Vietnam itineraries by place
A day-by-day plan for each place: the order to see things in, how long each takes, opening hours and entry fees, how to get from one stop to the next, and a map of every day.
North Vietnam
Hanoi in 3 daysDay 1: Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo and the Old QuarterDay 2: Ba Dinh, the Imperial Citadel and West LakeDay 3: Museum of Ethnology, the French Quarter museums and Long Bien Bridge
Ha Long Bay in 2 daysDay 1: Route 2: Ti Top Island, Sung Sot Cave and Hang LuonDay 2: Route 1: Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go and Hong Gai
Sa Pa in 3 daysDay 1: Fansipan, Cat Cat village and Sa Pa townDay 2: The Muong Hoa valley walk to Lao Chai and Ta VanDay 3: Silver Waterfall, the O Quy Ho pass and Sa Pa market
Ha Giang Loop in 4 daysDay 1: Ha Giang city to Yen Minh, about 100 kmDay 2: Yen Minh to Dong Van via Lung Cu, about 100 kmDay 3: Dong Van to Du Gia via Ma Pi Leng, about 100 kmDay 4: Du Gia back to Ha Giang city, about 85 km
Ninh Binh in 2 daysDay 1: Trang An, Hoa Lu and Hang MuaDay 2: Tam Coc, Thai Vi, Bich Dong and Thung Nham
Central Vietnam
Phong Nha in 3 daysDay 1: Paradise Cave and the Phong Nha Cave boatDay 2: Chay River, Dark Cave and Nuoc Mooc springDay 3: Botanic Garden waterfall and the Bong Lai valley
Hue in 3 daysDay 1: Imperial City, Dong Ba Market and the river at nightDay 2: The royal tombs and Thien Mu by dragon boatDay 3: Royal Antiquities Museum, An Dinh Palace and Thanh Toan Bridge
Da Nang in 2 daysDay 1: My Khe, the Marble Mountains, Han Market and the Dragon BridgeDay 2: Ba Na Hills for the day
Hoi An in 3 daysDay 1: The Ancient Town, the market and the lanternsDay 2: My Son at dawn, Thanh Ha pottery and An Bang beachDay 3: The Cham Islands, a last fitting and the Memories Show
Quy Nhon in 2 daysDay 1: Eo Gio, Ky Co and the Nhon Ly peninsulaDay 2: Cham towers, the promenade and the Ngo Van So food stalls
South Vietnam
Nha Trang in 2 daysDay 1: Po Nagar towers, Long Son Pagoda, a mud bath and the food streetsDay 2: Hon Mun reef and an evening at VinWonders
Da Lat in 3 daysDay 1: The Trai Mat train, Crazy House, Datanla falls and the night marketDay 2: Lang Biang, a K'Ho coffee farm and Truc Lam monasteryDay 3: Pongour falls, Linh An Pagoda and Bao Dai's palace
Ho Chi Minh City in 3 daysDay 1: War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and the colonial centreDay 2: Cu Chi tunnels, the Jade Emperor Pagoda and Metro Line 1Day 3: Cholon's market, temples and church, then two museums
Mekong Delta in 2 daysDay 1: Cai Rang floating market at dawn and the Binh Thuy ancient houseDay 2: Con Son islet's orchards and the old riverside market
Phu Quoc in 3 daysDay 1: Sao Beach, the Hon Thom cable car and Phu Quoc PrisonDay 2: Pepper, fish sauce, Dinh Cau and the Duong Dong night marketDay 3: The national park, Ganh Dau and Grand World
Con Dao in 3 daysDay 1: The prison camps, the seafront and Hang Duong Cemetery at nightDay 2: The national park trail, Dam Trau beach and Chim Chim capeDay 3: Bay Canh island: reef, turtle beach and lighthouse