Vietnam Travel Itinerary 2 Weeks

Here’s a detailed and well-paced Vietnam 2-week travel itinerary, which includes a mix of iconic cities, nature escapes, and cultural highlights — from south to north — with tips on how to get around. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

🇻🇳 Ultimate 2-Week Vietnam Itinerary

From South to North: A Perfect Balance of Culture, Adventure & Relaxation

Planning a 2-week adventure in Vietnam? This diverse and stunning country has so much to offer — from buzzing motorbike-filled cities to ancient temples, misty mountains, golden beaches, and UNESCO heritage sites. It's fair to say we left a little bit of our heart when last in Vietnam and share the best bits of it in the 2 week guide. Feel free to mix up the locations, for example you could head North first and work your way down country. Also there is so much to do In Vietnam check out our 30+ Vietnam best things to do guide and add / swap experiences from there to this 2 week itinerary. You won't be stuck for things to do when in Vietnam that is for sure!

This 14-day itinerary takes you from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north, with unforgettable stops along the way. Ho Chi Minh City & the Cu Chi Tunnels to Da Nang, to Hoi An, To Hue, To Hanoi to Sapa and Ha Long Pheweee. Check out the 2 week itinerary immediately overview below before delving deeper further in the guide with clickable and bookable activities and experiences to make your planning swift and easy.

2 Wk Itinerary Overview

• Day 1–3: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels

• Day 4–5: Hoi An (via Da Nang)

• Day 6: Da Nang Beaches & Marble Mountains

• Day 7–8: Hue (Imperial City)

• Day 9–10: Hanoi Old Quarter

• Day 11–12: Sapa (rice terraces & hill tribes)

• Day 13–14: Ha Long Bay Cruise

Stretch to 3 Weeks? Add a week in Phu Quoc paradise at the end (but swap the itinerary around North to South) ending at Phu Quoc before flying from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh before flying home.

Getting Around

• Viet Jet Domestic Flights: For long-distance travel (e.g., HCMC → Da Nang or Hue → Hanoi)

• Trains/Buses: Scenic but slower; use for short connections (e.g., Da Nang → Hue). We use 12Go for our bus / trains in Vietnam.

• Private Transfers or Taxis: Affordable in cities using the Grab App

• Sleeper buses or trains: Good for budget travellers but expect to take 10-14 hours of your time. BUT the sleeper bus can also act as a nights accommodation negating the need to find hotel for that travel night. We took the overnight sleeper train from HCMC to Da Nang check out our vid of that experience here before deciding if the sleeper train is for you. It's an experience for sure. Would we recommend it? Totally, but it might come down to time on a 2 week trip. Family tickets for a private cabin on the overnight sleeper train all Booked at 12Go with best prices.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day 1–3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

• Take the Hop on / Hop Off City Bus Tour then get off at various stops. Explore Notre-Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, and visit the War Remnants Museum

• Walk down Bui Vien Street at night (stop off for a drink at one of the bars)

• BED SLEEP

• Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels + Mekong Delta boat ride

• Visit The Apartment Cafes for a lunch date (day) or evening drink (night time) free in check out my video here of our night time visit and you'll be able to see why this place features on my itinerary

• 

  Evening drinks had in The Letter inside The cool Apartment Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City - can you spot it?

• BED / SLEEP

• Visit the famous Post Office and post a postcard home | Take a Saigon Food Tour sampling the cities best food on a bike with a local guide that knows!

• When in HCMC we always stay here 

• But check out Booking.com for great budget options and Agoda (but beware they only show the nightly price even if your dates are from and to) and Hostelworld for best of the cheaper hostel type accommodation. Luxury | Mid | Budget

✈️ Fly from HCMC to Da Nang (~1.5 hours) OR Take the overnight sleeper train through 12Go 

MY TOP TIP: The Sleeper Train gets you in a Da Nang or if you fly in to Da Nang Airport and you'll need to get a taxi transfer to Hoi An. If you haven't got Grab you can book a private car that will take you from DaNang to Hoi An here and costs around £10 which is a good price. Or you can book from Hoi An to Da Nang ( a very helpful link to keep ). We took a taxi and this cost £14 so this is something we wish we'd know before hand. A small saving, but every saving helps.

Day 4–5: Hoi An

• Discover the Ancient Town with its lantern-lit streets. As day turns to night. Day: eat Banh Mi at Madam Kahns. Potter around and take in the sights. Grab a MOT traditional herbal drink. Night enjoy a rooftop cocktail.

