Vietnam is one of the easiest, most rewarding first trips into Southeast Asia for Indian travellers — long and thin, it lines up its greatest hits along a single north-to-south spine, so even a short trip feels varied. This guide lays out a flexible Vietnam itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 days, the key stops from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta, and the practical stuff — flights, trains, Grab, best time to go and a realistic budget feel. For package options and seasonal advice, see our full Vietnam destination guide.
At a glance
| Trip Length | Suggested Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days (north) | Hanoi → Ha Long/Lan Ha → Ninh Binh → Sapa | Old Quarter, overnight cruise, rice terraces, karst landscapes |
| 7 days (north + centre) | Hanoi → Ha Long → fly to Da Nang/Hoi An | One cruise + lantern town if you'd rather skip Sapa |
| 10 days | Hanoi → Ha Long → Ninh Binh → Da Nang → Hoi An → Hue | North highlights plus central heritage and beaches |
| 14 days (full) | Hanoi → Sapa → Ha Long → Ninh Binh → Hoi An/Da Nang → Hue → HCMC → Mekong | The complete north-to-south run, end to end |
| Add-on: Sapa | 2 nights from Hanoi (sleeper bus/train + road) | Trekking, Hmong & Dao villages, terraced valleys |
| Add-on: Mekong Delta | Day trip or overnight from HCMC | Floating markets, river life, fruit orchards |
| Getting around | Domestic flights + sleeper trains + Grab | Fly the long hops, train the scenic ones, Grab in cities |
How the north-to-south route works
Vietnam stretches roughly 1,650 km from its northern border to the far south, and almost every iconic sight sits on or near the coast. The classic approach is to fly into Hanoi in the north and out of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south — an 'open-jaw' or multi-city ticket — so you never backtrack. From India, the cheapest routing is usually a one-stop flight via a regional hub; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both have plenty of connections, and flying into one and out of the other saves a full travel day.
Think of the country in three blocks. The north is culture and dramatic landscapes — Hanoi's Old Quarter, the limestone karsts of Ha Long and Ninh Binh, the rice terraces of Sapa. The centre is heritage and beaches — Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue. The south is energy and history — Ho Chi Minh City and the watery Mekong Delta. How many of these blocks you cover is simply a function of how many days you have.
7, 10 and 14-day itineraries
Here are three tried-and-tested skeletons. Treat the day counts as guidance — Vietnam rewards a slightly slower pace, and travel between regions eats time.
7 days — the north (or north + a taste of centre):
- Days 1–2: Hanoi — Old Quarter wandering, Hoan Kiem Lake, street food, egg coffee.
- Days 3–4: Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay or the quieter Lan Ha Bay (kayaking, caves, a night on the water).
- Day 5: Ninh Binh — boat through Tam Coc or Trang An, the 'Ha Long Bay on land'.
- Days 6–7: Either an overnight Sapa add-on for rice terraces and trekking, or fly to Da Nang/Hoi An for a beach-and-lanterns finish.
10 days — north + central heritage:
- Days 1–3: Hanoi + a Ha Long/Lan Ha overnight cruise.
- Day 4: Ninh Binh day trip or overnight.
- Days 5–7: Fly to Da Nang; base in Hoi An for the Ancient Town, lantern-lit evenings, a tailor fitting and a Ba Na Hills / Golden Bridge day.
- Days 8–9: Day trip or overnight to Hue for the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs.
- Day 10: Fly out of Da Nang, or onward to Ho Chi Minh City if you can stretch the trip.
14 days — the full north-to-south run:
- Days 1–2: Hanoi.
- Days 3–4: Sapa (sleeper train/bus up, trek the valleys, back to Hanoi).
- Days 5–6: Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise.
- Day 7: Ninh Binh.
- Days 8–10: Fly to Da Nang — Hoi An, Golden Bridge, beaches.
- Day 11: Hue.
- Days 12–13: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City — Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum.
- Day 14: Mekong Delta day trip, then fly home from HCMC.
The key stops, region by region
Hanoi is the cultural heart of the north. Lose an afternoon in the tangled lanes of the Old Quarter, circle Hoan Kiem Lake at dusk, and eat your way through pho, bun cha and the famous egg coffee. It's also the launch pad for Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sapa.
Ha Long Bay / Lan Ha Bay is the postcard — thousands of limestone islands rising out of jade water. An overnight cruise (kayaking, a cave or two, sunrise tai chi on deck) is worth the splurge; neighbouring Lan Ha Bay is quieter if you want fewer boats. Ninh Binh delivers similar karst drama on land, explored by sampan.
Sapa, high in the northwest, is terraced rice valleys and hill-tribe villages — best for trekking, cool air and big views, though clouds can roll in. Down in the centre, Hoi An is the trip's romantic core: a lantern-lit Ancient Town, riverside cafes and tailors who'll run up a custom outfit in a day or two. Nearby Da Nang adds long beaches and the Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge — the walkway cradled by giant stone hands. Hue, the old imperial capital, has the Citadel and the Nguyen-dynasty royal tombs.
