14 DaysPace: BalancedStyle: Classic Route
14 Days in Vietnam: Two-Week Complete North, Central & South Odyssey
Our benchmark 2-week itinerary linking Hanoi, Sapa or Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, and the Mekong Delta.
Route Sequence
Hanoi (2N) → Sapa or Pu Luong (2N) → Ninh Binh (1N) → Lan Ha Bay (1N) → Hue (2N) → Hoi An (3N) → Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta (2N)
Day-by-Day Structured Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi & Hoan Kiem Walk
Hanoi →MorningArrive HAN Airport.
AfternoonHoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple.
EveningOld Quarter street food walk.
Food Suggestion: Bun Cha
Transport & Daily Cost: Airport pickup ($75 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hoa Lo Prison
Day 2: Hanoi Temple of Literature, Citadel & Ethnology Museum
Hanoi →MorningTemple of Literature & Imperial Citadel.
AfternoonMuseum of Ethnology.
EveningWater Puppet Theatre.
Food Suggestion: Cha Ca Thang Long
Transport & Daily Cost: City taxi ($75 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Egg Coffee Workshop
Day 3: Hanoi to Sapa & Muong Hoa Valley Trek to Ta Van
Sapa →MorningMorning limousine to Sapa.
AfternoonTrek Lao Chai to Ta Van rice terraces.
EveningValley eco-lodge stay.
Food Suggestion: Fansipan Sturgeon Hotpot
Transport & Daily Cost: Limousine (5.5 hrs) ($95 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Red Dao herbal bath & craft visit
Day 4: Mount Fansipan 3,143m Peak & Return to Hanoi
Sapa →MorningAscend Mount Fansipan by 3-wire cable car.
AfternoonAfternoon limousine back to Hanoi.
EveningOvernight in Hanoi.
Food Suggestion: Pho Bo Hanoi
Transport & Daily Cost: Cable car + Limousine ($115 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Ta Phin village & Sapa Market
Day 5: Ninh Binh Trang An Water Caves & Hang Mua Peak
Ninh Binh →MorningDrive to Ninh Binh for Trang An sampan ride.
AfternoonCycle Bich Dong & climb Hang Mua.
EveningOvernight in Tam Coc.
Food Suggestion: Com Chay & Goat
Transport & Daily Cost: Limousine (1.75 hrs) ($85 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hoa Lu Citadel
Day 6: Ninh Binh to Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay Boutique Cruise
Ha Long Bay →MorningTransfer from Ninh Binh to Tuan Chau/Got Marina.
AfternoonKayak Lan Ha Bay lagoons.
EveningOvernight onboard.
Food Suggestion: Seafood dinner onboard
Transport & Daily Cost: Direct Van (3.5 hrs) ($185 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Onboard cooking class
Day 7: Bay Morning Cruise & Evening Flight to Hue
Hue →MorningDawn tai chi & cave visit onboard.
AfternoonReturn to HAN Airport and fly to Hue (HUI).
EveningPerfume River stroll.
Food Suggestion: Bun Bo Hue
Transport & Daily Cost: Flight HAN → HUI ($140 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hue Royal Antiquities Museum
Day 8: Hue Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda & Royal Tombs
Hue →MorningImperial Citadel & Kien Trung Palace.
AfternoonMinh Mang & Khai Dinh Royal Tombs.
EveningRoyal rice cakes dinner.
Food Suggestion: Banh Beo, Banh Nam, Com Hen
Transport & Daily Cost: Private car & dragon boat ($85 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: An Dinh Palace & Tu Dam Pagoda
Day 9: Hai Van Pass, Marble Mountains & Arrival in Hoi An
Hoi An →MorningScenic drive over Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Bay.
AfternoonClimb Marble Mountains in Da Nang and arrive in Hoi An.
EveningAncient Town lantern walk.
Food Suggestion: Cao Lau Hoi An
Transport & Daily Cost: Private car (3.5 hrs) ($90 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Museum of Cham Sculpture
Day 10: Hoi An Ancient Town & Tra Que Cooking Class
Hoi An →MorningJapanese Covered Bridge & heritage merchant houses.
AfternoonTra Que Herb Village cycling and cooking class.
EveningHoai River sampan.
Food Suggestion: Mi Quang & White Rose Dumplings
Transport & Daily Cost: Bicycle ($80 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Silk lantern workshop
Day 11: An Bang Beach & Tailoring / My Son Sanctuary
Hoi An →MorningDawn visit to My Son Cham Sanctuary.
AfternoonRelax at An Bang Beach.
EveningAncient Town riverside dining.
Food Suggestion: Com Ga Hoi An & Banh Mi Phuong
Transport & Daily Cost: Private car ($80 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Precious Heritage Museum
Day 12: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Speedboat / City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City →MorningFly Da Nang (DAD) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).
AfternoonIndependence Palace, War Remnants Museum & Notre-Dame Quarter.
EveningDistrict 3 food walk.
Food Suggestion: Com Tam & Banh Xeo
Transport & Daily Cost: Flight DAD → SGN ($135 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: AO Show at Opera House
Day 13: Ben Tre Coconut Canals & Can Tho Riverside
Mekong Delta →MorningCruise Ben Tre waterways and hand-rowed sampan creeks.
AfternoonCycle village orchards and return to Saigon (or overnight in Can Tho).
EveningSkyline rooftop drinks in District 1.
Food Suggestion: Hu Tieu My Tho & Grilled Snails (Oc)
Transport & Daily Cost: Private car ($95 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Covered river boat & brick kiln visit
Day 14: Saigon Specialty Coffee & Departure
Ho Chi Minh City →MorningMorning coffee and Jade Emperor Pagoda visit.
AfternoonTransfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN).
EveningDeparture.
Food Suggestion: Ca Phe Sua Da & Banh Mi
Transport & Daily Cost: SGN Airport Transfer ($55 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Fine Arts Museum Saigon