Despite Vietnam’s remarkable size, a 15-day complete itinerary is enough for an authentic introduction to most of what Vietnam has to offer, without feeling too rushed at all. Of course, the more time, the better!
Vietnam is usually divided into three main geographic and climatic regions: North, Center and South. With this 15-day itinerary, you can expect to actually immerse yourself in all of them, blending with the peculiar balance of elements that make each region unique.
If you are still not sure whether to visit Vietnam take a look at our Top 10 Insider Reasons To Visit Vietnam.
Moreover, Vietnam offers visa-free entry for up to 25 nationalities, including the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Nordics, Japan, South Korea, South East Asian countries and Chile. For some nationalities, the visa exemption covers exactly 15 days, here to know more. Be sure to check the in-force rules for your home country!
15-day complete and authentic Vietnam tour
Day 1: Hồ Chí Minh City
Day 2: Mekong Delta
Day 3: Củ Chi tunnels
Day 4: Hội An
Day 5: Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary – Seaside
Day 6: Marble Mountains – Hải Vân Pass – Huế
Day 7: Huế
Day 8: Hà Nội – Part 1
Day 9: Sa Pa – Day 1
Day 10: Sa Pa – Day 2
Day 11: Hà Nội – Part 2
Day 12: Ninh Bình – Tam Cốc
Day 13: Hạ Long Bay – Day 1
Day 14: Hạ Long Bay – Day 2
Day 15: Say goodbye to Vietnam
Day 1: Hồ Chí Minh City
Morning: Leave your bag at the hotel and start your visit to the city
Afternoon: Hotel Check-in, continue HCMC visit
Your 15-day authentic itinerary starts in Ho Chi Minh City. While most travelers begin their tour in Northern Vietnam (Hanoi), in our experience it would be best to actually start off from Ho Chi Minh City in the South and make your way upward. Usually, Southern and Central Vietnam tend to have much hotter and more humid climates, so travelers can find more and more relief as they gradually head North. We ourselves spent some time trying to get used to the unbelievable heat in Ho Chi Minh City, but then it was easier for us to move around and enjoy our long walks throughout our trip.
As soon as you land at Ho Chi Minh Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will pass through security and visa controls. We recommend getting a few survival VNDs and a data SIM straight away (for a 6-GB/day SIM we spent around 300k VND). Outside the airport be careful of potential taxi scams: instead, use the app Grab to reserve a legit taxi. We found Grab very convenient and reliable to move around, throughout our trip.
As on the first day you’re probably going to be tired and not have the full day, you can start visiting the city and familiarize yourself with its amazing vibes, maybe grab your first bánh mì!
Must-see attractions: Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office
Other attractions: HCM statue and surroundings, Opera House, Bui Vien Walking Street, Emperor Jade Pagoda, Bin Tay Market (Cho Lon area), Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Day 2: Mekong Delta
Morning: Mekong Delta Tour
Afternoon: Mekong Delta Tour and visit HCMC at night
Get up early in the morning and grab a rich breakfast before heading South-West of Saigon. As you leave the city, you already get a preview of what awaits you at the Delta of the 7th longest river in the world: canals with cute river houses and lots of palm and banana trees. With its 4,880 km of length, the Mekong is an immense river stretching from its Tibetan source (5,224 m above sea level) to its famous Delta in Southern Vietnam, passing through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
The visit to the world-famous Mekong Delta is of our favorite attractions of this 15-day complete and authentic Vietnam itinerary. The area is very touristy, but travelers can choose several locations. For a day trip, we recommend aiming for Ben Tre, which lies just South of My Tho, the #1 destination for day trip tourists.
Being a little detached from the more touristy My Tho, Ben Tre offers the possibility to savor the real daily life of locals, while still getting the full bundle of river navigation, rowing, cycling and local food tasting everybody wants. Our experience at Ben Tre was nearly perfect: Quy, our guide, was from a local village in the area and showed us around.
Head back to Saigon around 5 PM and continue exploring the city, maybe get into a street food tour or just stroll around its many distinctive quarters. Make sure you don’t miss the areas around Nguyen Hue Square and Bui Vien walking street.
