2 Weeks in Vietnam - 5 Unique Itineraries

Itinerary #1: Highlight Tour - Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

On this 14-day tour, you'll begin in the south and work your way north, stopping along the way at the Mekong Delta, Hội An, Huế, Hạ Long Bay, the capital of Hanoi, and many more exotic locales.

The adventure begins in southern Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Over two days you'll tour historic highlights like the Viet Cong tunnel network at Củ Chi, plus visit temples unique to the region. Then, on day three, you'll leave the city for a boat ride on the famous Mekong Delta where you'll visit floating river markets and enjoy bicycle tours around the unspoiled countryside. 

On day four you'll fly north to Da Nang and drive a short distance down the coast to Hội An, located at the mouth of the Thu Bồn River. A tour of this historic port city includes stops at local meeting halls and old covered bridges plus fishing excursions on the river in traditional basket boats. An unforgettable day trip on day six involves a visit to a mountaintop theme park in the Bà Nà Hills followed by a free day before traveling to the imperial city of Huế.

Once the capital of Vietnam, Huế sits on the Perfume River and is home to the Imperial City, a walled citadel built in 1804 that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On day nine you'll tour the ancient mausoleum and final resting place of emperors from the Nguyễn Dynasty before flying to the current capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. Not only will you enjoy cultural tours of the city's museums and colonial Old Quarter, but you'll also take a cycling tour of rural villages around the countryside.

On day 11 you'll travel to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where you'll embark on a two-night cruise around Hạ Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands. On this cruise, you'll dine on great seafood, witness beautiful sunrises, and make stops for swimming in the lagoons and exploring sea caves. On day 13 you'll return to Hanoi for one last night before departing Vietnam. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Vietnam Off the Beaten Track

Enjoy Vietnam's highlight cities but also go off the tourist trail on this 14-day excursion to mountain towns, country villages, organic farms, and remote islands. 

Before heading off the beaten path, you'll arrive in Hanoi and discover the city on a walking tour. On day three you'll visit the nearby countryside and tour the rice fields and tea plantations. Then you'll hike between country villages before transferring to Sapa. There's more hiking in store here, as you'll travel around the region, stopping in villages and making your way to high viewpoints where you can admire the incredible mountain scenery.

On day seven you'll travel to Lào Cai Province, another unspoiled mountain region. Besides visiting the local markets of ethnic village residents, you'll do more hiking, this time around family farms that date back over 200 years. After transferring back to Hanoi, on day nine you'll head to Lan Ha Bay, located just south of Hạ Long Bay, and take an overnight cruise to Cát Bà Island, the largest island in the entire archipelago.

On day 10 you'll transfer from Hanoi to Hội An and see the sights in its historic Ancient Town. Beyond that, you'll take a tour to a nearby organic farm followed by a ride down the Do River in traditional basket boats. Next up is a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, and a ride down the Mekong, stopping at a coconut processing plant as well as villages where locals make rice cakes by hand. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Family Adventure in Vietnam

This family-friendly vacation covers a north-south route and includes excursions in the mountainous northwest region plus hikes and cycling trips around country villages and along the Thu Bồn River.

You and the family will arrive in Hanoi. After a packed city tour on day two, you'll take an overnight train to the far northwest of the country and the gorgeous mountain town of Sapa. This will be your home base for a few days, during which time you'll hike amid terraced rice paddies, visit Hmong ethnic villages, travel over high mountain passes with incredible views, and see beautiful waterfalls. You'll then return to Hanoi and then head to Hạ Long Bay for an overnight cruise over emerald waters.

Upon your return to Hanoi you'll have day seven free, and on day eight catch a flight south to Huế. A tour on the day you arrive includes stops at the Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Tomb of Tự Đức, a waterfront mausoleum built in 1867 for the Nguyễn Emperor Tự Đứcs. On day nine you'll go sightseeing on the Thu Bồn River near Hội An followed by a bicycle tour of the rural river communities and visits to their organic farms. Day 11 is a free day in Hội An.

From Hội An you and your family will transfer to Ho Chi Minh City and take a tour on day 13. This includes not only the tunnels at Củ Chi but historic city landmarks like the 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral, which was actually built with materials imported from France. On day 14 you'll embark on a day trip down the Mekong River and a bike excursion through country coconut groves before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for your trip home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Heritage of Vietnam & Thailand

This combined Vietnam and Thailand itinerary covers the highlights of both countries, including stops in Hanoi and Bangkok, plus exciting excursions like visiting an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and exploring the caves of Hạ Long Bay. 

Your grand tour of Southeast Asia begins in Hanoi. A tour includes stops at the oldest Buddhist temple in the city plus the Vietnam Military Museum. On day three you'll transfer to the coast and Hạ Long Bay to visit floating villages, unspoiled beaches, and the largest cave in the region, Sung Sot. Day four is a travel day from Hanoi to Hội An followed by a walking tour of historic landmarks in its Ancient Town on day five. The next day you'll visit countryside villages on a combined cycling/kayak tour. 

On Day seven you'll travel to Ho Chi Minh City and discover it right off on an exciting Vespa/food tour. Day eight involves a more traditional city tour of historic highlights like the Opera House and Independence Palace, the former home of the president of South Vietnam. After a day trip on the Mekong, you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City on day 10 and catch a flight to the next country on the itinerary: Thailand. Upon arriving you'll hop on a long-tail boat for a ride on the Chao Phraya River.

On day 11 you'll get an in-depth introduction to the delicious flavors that have conquered the world with a Thai cooking class. The next day is an excursion to Ayutthaya, the ruins of an ancient city that was one of the capitals of the Siamese Kingdom from the 14th-18th centuries. Then you'll hop an overnight train to northern Thailand and Chiang Mai, where on days 13 and 14 you'll tour ancient temples and visit an elephant sanctuary to see these incredible animals up close. Learn more 

Itinerary #5: Discover Vietnam & Cambodia

This multi-country itinerary is similar to the last except it swaps Thailand for Cambodia, an equally beautiful country home to Angkor Wat, the largest historic temple site in the world. 

Spend the first few days enjoying Hanoi and its landmarks like West Lake, the 11th-century Temple of Literature, and the oldest municipal market in the city, Hang Be. After an overnight excursion to Hạ Long Bay, on day four you'll fly to Hội An for a trip down the Thu Bồn River and a visit to city cultural sites like the Phung Hung House, a Chinese trading house built in 1780. Day six is particularly special as you'll travel to a countryside market and pick up produce for a cooking class.

After a free day, you'll next fly to Ho Chi Minh city for a tour and a boat trip on the Mekong to the gardens and villages of the area. On day 11 you'll fly to Siem Riep. Located in northwest Cambodia, this town is adjacent to Angkor, once the capital of the Khmer Kingdom from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The next day you'll tour ruins like the temple complex of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, a city dating to the 12th century. The trip culminates with a visit to a floating village on nearby Tonlé Sap Lake. Learn more

More Great Vietnam Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Vietnam? Check out these other Vietnam itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.