10 Days in Vietnam

Day 1: Hanoi — Welcome to the Chaos

Morning — Arrive & Settle In

Check into your hostel or hotel in the Old Quarter. Drop your bags and head straight to a street stall for your first bowl of pho — the northern style is clean, herby, and life-changing. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake to shake off the jet lag.

Afternoon — Old Quarter Exploration

Get lost in the 36 streets of the Old Quarter. Each street was historically named after its trade — Silk Street, Paper Street, Silver Street. Visit Dong Xuan Market for the full sensory experience. Stop at Giang Cafe for your first egg coffee.

Evening — Street Food & Beer Corner

Head to Ta Hien Street (Beer Corner) for $0.25 bia hoi and people-watching. Grab a banh mi from a street cart on the walk back.

Budget tip: Hostels in the Old Quarter start at $5/night and put you within walking distance of everything.

Day 2: Hanoi — Temples, History & Bun Cha

Morning — Temple of Literature

Visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) — Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070. A serene escape from the city’s chaos with beautiful courtyards and ancient architecture.

Afternoon — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & French Quarter

See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and its surrounding grounds. Walk through the French Quarter past the Opera House and colonial-era buildings. Visit the Vietnamese Women’s Museum for an excellent cultural deep dive.

Evening — Bun Cha & Water Puppets

Eat bun cha at a sidewalk stall — grilled pork patties, noodles, and the best dipping broth you’ve ever tasted. Catch a water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (tickets $5-8).

Budget tip: The mausoleum and its grounds are free. The Temple of Literature costs about $1.50.

Day 3: Ha Long Bay — Cruise Through Limestone

Morning — Bus to Ha Long Bay

Take a shuttle from Hanoi (3-4 hours) to Ha Long Bay. Board your overnight cruise and set sail through emerald waters past 1,969 limestone islands.

Afternoon — Kayaking & Caves

Kayak through hidden lagoons and explore sea caves. Most tours include stops at floating fishing villages and viewpoint hikes. The sunset over the karst landscape is unforgettable.

Evening — Dinner on the Boat

Fresh seafood dinner on the cruise, followed by squid fishing off the deck (a surprisingly fun activity). Fall asleep to the sound of water lapping against limestone.

Budget tip: Mid-range overnight cruises run $30-80/person including meals, activities, and transport from Hanoi. Avoid the cheapest party boats.

Day 4: Train to Hue — The Reunification Express

Morning — Return to Hanoi

Cruise back to shore, shuttle to Hanoi. Grab lunch and head to the train station.

Afternoon — Board the Reunification Express

Take the Reunification Express to Hue (12-14 hours overnight). Book a soft sleeper berth ($25-35) for a comfortable ride. The train crosses bridges, cuts through mountains, and follows the coast — one of the most scenic rail journeys in Asia.

Evening — Train Life

Buy snacks and drinks from vendors who walk through the cars. Read, journal, or chat with fellow travelers. Fall asleep watching Vietnamese countryside roll past.

Budget tip: The overnight train saves you a night’s accommodation. Soft sleeper is worth the upgrade over hard seat.

Day 5: Hue — Imperial City & Food Crawl

Morning — Arrive in Hue

Arrive in Hue and check in. Walk to the Imperial City — the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has grand palaces, gardens, and ornate throne rooms surrounded by a walled citadel and moat.

Afternoon — Royal Tombs

Visit the Tomb of Khai Dinh — the most ornate of Hue’s royal tombs, mixing Vietnamese and European architecture. If time allows, add the Tomb of Tu Duc set in tranquil gardens.

Evening — Hue Food Crawl

Hue has Vietnam’s most distinctive cuisine. Try bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup), banh beo (steamed rice cakes), and nem lui (lemongrass pork skewers). Eat at the night market along the Perfume River.

Budget tip: Imperial City entry is about $7. Rent a bicycle ($2/day) to reach the tombs.

Day 6: Hoi An — Ancient Town Magic

Morning — Bus to Hoi An

Take the bus from Hue to Hoi An (3-4 hours, $6-8) along the stunning Hai Van Pass coast road. Check into your hotel or homestay.

