Vietnam runs about 1,650 km from north to south, and that shape decides more of your route than any guidebook's opinion. One railway line and a handful of short domestic flights connect Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, so most itineraries move in a single direction rather than looping back. What catches people out is the weather: the north is cold and grey from December to February, the central coast floods most often from around October to November, and the south is wet from about May to October. A month that's perfect in Hanoi can mean floods in Hoi An or a cold, foggy week in Sapa, so this guide sets the months against each route rather than against the country as a whole.
Below is what actually fits at each length, with real route options rather than one fixed plan. Follow the links down to the full route guides and the day-by-day length pages for transport times, prices and alternatives.
How long do you need in Vietnam?
| Length | What fits without rushing | Best region mix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | One region properly, not the whole country | The north, the centre, or the far north's mountains alone |
| 10 days | One region in more depth, using a short flight instead of a long overland day | The far north's mountains, or the centre and south together |
| 2 weeks | The whole country, north to south, with no backtracking | Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and the Mekong |
| 3 weeks | The full north-to-south route plus the far north | The above, plus 4 or 5 days on the Ha Giang Loop or in Sapa |
| 1 month | Everywhere, at a slower pace, with a second island or a caving expedition | Everything above, plus more time in Hoi An, Phu Quoc and optionally Con Dao |
Choose by length
1 week
Northern taster: Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay and Ninh Binh
Two nights in Hanoi's Old Quarter, a night on a boat among Lan Ha Bay's karst islands, then two nights among Ninh Binh's limestone peaks.
Best for First-timers who want a bay, rice terraces and city food without a long transfer
The Ha Giang Loop, mountains and a motorbike
The whole week on the loop, riding pillion behind a licensed easy rider through Quan Ba, Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng Pass.
Best for Riders and photographers who want one region, not a checklist
Central taster: Hoi An, Hue and the caves
Lantern-lit Hoi An, the Imperial City in Hue and the Hai Van Pass between them, with a beach afternoon at An Bang.
Best for Travellers flying into Da Nang who want old towns and a beach
Sapa, trekking through rice terraces
A guided trek through the Muong Hoa valley's terraces, a homestay night, and the Fansipan cable car.
Best for Trekkers who'd rather walk than ride
See the full 7-day Vietnam itinerary for day-by-day plans, prices and how each route works.
10 days
Far north mountains: the Ha Giang Loop and Sapa
Five days on the Ha Giang Loop, then a trek and the Fansipan cable car around Sapa, both run from a Hanoi base.
Best for Travellers who want the far north and nothing else
The centre in full: Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang
Phong Nha's caves, Hue's Imperial City, the Hai Van Pass, and enough time in Hoi An for a tailoring order.
Best for Cave, history and old-town fans with time to go deep
The south in full: Saigon, the Mekong Delta and the islands
Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi tunnels, an overnight in Can Tho for the Cai Rang floating market at dawn, then Phu Quoc.
Best for Anyone who wants a big city, a slow river and a beach finish
See the full 10-day Vietnam itinerary for both routes, day by day.
2 weeks
The classic route: Hanoi to the Mekong Delta
Hanoi, a night on Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh, the overnight train to Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An, then a flight to Saigon and the Mekong Delta.
Best for First-timers who want the north, centre and south in one trip
The north in depth, then the centre
The full northern loop, Hanoi, the bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa, then a flight south to Hoi An and Hue instead of the Mekong Delta.
Best for Travellers who'd rather go deep in two regions than skim three
The centre in depth, then the south
Phong Nha, Hue and Hoi An at a relaxed pace, then Saigon, the Mekong Delta and a few days on Phu Quoc.
Best for Travellers who want beaches and history without the far north
See the full 2-week Vietnam itinerary for the classic route, day by day.
3 weeks
The classic route plus the Ha Giang Loop
The 2-week classic route with 4 extra days on the Ha Giang Loop added right after Hanoi.
Best for Riders who want the whole country and the mountains too
The classic route plus Sapa
The same route, with a guided trek around Sapa's rice terraces in place of the loop.
Best for Trekkers who'd rather walk than ride a motorbike
The classic route plus Da Lat and the highlands
The classic route continuing south from Hoi An through Da Lat's highlands before Saigon and the Mekong Delta.
Best for Travellers who want a cool-climate stop and canyoning before the beach
See the full 3-week Vietnam itinerary for the day-by-day route.
1 month
Everywhere, unhurried, with the loop and a second island
The 3-week route at a gentler pace, with extra nights in Hoi An, more time on Phu Quoc, and room to add Con Dao.
