10 Days Vietnam Itinerary

Planning a 10 days Vietnam itinerary can be quite a challenge, being a bustling country filled with innumerable experiences. However, we make it manageable allowing you to make the most of your time. It is the ideal amount of time to get a gist of the country or to drop in as part of a larger Indochina or Southeast Asia tour.

One could traverse across the entire country or just experience one of the three main regions: North, Central or South. We’ve curated three different routes, each constrained to 10 days, for those of you looking to go on a quick trip.

Whether you’re looking to explore the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam or understand the history of Vietnam, you can cover it all. Don’t worry about the booking intricacies, simply click on ‘Plan Your Trip’ and leave the planning bit to us.

You can also look at our two week and three week itineraries for Vietnam.

Vietnam is a country that has a lot to offer to its travelers, a 10 day trip to Vietnam will let you explore a particular region, from beautiful landscapes to learning about the history.

Route 1 – The Classic 10 days vietnam itinerary (Travelling from North to South Vietnam)

If you’re looking to sample a bit of the entire country, this route is the one for you. It works well with a quick insight into the highlights of Vietnam, while covering the entire length of the country. Transportation will be a mixture of flights and cars, making travelling in Vietnam a breeze.

As this is a 10 day trip where time is of the essence, lengthy train and bus rides are better left out. This route is also possible the other way around.

Suggested route (Also possible the other way around) :
Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City

Highlights:

Land into Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city boasting a rich history, numerous museums and heritage influences from Vietnam’s historical past. Spend a day here, and make your way to world-famous Halong Bay the next morning, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Halong Bay is dotted with huge limestone karsts shooting up into the sky, sheltering serene lagoons and caves.

Take in the gorgeous sights on the 5-hour car drive and unwind on the cruise boat at Halong Bay. Witness the fascinating floating villages, impressive caves and beautiful coves hidden amidst the karst mountains. Drive back to Hanoi on day three and get a good night’s rest for some sightseeing the next day.

For a city excursion, the options are endless. You can visit the Old Quarter, Heritage House, the Fine Arts Museum or the Temple of Literature depending on your interests. Hanoi is also great for some walking or motorbike tours in the city or even an exciting beer tour. Post this, catch an early flight to the gorgeous city of Hue, located on the banks of the Perfume River, on day five of your stay.

The Imperial past of Vietnam is alive in Hue’s Citadel and tombs that you can visit by road through the countryside. Visit the Royal Theatre that started in 1826, or opt for a calming boat ride along the picturesque Perfume River.

After your stay in Hue, drive along the Hai Van pass to Hoi An, taking in the mountain air, serene scenery, and a glimpse of the city of Da Nang. The evening of day seven, spilling into the next day, can be used to explore Hoi An, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a scenic riverside. The beautiful architecture is another charm, with a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Get some clothes tailored for cheap or admire the old houses and pagodas.

You could also simply relax by the beach, take a bicycle tour through the countryside or a cooking/ lantern making class. Some of the sights you can visit are My Son – a temple complex built by the Indian-origin Champa kingdom, the marble mountains – a cluster of five marble and limestone hills, or the golden hand bridge.

Take a flight on day nine to end your holiday in the lively, pulsating Ho Chi Minh City. Take a half-day visit to the Cu Chi tunnels and make sure you get a taste of the local cuisine as Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s culinary capital. An easy way to do this is a street-food tour where you can sample a little bit of everything. Your tenth day in Vietnam sees the end of your journey with a flight back home from it’s international airport.

Let us help you plan your trip to Vietnam!

This route will give you a quick insight into the highlights of Vietnam, starting from Hanoi the capital that holds a rich historical past.

What you miss:

A 10 days Vietnam itinerary warrants some skipping and avoiding to be done. After all, you can’t truly experience everything in this short time frame. Vietnam is vast, and though you’re landing in the north, you won’t witness the lovely hillside of Sapa. Alongside this, you also won’t have the luxury of time to relax and unwind at any of the beaches.

The Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park with its massive caves requires more time, and can’t fit into this route. Much of the countryside and smaller, charming cities will have to be skipped as you move from one metropole into the next.

