10-day itinerary
10 Days in Vietnam
Ten days is the classic Vietnam trip length. You'll cover Hanoi (2 nights), Ninh Binh (1), Ha Long Bay (1 night cruise), Hoi An (3), and Ho Chi Minh City (2) — north to south by two short domestic flights. Move fast but not hectic; this is the itinerary most first-timers actually enjoy.
Ten days is the classic Vietnam trip length. You'll cover Hanoi (2 nights), Ninh Binh (1), Ha Long Bay (1 night cruise), Hoi An (3), and Ho Chi Minh City (2) — north to south by two short domestic flights. Move fast but not hectic; this is the itinerary most first-timers actually enjoy.
At a glance
| Day | Location | Notes | |---|---|---| | 1 | Hanoi | Arrive, Old Quarter | | 2 | Hanoi | Full city day | | 3 | Ninh Binh | Transfer, Trang An | | 4 | Ninh Binh → Hanoi → Ha Long | Sunrise Mua Cave, fly Ha Long late afternoon* | | 5 | Ha Long cruise | Overnight on boat | | 6 | Ha Long → Hanoi → fly Da Nang → Hoi An | Long transfer day | | 7 | Hoi An | Old Town | | 8 | Hoi An | Beach or My Son sunrise | | 9 | Fly to HCMC | Afternoon in District 1 | | 10 | HCMC | War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi half day, fly home |
*Book cruise pickup for day 5 instead and spend day 4 afternoon in Hanoi if you prefer a calmer pace.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Vietnam?
Enough for the classic route (north, centre, south) without Sapa or the Mekong Delta. For those, plan 14 days.
North to south or south to north?
North to south is standard — it ends with warm weather in Saigon and flatter travel. South to north works equally well and is sometimes cheaper for international flights.
Should I fly or take the train in Vietnam?
Fly the long legs (Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Saigon) — 1-hour flights for $30–60 vs 14–18 hour trains. Take the train Hue–Da Nang for the coastal scenery (2.5 hours).