Oct 12,2026
By: This itinerary uses three: Hanoi in the north, Da Nang and Hoi An in the centre, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. You’ll take two short flights, eat more noodles than you planned, and still find time to sit on a plastic stool with a coffee and do nothing. Here’s how we’d plan it, roughly what it costs, and where people tend to go wrong.
Vietnam 7-day itinerary at a glance
- Days 1 to 3: Hanoi, including a day trip to Ninh Binh
- Days 4 to 5: Hoi An and Da Nang
- Days 6 to 7: Ho Chi Minh City
- Internal flights: Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, each about 1 hour 20 minutes
- Best for: first-timers, couples and friends who like food, history and a bit of beach
Is one week enough for Vietnam?
It’s enough for a good first taste, not for the whole country. Seven days works if you stick to three cities and fly between them. Skip the north-to-south train this time. It’s a beautiful journey, but it eats whole days. With ten days you can add Sapa’s rice terraces or a beach stop in Phu Quoc.One small tip that saves both money and time: look for an open-jaw ticket, flying into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City. No backtracking. Our guide to finding cheap flights has more ways to bring the fare down.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Land in Hanoi and ease in
Hanoi’s airport is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the Old Quarter, depending on traffic. Drop your bags, then walk around Hoan Kiem Lake as the city comes out for the evening. Try an egg coffee, a Hanoi invention that tastes like liquid tiramisu, and have bun cha (grilled pork with noodles) for dinner. On weekends the streets near the lake turn into a night market.Day 2: Old Hanoi, properly
Start at the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, which is calm in the morning. Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum complex is a short ride away, but it closes on certain days and for annual maintenance, so check before you go. After lunch, wander the Old Quarter, visit Hoa Lo Prison if you like history, and end the day with a traditional water puppet show. It sounds odd, but it’s charming.Day 3: Day trip to Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is about two hours from Hanoi and is the easiest way to see Vietnam’s countryside. Take a rowboat through the limestone caves at Trang An, then climb up to the Mua Cave viewpoint. It’s a few hundred steps, so wear proper shoes. Ha Long Bay is the famous alternative, but it makes more sense as an overnight cruise than a rushed day trip. Back in Hanoi, eat something simple and sleep early.Day 4: Fly to Da Nang, settle into Hoi An
Take a morning flight. Hoi An is about 45 minutes from the Da Nang airport, and we’d stay there for the atmosphere. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of yellow shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and silk lanterns that light up at night. Try cao lau noodles, then float a small candle lantern on the river. If you want clothes made by a tailor, order on day one, because they usually need a day or two.Day 5: Ba Na Hills or a beach day
Pick one. Ba Na Hills has the Golden Bridge held up by giant stone hands. It’s very popular, so go early and expect crowds. If that sounds exhausting, spend the day at My Khe Beach in Da Nang, then visit the Marble Mountains and the giant Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda. Both are easy to do with a driver. On weekend nights, Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge puts on a fire and water show.Day 6: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
Catch a morning flight and you’ll be in your District 1 hotel by lunch. Spend the afternoon at the War Remnants Museum. It’s heavy and honest, and many travellers say it’s the most memorable stop of the trip. Then walk past the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and the old Central Post Office and have banh xeo (crispy savoury pancakes) for dinner. Nguyen Hue walking street is a good place for an evening stroll.Day 7: Cu Chi Tunnels or a souvenir run, then fly home
The Cu Chi Tunnels are about 1.5 to 2 hours out of the city and work as a half-day tour, so they fit if your flight is in the afternoon or evening. Flying early? Skip them and spend the morning at Ben Thanh Market buying coffee, cashews and dried mango.Best Time To Visit Vietnam
Vietnam has three weather zones, and that’s the part nobody warns you about. The north is cooler and drier from October to April, though December to February can be grey and chilly. The centre is driest from February to May, and it can see heavy rain, floods and typhoons between September and December. The south is dry from December to April and wet from May to November.So, there’s no perfect month for all three cities at once. March and April are probably the best compromise. If you travel between October and December, keep your plans flexible and check the forecast for the centre before you book anything non-refundable.
How much does a Vietnam trip cost from India?
Treat these as rough planning numbers per person, not quotes. Prices change with the season and how early you book.- Return flights from India: roughly ₹25,000 to ₹45,000
- Two domestic flights: roughly ₹2,500 to ₹6,000 each
- Hotels: ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 a night for budget stays and ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 for comfortable mid-range ones (per room, so divide by two if you’re sharing)
- Food: ₹800 to ₹1,500 a day if you eat like a local
- Tours, entry tickets and local transport: ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 for the week
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Indian passport holders generally need a visa for Vietnam, and most people apply online for an e-visa. Use only the official government immigration portal, because lookalike websites charge extra fees. Your passport should have at least six months of validity left. Check the current fee, processing time and entry rules before you book flights.Getting around and a few survival tips
- Use the Grab app for taxis and bike rides. It’s easier than negotiating every time.
- Crossroads slowly and steadily. Scooters will flow around you, so don’t stop suddenly or run.
- Carry some Vietnamese dong in cash for street food and small shops. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants.
- Keep your phone away from the road edge in busy cities. Bag snatching from passing scooters does happen.
- Get an eSIM or local SIM so maps work from the first minute.
- Bring a universal plug adapter.
