Two Week Itinerary for Vietnam

Spending two weeks in Vietnam is a great way to discover the treasures Vietnam has in store. Additionally, there’s a long list of nations that can travel visa-free for 15 days to Vietnam.

You can experience the entire length of the country, or narrow your focus to just one or two regions- anything you think up is possible! In this article, we give you one classic tour from South to North, and two tours with a more regional focus. Figure out the best time to travel to your desired locations, and read on to figure out a two week itinerary for Vietnam.

A two weeks trip to Vietnam can give you a brief insight into the beautiful country.

Route 1- The Classic Route (Uncovering Vietnam from South to North)

Vietnam is a diverse country, and though this route can’t guarantee a visit to all its treasures, it sure comes close to covering them all. It can also be travelled along from North to South, simply click on Plan Your Trip to let us help you out. 

Suggested Route: Ho Chi Minh City- Hoi An- Hue- Ninh Binh- Halong Bay- Hanoi

Highlights: 

Start at the bottom- land in Ho Chi Minh City in South Vietnam, a lively metropole, culinary capital of Vietnam, interspersed with history around every corner. Relax for a bit before you hit the streets, where you can visit the museums or go for a food tour. Head for a half-day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels on the next day, to take in the wonder of the War-remnant network of man-made tunnels that riddle the ground.

And the day after that can be used to marvel at the lively riverside life at the Mekong Delta. Catch a plane to Hoi An on your fourth day, and spend the next few days sightseeing around this UNESCO World Heritage site and its Old Town with more than 800 preserved historic buildings. You can also take a half day trip to My Son, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples.

On the seventh day of your trip, take a car to Hue, where you will spend two days discovering a gorgeous city that houses palaces and a Citadel, reminiscent of its Imperial past.

The Reunification Express, historically relevant to Vietnam, will highlight the start of week 2, taking you to the beautiful Ninh Binh on the ninth morning. Dotted around with karst mountains and tranquil rivers, you can spend the night at this off-beat destination before heading to Halong Bay the next day. An overnight stay on a cruise at Halong Bay is something we’d recommend, as this UNESCO World Heritage site with its limestone karsts and beautiful caves is definitely worth it.

On the afternoon of day eleven, post disembarking the cruise, you can leave for Hanoi where you spend the remainder of your days in Vietnam. The capital city of Vietnam has loads to do, from discovering the historical Old Quarter, to taking a beer tour and sampling the light bia hoi, Vietnam’s cheap and fresh-brewed beer.

Budget: 

All kinds of accommodation, from hostels to luxury hotels, is available. Thus, these two weeks in Vietnam can be enjoyed by people and families with every kind of budget. Car journeys can be replaced by bus or train, but the cruise in Halong Bay is expensive. This is something backpackers must be careful of.

This route will let you experience almost all the major attractions of Vietnam, starting from the the lively metropole in South Vietnam- Ho Chi Ming City.

What you miss: 

A route like this doesn’t give you much down time to relax, and you also skip out on off-the-beaten-path destinations, as the focus here is on the main tourist sites due to their travel convenience. Though you head to the north, you skip out on the mountains, and hill stations like Sapa, as they take you bit off-route.

Alternative: 

Instead of restricting it to a day trip, you can opt for a night stay in the Mekong delta. Here you can experience the famous floating market in Can Tho that can be witnessed early in the morning. You can also fly to Hanoi instead of taking the night train, then drive to Ninh Binh, 2 hours away. Another option is  staying at a beach resort close to Hoi An. This way, you get some beach time alongside the option of visiting Hoi An if you choose.

The famous floating market in Can Tho is extremely lively and has a variety of food products, totally worth visiting.

Route 2- North and Central Vietnam 

The weather in Vietnam is a riddle to solve. The South of Vietnam can get really hot and rainy in summer. Plus, the humidity makes travelling a very uncomfortable experience. It can be done, but we assure you, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!

Therefore, we’ve suggested a route that skips the south altogether and lets you experience the great central and northern Vietnam. Get your fill of cultural and natural wonders with this two week itinerary for Vietnam.

Suggested Route: Hanoi – Sapa –  Ninh Binh – Hue – Hoi An – Da Nang

Highlights:

Start your journey in the capital city of Hanoi, in the north of Vietnam. Fly into the international airport and spend a night here, while the next night will be spent on the overnight train to Sapa. Sapa is a gorgeous destination with trekking routes and rice terraces. Spend two days here, trekking and taking in the sights, where you can also learn a bit about the various tribes that live in its hills.

Travel back to Hanoi on a bus drive through the hills on the fifth day of your holiday. Discover its museums, Old Quarter and bia hoi junction the next day. A bus ride to Ninh Binh, the ‘Halong Bay’ of the land, kicks off week 2 of your day.

