Route preview
This 15-day itinerary covers all three regions of S-shaped Vietnam — exactly what local agencies recommend for a first complete trip. In the north: Hanoi, Sapa and Halong Bay; in the centre: Huế and Hội An; in the south: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
A balanced pace with 2 homestay nights (northern mountains and the Mekong), an overnight Halong cruise and domestic flights to save time. Indicative budget excludes international flights — book through our affiliate links below.
This route includes
- 2 homestays (Bac Ha, Mekong Delta)
- Halong 2-day/1-night cruise
- Domestic flights to Huế and Saigon
- Sapa trek and Ninh Bình excursion
Trip highlights
- The unmissable sights from north to south in 2 weeks
- Overnight junk-boat cruise on Halong Bay
- Hikes and ethnic-minority encounters in Sapa and Bac Ha
- Imperial citadel of Huế and UNESCO-listed Hội An old town
- Mekong Delta: floating market, canals and a night in a homestay
Practical info
Sapa train: LC3/LC1 sleeper berths — book ahead. Luggage: pack a light bag for the treks and the cruise; leave the rest in your Hanoi hotel's luggage room.
Day-by-day programme
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J1
Hanoi — arrival & Old Quarter
Hanoi · Overnight : Hanoi — Old Quarter · Grab from Noi Bai airport → Old Quarter (~€15)
First stop of the grand circuit: Hanoi's Old Quarter, a maze of alleys where each street was once named after a trade. Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the red Thê Húc bridge are the city's best-known symbols.
- Airport transfer → hotel (rooms available from 2pm)
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Ngoc Son temple, Thê Húc bridge
- Stroll through the 36 guild streets
- Street food dinner: phở or bún chả Book — Old Quarter food tour from €35
Recommended hotel Hanoi La Siesta Premium — from €45/nightTip : Take a Grab from Noi Bai airport — about 45 min outside rush hour.
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J2
Hanoi — culture & night train
Hanoi · Overnight : Sleeper train or Hanoi hotel
A heritage day before the mountainous north: the Temple of Literature, the Museum of Ethnology (essential before Sapa) and a water puppet show. Optional sleeper train to Lao Cai.
- Temple of Literature
- Museum of Ethnology — 54 ethnic groups
- Ba Dinh Square, Hồ Chí Minh's stilt house
- Water puppet show (evening) Book — Thang Long water puppets from €8
- Sleeper train Hanoi → Lao Cai (Sapa option)
Tip : Book LC3/LC1 train berths well ahead in high season (Nov–Feb).
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J3
Lao Cai — Bac Ha & ethnic minorities
Bac Ha / Sapa · Overnight : Bac Ha homestay · Road Lao Cai → Bac Ha (1 h)
Early-morning arrival in the northern highlands. Bac Ha hosts one of Vietnam's most colourful ethnic markets (Sunday is the ideal day). Night in a Tay family homestay.
- Shower & breakfast in Lao Cai
- Hike through Hmong & Phu La villages
- Bac Ha weekly market
- Night in a Tay homestay
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J4
Bac Ha — Sapa
Sapa · Overnight : Sapa · Road Bac Ha → Sapa (3 h)
Sapa overlooks terraced rice fields sculpted by the Hmong and Dzay peoples. The villages of Hang Da and Sa Seng offer spectacular panoramas; the Fansipan cable car is optional.
- Transfer to Sapa
- Village & rice terrace trek Book — Sapa rice terrace trek from €25
- Fansipan views (optional cable car)
- Sapa night market
Recommended hotel Sapa Clay House — from €55/night -
J5
Sapa — Muong Hoa trek → Hanoi
Sapa → Hanoi · Overnight : Hanoi · Road Sapa → Hanoi (5–6 h)
The signature hike through the Muong Hoa valley: Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van — meeting Hmong and Dzay communities among the rice terraces. Back in Hanoi by the end of the day.
- Muong Hoa trek: Lao Chai, Ta Van Book — Muong Hoa Sapa trek from €30
- Lunch with a local family
- Road or train back to Hanoi
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J6
Ninh Bình — Halong Bay on land
Ninh Bình · Overnight : Hanoi · Day trip from Hanoi (2 h)
Nicknamed the "dry Halong Bay", Ninh Bình combines karst peaks, rice paddies and rivers. Choose a rowboat at Tam Coc or a sampan at Trang An — Mua Cave viewpoint offers the best panorama.
- Tam Coc / Trang An excursion
- Mua Cave viewpoint — 486 steps, 360° views
- Cycling between the rice paddies
- Rowboat on the Ngo Đồng river (3 caves)
Tip : Leave early (7am) to avoid the crowds at Tam Coc.
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J7
Halong Bay — 2D/1N cruise
Halong · Overnight : Night on a junk boat · Transfer Hanoi → harbour (3–4 h)
UNESCO-listed Halong Bay counts nearly 2,000 islets. The 2-day/1-night cruise includes kayaking, caves and an onboard cooking class (spring rolls and more).
- Premium junk boat 2D/1N cruise Book — Halong 2D/1N cruise from €89
- Kayaking & Thien Canh Son caves
- Seafood dinner on deck
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J8
Halong — Huế
Halong → Huế · Overnight : Huế · Flight HAN → Huế (1 h 15)
Sunrise tai chi, a visit to the Vung Vieng floating village, then a flight to Huế — the former imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty.
