Vietnam travel guide

Start with the trip you actually want

Vietnam rewards selective planning. The distances are substantial, the weather changes between regions, and every extra overnight stop creates another packing day. A satisfying first visit can focus on the north and centre rather than trying to cover the entire country. Start with our northern and central routes, or build a southern segment around Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Choose the two-week route for fewer bases and a longer finish around Hoi An. Choose three weeks if you want to include Phong Nha and Hue without turning every second day into a transfer. Neither route is a checklist of everything Vietnam offers.

Choose your destinations

Two weeks or three?

Two weeks: Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Pu Luong → Hoi An. Four bases, 13 nights, with a substantial transfer day between the northern countryside and central coast. This is our easier starting point for visitors who value downtime.

Three weeks: Hanoi → Pu Luong → Ninh Binh → Phong Nha → Hue → Hoi An. Six bases, one overnight train and 20 nights. Prefer daytime travel? Add time or replace the train with an overnight stop and a revised connection.

Both plans finish near Da Nang for onward travel. Compare flights into Hanoi and out of Da Nang before booking; a connection may be needed for your international journey.

Weather comes before the route

Do not pick travel dates from a single national “dry season”. Northern winters can feel cool; the central coast has a different rain pattern from the south. Use our regional best-time guide before committing to your itinerary.

If severe weather is forecast, change the route rather than relying on every road, cave or train remaining open. Our suggested night counts are planning structures, not promises that services will operate.

Practical decisions to make first

• Choose four to six bases according to the time available, then check the journey between each pair.
• Read the transport guide before choosing an overnight train or private road transfer.
• For children, simplify the route and confirm the actual room arrangement. Start with Vietnam with kids.
• Check passport-specific entry requirements through the official immigration portal and your government’s travel advice. Do not assume every nationality has the same exemption.
• Make room for meals and free afternoons. Your most memorable day may not require another paid attraction.

Where to stay: choose the base first

For Hanoi, compare walkability with quiet sleeping conditions. Around Ninh Binh and Pu Luong, consider meal access and transfers as carefully as the view. For Hoi An, a riverside town hotel and a beach resort solve different needs. Each destination guide includes a researched accommodation suggestion with a clear advantage and limitation, plus advice on alternative areas.

We do not publish a fixed hotel price or imply that a family room fits every family. Compare the exact room and total cost for your dates.

Sources & planning checks

Researched 29 October 2026. Opening arrangements, transport, weather and room availability can change. These are editorial planning guides, not claims of a personal stay.

• Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
• Vietnam Railways
• Current travel advice

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