Pro tip: Do not forget to try fresh coconut, the province of Ben Tre is known as Vietnam’s coconut capital
Day 3: Củ Chi tunnels
Morning: Cu Chi tunnels tour
Afternoon: Finish HCMC visit and fly to Da Nang
Located 40 km away from Saigon, Cu Chi tunnels are among the top attractions. We have some mixed feelings about this area since it is very touristy and exploited to capacity. It is also offered the possibility to shoot firearms on the very same site that, less than 60 years ago, hosted one of the darkest pages in human history.
The area of Cu Chi consists of an intricate network of tunnels immersed in the jungle and running for more than 120 km. The site is very interesting and allows tourists to have a hands-on experience of what life would look like back when the Viet Cong used it during the Vietnam War. For us, it was a really intense experience, especially after visiting the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, and helped us get more in touch with the recent history of Vietnam.
This half-day tour will end in Saigon, just in time to grab a quick lunch and to allow you to finish your visit to the top city attractions. We then decided to spend 1,5-2 hours at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.
Regardless of your choice, we advise taking a flight to Da Nang and grabbing a transfer to Hoi An (around 40’). We arrived in Hoi An around 10 PM and were very satisfied to have maximized the potential of this day.
Pro tip: If you are short on time or looking for non-touristy experiences we believe Cu Chi tunnels can be skipped. As an alternative to Cu Chi, why not spend one night in Can Tho and see the floating market or maybe just enjoy a little more the atmosphere of Saigon?
Day 4: Hội An
Morning: Visit Hoi An ancient town
Afternoon: Relax and enjoy Hoi An at night
Wake up in one of the most fascinating areas of Vietnam! To us, visiting Hoi An after Saigon felt like stepping back in time. We left the chaotic life behind us and embraced a completely different rural landscape, full of rice fields, islands, placid rivers, and boundless ocean beaches.
Hoi An is really a uniquely perfect place, combining centuries of history, a mixture of cultures and architectural styles, marvelous sceneries, delicious local cuisine and a huge list of things to do. For the best experience, make sure to rent a bicycle (most hotels and homestays provide them for free) and wander around each secret corner, you won’t be disappointed.
Let’s start the morning by visiting the old town of Hoi An, with a cumulative ticket you can see some of the key attractions. Be aware that from April to September it can be really hot, make sure to drink enough water and take some rest in the cozy bars.
After finishing the city visit, we advise you to relax in the late afternoon. Especially on the closer Cam Nam island, many hotels have beautiful lake views, cozy gardens, and pools. Consider also this option besides central city hotels and homestays.
When the sun goes down, Hoi An reveals its fullest magic. The whole old town decorates itself with countless colorful lanterns, combined with street concerts and lively nightlife. Hội An really is a place that will steal a corner of your heart forever.
Must-see attractions: Cantonese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky traditional house, Japanese Covered Bridge, Guan Thanh di Temple
Other attractions: Phap Bao Temple, Hoi Quan Phuoc Kien
Tip: Make sure to try Cao lầu and Mì Quảng, traditional soups of the Province
Day 05: Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary – Seaside
Morning: Visit My Son Sanctuary at sunrise
Afternoon: Bicycle ride to the seaside
Turn off the alarm at 5.00 a.m. and leave your hotel: you are going to My Son! “Sunrise” tours actually reach the site at around 6.00-6.30 a.m. when the sun is already bright and up. However, visiting the Sanctuary at such an early hour allows you to enjoy the area with almost zero tourists. We could not recommend it more!
The whole site has its own magical atmosphere, with a mix of century-old Hindu temples of the Cham period, deep jungle all around and an eagle-shaped mountain that dominates the landscape with its holy presence. If you are lucky enough, you might also see some monkeys jumping from tree to tree! The visit to the Sanctuary takes around 2 hours and, usually, tours provide some late morning “breakfast”.
Another plus of going this early is you will be back at Hội An at around 11 a.m., allowing you to ride a bicycle heading to the sea and relax on the beach. After the day is over, enjoy another wonderful evening in downtown, maybe watching a show featuring traditional costumes and music.
Pro tip: Do not forget to enjoy a coconut coffee on a hammock at An Bang Beach.
