Two Weeks in Vietnam Itinerary

Two weeks is never enough but we jammed  a lot into our Vietnam itinerary. We took three interior flights and multiple grab rides, and it was worth it. Hopefully, one day we can get back and spend another two weeks in Vietnam, or longer. I couldn’t get enough of this busy and beautiful country.

Last Minute Booking

Our trip to Vietnam was one of our most spontaneous ever, even more last minute than Japan. Fortunately, it was easier and more affordable to book tours and visit popular sights in Vietnam. We chose Vietnam because it’s close to Indonesia and we know we will not be going there by boat.

Rainy season in Indonesia was wearing us down, and we needed to renew our visas again. But, we had to find somewhere safe to leave our boat and Domino for two weeks. For our first trip to Vietnam, we didn’t want to go for any less time. Fortunately, we managed to find both a mooring and a wonderful cat sitter in Gili Asahan, Lombok. Within a few days we were in Vietnam.

Two Weeks in Vietnam Itinerary

We flew out of Indonesia to Hanoi early on a Friday morning, and spent our two weeks in Vietnam heading south, with multiple jumps. We began with 3 nights in Hanoi, an overnight in Ha Long Bay, and then we flew to Hue for 3 nights. From Hue, we flew to Da Nang and bounced between Da Nang and Hoi An for 3 more nights. Our last flight was to the capital city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon). We spent 3 nights in Ho Chi Minh city and one night on a tour of the Mekong Delta. It was fast paced and fun, and we got to enjoy history, culture, and some excellent food.

Impressions after Two Weeks in Vietnam

Vietnam is wonderful: the people are kind and friendly, the prices are affordable, and the food is fantastic. We tried as much of the local cuisine as we could, and went on a lot of tours. For food, we used the Michelin app we learned about in Singapore, google maps, and our instinct. Many of the top sites are outside of the major cities, so tours are easier than going on your own. Plus, a lot of sites do not have English signs, so an English speaking tour guide is essential.

Vietnam cities are very busy and have very few traffic lights. One of our guides told us there are more motorbikes than people in some places. We quickly learned how to cross the street but it was still nerve-wracking!

Hanoi

Hanoi is a world class city which covers nearly 3,360 square km (for reference, Toronto covers 630). We walked a lot, through many pleasant parks and pagodas. We enjoyed fun tourist attractions and entertainment and ate at delicious restaurants at every price point. Hanoi was a great introduction to our two weeks in Vietnam. In fact, on our first night in Hanoi, we dined at a Michelin starred restaurant and listened to music at a jazz club.

Also in Hanoi, we took a cooking class which included a trip to a local market and learning some delicious Vietnamese recipes. As first timers to Hanoi, we also visited Train Street, a narrow street lined with cafes and bars right next to a functioning train track. We arrived just in time for the show.

A highlight of our time in Hanoi was the water puppet theatre, where multiple puppeteers control painted wooden puppets using long rods submerged in the water.

Ha Long Bay

It was our first visit to Vietnam, so we felt obliged to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the country’s most visited places. We did so on an overnight tour on one of the thousands of “junk boats” in Ha Long Bay. It’s a long drive from Hanoi – 3 hours each way – but we were glad we visited. If we’d had more time, we could have stayed longer and explored less busy sites, but we did see some gorgeous views.

Hue

Leaving rainy season in Indonesia wasn’t what we hoped! The weather turned bad when we got to Hue, raining incessantly day and night. Hue is known as the former Imperial Capital, with resplendent palaces, and food fit for royalty. We took our umbrellas everywhere, dodging puddles as well as traffic as we visited the important sites.

Still, we learned a lot about Vietnam history on our Imperial City morning tour, and our guide gave us great restaurant tips. We had delicious hot pot on a miserable day.

The next day the rain continued but we were mostly in a bus on a very long tour of the DMZ. If I were to do it again, I would do a half-day tour and visit the tunnels and the bridge. We were mostly in the bus and travelled long distances between stops.

I also wish we stayed longer in Hue, but we explored despite the heavy rain. The nightlife was fun with a mix of locals and tourists habituating cool cocktail bars in alleyways and street vendors serving delicious food.

Da Nang and Hoi An

We got more rain when we drove further south to our hotel in the coastal city of Da Nang. Da Nang is a quick grab ride from picturesque Hoi An, so we split our time between the two.

In Da Nang we ate at a delicious family run Michelin restaurant, and tried to enjoy our private pool at our hotel, despite the pouring rain. Fortunately, the rain abated enough for us to hike the Marble Mountains and explore the caves and temples built within them.

We visited Hoi An twice, enough to savor yummy meals on the riverfront streets and enjoy the night lights. It’s a charming, very touristed, town, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for its shops and tailors, walking the cobblestone streets is entertaining.

The rain finally abated on our last night, and night is when Hoi An comes to life. Many people hopped into bright lantern boats that colored the river in the Ancient Town. With the illuminated buildings and the boats on the river, it was a lovely spectacle.

Another highlight of our two weeks in Vietnam was the Hoi An cultural show, Teh Dar: Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. This was a fantastic show with very talented athletic dancers and music. We loved it so much we almost went to another show by the same group in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh and Mekong Delta

Our last stop, and a place I’d love to return to, was Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. While there, we embarked on a free walking tour where we learned a lot about the history of the city, and why the locals still call it Saigon. In Saigon, we hit up most of the top sites, including the Ben Thanh market, cafe apartment buildings, and the starkly saddening War Remnants Museum.

Saigon has world class restaurants and excellent cocktail bars, many with rooftop views of the rapidly growing metropolis. We only had a few days there, because we also did an overnight tour of the Mekong Delta.

Two weeks in Vietnam gave us just a slice, enough to make us crave more of this fascinating country. Have you been? What were your favorites of Vietnam?