Budget:

Flights in Vietnam aren’t very expensive and quite affordable, and every city along the route has a range of accommodation to cater to all budgets. Due to this, your trip won’t be heavy on your wallet. However, a cruise on Halong Bay is an expensive affair, and backpackers may have to skip out on the overnight stay to save cash.

Alternative routes:

If you prefer some time to relax, skip Ho Chi Minh City and relax at the beaches close to Hoi An and Da Nang. Halong Bay and its cruise, though gorgeous, are expensive. This can be substituted for the cheaper yet equally gorgeous Ninh Binh, the ‘Halong Bay of the land’. Two hours south of Hanoi, it has beautiful karst mountains with lakes, rivers and rice fields below. Accommodation comes cheap, and it is less touristy.

You can substitute the Halong Bay cruise by visiting Ninh Binh, which is cheaper yet equally beautiful and is also less touristy.

Route 2- North Vietnam (Discovering the blue, green & gold landscapes of Vietnam)

North Vietnam is a paradise for trekkers, nature lovers, and people drawn to natural beauty. In the season of late spring, South Vietnam lies in sweltering heat, and fall sees the rains battering Central Vietnam.

These are the best times for a 10-day getaway in the North, with pleasant temperatures and cooling drizzles. The month of September is an especially great, as you can witness the landscapes of Vietnam turn from green to gold. The gorgeous rice fields in the prime cities of Ninh Binh and Halong Bay have clear blue skies, a picture perfect sight.

Suggested route:
Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay – Ninh Binh

Highlights:

Land into Hanoi, the main tourist junction of the north, from where you can easily branch out to other destinations. Spend two days in Hanoi uncovering it’s rich historical influences. On your third day, take the overnight train to Lao Cai, the closest station to Sapa.

A hill station known for it amazing climate, lush landscapes, tribal culture and trekking adventures. Spend the next two days sightseeing. Trek through rice terraces or visit the traditional tribal villages for a cultural experience. You can also take the cable car to the summit of Fansipan mountain, known as ‘the roof of Indochina’. Engage in some handicraft workshops on day four of your stay.

The following morning, take a car or a bus back to Hanoi, and rest for the rest of the day. Visit world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site Halong Bay the next day. Here you spend the night on one of the junks, floating among the limestone karsts. Driving off on the seventh afternoon will find you in Ninh Binh by evening, where you can spend the next two nights.

This gives you plenty of time to take a 3.5-hour boat ride among the karst formations of Tam Coc or Trang An, visit the Hua Lu ancient city, and climb to the Mua Viewpoint to catch the sunrise. Return to Hanoi on the second-to-last day. Enjoy your last few hours in Vietnam with some shopping, a cultural show or a beer tour.

The train, and car journeys that take you from one destination to the next are affordable and are guaranteed to be memorable journeys. The best time to visit North Vietnam and follow this itinerary is from the months of September to December, though the temperatures get quite low in Sapa in December, January and February, so come prepared with some woolies.

Avoid the months of June, July and August if you don’t want to be greeted by the typhoons that marr tourism in Halong Bay. However, Sapa and Ninh Binh can still be visited- trekking may be hazardous due to slippery paths caused by the rain, but the rice terraces transform from green to gold in August and are a sight to see.

Budget:

As mentioned, the Halong Bay cruise and night stay is a big expense. But a backpacker can opt for a day trip. A couple of private transfers are necessary, for instance from Lao Chi station to Sapa, but other than that all destinations have hostels that are easy on the pocket. All destinations also have great comfort and luxury options, and even the train journey can be done in the most luxurious train cabin you can possibly imagine. For a 10 day North Vietnam trip like this, all budgets are welcome.

This route begins in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam where you can learn about the rich history of this country and easily branch out to other destinations from here.

What you miss:

Vietnam’s beaches run along the central and southern coast. This 10 day itinerary for Vietnam is not for you if you’re looking for some beach time. You also miss out on several other historic sites in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Hue, located in Central and South Vietnam.

Alternatives: Sapa is definitely the most popular hill station in Vietnam, but as a result has become quite touristy. Fortunately there are several other great places in the North like Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai or Mai Chau. These have equally beautiful sights and are less developed. You can also substitute a Halong Bay cruise with a trip to Cat Ba island to enjoy a resort.

