A week is tight for Vietnam, whose two ends sit about 1,650 km apart, but it doesn't have to feel rushed if you commit to one region. Below is a recommended route, then three real alternatives, each a genuinely different week rather than a smaller version of the same trip. For the bigger picture on what fits at other lengths, see the Vietnam itinerary guide.
The recommended route: Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay and Ninh Binh
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi | Arrive, settle into the Old Quarter, an evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake | Noodle soup and grilled skewers from a street stall |
| 2 | Hanoi | Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo prison museum, an egg coffee on the way back | Bun cha |
| 3 | Lan Ha Bay | Van and boat transfer (about 3 h), board the boat, kayak among the karst islands | Seafood cooked on board |
| 4 | Ninh Binh | Back to shore, then on to Tam Coc (about 2.5 h), climb Hang Mua for sunset | Goat and crispy rice |
| 5 | Ninh Binh | Trang An boat at 7am, ahead of the tour buses; an afternoon bike ride | Ninh Binh specialities |
| 6 | Hanoi | Van back to the capital (about 2 h), a last Old Quarter afternoon | A final street food crawl |
| 7 | Depart | Fly home from Noi Bai, about 40 to 60 min from the Old Quarter |
This route never asks for more than about 3 hours of travel between stops, and it mixes a boat, a market town and a capital city without a single wasted day. For the full detail, including exact prices and opening times, see the northern Vietnam itinerary guide.
Other ways to spend 1 week
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi | Arrive, an evening street food walk | Bun cha |
| 2 | Ha Giang | Day van from Hanoi (about 6 h), meet your easy rider | Thang co |
| 3 | Yen Minh | Bac Sum Pass, Heaven's Gate (about 80 to 90 km) | Grilled skewers |
| 4 | Dong Van | Lung Cu flag tower, the H'mong King Palace (about 100 to 110 km) | Corn wine and night-market food |
| 5 | Du Gia | Ma Pi Leng Pass, a boat on the Nho Que River, a waterfall swim | Grilled river fish |
| 6 | Hanoi | Ride back to Ha Giang, then a van to Hanoi (about 6 to 6.5 h) | A last Old Quarter dinner |
| 7 | Depart | Fly home from Noi Bai |
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoi An | Fly into Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An (about 40 to 50 min) | A lantern-lit dinner in the old town |
| 2 | Hoi An | Market, basket boats at Cam Thanh, a cooking class | Cao lau |
| 3 | Hoi An | Cycle to An Bang beach, a lantern-making workshop | Banh mi |
| 4 | Hue | Hai Van Pass crossing (about 4 h) | Bun bo Hue |
| 5 | Hue | Imperial City, the tomb of Khai Dinh | Banh khoai |
| 6 | Da Nang | Back over the pass, Marble Mountains or My Khe beach | Fresh seafood |
| 7 | Depart | Fly home from Da Nang |
This route runs well from February to May, when the centre is dry; avoid it from around September to December, when Hue and Hoi An can flood.
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi | Arrive, an evening street food walk | Bun cha |
| 2 | Sapa | Van and shuttle (about 5.5 to 7 h), an easy walk out to Cat Cat village | Sapa hot pot |
| 3 | Sapa | Guided trek through Lao Chai and Ta Van, a homestay night | Com lam |
| 4 | Sapa | Fansipan cable car, or Bac Ha market if it's a Sunday | Grilled Sapa trout |
| 5 | Hanoi | Van back to the capital (about 5 to 6 h) | Street food |
| 6 | Hanoi | A free day for anything missed on day 1 | A final food crawl |
| 7 | Depart | Fly home from Noi Bai |
Choosing between them
| Choose... | If... |
|---|---|
| The northern taster | You want variety in one week: a bay, rice-field caves and city food, no motorbike required |
| The Ha Giang Loop | Mountains and a motorbike beat boats and rice fields, and you don't mind riding pillion all week |
| The centre only | You're flying into Da Nang and want warmth, old towns and a beach rather than the north's cooler weather |
| Sapa | Trekking and hill-tribe villages matter more than a boat, and you'd rather walk than ride |
Costs, best time and getting around
Outside international flights, budget about US$30 to 45 a day for any of these routes, including a dorm bed or homestay. The Ha Giang Loop costs more once you add the easy-rider tour, about US$150 to 180 for 3 nights. Street food costs about 30,000 to 80,000 dong a dish. Each route above states its own best months, since the north, the centre and the far north's mountains run on different seasons; see best time to visit Vietnam for the full picture. All four routes use vans, a shuttle boat or a short domestic flight rather than a long-haul bus, so none of them loses more than half a day to transport at either end.
