7 DaysPace: BalancedStyle: Classic Route
7 Days in Vietnam: North & Central UNESCO Heritage Highlights
One week linking Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue Imperial City, the Hai Van Pass, and lantern-lit Hoi An Ancient Town.
Route Sequence
Hanoi (2N) → Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay (1N) → Fly to Hue (1N) → Hai Van Pass & Da Nang → Hoi An (2N)
Day-by-Day Structured Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi & Old Quarter Culinary Walk
Hanoi →MorningArrive in Hanoi and settle into Hoan Kiem District.
AfternoonWalk around Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and the 36 guild streets.
EveningGuided Old Quarter street food tasting.
Food Suggestion: Bun Cha & Egg Coffee
Transport & Daily Cost: HAN Airport Transfer (40 mins) ($75 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hoa Lo Prison Relic & Water Puppet Theatre
Day 2: Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh & West Lake
Hanoi →MorningExplore the Temple of Literature and Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
AfternoonVisit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Tran Quoc Pagoda.
EveningDinner at Cha Ca Thang Long.
Food Suggestion: Cha Ca Thang Long & Bia Hoi
Transport & Daily Cost: City taxi ($70 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Egg Coffee Workshop & National Fine Arts Museum
Day 3: Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Boutique Overnight Cruise
Ha Long Bay →Morning2.5-hour expressway drive to board your overnight cruise at noon.
AfternoonKayak sheltered karst lagoons and swim in Lan Ha Bay.
EveningSundeck sunset and seafood dinner.
Food Suggestion: Fresh Gulf of Tonkin seafood onboard
Transport & Daily Cost: Hanoi → Ha Long Limousine (2.5 hrs) ($185 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Onboard cooking class & cave visit
Day 4: Bay Morning Cruise & Evening Flight to Imperial Hue
Hue →MorningMorning cave exploration and brunch onboard before returning to Hanoi Airport.
AfternoonTake the 1-hour flight from Hanoi (HAN) to Hue (HUI).
EveningEvening walk along the Perfume River boardwalk and dinner in Hue.
Food Suggestion: Bun Bo Hue & Salted Cream Coffee (Ca Phe Muoi)
Transport & Daily Cost: Cruise → HAN Van + 1h Flight to Hue ($135 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hue Royal Antiquities Museum
Day 5: Hue Imperial Citadel, Minh Mang Tomb & Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
Hoi An →MorningTour the Hue Imperial Citadel, Noon Gate, and restored Kien Trung Palace, followed by Thien Mu Pagoda.
AfternoonVisit Minh Mang Royal Tomb, then drive over the scenic ocean cliffs of the Hai Van Pass past Lang Co Lagoon into Hoi An.
EveningFirst evening stroll through lantern-lit Hoi An Ancient Town.
Food Suggestion: Hue Banh Beo & Banh Khoai for lunch; Cao Lau in Hoi An
Transport & Daily Cost: Private car over Hai Van Pass (3 hrs) ($95 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Hai Van Pass Heritage Train carriage
Day 6: Hoi An Ancient Town, Tra Que Herb Cycling & An Bang Beach
Hoi An →MorningWalk the Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, and Old House of Tan Ky at 07:30 AM.
AfternoonCycle through Tra Que Organic Herb Village to An Bang Beach for a swim.
EveningLantern sampan ride on the Hoai River.
Food Suggestion: Mi Quang, White Rose Dumplings & Banh Mi Phuong
Transport & Daily Cost: Bicycle & walking ($75 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Silk lantern-making & market-to-table cooking class
Day 7: Marble Mountains & Departure via Da Nang Airport
Da Nang →MorningPick up any tailored clothing in Hoi An and stop at the cave pagodas of the Marble Mountains on the 40-minute drive to Da Nang.
AfternoonFly onward from Da Nang International Airport (DAD).
EveningHomeward bound.
Food Suggestion: Da Nang Mi Quang Ech before flight
Transport & Daily Cost: Hoi An → DAD Airport (45 mins) ($55 USD)
Rainy-Day Backup: Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture