Vietnam Itinerary 14 Days: Two Weeks North to South
The two-week route that fits a first trip best, day by day, with the flights and drive times, the order for each season, and what to add with a third week.
Published Oct 2026 • Updated Oct 2026 • By the Vietnam Private Tours planning team, reviewed by Van Anh (Founder & Chief Executive Officer)
Quick answer
The best 2-week Vietnam itinerary: Hanoi (2 nights) → Ninh Binh (1) → Lan Ha or Halong Bay cruise (1) → fly to Hue (2) → Hoi An (3) → fly to Ho Chi Minh City (2) → Mekong Delta (1) → Saigon (1). Two domestic flights, no rushing. Private version from US$3,000 per person; with a third week add Sapa, a beach or Angkor Wat.
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Get a free itinerary WhatsApp us2-week Vietnam itinerary, day by day
| Days | Where | Plan | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Hanoi | Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Mon and Fri), Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison; a street-food evening and a water puppet show. | Hanoi ×2 |
| 3 | Ninh Binh | Trang An by rowing boat, Hoa Lu, Mua Cave at sunset; cycling between the rice fields. | Ninh Binh |
| 4 | Lan Ha or Halong Bay | Overnight cruise: kayaking, a cave, sunset and seafood on deck. | Cruise |
| 5–6 | Hue | Fly from Hanoi or Hai Phong. Imperial City, royal tombs by boat on the Perfume River, a vegetarian lunch at a pagoda; DMZ day possible. | Hue ×2 |
| 7–9 | Hoi An | Hai Van Pass by car. Old town, tailors, a cooking class, My Son ruins at dawn, An Bang beach. | Hoi An ×3 |
| 10–11 | Ho Chi Minh City | Fly from Da Nang. War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Cu Chi Tunnels (Ben Duoc for fewer crowds), a motorbike food tour. | Saigon ×2 |
| 12 | Mekong Delta | Overnight in Can Tho or a homestay: canals by sampan, fruit orchards. | Mekong |
| 13 | Cai Rang → Saigon | Cai Rang floating market at dawn (busiest 5:30–7:30), back to Saigon about 2 hours by expressway. | Saigon |
| 14 | Depart | Fly home from Ho Chi Minh City. |
This is the shape of our private Simply Vietnam (14 days, from US$3,000) and Highlights of Vietnam (12 days, from US$1,850); families can follow the Family Vietnam Tour.
Three weeks in Vietnam: what to add
| Add | Nights | Best months | Fits after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapa or Ha Giang | 3 | Sep–Nov, Mar–May | Hanoi |
| Phong Nha caves | 2 | Feb–Aug | Hue |
| Phu Quoc or Con Dao | 3 | Nov–Apr | Saigon |
| Siem Reap for Angkor Wat | 3–4 | Nov–Mar | Saigon (flight about 1 h) |
Examples: Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia (15 days) and Indochina Highlights (19 days, from US$3,800).
Flying in from the US
- The only nonstop flight between the US and Vietnam is Vietnam Airlines from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (about 14 hours, around four flights a week). From other US cities you connect, usually in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong.
- Book an open-jaw ticket, into one end of the country and home from the other, so you never backtrack. Because the San Francisco nonstop lands in Ho Chi Minh City, many US travellers start in the south and end in Hanoi. In that case, run this route in reverse: Saigon and the Mekong first, Hanoi and the bay last.
- Vietnam is on UTC+7 all year (no daylight saving): 11 hours ahead of New York in summer and 12 in winter, 14 hours ahead of Los Angeles in summer and 15 in winter.
- Americans need an e-visa: apply at evisa.gov.vn, US$25 single or US$50 multiple entry, up to 90 days, about three working days to process. Choose multiple entry if you add Cambodia and come back into Vietnam.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2 weeks enough for Vietnam?
Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first trip: enough for the north, centre and south at an unhurried pace, with two or three nights in most places and one night each on Halong or Lan Ha Bay and in the Mekong Delta. Add a week for Sapa or Ha Giang, a beach, or Cambodia.
What is the best 2-week Vietnam itinerary?
Hanoi (2 nights) → Ninh Binh (1) → Lan Ha or Halong Bay cruise (1) → fly to Hue (2) → Hoi An (3) → fly to Ho Chi Minh City (2) → Mekong Delta (1) → Saigon (1). Run it north to south from December to March, and either way from April to August.
How much does 2 weeks in Vietnam cost?
A private 14–16 day tour with boutique hotels, a private guide and driver in each region, domestic flights and the cruise starts from US$3,000 per person. Independent backpackers spend far less; luxury trips with five-star hotels cost more. International flights from the US are extra.
What should I add with 3 weeks in Vietnam?
Keep this route and add one or two of: Sapa or Ha Giang in the far north (3 nights), the Phong Nha caves (2 nights), Phu Quoc or Con Dao for a beach (3 nights), or Siem Reap for Angkor Wat (3–4 nights). Private 18–21 day trips start from US$3,800 per person.
Is Vietnam good for a 2-week trip from the US?
Yes. The only nonstop flight between the US and Vietnam is Vietnam Airlines from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (about 14 hours, around four flights a week). From other US cities you connect, usually in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong. Allow a light first day for jet lag. Americans need an e-visa: apply at evisa.gov.vn, US$25 single or US$50 multiple entry, up to 90 days, about three working days to process.
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