Day 06: Marble Mountains – Hải Vân Pass – Huế
Morning: Marble Mountains, Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach, Lap An Lagoon
Afternoon: Khai Dinh Tomb, walk through Hue
We believe that it is not possible to leave Central Vietnam without visiting the old capital Hue. One of the best ways to do it is to book a car transfer directly from Hoi An. In this way, you’ll be able to stop at Marble Mountains for a solid two-hour visit and pass through Da Nang, Hai Van Pass, and Lang Ca Lagoon.
With this tour, you’ll reach Hue at around 3.00-4.00 p.m., so you might want to stop at the Tomb of Khai Dinh, which lies on the way before entering the city. Even if it is very evocative to do this tour with a motorbike, we decided to choose a car (and a driver) to be more comfortable and to avoid trouble with luggage.
After checking in the hotel you can start roaming around Hue. The city will kind of feel like a return to Ho Chi Minh City in a way, as it is way more chaotic than Hoi An but with a different flavor that makes it so unique. The city has a fascinating walking street next to the wide Perfume River, characterized by peaceful meadows and resting areas. Just across the river lies the old Citadel, a huge UNESCO World Heritage site, consisting of pagodas, houses, gardens, and walls that resemble a smaller version of Beijing’s Forbidden City.
What really made us fall in love with Hue was the coexistence of an infinite number of beautiful historic sites with bustling life during the day and night.
Pro tip: Hue is famous for its typical Imperial Cuisine and it is also the homeland of Salted Coffee. We discovered Salted Cofee thanks to Loc, a local friend we made visiting Hue, make sure to add it to your bucket list!
Day 07: Huế
Morning: Surroundings of Hue
Afternoon: Hue Citadel, flight to Hanoi
Your seventh day will be very intense. You will be wandering around Hue and exploring some of its most iconic landmarks, before catching a night flight to Hanoi.
We suggest leaving your hotel pretty early in order to avoid crowds and the heat. Most attractions open very early, around 7.00 a.m. Start your tour by reaching the Tomb of Tu Duc, located 7 km away from downtown. The visit to the Tomb takes around 1.5 hours, but make sure to reserve some time to visit the “Incense Village”, which lies not far from the Tomb and gives you the opportunity to buy some good incense (and take nice pictures, too). Not far from the village, there is the Tu Hieu Pagoda too, which is kind of a hidden gem and worth the visit.
Get back downtown, grab a quick lunch and enter the Citadel. Visiting the Citadel in the proper way takes a considerable amount of time. Make sure to budget at least 2-3 hours in order to grasp as many details as possible. After finishing your tour in the Citadel, get some rest in a cozy coffee place, pick up your luggage and then head to the new airport of Huế.
Must-see attractions: Hue Citadel, Tu Duc Tomb, Incense Village
Other attractions: Tu Hieu Pagoda, Other Emperor’s Tomb
Pro tips: This day can be tough. If you prefer a more relaxing experience, you can choose to avoid less famous attractions or add a day. Moreover, be sure to buy cumulative tickets to benefit from bundle discounts, tickets be used for more than one day.
Day 08: Hà Nội – Part 1
Morning: Hanoi city tour
Afternoon: Finish your city tour and take the night train
Halfway through your trip, you have finally reached the capital of Vietnam, definitely a must in a 15-day Complete Vietnam itinerary. Two things in particular hit you, as you make your first steps in Hanoi. The slightly cooler weather and the unbearably busy roads.
Despite being the second most populous city (after Ho Chi Minh City), Hanoi has no rivals when it comes to traffic craziness. You will probably hear honking every other second and motorbikes will just surpass you from and to any direction, regardless of your evident cluelessness.
Hanoi is hard to frame: you can visit century-old pagodas and traditional houses or get lost in the whirl of sounds, colors, smells and people that flood each busy street, decorated with all kinds of stores and cafés. Hanoi really has something for everyone. Moreover, the city is pretty convenient to visit, as you can easily design a walking tour. In a couple of days will get you through the key attractions, while also reserving some space for lesser-known gems.
End the day with a quick stop at the hotel to prepare your light bag (leave the big one to the hotel) and go to Hanoi station: a night train is waiting for you!
