THE BEST 2-WEEK TRAVEL ITINERARY TO VIETNAM (WITH MAP)

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You have already decided: Vietnam will be your next destination and you already see yourself sailing through the waters of Halong Bay, eating rolls in Hoi An or exploring the museums of Ho Chi Minh. Ok peeeero, where to start planning? On the road, of course! So today we are going to give you a cable and we recommend that for us it is the 2-week best Vietnam travel itinerary.

To say that it is "the best route" is quite subjective, but we are going to try to trace a complete and real itinerary so you don't miss anything! Of course, wear comfortable shoes, because in 15 days you can visit the main points of interest in the country, but giving it a lot of cane.

Currently and until 06/30/2021 Spanish citizens and other European nationalities we don't need a visa for stays in Vietnam of up to 15 days (including the day of arrival and departure). If you want to stay longer, it is necessary to obtain an electronic visa, which allows you to stay up to 30 days. Most Latin American countries should take out this eVisa for any trip of 30 days or less.

VIETNAM TRANSPORTATION: you can move both by train, by bus and by plane. The trains they cover practically the whole country, from Lao Cai to the north, to Ho Chi Minh City to the south. There is flights Very cheap (even for € 10!) that connect the main cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang ...). But the easiest way is to travel in bus, with lots of companies that operate different routes, and if your idea is to always travel by night bus, there are open passes that you can use throughout your trip through Vietnam. The most famous travel agency in Vietnam is The Sinh Tourist. Compare the transports on this website.

Now, we are going with the 2-week Vietnam travel itinerary:

Days 1 and 2Hanoi

Not only is it the capital of Vietnam, but it is one of the most picturesque, bustling, and interesting cities in Asia. It also offers an enviable gastronomic offer and bia hoi (draft beer) baratiiiisima. Isn't it the perfect combination? Spend at least two days to explore its street markets, its small temples, its streets full of atmosphere and begin to feel the Vietnamese air. Here we tell you everything you can see and do in Hanoi.

Days 3 and 4Halong bay

Take advantage of these days to hire the most famous bay excursion in the world: Halong Bay. Or better, leave it reserved in advance to avoid playing it (both for availability and to avoid boats with “surprises”). From Hanoi it is 4 hours by bus to reach the jetty, from where the cruise ships (the packages are 1 or 2 nights) to explore its calm green waters bypassing the thousands of karst islets so characteristic. We tell you a lot of tips to visit Halong Bay.

In our itinerary we propose the 2 day and 1 night tour, in this way on day 4 you would return to Hanoi around 16 in the afternoon. Just the time to eat a pho bo, have a coffee and get on a night train to your next destination ... Sapa!

Alternative: If you prefer to visit for free, you can reach the island of Cat ba by bus and there to join a boat trip to visit the bay during the day (cruises that spend the night at sea) also leave. It is a cheaper option, but a little more complicated in terms of logistics and you will need at least one more day.

Days 5 and 6Sapa

Be able to enjoy the incredible landscapes of Sapa, with its km and km of rice paddies, is another great experience to live in Vietnam. But eye to the dates: the rice paddies offer their best face after spring (between May and July), when they have just been planted and seen with that lush green that you have seen in the photos. From then on they change the color to yellows (although it is still a good time), until the collection, which has been done since October. If you travel in winter, what you will find are empty terraces, muddy and cold ground! But the mountain landscape is still beautiful. Here we tell you our experience in Sapa.

The idea would be to arrive on day 5 in the morning and that same day join a trekking excursion through the mountains, and include a night in a village. If you prefer something quieter, you can sleep that night in Sapa (the town has its charm) and do some walking during the day. You would return to Hanoi by bus / night train on day 6.

To get to Sapa there are night buses direct from Hanoi or take a night Train to Lao Cai (8 hours, we recommend paying a little more but having a soft seat or bunk) and from there take a minibus to Sapa (1 hour). But book the round trip train in advance (at the same station, online on this website, or at a travel agency in Hanoi).

Alternative: Sapa is a very tourist destination, if you prefer a more “unexplored” site, check out Bac Ha, in the same region of Lao Cai. The province of Mu Cang Chai It also offers landscapes of beautiful rice paddies. Something further away but with an incredible nature is the region of Ha giang, which can be a great alternative.

Days 7 and 8Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is known as “the Halong Bay Land"With all merit. Start familiarizing yourself with these names: Tam Coc, Hang Mua, Trang An or Bich Dong, as they are just some of the stops you have to make here. And much better to stay in this area a few km from Ninh Binh (quieter and more charming) and rent a motorcycle to travel at your leisure. Although there are also tours that include transportation, boat ride, bike tour, etc ...

To get to Ninh Binh from Sapa you have the option of taking a direct night bus that takes approximately 7.30 hours (info and schedules), or take the night train from Lao Cai to Hanoi, and from there another train or bus to Ninh Binh (compare prices).

Alternative: There are tours from Hanoi that take you to explore the Ninh Binh area in the day. If you think that at this point of the trip you need a little rest, you could spend the nights of 7 and 8 in Hanoi, take a day trip to Ninh Binh, and take a plane to Da Nang. Or the night of 8 take a bus / night train to Hue.

Day 9Hue

Hue was the Vietnam capital for centuries and came to have a citadel almost as pretty as the Forbidden City of Beijing. Due to its historical importance and to preserve some of its emblematic buildings, it may be worth spending a day, but it was not the place that most impressed us in Vietnam. Here we tell you our passage through Hue.

If you decide to arrive by bus or night train from Hanoi or Ninh Binh, it will be about 11-14 hours. Da Nang airport is 100km away, about 2 hours by bus.

Days 10 and 11Hoi an

Visiting the center of Vietnam is justified simply to pass through Hoi An. It is considered by many to be the most charming city in the country, and we cannot disagree. Strolling through its historic center, buying souvenirs in its little shops, trying local food and taking a boat trip along its river are some of the things to see and do in Hoi An.

Alternative: you could extend the stay one day to do some excursion interesting, like My Son, the Marble Mountains or the Golden Bridge.

Hue and Hoi An are very well connected with frequent buses, which take about 3 hours. If you arrive from Ninh Binh, the journey by bus / night train will be about 15 hours (the nearest train stop will be Da Nang). If you do it from Hanoi, we recommend you take a plane to Da Nang, it will be infinitely faster and more comfortable, and it will probably be cheaper.

Days 12, 13, 14 and 15Ho Chi Minh City + excursions

Reserve the rest of the days for southern Vietnam, and here the queen is the ancient Saigon: Ho Chi Minh City. Although it is not easy to get the point of this great city, it has certain visits that are highly recommended: War Museum, the building of the Opera, temples Religious (from Catholic cathedrals to Taoist pagodas or Hindu temples), its famous Post Office, the Continental Hotel that we read so much in the chronicles of Tiziano Terzani, or the backpacking district of Pham Ngu Lao Where to toast for the piece of travel you've stuck!

Also if you have some time left, from here there are two great excursions to do: Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta (in the Can Tho area).

To arrive without doubt it is best to take a flight from Da Nang, which would be the 12th of this itinerary. The trains take about 18 hours and the buses even more!

Here is a map with the proposed route for a 2-week trip to Vietnam:

Your trip to Vietnam is over, but do you plan to continue exploring Southeast Asia? So an excellent idea is to cross the border from Chau Doc and go up the Mekong to Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia) ... But this is another story ...

We hope this two-week travel itinerary to Vietnam I can help you. We already told you: we have given you a job, but the time is short and the attractions are many! Would you change something on this route for Vietnam?