Best for Travellers with a month who want to slow down, not just add places
A slower centre and south, with a Mekong finish
The centre and south at half speed, ending in the Mekong Delta, from where an onward Cambodia trip is a common next step.
Best for Travellers who'd rather skip the far north's mountains and cold
The centre in depth, with a multi-day caving trip
Extra time around Phong Nha for a multi-day Son Doong or Tu Lan expedition, alongside the rest of the classic route.
Best for Serious cavers with a month to spare, since Son Doong's seasons are booked years ahead
See the full 1-month Vietnam itinerary for the day-by-day route.
Choose by region
The north: Hanoi, Ha Giang, Sapa, Ninh Binh and the bays
Hanoi is where almost every Vietnam trip starts, pairing Old Quarter street food with limestone scenery on land and water: Ninh Binh's rice-field caves at Tam Coc and Trang An, and Lan Ha Bay's karst islands off Cat Ba. The far north is a different pace again, the Ha Giang Loop's mountain roads along the Chinese border and Sapa's terraced valleys around Lao Chai and Ta Van. The north is coldest and greyest from December to February, and at its best from September to November and March to April. See the northern Vietnam itinerary guide.
The centre: Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang
Phong Nha's enormous caves, Hue's walled citadel and royal tombs, and Hoi An's lantern-lit old town sit within a few hours of each other along the Hai Van Pass road, with Da Nang's airport and city beach close by. The centre is dry and sunny from around February to August and wet from September to December, with October and November the riskiest months for flooding, so it deserves careful timing whichever length you're planning. See the central Vietnam itinerary guide.
The south: Saigon, the Mekong Delta and the islands
Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most people, is fast and modern, with the War Remnants Museum, rooftop bars and the Cu Chi tunnels about 35 to 60 km out of town. South of the city, the Mekong Delta is flat country of canals, rivers and orchards, and Can Tho's Cai Rang floating market is the best-known one still trading. For a beach, Phu Quoc is the more accessible island, and Con Dao the quieter, pricier one for anyone who wants history and wildlife over nightlife. The south is best from December to April. See the southern Vietnam itinerary guide.
Choose by interest
- Beaches: An Bang near Hoi An in the dry season, or Phu Quoc's Long Beach from November to April. See the southern Vietnam itinerary guide.
- Mountains and trekking: the Ha Giang Loop by motorbike, or a guided Sapa trek through the rice terraces.
- Culture and history: Hue's Imperial City and royal tombs on the Perfume River. See the Hue guide.
- Food: the country's food changes as you travel south, from Hanoi's bun cha to Hue's spicier royal-court dishes to Saigon's herb-heavy plates. See the Vietnamese food guide.
- Festivals: Tet, Hoi An's monthly lantern nights and more. See the Vietnam festival calendar.
- Nightlife: Hanoi's Old Quarter, especially the bia hoi corner at Ta Hien. See things to do in Hanoi.
Every route compared
| Route | Length | Best months | Daily budget | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern taster | 1 week | October to April | About US$35 to 45 | Easy | First-timers wanting variety in one week |
| Ha Giang Loop | 1 week | October and November, March to April | About US$45 to 60 | Physical | Riders and photographers |
| Central taster | 1 week | February to May | About US$30 to 40 | Easy | Old towns and a beach, flying into Da Nang |
| Sapa trekking | 1 week | September to November, March to April | About US$35 to 45 | Moderate | Trekkers |
| Far north mountains | 10 days | October and November, March to April | About US$45 to 55 | Physical | The loop and Sapa together |
| Centre in full | 10 days | February to May | About US$35 to 45 | Easy to moderate | Caves, history and old towns |
| South in full | 10 days | December to April | About US$35 to 50 | Easy | A city, a river and a beach |
| Classic north to south | 2 weeks | February to May | About US$35 to 45 | Easy to moderate | A first full-country trip |
| Classic plus the loop | 3 weeks | March to April, or October to November | About US$40 to 50 | Moderate to physical | The whole country and the mountains |
| Everywhere, unhurried | 1 month | March to April | About US$35 to 45 | Easy | Slowing down rather than adding more |
Daily budgets exclude international flights and cover a dorm bed or homestay, street food and local transport within the route.
Prefer to travel with a group?
If you'd rather not book the trains, flights and boats yourself, our Vietnam group trips run versions of these same routes for solo travellers aged 18 to 40. Your Trip Host travels with the group the whole way, and a licensed local agency and licensed local guides lead the visits that need them. Compare every length on our Vietnam group trips page.