Route preview
Ten days to link Vietnam's three regions without rushing: Hanoi and Halong in the north, Hội An in the centre, then Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the south. Two domestic flights (Hanoi→Đà Nẵng, Đà Nẵng→SGN) spare you entire days on a bus.
A balanced pace: 2 nights per main stop, one overnight cruise and a Mekong excursion before you fly home.
This route includes
- Halong cruise with meals
- Domestic flights HAN→DAD and DAD→SGN
- Full-day Mekong Delta excursion
Trip highlights
- 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise
- UNESCO-listed Hội An old town
- Excursion to the Mỹ Sơn Cham temples
- War Remnants Museum and District 1
- Canals and markets of the Mekong Delta
Practical info
Flights: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo — book early in high season. Luggage: pack a light overnight bag for the Halong cruise.
Day-by-day programme
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J1
Hanoi — arrival & Old Quarter
Hanoi · Overnight : Hanoi · Grab from Noi Bai → city centre
Welcome to the thousand-year-old capital. The Old Quarter concentrates hotels, restaurants and the evening buzz — ideal for your first two nights.
- Check in, stroll around Hoàn Kiếm Lake
- Thê Húc bridge and Ngoc Son temple
- Street food dinner (phở, bún chả)
Recommended hotel Hanoi La Siesta Premium — from €45/night -
J2
Hanoi — culture & food
Hanoi · Overnight : Hanoi
A day of museums and street food: the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology pair perfectly with a morning food tour.
- Morning food tour Book — Hanoi food tour from €35
- Temple of Literature
- Museum of Ethnology
- Water puppet show (evening) Book — Thang Long water puppets from €8
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J3
Halong Bay — 2D/1N cruise
Halong · Overnight : Junk boat · Transfer Hanoi → harbour (3–4 h)
UNESCO-listed Halong Bay is the highlight of the north. Board at midday, cruise the islands, kayak and spend the night on a junk boat.
- 2D/1N cruise with kayaking Book — Halong 2D/1N cruise from €89
- Visit Sung Sot cave or similar
- Seafood dinner on board
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J4
Halong → Hội An
Transit · Overnight : Hội An · Flight HAN → DAD + taxi to Hội An
Sunrise tai chi, disembark and fly to Đà Nẵng. Hội An welcomes you with its lanterns and a slower pace of life.
- Brunch on the junk boat, return to the harbour
- Domestic flight Hanoi → Đà Nẵng
- Settle in to Hội An, evening stroll
Recommended hotel La Siesta Hoi An Resort — from €65/night -
J5
Hội An — UNESCO old town
Hội An · Overnight : Hội An
A beautifully preserved trading port: Japanese bridge, wooden merchant houses and artisan workshops. The monument ticket covers the main sites.
- Japanese bridge, Phuc Kien temple, Tan Ky house
- Cooking class (market visit + workshop) Book — Hội An cooking class from €40
- Lanterns at dusk
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J6
Mỹ Sơn or An Bàng beach
Hội An · Overnight : Hội An
Take your pick: Mỹ Sơn (Cham sanctuary, 1 h away by road) or a relaxed day at An Bàng beach with a bike ride and fresh seafood.
- Half-day Mỹ Sơn excursion Book — Mỹ Sơn from Hội An from €25
- Or cycle to An Bàng beach + visit a tailor
- Last evening among the lanterns
Tip : Mỹ Sơn: leave early (7am) to beat the heat and the crowds.
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J7
Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City · Overnight : District 1 · Flight DAD → SGN (1 h)
The south awaits: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) pulses to a different beat — skyscrapers, scooters and the street food of the delta.
- Flight Đà Nẵng → Ho Chi Minh City
- Bến Thành Market, Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Dinner in District 1 (cơm tấm, bánh xèo)
Recommended hotel La Siesta Premium Saigon — from €50/night -
J8
Ho Chi Minh City — history & neighbourhoods
Ho Chi Minh City · Overnight : District 1
A full city day: the War Remnants Museum (allow 2 h), the Gustave Eiffel central post office and the Chinese quarter of Cholon.
- War Remnants Museum
- Central post office & opera house
- Cholon — Binh Tay market, Quan Am temple
- Rooftop bar or a historic café
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J9
Mekong Delta — excursion
Mekong Delta · Overnight : Ho Chi Minh City · Minibus SGN → Ben Tre (2 h)
The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's rice bowl: canals, coconut groves, artisan workshops and tropical fruit tastings.
- Full-day Ben Tre / Mỹ Tho excursion Book — Mekong Delta day tour from €35
- Rowboat through the canals, cycling under the palms
- Back in Saigon by late afternoon
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J10
Departure from Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City · Taxi → Tan Son Nhat (30 min)
One last morning: coffee, souvenirs (robusta coffee, silk, handicrafts) and your flight home from Tan Son Nhat.
- Breakfast with a cà phê sữa đá
- Shopping at Bến Thành or on Dong Khoi street
- Airport transfer — 3 h before an international flight
Bookings by region
Affiliate links — hotels and activities to book for this route.
Hanoi & Halong
Hanoi La Siesta Premium
Your northern base — Old Quarter.
Hanoi food tour
Northern specialities.
Halong 2D/1N cruise
Junk boat, kayaking, night on board.
Hội An
La Siesta Hoi An Resort
Pool and shuttle to the old town.
Mỹ Sơn temples half-day
Cham sanctuary — UNESCO listed.
Ho Chi Minh & Mekong
La Siesta Premium Saigon
District 1, close to Bến Thành Market.
Mekong Delta day tour
Canals, cycling and coconut tastings.
Frequently asked questions
10 days or 15 days for a first trip?
10 days covers the north-centre-south essentials. 15 days adds Sapa, Huế and a Mekong homestay.
Can I skip Halong?
Yes — replace it with Ninh Bình (Tam Coc) on a day trip from Hanoi, then fly to Đà Nẵng.
What budget do I need for 10 days in Vietnam?
Plan on €700–1,200 on the ground excluding international flights: 3-star hotels, two domestic flights, the Halong cruise and day excursions.
Should I travel north to south or the other way round?
Both directions work — choose based on your international flights. North to south lets you finish with the warmth of the delta and fly home from Saigon.
Plane, train or bus for getting around Vietnam?
On 10 days, two domestic flights (HAN→DAD and DAD→SGN, about 1 hour each) are the best use of your time. The overnight Hanoi–Đà Nẵng train (~16 h) is a scenic alternative if you have time to spare.
Can I add a beach extension?
Yes — add 2–3 nights in Đà Nẵng after Hội An, or fly to Phú Quốc from Saigon at the end. Ideally stretch the trip to 12–13 days for a relaxed finish.
Other Vietnam itineraries
More or less time? Pick the route that matches your trip.
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