7-Day Vietnam Itinerary: Hanoi to Saigon

Quick answer: This 7-day Vietnam itinerary covers the must-see highlights without rushing, with detailed day-by-day plans, restaurant recommendations, and budget guidance.

Best for: First-time visitors who want to maximize sightseeing while still tasting local culture.

Day 1 — Hanoi Old Quarter

Land at Noi Bai International Airport and take a Grab or metered taxi (roughly 350,000–450,000 VND, about $14–18) the 45 minutes into the Old Quarter. Drop your bags, then wander the 36 ancient trade streets on foot — each still named for its old guild, from Hang Bac (silver) to Hang Ma (paper offerings). Circle Hoan Kiem Lake at dusk to see the red-lacquered Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple (entry about 30,000 VND, roughly $1.20). For dinner, hunt down a bowl of bun cha, the grilled-pork-and-noodle dish Anthony Bourdain famously ate here — expect to pay around 50,000–70,000 VND, about $2–3. Insider tip: cross the chaotic streets slowly and steadily without stopping; the motorbikes are trained to flow around a predictable pedestrian, and freezing mid-road is what causes accidents.

Day 2 — Ninh Binh Day Trip

Rise early for a full day in Ninh Binh, often called “Halong Bay on land” for its limestone karsts rising from emerald rice paddies. The easiest route is a morning train from Hanoi station (about 2 hours 10 minutes, tickets roughly 100,000–250,000 VND, about $4–10) or a booked car-and-guide day tour. Spend the afternoon on a rower-powered sampan through Trang An, the UNESCO-listed grottoes where boats glide through flooded caves and past cliffside temples (ticket about 250,000 VND, roughly $10, for a 2–3 hour route). If you have energy, climb the 500 stone steps at nearby Hang Mua for the postcard view over the Tam Coc river bend. Insider tip: choose the Trang An route over Tam Coc if you want the film locations from Kong: Skull Island, and always tip your rower a little — they earn very little per boat.

Day 3 — Halong Bay Cruise

Check out and transfer to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise, the highlight of any northern trip. Most cruises send a shuttle from Hanoi around 8:00–9:00 AM for the 2.5–3 hour drive to the harbour, with boarding near midday. A two-day, one-night cruise typically runs about $110–250 per person depending on the boat, including cabin, all meals, and activities. Once aboard, sail among the thousands of forested limestone islands, kayak or take a bamboo boat into a hidden lagoon, and visit a sea cave like Sung Sot (Surprise Cave). Sunset from the sundeck with a Vietnamese spring-roll cooking demo is a classic moment. Insider tip: for calmer water and fewer boats, ask specifically for a route through Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay rather than the crowded central Halong core.

Day 4 — Cruise to Hoi An

Wake for tai chi on the deck as the karsts catch the morning light, then enjoy brunch as the boat cruises back to harbour, usually disembarking around 11:00 AM. The shuttle returns you to Hanoi by mid-afternoon — time it so you can catch an evening domestic flight from Noi Bai to Da Nang (about 1 hour 25 minutes; budget carriers like VietJet or Bamboo often run $40–70 one way if booked ahead). From Da Nang airport, it is a 40-minute taxi or Grab (roughly 350,000–450,000 VND, about $14–18) south to Hoi An. Arrive after dark to see the Ancient Town at its most magical, strung with thousands of silk lanterns reflected in the Thu Bon River. Insider tip: build slack into this day — if the cruise runs late, book a next-morning flight instead, as missing the last Da Nang service is a real risk.

Day 5 — Hoi An & My Son

Spend the morning cool and early in Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO-listed former trading port. A 120,000 VND ticket (about $5) covers entry to five heritage sites, including the 18th-century Japanese Covered Bridge and the ornate Fujian Assembly Hall. This is the place to visit a tailor — a custom shirt or dress can be measured, made, and delivered within a day. In the afternoon, drive about an hour inland to My Son Sanctuary, the brick temple ruins of the ancient Champa kingdom (open 7:30 AM–5:30 PM; entry 150,000 VND, roughly $6). For lunch, try Hoi An’s signature cao lau, thick noodles said to use water from a specific local well — around 40,000–60,000 VND, about $2. Insider tip: visit My Son at opening or late afternoon to dodge both the tour-bus crowds and the fierce midday heat among the unshaded ruins.

Day 6 — Saigon History

Transfer back to Da Nang airport for a morning flight south to Ho Chi Minh City (still widely called Saigon; about 1 hour 20 minutes, fares often $40–70). Base yourself in District 1 and spend the afternoon on the city’s wartime and colonial history. The War Remnants Museum (open daily 7:30 AM–5:30 PM; entry about 40,000 VND, roughly $1.60) is sobering but essential. Nearby stand the Reunification Palace, frozen in its 1975 state, and the French-built Notre-Dame Cathedral and ochre Central Post Office. As night falls, ride to a rooftop bar on Nguyen Hue walking street for skyline views. Insider tip: for the best egg coffee and street energy, skip the tourist restaurants and eat a banh mi from a busy sidewalk cart — a legendary sandwich costs around 25,000–40,000 VND, about $1–1.60.

Day 7 — Cu Chi & Mekong

Use your final day for one of two classic Saigon excursions, both bookable as half- or full-day tours. Option one is the Cu Chi Tunnels, about 60 km northwest (roughly 1.5 hours each way; Ben Dinh entry about 110,000 VND, roughly $4.40), where you can crawl through a widened section of the vast Viet Cong tunnel network and hear how villagers lived underground. Option two heads southwest to the Mekong Delta around My Tho and Ben Tre, cruising by motorboat and rowed sampan through coconut-lined canals, tasting tropical fruit and honey tea (full-day small-group tours commonly run $30–60 including lunch). Either way, return to the city by evening for a last bowl of pho. Insider tip: pick Cu Chi if you love history and the delta if you want scenery and slower village life — doing both in one day means too many hours in the car.