2 Weeks in Vietnam Itinerary: The Perfect 14-Day Route

Last Updated: October 2026

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating countries, with bustling cities, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and a rich history. From the chaotic streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the charming lantern-filled streets of Hoi An and the spectacular limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, there’s so much to discover.

But with so many incredible places to visit, planning a two-week Vietnam itinerary can feel overwhelming. Where should you go, how long should you stay, and what’s the best way to travel between destinations?

During our trip, we travelled from south to north, exploring Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Bai Tu Long Bay. Along the way, we experienced some of Vietnam’s most memorable sights, from ancient temples and colourful markets to peaceful countryside and breathtaking coastal scenery.

Our original trip was slightly longer than two weeks, but we’ve adapted our route into a 14-day Vietnam itinerary to help you make the most of your time.

Here’s how to spend two unforgettable weeks in Vietnam!

Ho Chi Minh (2 nights)

We began our 2 weeks in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), flying there from Melbourne.  We arrived late afternoon, giving us really only two full days to explore Vietnam’s largest city and its economic centre. With 8.5 million inhabitants and so many motorbikes, at first, it was a big shock to the system! But we had a blast, especially while riding around the city on the back of a scooter, experiencing the crazy traffic up close. There are many ways to keep busy in Ho Chi Minh City and some of its must-see attractions are:

• Notre-Dame Cathedral
• War Remnants Museum
• Reunification Palace
• Saigon Skydeck in the Bitexco Financial Tower (for the best view in town!)
• Ben Than Market

Cu Chi Minh City (Half-day from Ho Chi Minh City)

While in Ho Chi Minh City, be sure to take a half day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels is an amazing experience because it gives you a sneak-peek at the underground life and the strength and tenacity of the Viet Cong soldiers during the war.

Alternatively, you can also take a day trip to the Mekong Delta. This part of South Vietnam is where the Mekong river splits into a maze of tributaries that eventually empty into the sea. It’s home to floating markets, Khmer pagodas and villages set amongst the rice paddies. It also goes by the name of the “rice bowl of Vietnam”!

Read more about Ho Chi Minh City.

Hoi An (4 nights)

Our second stop in our two week trip was the UNESCO World Heritage site and ancient town of Hoi An. To get to Hoi An we flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang, which has the nearest airport to Hoi An. We had arranged a private transfer from there to our hotel.

The drive from the airport to our hotel took around forty minutes. We fell in love at first sight with Hoi An. It’d be hard not to, it’s a truly magical town and one of the most beautiful and photogenic places in Vietnam. A trading port from the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An’s historic architecture has been extremely well-preserved. It’s a real gem and although most people only stay for a couple of days, we were glad we allowed more time there. We loved getting lost in its narrow and colourful streets and sipping Vietnamese coffee by the river. Of course the food in Hoi An is fantastic; after all, it is the food capital of Vietnam! Some of the best attractions in Hoi An are:

• The old town
• Japanese Covered Bridge
• Central and night markets
• The surrounding rice fields and countryside
• An Bang Beach

There are also some great day tours that you can take in the area around Hoi An, such as to the My Son Sanctuary or to the Marble Mountains. So make sure to allow a few days for those.

Learn about other great things to do in Hoi An.

My Son Sanctuary (a half-day trip from Hoi An)

The My Son Sanctuary is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, just over an hour’s drive outside of Hoi An. The sanctuary is an ancient Cham religious site from the 4th century and was dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva. The best time to visit the site is either at sunrise or after two in the afternoon. We visited at sunrise and it was worth getting up at 4 am for!

Read more about the My Son Sanctuary.

Hue (1 night)

The drive between Hoi An and Hue is one of the many highlights of Vietnam. The Hai Van pass offers spectacular sea and mountain views, but as it winds up and down the spur it can be quite scary. We’d recommend hiring a local driver or taking a tour so that you can enjoy the incredible views without having to concentrate on the multiple hairpin turns. It takes about three hours to reach Hue from Hoi An through the Hai Van pass.

