Where to Go in Vietnam: The Best Places, Region by Region
What each region is best for, how many days each place deserves, and the routes our specialists plan most often.
Quick answer
For a first trip, link the three regions: Hanoi, Halong or Lan Ha Bay and Ninh Binh in the north; Hue and Hoi An in the centre; Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the south. That route needs 12–16 days and two internal flights. With more time add Sapa or Ha Giang for mountains, or Phu Quoc for a beach. With a week, pick one or two regions.
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Get a free itinerary WhatsApp usThe best places to visit in Vietnam
| Place | Region | Best for | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | North | History, Old Quarter, street food | 2–3 days |
| Halong Bay / Lan Ha Bay | North | Limestone karsts, overnight cruise, kayaking | 1–2 nights on board |
| Ninh Binh | North | Rice fields and karsts by rowing boat, cycling | 1–2 days |
| Sapa | Far north | Rice terraces, trekking, ethnic minority villages | 2–3 days |
| Ha Giang | Far north | The most dramatic mountain roads in Vietnam | 3–4 days |
| Hue | Centre | Imperial City, royal tombs, the DMZ | 1–2 days |
| Hoi An | Centre | Old Town, tailors, cooking classes, beach | 2–3 days |
| Da Nang | Centre | Beach, Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills | 1–2 days |
| Ho Chi Minh City | South | City life, war history, Cu Chi Tunnels | 2 days |
| Mekong Delta | South | Canals, floating markets, orchards | 1–2 days |
| Phu Quoc | South | Beach resorts, November–April | 3–4 days |
North Vietnam
The north is Vietnam's scenic heart. Hanoi is the base: a thousand-year-old capital whose Old Quarter is best explored on foot and through its street food. From Hanoi, most travellers spend one or two nights cruising Halong Bay or the quieter Lan Ha Bay (see which bay to choose), and a day or two in Ninh Binh, where rowing boats pass through caves under limestone peaks.
For mountains, Sapa has rice terraces and trekking between Hmong and Dao villages, while Ha Giang, near the Chinese border, has the country's most spectacular road loop. The north is best from October to April; it is hot and wet from June to August.
Central Vietnam
Hue, the last imperial capital, has the Citadel and royal tombs along the Perfume River. A short drive over the Hai Van Pass leads to Da Nang and Hoi An, a trading port whose preserved Old Town glows with lanterns at night and has some of the best food in Vietnam. Further north, Quang Binh has the world-famous caves of Phong Nha.
The centre is best from February to August. October and November bring heavy rain and occasional floods.
South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by most locals) is Vietnam's busiest city, with French colonial buildings, the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels an hour away. The Mekong Delta is a world of canals, floating markets and fruit orchards, best seen by small boat. Phu Quoc and the Con Dao islands are the south's beach escapes from November to April.
Where to go for 7, 10, 14 or 21 days
| Trip length | Suggested route | Private tour from |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Hanoi (2) → Ninh Binh (1) → Halong or Lan Ha Bay cruise (1) → fly to Hoi An (2); or the south only: Saigon, Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc | US$1,250 per person |
| 10 days | Hanoi → Halong or Lan Ha Bay → Ninh Binh → fly to Hue → Hoi An → fly to Saigon | US$1,850 per person |
| 14 days | The 10-day route plus the Mekong Delta and either Sapa or a few beach days | US$3,000 per person |
| 21 days | North to south with Ha Giang or Sapa, a beach in Phu Quoc, or a side trip to Angkor Wat | US$3,800 per person |
Prices are for private tours with a guide, driver and boutique hotels; see what a private tour of Vietnam costs.
From our specialists: how we choose a route
- Start with your travel month. A November trip leans north and south and keeps the centre short; a June trip puts the beach days in Hoi An or Da Nang.
- