10-Day Vietnam Itinerary — Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
A complete 10-day Vietnam itinerary covering Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Saigon. Street food, motorbikes, and tailor-made suits.
Vietnam in 10 days is the classic North-to-South route. The country is long and narrow (1,650 km), so you'll fly between regions. This itinerary covers Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An (via Da Nang), and Ho Chi Minh City with day trips along the way.
Every day involves at least one bowl of phở.
Day 1-2: Hanoi
Day 1: Land at Noi Bai Airport (HAN). Check into the Old Quarter. Spend the afternoon getting lost in the 36 streets — each one historically devoted to a craft (silk, silver, paper).
Stops:
- Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Train Street — go for coffee at one of the trackside cafes; the train still passes through at ~3pm and 7pm
Lunch: Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su — the most famous pho in Hanoi (~$3).
Dinner: Bun Cha Huong Lien (the "Obama bun cha" spot) for grilled pork noodles, or Cha Ca La Vong for turmeric fish.
Day 2: Cultural day.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum + Presidential Palace (mornings only, free, dress modestly)
- Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university, $1.50)
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (excellent, $1.50)
- Hoa Lo Prison (the "Hanoi Hilton") — sobering, essential
Evening: Bia Hoi corner at the intersection of Tạ Hiện and Lương Ngọc Quyến — fresh local beer on plastic stools for $0.25. Pure Hanoi.
Day 3-4: Halong Bay
Day 3: Most visitors do a 2-day, 1-night cruise on a junk boat through Halong Bay (~$150-300 depending on category). Recommended operators: Bhaya, Indochina Sails, or Paradise for upscale.
Pickup from Hanoi at 8am. Boat boarding at 12pm. Afternoon includes:
- Kayaking through limestone karsts
- Sung Sot Cave (the Surprise Cave)
- Sunset on deck
- Fresh seafood dinner on board
Sleep on the boat in calm waters.
Day 4: Early morning tai chi on the deck (optional). Visit a floating fishing village by sampan. Brunch on board, then back to port by 12pm. Drive to Hanoi (3.5 hours). Evening flight to Da Nang.
Day 5-7: Hoi An
Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage town: lantern-lit, river-front, perfectly preserved from the 17th-century trading era.
Day 5: Old Town walking tour (free with the $5 sites ticket, valid 1 day):
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Tan Ky House
- Fukian Assembly Hall
- Hoi An Central Market
Lunch: Banh Mi Phuong ($1.50) or Cao Lau (Hoi An's signature noodle) at any local spot.
Afternoon: Get clothes tailored. Hoi An is the world capital of bespoke tailoring. Recommended: Yaly Couture or Bebe Tailor. Order Day 5, fit Day 6, pick up Day 7.
Evening: Lantern festival along the river (peak on full moon, but every night is lit). Float a candle lantern on the river ($0.50).
Day 6: Two options:
- Beach day at An Bang Beach (10-min taxi, $5) — soft sand, restaurants right on the beach
- My Son Sanctuary — ancient Cham ruins, 1-hour drive, ~$15 entry
Cooking class: Red Bridge or Morning Glory run half-day classes ($30). Market visit + 4 dishes.
Evening: Streets at Night Market, then drinks at Q Bar or The Mango Rooms.
Day 7: Pick up your tailored clothes. Last walk through Old Town. Evening flight to Saigon (SGN).
Day 8-9: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Saigon is fast, loud, modern Vietnam. Total opposite of Hanoi's old-world charm.
Day 8: Center of the city.
- War Remnants Museum ($1.50) — the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Heavy but essential.
- Reunification Palace ($1.50) — the moment the war ended is preserved
- Notre Dame Cathedral + Saigon Central Post Office (designed by Gustave Eiffel)
- Bến Thành Market for souvenirs
Lunch: Pho Hoa Pasteur — the city's most legendary pho spot.
Afternoon: Café Apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue — a 9-storey building of independent cafes. Try Partea or Saigon Oi.
Evening: Rooftop drinks at Chill Sky Bar (26th floor, $15 cocktails). Or stay closer to the ground at Bui Vien street — Saigon's backpacker chaos.
Dinner: Quan Bui for upscale Vietnamese, or Cuc Gach Quan for traditional in a converted villa.
Day 9: Mekong Delta day trip ($30-50). Boat through canals, fruit orchards, coconut candy workshop, lunch at a local home. Long day but worth it.
Back to Saigon by 5pm.
Farewell dinner: Anan Saigon (Asia's 50 Best) for inventive Vietnamese, or Hum Vegetarian for plant-based.
Day 10: Cu Chi or departure
If your flight is late, half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour ($25) — the Viet Cong tunnel network from the war. Crawl through a section. Eerie.
Otherwise: massage, last bowl of pho, depart.
Practical tips
- Visa: Most nationalities need an e-Visa ($25 online, 5-day processing)
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (₫). 1 USD ≈ 25,000 ₫. ATMs everywhere.
- SIM card: Viettel or Mobifone at the airport. ~$10 for unlimited data.
- Grab app for rides (much cheaper and safer than haggling taxis)
- Crossing streets: Walk slowly, don't stop. Traffic flows around you.
- Cash for street food, cards for restaurants and hotels
- Tipping: Not expected; rounding up is fine
- Best time: November-April. May-October is the wet season.
- Daily budget: $40-100/day mid-range, $200+ for high-end
Plan your own Vietnam trip
Build a custom 10-day (or any duration) Vietnam itinerary with TripSketch — describe your interests (food, history, beaches, motorbikes) and our AI generates the full plan. Drag-and-drop to customize, share with your travel group, view everything on the map.