Hue was once the imperial capital of Vietnam and it is filled with pagodas, emperor’s tombs and an ancient Citadel. If you organise yourself well you can see the main sights in one day. Some of the main attractions in Hue are:

• Imperial City
• Khai Dinh tomb
• Thien Mu Pagoda
• Perfume River

Read more about Hue.

Hanoi (2 nights)

North Vietnam was the last part of our two week trip and we transferred back to Danang airport for our early flight to Hanoi. We didn’t like Vietnam’s capital right away, but once we ditched the tourist map it became our favourite place in Vietnam.

The old quarter is the place to be in Hanoi and if you haven’t got a lot of time I’d recommend spending it all there. It’s the most chaotic part of the city, with its small alleyways, its street sellers, and its restaurants and bars where you sit outside with your friends on little plastic stools.

The old quarter is a fantastic place to observe the local street life. Our favourite pastime was looking out for the crazy things being carried on motorbikes. But that wasn’t all, you’ll see children playing soccer amongst the traffic, ladies washing their dishes on the sidewalk and hairdressers cutting their clients’ hair on the footpath. Hanoi has an incredible atmosphere; it’s chaotic, loud, weird and totally different from what we are used to as Westerners. That’s why we loved it so much. Some of the main attractions in Hanoi are:

• The Old Quarter
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• Hoan Kiem Lake
• Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton)
• Train Street

Read more about Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay/Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise (3 days 2 nights)

Ha Long Bay is one of the most visited places in Vietnam and it’s easy to see why. The sight of its towering limestone islands emerging from emerald waters is truly breathtaking. Of course, everyone visiting Vietnam wants to experience it which has led to it becoming very touristy. If you dislike crowds then you might be disappointed.

However, there is an alternative to beat the crowds. It’s called Bai Tu Long Bay and it’s in a quieter part of Halong Bay. Only a few companies are licensed to sail on Bai Tu Long Bay which means that you can enjoy the view without flotillas of boats obstructing it.

After a lot of research, we decided to use one of those companies and booked our cruise with Indochina Junk. We had the perfect three days, a beautiful boat, amazing scenery, delicious food and many activities were included, like kayaking around the islands, visiting a cave, a floating fishing village and a pearl farm. We even had lunch on a deserted beach. It wasn’t the cheapest alternative but it was worth every penny.

Read more about our cruise on Bai Tu Long Bay.

Finish back in Hanoi (2 nights)

After our last afternoon in Halong Bay we were driven back to our hotel in Hanoi to enjoy another three nights before flying home. We spent another day enjoying life in the old quarter, eating delicious Vietnamese food and drinking egg coffee and Bia Hoi (Vietnamese light beers) outside on plastic stools. We also booked a day trip to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and nearby Tam Coc.

Ninh Binh, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu (1 day trip from Hanoi)

On our last day in Vietnam we visited the province of Ninh Binh, a couple of hours from Hanoi. Ninh Binh is also known as Halong Bay on land because of its limestone karst and caves. Unfortunately, we were very unlucky to have torrential rain for most of the trip but we still managed to enjoy it.

We first visited the ancient capital of Hoa Lu which is nestled amongst sheer mountain cliffs with a river meandering past it. We didn’t think the temples themselves were that exciting but the surrounding scenery made the visit worthwhile.

After Hoa Lu we made our way to Tam Coc (meaning three caves) where we were meant to go on a bicycle trip through the countryside. Sadly, with so much rain pouring down we decided to pass on the bike ride. We did, however, take a sampan boat trip on the river. Even in the pouring rain, the boat ride was spectacular, the surrounding scenery was awe-inspiring and the caves were a lovely five-minute relief from the weather!

Accommodation

Use the search box below to find your accommodation in Vietnam:

Best Time to Visit Vietnam

The best time to visit Vietnam depends on which part of the country you’re exploring. With such a long coastline, the weather varies considerably between the north, centre and south.

• Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay): March to April and October to November generally offer pleasant temperatures and good conditions for sightseeing. Winters can be surprisingly cool, while summers are hot, humid and rainy.
• Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang): February to May is ideal, with warmer temperatures and generally drier weather. Heavy rainfall, flooding and typhoons can affect the region between September and December.
• Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta): December to April is the dry season and generally the best time to visit. May to November brings higher humidity and frequent tropical downpours.