The gorgeous Cat Ba Island can be a good substitute for the Halong Bay cruise which comes with a heavy price.

Route 3- Central Vietnam (A culmination of nature and the history of Vietnam)

Central Vietnam has a lot to offer: From the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam to an insight into the recent history of Vietnam. You can indulge in off-the-beaten-path experiences and some great sightseeing options.

It’s a great choice for anyone interested in getting a glimpse of both the historical and natural world of Vietnam. Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site, drive through a land with a war-ridden past, marvel at nature in a National Park and unwind on a beach with this 10 day Central Vietnam tour. In June, July and August, when it rains in the south and north of Vietnam, this is the best place to be.

Suggested Route:
Hoi An- Hue- Phong Nha- Da Nang

Highlights:

This 10 days Vietnam itinerary requires you to fly into Da Nang’s international airport to head to Hoi An. Spend the next two days sightseeing in Hoi An. Though this may seem like too much, the history buff or instagrammer in you will be thankful. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Old Town in Hoi An has over 800 preserved historic buildings. Pay a visit to My Son, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples.

You could visit My Lai, the site of a horrific massacre carried out by US soldiers. On day four, drive to Hue via the gorgeous Hai Van pass. Spend the next two days in Hue, home to 13 Nguyen emperors for nearly 150 years. With palaces and houses it makes for a fascinating glance into the past.

Drive to Phong Nha the next day via the strip of land with a war-history called the Demilitarized Zone – DMZ. On the way you will see a number of sites like the Long Hung Church, Quang Tri Old Citadel, Ben Hai River, Hien Luong bridge, Cua Tung Queen Beach, Vinh Moc tunnel, Doc Mieu Firebase, Truong Son Cemetery, Khe Sanh, Sa Mu pass, Lang Ho village – all places of historic significance related to the Vietnam war.

For this reason, we recommend that you take a guide along to understand their significance. You will leave with an understanding of the history of Vietnam and it’s role in shaping existing culture.

After reaching Phong Nha in the evening, your seventh day can be spent exploring the caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park. It is home to the largest cave in the world, and several other caves. Either opt for a full-day trek if you’re a seasoned caver, or half-day sightseeing trips to explore some of the smaller caves. The next day can be used to indulge in kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, or trekking to a waterfall.

Head to Dong Hoi station, 45 minutes away to catch a 19.30 train to Da Nang, a vibing city with serene beaches. You’ll reach at 1 am, from where you can go directly to your beach resort. Spend your last two days in Vietnam relaxing on the beach, after which you depart from Da Nang International airport.

Budget:

You have to spend on private transportation to experience all the historical and natural sights on the way. Additionally, treks in Phong Nha-Ke Bang aren’t cheap, but are worth the price due to the safety and the unbeatable experience. The good beach resorts in Da Nang are mostly in the 4 to 5 star categories. As a result this is difficult for backpackers.

Start your holiday in Hoi An, where you can explore the old town filled with historical buildings and easily spend to days learning about the history and culture of this beautiful city.

What you miss:

Focusing on Central Vietnam means sacrificing a visit to the hill stations in North Vietnam. Though Central Vietnam does have hilly regions, this route doesn’t give you the time needed to visit it. Thus you miss out on the mountains – if you don’t count the hills around Phong Nha. You also skip out on the lively Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the world famous Halong Bay.

Alternative routes:

This 10 days Vietnam itinerary can be modified for more beaches. If you’re a beach bum, you can relax longer at the beaches by skipping out on Phong Nha. Alternatively, the Bach Ma National Park between Da Nang and Hue is also worth a one day visit.

Planning a 10 day trip to Central Vietnam would make you miss out on places like the world famous and gorgeous Halong Bay, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Depending on your travel interests, 10 days in Vietnam, may or may not be enough. However, we guarantee that this 10-days Vietnam itinerary will definitely have you planning a second, longer trip. This time you could even consider adding a few more countries along the Indochina region. But fear not, our two and three week itineraries will serve you well. Bookings will be a breeze, all it takes is clicking on Plan Your Trip.