Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
The length of Vietnam
The route we recommend most often
If someone asks us for one Vietnam itinerary without knowing anything about them, this is it. Fourteen days is the shortest length at which all three regions get proper time, and the route is shaped so that no day is only a transfer.
Overview
Why fourteen days is the honest minimum
Vietnam is 1,650 kilometres long, and a first trip that tries to see all of it in ten days spends too much time moving. At fourteen days the maths changes. Four bases of two or three nights each, two flights, and two single-night detours — the delta and the bay — which exist because staying overnight is the only way to see those places at the right hour.
The trade-offs are stated up front: no northern mountains, no Phong Nha, and no beach days beyond a free afternoon at An Bang. If any of those matter more than a second night on the bay, we will swap. The table below shows what that costs.
- Length
- 14 days, 13 nights
- Bases
- Saigon, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi
- Extra nights
- Delta homestay, two on the bay
- Flights
- Saigon–Da Nang, Hue–Hanoi
- Longest drive
- 3 hours
- Pace
- Even, with free afternoons
Nights
Where you sleep
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive in Saigon
A first iced coffee
Pick-up at Tan Son Nhat. The evening is free; if you have energy, a walk to the Opera House and the river.
Day 2
Saigon on foot
The museum, taken slowly
A morning walk through the colonial centre and Ben Thanh market, the Independence Palace, and the War Remnants Museum after lunch, when the streets are too hot anyway.
Day 3
The tunnels at Ben Duoc
The forest trail above the tunnels
Away at 07:00, at the tunnels before the crowds, back by 13:00. The afternoon is yours.
Day 4
To a delta homestay
The island after dark, without traffic
Two and a half hours to Vinh Long, then a boat to An Binh island. Bicycle lanes, a sampan through the canals and dinner cooked with the family you stay with.
Day 5
Back to Saigon, fly to Da Nang
The market as it opens
An early boat across to the morning market in Vinh Long, then the drive to the airport and a flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes. Hoi An by evening.
Day 6
Hoi An old town
The Chinese assembly halls
At 07:00 with the guide, when the houses open and the streets are quiet. Afternoon free for the tailors or a bicycle.
Day 7
My Son, and the beach
My Son at 06:30
The Cham sanctuary at opening time, back by late morning, and an afternoon at An Bang beach.
Day 8
The Hai Van pass to Hue
The view from the summit
Three hours over the pass with stops. In Hue by early afternoon and on the river to Thien Mu pagoda for sunset.
Day 9
The citadel and the tombs
Khai Dinh’s mosaic hall
The imperial city in the morning; Minh Mang and Khai Dinh after lunch.
Day 10
Fly to Hanoi
The Temple of Literature
A morning flight of about 1 hour 10 minutes. Lunch in the Old Quarter and the Temple of Literature in the afternoon.
Day 11
Out to the bay
The first evening on deck
Two and a half hours to the harbour, aboard by midday, and an afternoon among the islands.
Day 12
The second day on the bay
The empty far end of the bay
The reason for two nights. When the one-night boats turn for the harbour, you go further out to the quieter end of the bay for kayaking, a fishing village and a beach stop.
Day 13
Back to Hanoi
The quiet second morning
Sunrise, brunch, disembark about 11:00, and Hanoi by mid-afternoon. A farewell dinner if you want one.
Day 14
Departure
One more bowl of pho
Free until your transfer to Noi Bai.
Choices
What you can swap in, and what it costs
| If you want | Swap it for | What you lose |
|---|---|---|
| Phong Nha caves | The second bay night and the free Saigon day | The quiet second morning on the bay |
| Sapa or Ninh Binh | Both bay nights | The bay, entirely |
| Beach days | My Son and one Hue night | The tombs at an easy pace |
| The DMZ | The Hai Van drive (take the train instead) | Nothing much; Hue gains a night |
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 1695 | from 2120 | from 3220 |
| 4 travelling | from 1390 | from 1735 | from 2640 |
| 6 travelling | from 1255 | from 1570 | from 2385 |
The second bay night is the biggest single cost after the hotels. Taking one night on the bay and an extra night in Hanoi lowers the price by a noticeable amount. We think the second night is worth it, but it is your money.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Private car and driver throughout, including every transfer
- English-speaking guides: ours in Saigon and the delta, partner guides in Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi
- Thirteen nights: your chosen tier on land, a private room at the homestay, a cabin on the bay
- Saigon–Da Nang and Hue–Hanoi flights in economy
- Meals as listed, entrance fees, kayaks and all boats
What it does not include
- International flights and visas
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, tips and meals not listed
- Optional extras such as tailoring or spa treatments
Timing
Choosing your month
● ideal · ◐ workable · ○ poor.
Late January to April is the best fit for this direction: dry at both ends of the south and centre, and Hanoi warming through March. May to August works but is hot everywhere, with afternoon storms in Saigon; the bay starts to see typhoon closures from July. September to November is excellent in the south and the north but crosses the central storm season, so we build in a spare day. December and January: run it north to south.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Returning visitors, who have seen the headline places and will find this too familiar. People who want trekking or the mountains, since the northern highlands are not on it. Anyone who dislikes homestays: the delta night is simple, with a private room but basic facilities, and although we can replace it with a hotel in Can Tho, the island night is the point. And travellers who want to move every day. This route stays put more than it moves.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Why not Hue to Hanoi by road?
It is twelve to fourteen hours of mostly dull road. The flight takes just over an hour and gives you a free afternoon in Hanoi.
Is the homestay comfortable?
You get a private room with a fan or air conditioning, mosquito nets and a shared or private bathroom, depending on the house. It is simple and clean, not luxurious.
Can we start in Hanoi instead?
Yes. The route reverses cleanly, and that is the better way round in December and January.
Related
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Example journey
Vietnam in depth
Saigon to Ha Giang in three weeks, including Phong Nha and the DMZ.
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Tours
Tours
Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
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Start planning
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Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.
Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399