2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Families Food Reunification Express Hill Tribes LGBT History Advice Responsible tourism

Vietnam itineraries

This long and diverse country hugs the entire east coast of Southeast Asia, stretching over 1,600km from north to south. Cultures, landscapes, climates and activities vary across its length, as our interactive Vietnam map reveals. We've shared our favourite highlights and sample Vietnam itineraries to help you make the most of your time here - with handy travel times to hep you choose between air, road and rail travel.

Home\Asia\Vietnam

Vietnam map & itineraries

Vietnam may not be massive, but it stretches a surprisingly long way from north-south, so depending on the duration of your trip, your Vietnam itinerary may only focus on one of these regions. Internal flights and sleeper trains make covering huge distances easier – but you’ll still be spreading yourself thinly if visiting for less than two weeks.Weather varies wildly according to region and season, so it’s a good idea to base your Vietnam itinerary on the time of year you’re travelling. Main attractions within the cities all tend to be within walking distance, but if you need a cab, look for a green My Lai taxi to ensure legitimacy.

Give us a call to help with your itinerary

1. Buon Ma Thuot
2. Con Dao Archipelago
3. Cu Chi Tunnels
4. Cuc Phuong
5. Dalat
6. Halong Bay
7. Hanoi
8. Ho Chi Minh City
9. Hoi An
10. Hue
11. Kontum
12. Mai Chau
13. Mekong Delta
14. My Son
15. Nha Trang
16. Sapa

Buon Ma Thuot

1. Buon Ma Thuot

Caffeine addicts should head to the little-visited region of Buon Ma Thuot for Vietnam’s best coffee; it’s grown locally, and there is even a coffee festival each March. The town itself is modern and unappealing, but the surrounding countryside is home to 44 different ethnic groups, as well as a national park. There are some super community tourism options, and you can ride a dugout canoe.

Buon Ma Thuot

Con Dao Archipelago

2. Con Dao Archipelago

It’s hard to believe that this outstandingly beautiful archipelago was once an island prison, home to political prisoners and the infamous “tiger cage” cells, which can still be viewed. Today, the islands form part of a national park, sheltering nesting sea turtles, primary rainforests, thriving reefs and endemic species. You can hike, snorkel, dive, sample the seafood – and of course, relax on the glorious beaches.

Cu Chi Tunnels

3. Cu Chi Tunnels

With thousands of visitors each day, the tunnels are one of Vietnam’s most crowded attractions. The wartime ingenuity is evident, though the stories of what occurred here are brutal – and the information is entirely one-sided, which may grate with some. Crawling through the hot, narrow tunnels is an experience of the discomfort and fear of war, though some describe the nearby firing range as a rather tasteless addition.

Cu Chi Tunnels

Cuc Phuong

4. Cuc Phuong

Vietnam’s largest and oldest national park draws researchers and conservationists thanks to rare fauna and flora hidden in its dense forests. Clouded leopards, bears and langurs live here, but for guaranteed wildlife viewing head to the Cuc Phuong Primate Rehabilitation Centre and the Turtle, Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Centres. The limestone caves reveal fascinating traces of early human habitation.

Dalat

5. Dalat

The French settled in these highlands as respite from the thick, tropical air below, and the European influence lives on in the quirky architecture. Strangely Alpine, there are pine-forested hills and lakes, as well as coffee, tea and fruit plantations and tropical plant nurseries. There is excellent hiking and cycling here, and don’t miss the cable car ride down to the monastery – or the aptly-named “Crazy House”.

Dalat

Halong Bay

6. Halong Bay

This dreamy seascape is one of Vietnam’s most distinctive scenes. A UNESCO Site, Halong is the world’s largest marine karst landscape, with over 2,000 giant limestone boulders emerging from the waters. Sail on a classic wooden junk, paddle into secluded caves and admire the sunset over the karsts from the deck of your boat. You can also visit the surrounding fishing villages, and a floating school.

