How many days do you need in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi & Ha Long Bay?
- Most travelers spend 6-7 days in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay combined
- Visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay in 5 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 8 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Hoi An and Hue
How Many Days to Spend in Vietnam
Recommended Itineraries for Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi & Ha Long Bay
Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, City Tour | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 2 | Mekong Delta Day Trip | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Hanoi, City Tour | Hanoi |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Junk Boat Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay |
| Day 5 | Cruise Bai Tu Long Bay, Return to Hanoi | Hanoi |
| Day 6 | Depart Hanoi |
Discover Vietnam's highlights on this compact six-day tour. Start by exploring the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City before escaping to the lush Mekong Delta to sail along peaceful waterways and visit local villages. Continue to the capital, Hanoi, where tasty street food, colonial architecture, and water puppet shows await. The adventure ends with an overnight cruise on the emerald waters of UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
9-Day Itinerary Including Hoi An
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi, Explore | Hanoi |
| Day 2 | Hanoi Full-Day City Tour & Water Puppet Show | Hanoi |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class | Hanoi |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay |
| Day 5 | Visit Dark & Light Cave, Transfer to Hoi An | Hoi An |
| Day 6 | Hoi An Countryside Tour & Food Walk | Hoi An |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, Guided Tour | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Mekong Delta | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 9 | Depart Ho Chi Minh City |
Travel the length of Vietnam on an epic nine-day highlights tour you won't soon forget. In the capital of Hanoi, you'll dive into the culture, cuisine, and history with walking tours and cooking classes. After cruising the jade waters of Ha Long Bay, you'll experience the ancient culture of Hoi An before continuing south to Ho Chi Minh City, which will be your base for one final adventure to the Mekong Delta. Read more
10-Day Itinerary Including Hoi An & Hue
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi, Explore | Hanoi |
| Day 2 | Cycling Tour of Rural Villages, Cultural Tour of Hanoi | Hanoi |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay |
| Day 4 | Ha Long Bay Kayaking, Fly to Hanoi & Transfer to Hue | Hue |
| Day 5 | Imperial City Tour, Boat & Bike Ride to Rural Villages | Hue |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Hoi An via Da Nang, Explore the Ancient Town | Hoi An |
| Day 7 | Visit Fishing Villages, Basket River Ride & Cycling | Hoi An |
| Day 8 | Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vespa Tour | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 9 | Boat Trip & Cycling Tour on the Mekong Delta | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 10 | Depart Ho Chi Minh City |
You can't see all of Vietnam in 10 days—but this itinerary gives it a good go! Starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll thread your way down the country, getting the most out of the trip on a diverse set of guided tours. Collect the memories of a lifetime, from an overnight cruise on the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay to discovering the ancient sites of Hoi An and Hue and floating down a river in giant baskets. Read more
How to travel between Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi & Ha Long Bay
How to get from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
If you're looking to make the 108-mile (174 km) journey from Hanoi to scenic Ha Long Bay—a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its limestone pillars and small, verdant islands—you have three efficient options. Read more
How to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Vietnam's two major cities, Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the north are about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) apart. The easiest way to get to Hanoi is a direct two-hour flight, and there are multiple flights out of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport each day. Read more
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