Here’s our 12-day itinerary for when you travel to Vietnam, where we explored the northern and central parts of the country. We’re sharing all the details of our route to help guide or inspire you if you're planning a trip to Vietnam with limited time. Hopefully, it gives you some ideas and helps you organize your adventure!
Please note that this is just an itinerary. You can find the full guide to Vietnam, with detailed information about each place and photos, by clicking here.
DAY 1
After arriving at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, we made our way to the hotel. We chose a place in the Old Quarter, as it’s the heart of the city and close to all the main attractions—definitely the best spot for getting around. Once settled in, we took advantage of a free walking tour around the Old Quarter to get a first taste of Vietnam and its culture. It was a perfect introduction to the city, filled with helpful tips and recommendations. We booked our tour through Guruwalk, and we'd suggest browsing their options to find one that suits you.
DAY 2
If you didn’t catch it on the free tour, start your day with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, where the iconic red bridge will lead you to Ngoc Son Temple—a peaceful escape in the middle of the city. Afterward, take a break at The Note Coffee, a charming café known for being covered in colorful post-it notes. Whether you go for a coffee or a refreshing smoothie, it’s a unique spot to relax.
From there, either walk for 40 minutes or grab a quick ride with Grab to Tran Quoc Pagoda, a stunning temple by the lake. Once you've explored the pagoda, head toward Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, passing by Quan Thanh Temple along the way. Near the mausoleum, don't miss the One Pillar Pagoda, a small yet historically significant site. And if you still have energy, the Temple of Literature is just a short distance away, offering more insight into Hanoi’s rich history.
And, if you’re really up for it, make your way to the famous Hanoi Train Street, where you can relax in one of the many cafés while waiting for the train to pass—a one-of-a-kind experience that’s well worth it.
DAY 3
On the third day, wake up early and head to the incense village of Quang Phu Cau. We visited Lang Làm Huong Do and loved it. The incense there is beautifully arranged, with vibrant colors and several staircases and platforms where you can climb up to take photos from above. It’s a truly picturesque spot.
Return to Hanoi in time for lunch, enjoy the local cuisine, and recharge before continuing your exploration. In the afternoon, we suggest visiting Hoa Lo Prison to learn more about the history of WWII and the country’s past. While strolling through the center of Hanoi, you can stop by St. Joseph’s Cathedral, catch a water puppet show, and if it’s a Friday through Sunday, wander through the lively night market for a perfect end to your day.
DAY 4
Start your day early to make the journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, ready to begin your three-day cruise adventure. We booked the transfer directly arranged by Genesis Regal Cruises. Upon arrival, check-in begins at 11:30 am, and by lunchtime, you’ll be settling into the dining room aboard the ship for a delicious meal as your luggage is taken to your cabin. In the early afternoon, you’ll head out in a smaller boat for a scenic ride through the stunning caves and lakes of Lan Ha Bay.
DAY 5
On the second day of the cruise, start your morning with a peaceful Tai Chi class, followed by breakfast. Then, you’ll set off for kayaking in another part of the beautiful Lang Ha Bay. After some time exploring the tranquil waters, return to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll board a smaller boat to head over to Cat Ba Island. Once there, you can either ride a bicycle or hop on an electric car to travel along a scenic route through rice fields and lush greenery on your way to a local village. Back on the ship, you can join a cooking class—in our case, we learned how to make Vietnamese spring rolls—and then enjoy some relaxation time before dinner.
DAY 6
On the third day of the cruise, begin with another Tai Chi class, followed by a relaxed breakfast. Then, it’s time to check out of the cruise, usually around 11:30 am. After leaving Ha Long Bay, you'll head straight to the airport in Hanoi for your flight to Da Nang. Once you land, grab a taxi or a ride arranged by your hotel to get to Hoi An. That evening, enjoy a nice dinner and a chill boat ride along the river, taking in the beautiful lantern-lit streets of Hoi An.
DAY 7
In the morning, either book a tour or head out on your own to explore the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, visit the Linh Ung Pagoda with the Lady Buddha statue, and check out the Am Phu caves. You can have lunch in Da Nang and have a walk around the city before heading back to Hoi An. Once there, book a free tour around the center of Hoi An to explore the most interesting spots while learning about the city’s history.
DAY 8
Spend the day at Sunworld theme park in Ba Na Hills. It’s about a one-hour drive from Hoi An. Once there, buy or validate your ticket (we recommend buying it in advance online or through your hotel) and take the cable car up to the park, which is located at the top of the mountain. The park opens at 8 am, so we suggest arriving there around 7:45 am. We recommend getting off at the first cable car stop to see the Golden Bridge with as few people as possible, as it gets crowded later on, making it hard to even cross. After exploring the bridge and the surrounding area, you can hop back on the cable car to head up to the highest part of the park and continue enjoying its amazing zones, attractions, and beautiful decorations.
DAY 9
In the morning, we booked a boat tour on the coconut river in the iconic bamboo basket boats, just 5 minutes from Hoi An. After lunch, we took part in a lantern-making class, which turned out to be the perfect souvenir to take home from Vietnam. Once we finished, we swung by the hotel to grab our bags and headed to Da Nang airport to catch our flight to Hanoi, arriving just in time for dinner. From there, we took a taxi arranged by our hotel to Ninh Binh and went straight to bed after a long day.
DAY 10
We got up early and took a Grab to Bai Dinh. This complex is massive and has so many attractions that you could easily spend a whole day there. We focused on the most famous spots until lunchtime, so with 3-4 hours, you can get a good visit in. After lunch, we took a Grab to the Hoa Lu Citadel, which you can explore fairly quickly. Since it was raining for most of the day, we decided to head back to the hotel.
DAY 11
To avoid the crowds, we got up early and headed to Mua Caves. Climbing all the steps to the top was definitely worth it for the stunning views of rivers and karst mountains—truly a natural wonder. After taking in the scenery and exploring the area, we visited Bich Dong Pagoda and enjoyed a great meal at one of the restaurants right in front of the entrance. In the afternoon, we went for a boat ride on the Tam Coc River, which is definitely a must-do in Ninh Binh. After the boat tour, we returned to the hotel to grab our bags and catch the last shared limousine of the day back to Hanoi, organized by the hotel. We checked into our Hanoi hotel and went out for our final Vietnamese dinner of the trip.
DAY 12
Our flight was early in the morning, so we got up at the hotel in Hanoi and headed to the airport. If your flight is later, you could take the opportunity to visit any remaining spots in Hanoi or extend your trip by a day in Ninh Binh if you enjoy nature and appreciate views of rice paddies, karst mountains, rivers, and so on.
This has been our itinerary. Feel free to reach out to us with any comments or questions you may have about planning your trip to Vietnam. We’re here to help! <3
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