Must-see attractions: Hoan Kiem Lake, Don Xuan Market, Train Street, One Pillar Pagoda, Bac Ma Temple, Temple of Literature, HCM Mausoleum, Citadel
Other attractions: Ma May Traditional House, Water Puppet Theater, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, Lenin Park, Presidential Palace, Museum of Ethnology (far from downtown)
Pro tips: Hanoi is the homeland of the world-famous pho and the lesser-known bun cha. Have a couple and fall in love with those two iconic dishes! Moreover, don’t forget to have a taste of Hanoi’s famous egg coffee!
Day 09: Sa Pa – Day 1
Morning: Meet your guide and start trekking
Afternoon: Trekking and relaxing at homestay
A bit more than 300 km North-West of Hanoi there is Sa Pa, a place so pure and beautiful that will easily find a home in your heart. If you desire an authentic and immersive experience in your 15-day itinerary to Vietnam you cannot skip Sa Pa.
To get there, we recommend the night train: a 6- or 7-hour ride from Hanoi to Lao Cai, located at the very border with China (just 3 kilometers away!). The night train is an experience in itself, as you will get to see changing views and sleep in small berths, all while being rocked back and forth by the coach. Reaching Lao Cai feels like a dream: it’s around 5 a.m., dawn is about to break and the air is cool like nowhere you’ve been before in Vietnam. Lao Cai in itself is nothing special, but soon you’ll be on the shuttle to reach Sa Pa, a memorable experience about to begin.
Sa Pa is a mountain city, being about 1,600 meters above sea level. Hence, the air can be pretty chilly, even during hot months, so make sure to bring a hoodie and a rain poncho. The region is home to five different local minorities that speak their own language, have their own culture, religion and fashion, all living a typical rural life. The best way to get around Sa Pa’s area is to find a local guide that knows each inch of the valleys. You will find together secret paths through bamboo forests, rice paddies, steep hills, or remote villages while you will learn all sorts of things about their culture.
Prepare yourself for a very long walk. You’ll be rewarded with lunch at a local family’s home, getting to know them and tasting their own rice, vegetables and meat! The hike takes 8-9 hours and ends at a local homestay, where you will have a rich dinner and possibly interact with other tourists and the hosts. In our case, our guide belonged to the Black H’Mong tribe, while the homestay owner was a Dao member.
Tip: make sure to discuss all the different options before you start hiking, local guides can tailor the path based on your experience level and interests!
Day 10: Sa Pa – Day 2
Morning: Finish your trekking
Afternoon: Sa Pa city – dinner at Lao Cai and night train
Wake up on your tatami bed, surrounded by the anti-mosquito net and early morning sounds all around. You will likely enjoy a rich breakfast offered by your host, before resuming your journey across immense landscapes of deep green – depending on the season.
This trek is actually shorter than the first day since it only takes half a day and finishes with a relaxing lunch at another local restaurant. You will leave your homestay to continue your journey across an endless gallery of different environments and views. You’ll walk on the very edge of rice paddies, trying not to fall into the muddy waters, or maybe rest next to a peaceful waterfall.
The background will simply leave you breathless: high mountains, surrounded by thin clouds and covered with emerald jungles, looming over yellow, brown and green valleys that host tiny villages. You will walk for around 4-5 hours and finally reach the last stop, grabbing your well-deserved lunch.
Jump on a bike and head back to Sa Pa town, where you can wash your muddy boots and have a shower. You can spend a couple of hours in town, maybe buying some local souvenirs. At the end of the day, a van will take you back to Lao Cai, where you’ll get on the sleeper train to Hanoi.
Pro tip: Be careful when choosing your agency: always try to rely on ethical tours organized by local minorities. We really want you to enjoy a truly authentic experience with our 15-day Vietnam Itinerary.
Day 11: Hà Nội – Part 2
Morning: Complete your visit to Hanoi
Afternoon: Take some rest and discover Hanoi at night
It’s 5.30 a.m. and you’ve just arrived at Hanoi’s train station. The city is half-awake and you have no place to go until your check-in at your hotel. You can either ask for an early check-in or crush at a cozy bar, have a first comforting breakfast and get some rest to recover from two very intense days. Take your time to enjoy the peaceful Hanoi morning and then resume your tour from where you left it a couple of days ago
Head to the world-famous “Train Street”, spend some minutes there to appreciate how crazy it is and then head West to check the remaining areas. West of Hanoi’s railway lies several attractions, including the Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s Citadel and the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Ci Minh’s Mausoleum and many more. If you are tired from the previous hiking days, you can just move around using Grab. This day will be a little more laid back, allowing you to blend with Hanoi’s rhythm and lifestyle. Make sure you stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake at night and embrace its romantic atmosphere.