In the south, Ho Chi Minh City hums with traffic and street life; the Cu Chi Tunnels (about 70 km northwest of the centre) and the sobering War Remnants Museum are the essential half-day visits. From here, the Mekong Delta — floating markets, fruit orchards and slow river life — makes a rewarding day trip or overnight.
Getting around: flights, trains and Grab
Because the country is so long, you'll mix transport modes. The golden rule: fly the long hops, take the train or road for the scenic short ones, and use Grab inside cities.
- Domestic flights: The Hanoi–Da Nang and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City legs are short, frequent and cheap — flying these saves a full day each versus the train. Book a few weeks ahead for the best fares.
- Sleeper trains: The Reunification Express runs the length of the country. The overnight Hanoi–Hue/Da Nang leg is a classic; soft-sleeper berths save a night's hotel and the coastal stretch near Hai Van Pass is gorgeous.
- Sleeper buses: Common for Hanoi–Sapa and shorter hops; cheap and surprisingly comfortable, with lie-flat berths.
- Grab: The ride-hailing app (cars and motorbike taxis) works in all the major cities — far simpler than haggling with taxis. Keep some cash and a local SIM/eSIM handy.
- Private transfers and cruises: For Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sapa, most travellers book a transfer or tour rather than self-driving.
Best time to go, visa and budget feel
Vietnam's length means there's no single 'best' season — the weather differs sharply north to south. As a rough guide, the north (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long) is most pleasant in spring (around Mar–Apr) and autumn (around Sep–Nov), with cool, dry-ish weather. The centre (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue) is driest roughly Feb–Aug, with a wetter, occasionally stormy stretch later in the year. The south (HCMC, Mekong) runs warm year-round with a dry season around Dec–Apr. If you're covering the whole country, spring and autumn are the safest all-round bets.
Visa for Indians (durable framing): Vietnam offers an electronic visa (e-visa) that most Indian passport holders apply for online before travelling. Rules, validity, fees and the list of eligible entry points change periodically, so check the current official e-visa rules and apply through the official government portal well before your trip rather than relying on older figures. Avoid third-party sites that charge a markup.
Budget feel: Vietnam is friendly on the wallet for Indian travellers. Local food, beer, intercity buses and trains are inexpensive; the bigger line items are international flights, an overnight Ha Long cruise and any domestic flights. A mid-range trip balances comfortable hotels with plenty of street-food meals; a higher budget buys boutique stays, a premium cruise cabin and private transfers. Exact costs shift with season and exchange rate, so treat any single number as indicative and price your specific dates. For a tailored quote and current package rates, see our Vietnam destination page.
Top sights
- Ha Long
Ha Long Bay
A UNESCO World Heritage seascape of thousands of limestone karst islands rising from emerald water, best experienced on an overnight cruise with kayaking and caves.
- Hoi An
Hoi An Ancient Town
A beautifully preserved former trading port, famous for its lantern-lit lanes, riverside cafes, custom tailors and atmospheric evenings — the romantic heart of central Vietnam.
- Cu Chi
Cu Chi Tunnels
An extensive underground network used during the war, now an open-air historical site about 70 km northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City and an essential half-day visit in the south.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a Vietnam trip?
Seven days covers the north well (Hanoi, a Ha Long cruise, Ninh Binh and either Sapa or a quick flight to Hoi An). Ten days adds central Vietnam's heritage and beaches. To go end to end — north, centre and south including the Mekong — give yourself around 14 days so you're not rushing.
Should I travel north to south or south to north?
Either works, but most travellers go north to south: fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City on a multi-city ticket. It follows the natural flow of the classic route and avoids backtracking. The direction matters less than booking an open-jaw international flight so you don't double back.
Do Indian travellers need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes — most Indian passport holders use Vietnam's online e-visa, applied for before travel through the official government portal. Validity, fees and eligible entry points change from time to time, so check the current official e-visa rules and apply a couple of weeks ahead. Avoid third-party sites that add a markup.
What's the best way to get between cities in Vietnam?
Mix modes: fly the long hops (Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–HCMC) to save a day each, take the scenic sleeper train or sleeper bus for shorter or coastal legs, and use the Grab app for getting around within cities. A local SIM or eSIM makes Grab and maps effortless.
Is Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay better for a cruise?
Both are stunning. Ha Long Bay is the famous, busier choice with the widest range of cruises; neighbouring Lan Ha Bay is quieter and less crowded, with similar karst scenery and good kayaking. If you want fewer boats around you, lean towards Lan Ha; an overnight cruise on either is worth the splurge.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
It depends on the region, since the country is so long. Spring (around March–April) and autumn (around September–November) are the safest all-round bets if you're covering north to south. The north is best in those shoulder seasons, central Vietnam is driest in the first half of the year, and the south is warm year-round.