Spend days seven and eight among the limestone karsts and rice paddies of Ninh Binh, and take the overnight train to reach Hue on day nine. The tombs of the royals are in the outskirts of this city, and you can discover its countryside, or float away on a boat ride as it is located on the banks of the peaceful Perfume River.

The next day, drive to Hoi An, and revel in the peace that this UNESCO World Heritage city basks in, due to being spared the noise and traffic that plagues the rest of Vietnam. From here, the fun-filled beach destination of Da Nang is a short 45-minute drive away. You get the last two days of your holiday to unwind and give in to the sea and sand, after which you depart from Da Nang’s international airport. 

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Budget: 

This 2 week itinerary for Vietnam is backpacker friendly. It doesn’t involve any expensive cruises, namely the Halong Bay cruise. All distances can easily be traversed by bus, and longer one by train, saving up on flight tickets. There are several hostels and homestays along the route, alongside a range of beautiful boutique hotels for the travelers opting for a more luxurious trip.

Travel through Central and Northern Vietnam with an itinerary that lets you experience the cultural and natural wonders of this beautiful country.

What you miss: 

You have to skip out on world-famous Halong Bay, the Mekong Delta, and culinary capital Ho Chi Minh City. However, keep your chin up. You get to visit the ‘Halong Bay of the land’, Ninh Binh; not as expensive yet equally stunning. You also can witness the Red River Delta while at Hanoi. Plus, the Hanoi street food is definitely a good recovery from skipping Ho Chi Minh City. 

Alternative routes: 

Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An are all about sightseeing, and that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. People preferring the beach or the mountains can skip Hue, and spend that time in Da Nang or Sapa. Trekkers can also go on a two-day trek in Sapa, though it does need additional time. Skipping the night train to Hue is also a possibility by taking a flight from Hanoi to Hue, or Hanoi to Da Nang.

If you are looking for some adventure then you can add trekking in Sapa to the list, sure to give you a fun experience.

Route 3- South Vietnam and its beaches

All ye beach bums, look no further! This 2 week itinerary for Vietnam is just for you. Depending on the time of year, Central Vietnam can get rainy and unpleasant. Additionally,  north Vietnam gets wet and cold, namely in the months of November and December. Turning towards the tropical climate of South Vietnam between September to December is a good idea. The warm weather makes for some perfect relaxation at its beaches. Additionally, the Phu Quoc island is a great spot to unwind. 

Suggested Route: Ho Chi Minh City- Mekong Delta- Cat Tien – Da Lat- Phu Quoc island

Highlights:

Ho Chi Minh City is destination number one, and makes for a great start as the city is lively and dynamic, interspersed with heritage sites, and boasts the best street food in all of Vietnam. After two days in Ho Chi Minh City, drive to Can Tho, the buzzing epicentre of the Mekong Delta.

Stay overnight in order to be up nice and early to catch the famous floating market. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City on day 5, heading to Cat Tien National Park the next day. Here you spend the day hiking, trekking, biking and birdwatching.

Week two of your stay kicks off in the hill station of Da Lat, a 4-hour drive from Cat Tien. Stay in the ‘city of eternal spring’ for two days, where it rarely gets hotter than 22°C (71° F). Make sure you also undertake a trek to the coffee plantations. From here, fly or drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Fly to Phu Quoc island on the tenth day of your stay. Spend the last four days of your holiday relaxing on its beaches, and leave from it’s international airport.

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Budget: 

Unfortunately, this route is not ideal for a backpacker. Some cities have cheap accommodation and buses are available, but South Vietnam is not a cheap place. However, low-paced comfort travellers can definitely opt for this route.

This route is made for all the beach bums looking to kick back and relax at the gorgeous beaches along with exploring other aspects of Vietnam.

What you miss: 

This two week itinerary for Vietnam misses out on a lot of the ancient history and historical sites. All destinations along the route are young and dynamic with maybe some French colonial architecture. However, there’s not much more, as the ancient cities are in North Vietnam. However, Ho Chi Minh City has an interesting history, though comparatively recent. There are many opportunities to learn about it when you’re in the city.

Alternative routes: 

Instead of taking flights to and from Phu Quoc island, one can also travel to the beach town of Mui Ne. It is famous for its wide sand dunes and only 4 hours from Da Lat. Alternatively, you can go to the party town of Nha Trang, and see some beautiful highlands on the way.

Visit the town of Nha trang, a great party destination, also offering spectacular views.

Those two weeks off work finally have a purpose, and Vietnam and its adventures will not be a let-down. Vietnam is a diverse country and there’s also ways to travel to Vietnam over 1 week, and 3 weeks as well! Follow our two week itinerary for Vietnam, or hit us up with a rough plan of your own. We can help you smooth out all the edges- click on Plan Your Trip to know more.