Sunday; check the schedule before going.
Day 10 — Marble Mountains + Son Tra Peninsula: Climb the Marble Mountains for panoramic views of the coast. In the afternoon, ride up to Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain) for a view of the city and the giant Lady Buddha statue.
Where to eat: Da Nang has incredible seafood. Head to the beachfront restaurants on My Khe Promenade.
For the full experience, read my detailed Da Nang vs Nha Trang comparison.
🌆 Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Ho Chi Minh City (Days 11–14)
Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City — a short domestic flight (~2 hours). Base yourself in District 1 — it’s where the food, the nightlife, and the main attractions are.
Day 11 — Arrival + Ben Thanh Market: Settle into District 1. Walk to Ben Thanh Market — the city’s most famous market — and brace yourself for the organized chaos.
Day 12 — War history: Visit the War Remnants Museum (powerful and sobering) and the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace). End the day with a sunset drink at a Saigon rooftop bar — Bitexco Tower or Social Club Rooftop have the best views.
Day 13 — Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta: If you want history, take a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels — the underground network used during the war. If you want river life, take a full-day trip to the Mekong Delta — sampan boats through canals, coconut candy factories, and floating markets.
Day 14 — Slow morning + depart: Grab a banh mi breakfast at a local stall. Keep one buffer day at the end — Vietnam has typhoon season, monsoon flooding, and the occasional airline disruption.
Must-eat in Saigon: Bánh mì (fresh baguette with fillings), cơm tấm (broken rice with grilled pork), and hủ tiếu (noodle soup with seafood).
Read my Ho Chi Minh City guide for more things to do in the south.
🛫 How to Get Around — Flights, Trains & Buses
Internal flights (recommended): Fly between regions to avoid losing entire days to buses.
- Hanoi → Da Nang: ~1.5 hours
- Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City: ~2 hours
Compare domestic flight fares as soon as your itinerary is fixed, especially around public holidays; prices vary with demand and availability.
Overnight train (budget option): If you want to save on a night’s accommodation, take the SE1 overnight train from Hanoi to Hue. It’s an experience — but it’s long.
Buses: Use Grab for getting around cities — cheaper than taxis and no haggling. For the Ha Long Bay transfer, book a bus through your cruise operator.
💰 Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks: Estimated Trip Costs
Estimated budget (per person, mid-range):
| Category | Cost (AUD) | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (13 nights) | $520–$780 | $340–$510 |
| Food (3 meals/day) | $210–$350 | $140–$230 |
| Internal flights (2) | $150–$250 | $100–$165 |
| Ha Long Bay cruise (1 night) | $100–$180 | $65–$120 |
| Activities + entry fees | $80–$150 | $50–$100 |
| Total | $1,060–$1,710 | $695–$1,125 |
These are illustrative per-person costs for a 14-day trip, not fixed prices; your actual total will depend on dates, hotel category, domestic flights and cruise choice.
Backpacker budget: $25–$35 USD per day (hostels, street food, buses) — you can save by skipping Ha Long Bay or doing the overnight train instead of flights.
📌 Practical Tips for This Itinerary
- Book Ha Long Bay in advance — especially in high season (November–April).
- Check the weather before you book flights — typhoon season (September–November) can disrupt internal flights and Ha Long Bay cruises.
- Pack light — Vietnam has cheap laundry everywhere, and Hoi An is perfect for buying clothes.
- Use Grab — it’s cheaper than taxis, and you don’t need to haggle.
- Carry some Vietnamese dong (VND) for small purchases and local transport; withdraw cash or exchange money at a reputable provider.
- Get travel insurance — medical costs in Vietnam need to be paid upfront.
💎 Final Thoughts on This Vietnam Route
A 14-day route is a practical introduction to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. It involves frequent transfers, so travellers who prefer a slower pace can remove one stop.
🏨 Where to Stay Along the Route
Choose hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, near Hoi An’s Ancient Town, close to Da Nang’s beach or in central Ho Chi Minh City. For the central part of this route, the best hotels in Da Nang guide can help you compare convenient bases.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About a Two-Week Vietnam Trip
Is 14 days enough for Vietnam? Yes — a north-to-south trip can cover several major destinations, but the pace is busy. With a third week, you could add Ninh Binh, Sapa or Phu Quoc.
What’s the best route — north to south or south to north?
Both work. North to south is classic — you start in Hanoi and end in Saigon. South to north is better if you want to finish in the cooler north.
Should I book hotels in advance?
Yes — at least the first two or three nights. After that, you can book as you go, especially in shoulder season.
Is Vietnam safe for solo travelers?
Yes — Vietnam is one of the safest countries in Asia for solo travel. Petty crime exists, but violent crime is rare.
Do I need to speak Vietnamese?
No — you can get by with English in tourist areas. Learn a few words — “cảm ơn” (thank you) and “không” (no) are useful.
Build your Vietnam route — free.