Hanoi

7. Hanoi

Vietnam’s 1,000-year-old capital has an unexpectedly European feel, with balconied buildings, tiled roofs, tree lined streets and pleasant parks. Street names describe the industries found in each one, including Rice Street, Boiled Fish Street and Silk Street. See ancient pagodas, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, skinny “tube houses”, artisan workshops and water puppetry – or take a cookery class, to bring the flavours home with you.

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City

8. Ho Chi Minh City

A marvellous Asian microcosm of markets, temples and roaring motos, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) – is an instant immersion into urban Vietnamese life. You could easily spend several days losing yourself in the Ben Thanh Market, Chinatown, Taoist temples, lacquer workshops, Reunification Palace and the excellent, emotive War Remnants Museum. Get stuck into the street food too – delicious and unbelievably cheap.

Hoi An

9. Hoi An

Hoi An is a leap into the past. The car-free streets of the old town are lit by lanterns, and evidence of Spanish and Portuguese settlers is visible in the crumbling architecture. Tailors and artisans abound; this is the best place in Vietnam to buy a tailor-made suit or dress, as well as paintings and ceramics. Walk or cycle the narrow streets, browse the riverside fish market and visit a community project for local children.

Hoi An

Hue

10. Hue

Take a dragon boat down the evocatively named Perfume River to discover the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. The former emperors’ tombs can be explored, along with the exquisite Thien Mu Pagoda – the tallest in Vietnam. Classic rural scenes surround the city, as workers in conical straw hats tend to the rice paddies around their simple homes. The local cuisine is best sampled in an old timber “Garden House”.

Kontum

11. Kontum

Kon Tum is home to the minority Ja Rai tribe, and visitors can take the opportunity to spend the night in a Rong house – a highly unusual communal stilt house with a very high, sloping roof, particular to this region. Enjoy a meal with the community, and head out into the lush landscape for a day of trekking, rafting and exploration of the local villages, reached by crossing a hanging bridge.

Kontum

Mai Chau

12. Mai Chau

An inspiring example of grassroots community tourism, Mai Chau is filled with lush paddy fields and little rural villages, home to the White Thai people, distant relatives of tribes from Thailand. Brocade weaving is a speciality here; you can visit workshops, cruise on a wooden sampan up the Ma River and tour the villages with local guides, who all benefit from this excellent tourism initiative.

Mekong Delta

13. Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is not only a glimpse of a spectacular Vietnamese landscape, but also an enchanting introduction to its water-dwelling cultures, with the floating markets of Cai Be and Cai Rang, fishing villages on tiny islands and flooded paddy fields. Navigate the narrow channels in sampan rowing boats, cross them on precarious “monkey bridges” and sample the produce of the nearby rice, fruit and honey harvesters.

Mekong Delta

My Son

14. My Son

The former capital of the Champa Kingdom is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing temples dating back to between the 4th and 13th centuries. While this is no Angkor Wat, it’s well worth exploring, and the jungle scenery – both at the site and along the route from Hoi An – is gorgeous. The temples are constructed of bricks without mortar, and were used as places of worship of the Hindu god Vishnu.

Nha Trang

15. Nha Trang

After an adventure-packed race through Vietnam, head to this wonderland of soft sandy beaches, idyllic islands, coral reefs, restorative hot springs and superb seafood. Dive or snorkel around the reefs, cruise up the river to visit local craft communities or wallow in the mud baths. Still not relaxed enough? Cruise out to the exclusive Whale Island, 80km away, for a truly remote retreat.

Nha Trang

Sapa

16. Sapa

Tucked away in the hills of the Chinese border, this former French hill station offers superb hiking, picturesque waterfalls and an introduction to Vietnam’s minority hill tribes. Listen to folk music in local homes, see traditional Tay and Dao dance, explore village markets and help local families tend to their gardens and domestic animals – all to the backdrop of Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain.