Afternoon — Ancient Town & Tailoring

Explore Hoi An Ancient Town on foot — the Japanese Covered Bridge, merchant houses, and assembly halls. Visit a tailor shop and get fitted for custom clothes (they’ll be ready by Day 7). The town is car-free and best wandered slowly.

Evening — Lantern-Lit Streets

As the sun sets, hundreds of silk lanterns light up along the river. Grab a cao lau (Hoi An’s signature noodles) at the central market. Float a paper lantern on the river for good luck.

Budget tip: The Ancient Town is free to walk through after 4pm. A five-site heritage ticket costs $5.

Day 7: Hoi An — Beach, Cooking & Custom Clothes

Morning — Cooking Class

Take a morning cooking class ($15-25) that starts with a guided market tour, then teaches you to make pho, spring rolls, and banh xeo in a riverside kitchen. You eat everything you cook.

Afternoon — An Bang Beach

Cycle to An Bang Beach (15 minutes from town). Golden sand, beach bars, and far fewer tourists than Da Nang’s beaches. Rent a sunbed for $2-3 and relax.

Evening — Pick Up Your Tailored Clothes

Collect your custom-made clothes (alterations are free if needed). Celebrate with dinner at Banh Mi Phuong — what Anthony Bourdain called the best banh mi in the world.

Budget tip: Rent a bicycle ($1-2/day) — Hoi An is flat and cycling is the best way to get between town and beach.

Day 8: Da Nang — Beaches & Bridges

Morning — Grab to Da Nang

Take a Grab from Hoi An to Da Nang (30 minutes, $5). Check in and hit My Khe Beach — consistently rated one of Asia’s best. Swim, surf, or just walk the long stretch of clean white sand.

Afternoon — Marble Mountains

Climb the stairs of Thuy Son (Water Mountain) at the Marble Mountains. Explore cave temples, Buddhist pagodas, and viewpoints overlooking the coast. There’s a lift if you’d rather skip the stairs.

Evening — Dragon Bridge Fire Show

If it’s Saturday or Sunday, position yourself near the Dragon Bridge by 8:30pm. At 9pm, the 666-meter dragon-shaped bridge breathes actual fire and water for a 15-minute show. Grab mi Quang (Da Nang’s signature noodle dish) at a nearby street stall.

Budget tip: Marble Mountains entry is about $2. The Dragon Bridge show is completely free.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City — War History & Street Food

Morning — Fly to HCMC

Take an early flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City ($30-50, 1.5 hours). Check into District 1 and start at the War Remnants Museum — one of the most important and sobering museums in Southeast Asia.

Afternoon — Cu Chi Tunnels

Take a half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels (70km outside the city). Crawl through widened tunnel sections, see trap displays, and learn about the incredible engineering of this 200km underground network. Tours run $15-25 including transport.

Evening — Rooftop Sunset & Bui Vien

Watch the sunset from a rooftop bar in District 1 — Saigon’s skyline lights up beautifully. Then head to Bui Vien Walking Street for the backpacker nightlife scene — cheap drinks, live music, and organized chaos.

Budget tip: War Remnants Museum costs about $1.50. Book Cu Chi Tunnels through your hostel for the best group rates.

Day 10: Mekong Delta & Departure

Morning — Mekong Delta Day Trip

Take an early morning tour to the Mekong Delta (2 hours from HCMC). Cruise through floating markets where vendors sell fruit and vegetables from boats. Visit coconut candy workshops, walk through tropical orchards, and eat lunch with a local family.

Afternoon — Final Saigon Bites

Return to HCMC for your final food mission. Queue at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa for the best banh mi in Vietnam. Try com tam (broken rice) for a late lunch. Pick up Vietnamese coffee and souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market.

Evening — Departure

Head to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Say goodbye to Vietnam — but you’ll be back. Everyone comes back.

Budget tip: Mekong Delta day tours cost $15-30 including transport, boat rides, and lunch. Book through a reputable agency, not a random street hawker.