- Tai chi & brunch on the bay
- Vung Vieng floating village
- Domestic flight Hanoi → Huế
- Check in, dinner of imperial specialities
Recommended hotel Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort — from €70/night -
J9
Huế — imperial city
Huế · Overnight : Huế
The imperial citadel (1802–1945) and the tombs of the Nguyen emperors make Huế an open-air museum. The Thien Mu pagoda and Dong Ba market round off the day.
- Citadel & imperial tombs Book — Huế citadel tour from €30
- Thien Mu pagoda, Perfume River
- Dong Ba market — conical hats and local specialities
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J10
Huế — Hội An via the Hai Van Pass
Huế → Hội An · Overnight : Hội An · Coastal road, 3–4 h (or private van)
The coastal road passes Thuan An beach, the Lang Co lagoon and the legendary Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds) — one of Vietnam's most beautiful drives.
- Coastal road & Hai Van Pass
- Photo stop at the Lang Co lagoon
- Check in to Hội An, lanterns in the evening
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J11
Hội An — free day
Hội An · Overnight : Hội An
A flexible day in the UNESCO-listed old town: the Japanese bridge, artisan workshops, An Bàng beach or a market-to-table cooking class.
- Japanese bridge, Phuc Kien temple, wooden houses
- Vietnamese cooking class Book — Hội An cooking class from €40
- An Bàng beach or a made-to-measure tailor
Recommended hotel La Siesta Hoi An Resort — from €65/night -
J12
Hội An — Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City · Overnight : Ho Chi Minh City · Flight DAD → SGN (1 h)
Fly south: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) — urban energy, the War Remnants Museum and the colonial heart of District 1.
- Flight Đà Nẵng → Ho Chi Minh City
- Bến Thành Market, Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Central post office, Cholon district
Recommended hotel La Siesta Premium Saigon — from €50/night -
J13
Mekong Delta — Ben Tre & homestay
Mekong Delta · Overnight : Mekong homestay · Road SGN → Ben Tre (2 h)
Deep dive into the Mekong Delta: canals, coconut groves, coconut candy workshops and a night with a local family on An Bình island.
- Ben Tre 2D/1N excursion with homestay Book — Mekong Delta 2D/1N from €75
- Cycling under the palm trees
- Tropical fruit tastings
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J14
Can Tho — floating market → Saigon
Can Tho → HCMC · Overnight : Ho Chi Minh City · Road Can Tho → SGN (4 h)
Up at dawn for the Cai Rang floating market — boats laden with fruit, vegetables and coffee. Back to Saigon for one last evening.
- Cai Rang floating market (from 6am)
- Compare with the land market
- Return to Ho Chi Minh City, free evening
Tip : The floating market is busiest from 6am — leave at 5:30am.
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J15
Ho Chi Minh City — departure
Ho Chi Minh City · Taxi → Tan Son Nhat
The grand circuit comes to an end: souvenirs, a rooftop coffee and your flight home from Tan Son Nhat. You've travelled Vietnam from end to end.
- Free morning — coffee and handicrafts
- Airport transfer (3 h before an international flight)
Bookings by region
Affiliate links — hotels and activities to book for this route.
Hanoi — hotels & activities
Hanoi La Siesta Premium
Old Quarter, excellent value for money.
Morning street food tour
Phở, bún chả, bánh cuốn — the best of Hanoi street food.
Water puppet show
Traditional northern Vietnamese art — evening performance.
Sapa — treks & rice terraces
Sapa Clay House
Rice-terrace views and comfort after the hikes.
Rice terrace & Hmong village trek
Muong Hoa, Lao Chai, Ta Van — landscapes and local cultures.
Halong — cruise
Halong Bay 2D/1N cruise
Kayaking, caves, a night on a junk boat — the heart of the trip.
Huế — imperial city
Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort
Lush green setting near the imperial citadel.
Citadel & imperial tombs tour
Nguyen citadel, Minh Mang tomb, Thien Mu pagoda.
Hội An — culture & beach
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Pool and shuttle to the old town.
Vietnamese cooking class
Local market + hands-on workshop — a Hội An speciality.
Ho Chi Minh & Mekong
La Siesta Premium Saigon
City centre, ideal before heading to the delta.
Mekong Delta 2D/1N excursion
Canals, Cai Rang floating market, night in a homestay.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for this 15-day circuit?
October to April: pleasant weather along the whole S-shaped country. Avoid the heaviest rains (September–November in the centre, the humid summer in the south). March–May brings green rice terraces in Sapa.
Do I need a visa for 15 days in Vietnam?
Citizens of many EU countries enjoy a visa exemption (45 days in 2024–2026 depending on nationality). Otherwise, apply for an e-visa on the official Vietnamese immigration website — allow 3–5 business days.
Can I do this route in reverse (south to north)?
Yes — start in Ho Chi Minh City and finish in Hanoi. Domestic flights and transfers adapt easily; just schedule the Halong cruise before your departure flight from Hanoi.
How can I add beach days (Đà Nẵng, Phú Quốc)?
Add 2–3 nights in Đà Nẵng or Phú Quốc after Hội An or at the end of the circuit. Our destination guides cover the beaches and hotels in detail.
Is the overnight Hanoi–Sapa train a must?
No — many travellers prefer the VIP minibus (5–6 h) or a flight plus road transfer. The sleeper train remains an authentic experience if you enjoy a bit of adventure.
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