• Try a Vietnamese Hoi An cooking class or a Hoi An Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop

• Get custom clothes made in 24 hours

• Cycle through rice fields to An Bang Beach

• Taste the local specialty: Cao Lau noodles + White Rose Dumplings via a Walking Food Tour

• Where to stay in Hoi An: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other Hoi An accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

🚖 Private Transfer Hoi An to Da Nang (~45 minutes)

Use Grab to book a private taxi or a private transfer that will take you from Hoi An to Da Nang here which costs around £10 which is a good price. We took a Grab taxi and this cost £14 so this is something we wish we'd know before hand. A small saving, but every saving helps.

Day 6: Da Nang

• Relax on My Khe Beach

• Visit the Marble Mountains (but go early as it gets HOT + Busy) and take a walk near the Dragon Bridge free to do and if it's weekend his mouth breaths fire.

• Great spot for modern cafés and ocean views, walking up and down the sea front taking it all in.

• Walk the golden hands bridge at Ba Na Hills

• Where to stay in Da Nang: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other DaNang accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

🚆 Take a train to Hue  (2.5–3 hours via scenic Hai Van Pass)

Day 7–8: Hue

• Visit the Imperial City (Citadel)

• Take a boat ride on the Perfume River

• Explore tombs of emperors like Khai Dinh and Tu Duc

• Enjoy local dishes like Bun Bo Hue

• Where to stay in Hue: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other Hue accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

✈️ Fly or take a sleeper train to Hanoi

Day 9–10: Hanoi

• Wander the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake

• Visit the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

• Try famous street food: pho, egg coffee, and bun cha

• Catch a water puppet show

• Where to stay in Hanoi: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other Hanoi accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

🚐 Travel overnight or early morning to Sapa

Day 11–12: Sapa

• Trek through Muong Hoa Valley and visit ethnic hill tribe villages

• Stay in a local homestay

• Visit the Fansipan cable car (highest peak in Indochina)

• Enjoy misty mountain views and rice terraces

• Where to stay in Sapa: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other Sapa accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

🚐 Return to Hanoi for a Ha Long Bay trip

Day 13–14: Ha Long Bay

• Take a 1-night cruise through limestone karsts and emerald waters

• Kayak, swim, and visit caves like Sung Sot (Surprise Cave)

• Enjoy fresh seafood on board

• Return to Hanoi for your flight home

• Day-by-Day Breakdown

• Where to stay in Ha Long Bay: Luxury | Mid | Budget

• For other Ha Long Bay accommodation check out Booking.com | Agoda and Hostelworld 

Packing Tips for 2 Weeks in Vietnam

• Lightweight clothes, but a warm layer for Sapa (cooler in the mountains)

• Comfortable walking shoes (trainers) and sandals

• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses

• Travel adapter (Vietnam uses 220V)

• Poncho or umbrella (especially May–October)

Check out Everything You Must Know For Vietnam Guide

Optional Add-Ons or Swaps

• Skip Sapa and spend more time in Ninh Binh or Phong Nha caves

• Switch to a south-to-north train journey for a slower-paced itinerary

• Extend in Phu Quoc or Mui Ne if you want more beach time

Vietnam is packed with history, nature, and charm — and two weeks is just enough to get a taste of its diversity. Whether you’re a family, couple, or solo adventurer, this 14-day itinerary strikes a perfect balance between sightseeing, culture, and downtime.

I hope you found this Vietnam Itinerary helpful. Need a shorter or longer one? Drop me a comment. Also, Don't forget to keep up with our daily updates of our full time travel life below as we'll be back in Vietnam soon. Use our handy travel planning tools below to get best prices for flights, hotels and more:

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💡HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR VIETNAM TRIP WITH KIDS 💡

✈️ - FLIGHTS WITH KIDS - We use this flight checker to search the best flight tickets fall or our Vietnam flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from Bali to Ho Chi Minh and then internally from Ho Chi Minh (formally Saigon) to Danang. Then again from Da Nang to Phu Quoc with the best prices at the time. Overall we love Skyscanner and cam't fault it for offering the cheapest options.

🚌🚆🚇 - TRAVEL WITH KIDS - We took the overnight sleeper train from HCMC to Da Nang check out our vid of that experience here. Booked via 12Go.

🏨 - ACCOMMODATION WITH KIDS - We Love to Stay at this hotel when in HCMC but we also use this hotels checker to search hotels and accommodation for our Vietnam trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Vietnam now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more

🧭🗺️👣 - VIETNAM TOURS & GUIDES WITH KIDS - We use Get Your Guide for all of the trips in Vietnam. But we also love Klook too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different.

Trips in Ho Chi Minh

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!