14 Days in Vietnam: The Ultimate 2-Week Itinerary
Two weeks is the sweet spot — enough to travel the length of the country north to south at a human pace, with time to slow down along the way.
Fourteen days is the sweet spot for Vietnam. It’s enough to travel the full north-to-south length of the country without the breathless pace of a shorter trip, with breathing room for cruises, mountain villages, and beach days. Fly the long legs and travel overland where the journey is the attraction.
At a glance
| Days | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Hanoi | Old Quarter, street food, Hoan Kiem Lake |
| 3–5 | Sapa or Ninh Binh | Rice terraces or the “Ha Long Bay on land” |
| 5–6 | Ha Long Bay | Overnight cruise among the karsts |
| 7–8 | Hue | Imperial Citadel, royal tombs, Perfume River |
| 8–10 | Hoi An / Da Nang | Ancient Town, tailors, beaches, Golden Bridge |
| 11–13 | Ho Chi Minh City | War history, Cu Chi Tunnels |
| 13–14 | Mekong Delta | River life, floating markets, fruit orchards |
Day-by-day
Days 1–3 — Hanoi. Ease into the Old Quarter, walk Hoan Kiem Lake, visit the Temple of Literature, and graze on bun cha, pho, and egg coffee.
Days 3–5 — Sapa or Ninh Binh. Choose Sapa for terraced mountains and ethnic-minority villages (an overnight train or bus from Hanoi), or Ninh Binh for the limestone valleys of Trang An, an easy two-hour day-trip-plus-overnight.
Days 5–6 — Ha Long Bay. Return to Hanoi, then join an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise to kayak and swim among the karsts.
Days 7–8 — Hue. Fly south to Hue for the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs along the Perfume River.
Days 8–10 — Hoi An & Da Nang. Drive the scenic Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. Wander the lantern-lit Ancient Town, order a tailored outfit, cycle to An Bang Beach, and day-trip to the Golden Bridge.
Days 11–13 — Ho Chi Minh City. Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City for the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, and the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Days 13–14 — Mekong Delta. Finish with a river trip through the Mekong Delta — floating markets, coconut candy, and sampan canals — before you fly home.
Practical tips
- Book internal flights early — Hanoi→Hue/Da Nang and Da Nang→Saigon are short and cheap.
- Pack for three climates. See best time to visit.
- Sort your e-visa before you fly (up to 90 days).
- Use Grab in the cities; read getting around Vietnam.
Add a dental treatment to the trip
This route includes multi-night stays in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — Vietnam’s two main dental hubs — which makes a two-week trip ideal for treatment. Begin a procedure such as implants in Hanoi early in the trip, then complete the fitting in Saigon before you fly out, or simply book crowns and veneers that finish in a few days.
Want this itinerary built around a treatment? Get a free, tailored plan.