Our recommendation: If you’re following this two-week Vietnam itinerary from south to north, March and early April offer one of the best compromises for enjoying all three regions.

Vietnam is still a fantastic destination year-round, but it’s worth checking the seasonal weather patterns before planning your trip.

Some travel tips for your first trip to Vietnam

Money

Vietnam’s official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). ATMs are widely available in cities and most towns, although they can be harder to find in rural areas.

ATM withdrawal limits and fees vary between banks. Many machines limit withdrawals to 2–5 million VND per transaction, while some, such as VPBank, allow larger withdrawals and may offer fee-free transactions for foreign cards.

Always check the ATM fees before withdrawing money and choose to be charged in Vietnamese Dong rather than your home currency to avoid unfavourable conversion rates.

Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops, but cash is still essential for street food, markets, small businesses and rural areas.

Visas for Vietnam

Vietnam now offers electronic visas (e-visas) to travellers of all nationalities, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entries.

The current visa fees are US$25 for a single-entry visa and US$50 for multiple entries. You can apply online through the official Vietnam e-visa website.

Citizens of several countries, including France, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. However, Australian passport holders still need a visa.

Your passport should have at least six months’ validity remaining when entering Vietnam.

Always check the latest visa requirements for your nationality before travelling, as entry rules can change.

Dress Code

Although the dress code is more relaxed in the major cities, it is best to dress more conservatively when visiting rural areas. When visiting temples and mosques, cover your shoulders and do not wear shorts or skirts above your knees.

Language

Vietnamese is Vietnam’s official language. Although many locals working in the tourism industry or living in touristy areas speak English, don’t expect everyone to. Try and learn some basic Vietnamese to communicate with the locals.

Safety

Vietnam is a very safe country to travel in, even for single female travellers. Both locals and the government welcome foreigners because tourism is very important for developing their country. But you do need to look out for petty theft. Be especially careful when walking outside with your handbags, cameras and phones. The most common type of theft is perpetrated by bag snatchers on motorbikes.

How to Get Around Vietnam

Vietnam has an extensive transport network, making it relatively easy and affordable to travel between destinations.

By Plane

Flying is the quickest way to cover long distances, with regular domestic flights connecting major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. Airlines including Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet offer frequent services, often at reasonable prices when booked in advance.

By Bus

Buses are one of the cheapest ways to travel around Vietnam. Options range from local buses and tourist minibuses to comfortable sleeper buses for longer journeys. However, road journeys can be slow, so allow plenty of travel time.

By Train

Vietnam’s railway network connects many major destinations, including Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. Trains are generally affordable and offer a scenic alternative to flying, with air-conditioned seats and sleeper cabins available on longer routes.

Getting Around Cities

Grab is widely available in major cities and is a convenient way to book cars or motorbike taxis without negotiating fares. Walking is also a great way to explore places like Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Hoi An’s Ancient Town.

Alternative Itineraries

While this two week trip will expose you to much of what Vietnam has to offer, maybe you want something a bit different.

For example if you’re a keen hiker, you might be keen for some trekking in Sapa. In that case you could  spend slightly less time in either Hoi An or Hanoi and organise a trekking tour to Sapa from Hanoi.

If you only have time for a one week trip to Vietnam, we’d suggest focusing on either north or south Vietnam, rather than trying to do both in one go.

A one week itinerary to south Vietnam would focus on Ho Chi Minh city and Hoi An, while a one week itinerary to north Vietnam would focus on Hanoi, a Halong Bay cruise and trekking in Sapa.

More Information

For full details on each of the destinations mentioned here, please check out the articles below:

This is How to Spend 48 Hours in Ho Chi Minh City

10 Things You Should do in Hoi An, Vietnam’s City of Lanterns

Our Sunrise Trip to The My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam

What to See on a Short Visit to Vietnam’s Last Imperial City, Hue

8 Reasons Why we Loved the Chaotic City of Hanoi

Cruising Bai Tu Long Bay, A Less Touristy Alternative to Halong Bay