Our Vietnam Holidays

Vietnam itineraries

14-day adventure itinerary

Hanoi > Halong Bay > Hue > Hoi An > My Son > Hoi An (flight) > Ho Chi Minh City > Cu Chi Tunnels > Mekong Delta > Ho Chi Minh City

12-day family itinerary

Ho Chi Minh City > Cu Chi Tunnels > Mekong Delta > Ho Chi Minh City > Dalat > Nha Trang > Ho Chi Minh City

15-day off the beaten track itinerary

Hanoi > Mai Chau (Lac Village) > Pu Long > Kon Tum > Buon Ma Thuot > Ho Chi Minh City > Con Dao Archipelago > Ho Chi Minh City

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Vietnam or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Travel times in Vietnam

The following times give you a rough idea of the driving (or train / flight) times between the main attractions in Vietnam.

Hanoi – Halong Bay: 4 hours Hue – Hoi An: 4 hours Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta: 3 hours Hanoi – Sapa: Overnight train Halong Bay – Hue: Overnight train Hoi An – My Son: 1 hour Nha Trang – Hoi An: 10 hours Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang: 8 hours by train Ho Chi Minh City – Dalat: 8 hours Nha Trang – Dalat: 3.5 hours Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao Archipelago: 1 hour by plane

More about Vietnam

Best time to visit Vietnam

Our guide helps you plan your Vietnam holiday, region by region, with a helpful month by month guide and tips on the following the lunar calendar...

Vietnam travel guide

Our Vietnam travel guide reveals how to explore the Mekong Delta, get out on the waters of Halong Bay, traverse this long country by train, and meet the hill tribes of the north, for an unforgettable Southeast Asian holiday.

Things to do in Vietnam

There are plenty of things to do in Vietnam, both inland and on the water; we've picked our top four below. There's more than enough to keep you busy...

Vietnams Reunification Express

Take a ride on Vietnam's Reunification Express and discover the hop on/hop off highlights as you follow the coast from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City...

Cooking & food holidays in Vietnam

It is within the kitchens, the markets and on the streets where you'll discover the one true tie that describes Vietnam's cultural identity: its food...

Vietnam Hill Tribes

Discover the tribes, villages and cultural travel tips that will help you travel like a local in Vietnam, way beyond the stream of tourists...

Vietnam history

A Vietnam history tour will take you from the Hanoi Hilton to the Cu Chi tunnels with no end of important key historical sites in between...

Why see Vietnam & Cambodia together

Visiting Vietnam and Cambodia together provides plenty of opportunities to compare and contrast landscapes, the food and the cultural heritage...

Top 10 things to do in Vietnam

The top 10 things to do are as varied as Vietnam itself with junk boats in Halong Bay, motorbikes in Hue and dragon boats on the Perfume River...

LGBT holidays in Vietnam

Our guide to LGBT holidays in Vietnam will help you understand local attitudes, taboos and laws, as well as highlighting some of the top locations...

Travelling in Vietnam with kids

If you're thinking of travelling in Vietnam with kids, there is plenty here to entertain, with colourful markets, cyclo rides and stunning beaches...

Vietnam travel advice

If you're wondering how to find secluded beaches and whether you'll be hassled by street vendors, our suppliers have shared their top Vietnam advice...

Responsible tourism in Vietnam

There are plenty of issues to keep in mind in Vietnam, from the overcrowding and pollution of Halong Bay, to the fair treatment of Hoi An's tailors...

All our Vietnam guides

Find all of our Vietnam guides in one place for more information about the different type of holidays we offer such as cycling or family holidays in Vietnam.

More relevant guides

Written by Vicki Brown

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Fré Sonneveld] [Train map introduction: Santi Llobet] [Con Dao Archipelago: VanLap Hoàng] [Cu Chi Tunnels: Michael Coghlan] [Cuc Phuong NP: pululante] [Dalat: Dayle and Adrian Questionmark] [Halong Bay: brianfagan] [Hanoi: David Williams] [Ho Chi Minh City: peace6x] [Hoi An: xiquinhosilva] [Hue, dragon boat: David McKelvey] [Kontum: Nhu Nguyen] [Mai Chau rice paddies: Aviva West] [Mekong Delta: Davidlohr Bueso] [My Son: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra] [Nha Trang: J White] [Sapa: Petr & Bara Ruzicka] [Driving times: Freddie Ablazed]

Vietnam itineraries