Going north to south traces the country's story, from Hanoi's old refinement to Hue's imperial grandeur, Hoi An's artistic soul and Ho Chi Minh City's nonstop energy.
Is 10 days enough for Vietnam? Yes, if you fly between regions. Spend three days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, two in Hue, two in Hoi An and three in Ho Chi Minh City. Domestic flights and private drivers save you long overland days, and March or April gives you good weather from top to bottom.
Key facts
- Best months: March and April work for the whole route.
- Getting there: fly into Hanoi's Noi Bai airport and out of Saigon's Tan Son Nhat. Nonstop SFO to Ho Chi Minh City is about 16 hours.
- Entry: U.S. citizens need a visa; the official e-visa is $25 single entry (as of October 2026).
- Where to stay: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Four Seasons The Nam Hai, The Reverie Saigon.
- Our trip: the group Vietnam Experience runs eleven days, Saigon to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Da Nang.
This is a sample 10-day route for a private trip. Our group Vietnam Experience runs a little differently: eleven days that start in Saigon, then fly to Hanoi, sail two nights on Ha Long Bay, and finish in Da Nang with a day in Hoi An.
Days 1 to 3: Hanoi, The Elegant North
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport. Private transfer to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a hotel that has hosted heads of state and literary legends. Its wartime bomb shelter, rediscovered in 2011, is part of the hotel's history tour.
Afternoon: Rest, then an easy walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. The lake is Hanoi's spiritual center, with the legend of the returned sword, the Turtle Tower and the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. It's a lovely first look at the city's history.
Evening: Welcome dinner in the French Quarter, with northern Vietnamese food: delicate, herbal and refined.
Day 2: Old Quarter & Street Food
Morning: Walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter, famous for its "36 streets," each traditionally tied to one trade. Your local guide leads you through narrow alleys, hidden temples and family workshops that have run for generations.
Late morning: Street food with a Hanoian guide who knows the story behind every stall worth visiting. You'll eat bun cha (the grilled pork and noodle dish that made headlines when Obama visited), pho at a beloved local shop, and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls with mushroom filling) made in front of you at impressive speed.
Afternoon: Vietnamese cooking class with a market visit and hands-on cooking.
Evening: Water puppet theater (a Hanoian art form dating to the 11th century), then egg coffee at a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 3: Ha Long Bay
Morning: Private transfer to Ha Long Bay (roughly 2.5 to 3 hours on the expressway). Board your luxury boat for an overnight cruise through the limestone karsts.
Afternoon: Kayak through caves to hidden lagoons. Swim in green water. Lunch on deck as the boat glides between limestone formations shaped over millions of years.
Evening: Cooking demonstration by the onboard chef, then dinner on deck. Sunrise tai chi the next morning is optional but worth it.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay & Fly to Hue
Morning: Last morning on the bay. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi for an afternoon flight to Hue.
Afternoon: Arrive in Hue, the former imperial capital, and check into a boutique hotel on the Perfume River. The mood shifts right away. Hue is quieter and more reflective, still carrying its royal past.
Evening: Dinner featuring Hue's imperial cuisine, with smaller, more detailed dishes that come from the royal kitchens. Bun bo Hue (the spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup) is served here in its original form.
Day 5: Hue, Imperial Grandeur
Photo: Veronica Reverse / Unsplash
Morning: The Imperial City, a vast complex of palaces, temples and gardens modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City. Much of it was damaged during the war, but the restoration is extraordinary, and the scale tells you how ambitious the Nguyen Dynasty was.
Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story pagoda above the Perfume River that has become the symbol of Hue.
Afternoon: The royal tombs. Each emperor's tomb is a full complex of gardens, pavilions and lakes that reflects the man buried there. Tu Duc's tomb, with its pine forest and lotus ponds, is the most atmospheric.
Evening: At leisure. Hue moves slowly at night, and the riverfront is beautiful for a quiet walk.
Days 6 and 7: Hoi An, The Golden Town
Photo: Hieu Do Quang / Unsplash
Day 6: Transfer & Arrival
Morning: Drive from Hue to Hoi An over the Hai Van Pass, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatic coastal roads. We stop at the summit for photos.
Afternoon: Check into Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. Take your first walk through Hoi An's ancient town: the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Chinese assembly halls and the centuries-old merchant houses that earned the town its UNESCO listing.
Evening: Dinner at a riverfront restaurant, watching the lanterns glow along the Thu Bon River.
Day 7: A Full Day in Hoi An
Morning: Cooking class with ingredients from Hoi An's central market. You might learn cao lau (a noodle dish unique to Hoi An, traditionally made with water from the old Ba Le well), banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese crepes) and fresh spring rolls.
Afternoon: Custom tailoring (Hoi An's tailors are famous for turning around pieces in a day or two), a bicycle ride through the countryside, or beach time at An Bang Beach.
Evening: If your visit falls on the 14th day of the lunar month, tonight is the Full Moon Lantern Festival. The old town dims its electric lights, and silk lanterns and floating candles turn Hoi An into something from a dream.
Days 8 to 10: Ho Chi Minh City, The Electric South
Photo: Leonie Clough / Unsplash
Day 8: Arrival & Saigon Energy
Morning: Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Check into The Reverie Saigon, bold and opulent and a perfect match for the city.
Afternoon: A motorbike tour of the city. Yes, on the back of a motorbike, with a professional driver, through streets, markets and neighborhoods that cars can't reach. It's the most exhilarating way to see Saigon, and nervous riders often finish wanting another lap.
Evening: Street food tour through District 4 and District 1: banh mi, com tam (broken rice), fresh spring rolls, and Saigon beer at a sidewalk bar where plastic stools and great food are the only amenities.
Day 9: History & Modernity
Morning: The Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground network used during the war. It's tight, claustrophobic and important. Your guide puts the history in context with nuance and respect for both sides.
Afternoon: The War Remnants Museum. Allow at least two hours. The Agent Orange and photojournalism galleries are some of the most powerful exhibits you'll see anywhere.
Evening: Farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant over Saigon's skyline. We put it on the same day as the tunnels on purpose, because Saigon's energy after a heavy morning tells you a lot about how this country looks forward.
Day 10: Departure
Morning: At leisure for a last coffee, a last pho and a last walk through the city.
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
What's Included on Our Group Trip
The route above is a sample. Our group Vietnam Experience includes:
- 3 nights at The Reverie Saigon, 2 nights at Capella Hanoi, 2 nights on the Essence Grand superyacht in Ha Long Bay, and 3 nights at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula
- Domestic flights (Saigon to Hanoi, Hanoi to Da Nang), private airport transfers and all ground transportation
- Daily breakfast, a Saigon welcome dinner, and a French farewell dinner above the East Sea
- Saigon foodie tour, Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta, and a Hanoi street food tour
- Hoi An cooking class with market visit and a lantern-making workshop
- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
- Daily concierge support, with your Tour Host on hand during the cruise
Ready for Vietnam?
Before you go, read what nobody tells you about traveling to Vietnam, why the food scene is worth the flight and what to wear in Vietnam.
Our Vietnam Experience is eleven days with the hotels, flights and guides already handled, so all you have to do is eat well and rest.
Claire B. Soares is a 6X Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist and the founder of Caviar in the Air.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Itinerary