Tip: ALWAYS ask for the price before purchasing anything and get ready to bargain! For the water always go to supermarkets.
Day 12: Ninh Bình – Tam Cốc
Morning: Day Tour to Ninh Binh
Afternoon: Finish the tour and have dinner in Hanoi
The region of Ninh Binh lies about 2 hours South-East of Hanoi. Even though it really deserves a longer visit, you can still appreciate its beauty and uniqueness with a day tour. Beware, the area is a very popular tourist destination, so most day tours will have a standard structure.
You can choose between visiting either Tam Coc or Trang An. Depending on the choice, you will see the largest temple complex in South-East Asia (Bái Đính) or the oldest capital of Vietnam (Hoa Lu). Both paths will include a short bike tour, a boat tour of the area and will end with a hike at Mua Caves mountains.
If you want a slightly less touristy experience, you should choose Trang An, which is particularly popular for domestic tourism. The Trang An site is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, so the local authorities are doing their best to keep it clean and preserve its beauty, in spite of the immense flow of tourists. We really enjoyed our day trip there, in all its little parts, which made it very captivating and interactive.
Also, the tour takes you back at Hanoi at around 6 p.m., giving you the chance to explore around a little more and continue finding new dishes.
Pro tip: If you love the countryside and nature consider spending 2 days and 1 night in Trang An and its surroundings or Van Long. This way, you will have more time to visit everything at your own pace. You could even do it without a tour and save some money.
Day 13: Hạ Long Bay – Day 1
Morning: Transfer to Ha Long Bay City
Afternoon: Cruise day 1
The last days of the tour will be more relaxed and will be less focused on hiking around. We believe that the best way to complete your journey in Vietnam is a dreamy cruise at the Ha Long Bay area, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Instead of Ha Long Bay, we strongly recommend opting for Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay, which are way less touristy and offer the possibility to enjoy the quiet side of the bay.
A car transfer takes you to the reception of the Cruise provider and then you will meet your cruise companions and embark on the cruise. The cruise is a truly magical experience. The area looks like it came out of a fantasy book: thousands of tiny limestone islands, covered by trees and populated by monkeys and kite birds. You will have the chance to slowly sail through the silent sea of the Gulf of Tonkin while enjoying tropical drinks and delicious meals.
Pro tip: Try to throw some water in the sea, if you are lucky, you will see bioluminescence at night!
Day 14: Hạ Long Bay – Day 2
Morning: Cruise day 2
Afternoon: Transfer to Hanoi
Waking up in the middle of the Bay is the best way to end your trip! Finish your activities, enjoy a rich brunch and jump on your transfer back to Hanoi, passing through small local villages on the way to enjoy the traditional Water Puppets show.
Companies tend to offer almost standardized cruise packages, with few differentiating elements. We found the overall experience a bit touristy and standardized, but, cruises are the only way to enjoy the beauty of the Bay.
We think that one night cruise is enough to explore the area, even though you really get to spend only about 24 hours on the actual cruise.
Pro tip: Consider the choice of small boats and slightly more expensive options to get the best from this experience.
Day 15: Say goodbye to Vietnam
Morning and afternoon: Enjoy one last time the Vietnamese atmosphere
Depending on when your flight is, you may still have the chance to visit some missing gems in Hanoi or grab your last banh mi or pho in the city center.
If you are lucky, you’ll have found a return flight directly from Hanoi, otherwise, you might have to go back to Ho Chi Minh City and then take your main flight. In the latter case, consider potential delays, typical of air transportation in Vietnam.
This 15-day authentic Vietnam itinerary has come to an end. It is time to say goodbye to Vietnam by tasting its delicious foods, fruits and drinks for one last time, thinking about all the unforgettable exciting experiences that this country let you live!
