14 days · North → South
Vietnam in 14 days
Vietnam in 14 days: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Saigon without a flight marathon. A realistic north–south route.
One country, three tempos
In 14 days: Hanoi (3–4), Halong or Ninh Binh (1–2), Hoi An (3–4) and Saigon (3). Overnight train or 1–2 domestic flights — don’t stack Sapa + Delta + islands in one trip.
When
Feb–Apr / Oct–Nov
Best overall north–south window.
Summer
Heat and rain; humid centre.
Dec–Jan
North cool/cloudy; south drier.
Budget / day
$25–70
Hotel
$10–25
Food
$15–40
Transit/day
$50–120
Total
14 days
Days 1–4Hanoi
Old Quarter, lakes, street food and a Ninh Binh day if skipping Halong.
- Motorbikes everywhere: cross calmly, not in a rush.
Days 5–6Halong or Ninh Binh
1-night Halong/Lan Ha cruise, or kayak and bike in Ninh Binh.
- Pick boat quality: reviews > rock-bottom price.
Days 7–10Hoi An
Old town, An Bang beach, tailor if you want, My Son or island day.
- Fly Hanoi–Da Nang or train + transfer. Skip the 20h bus.
Days 11–14Saigon (+ delta)
District 1, history (Cu Chi or museum), food and optional Mekong delta.
- If you hate urban heat: shorten Saigon and lengthen Hoi An.
Practical
Domestic flights
Bamboo, VietJet, Vietnam Airlines. Check baggage rules.
Where to stay
Hanoi Old Quarter · Hoi An old town/beach · Saigon D1 or Thao Dien.
Visa & health
Check e-visa. Travel insurance + vaccines for your country.
Food
Pho · banh mi · bun cha · egg coffee in Hanoi. Local queues = signal.
Tips
North → south
The classic flow reduces logistics chaos.
All of Vietnam in 10 days
You’ll live in airports. Cut destinations, not sleep nights.
Cash & Grab
Grab for cars/bikes. ATMs everywhere; tell your bank.
Ultra-cheap Halong
Packed boats ruin the bay. Pay a bit more.
Checklist
Vietnam on TripMatches
Build north–south, share nights and align Halong vs Ninh Binh with your group.
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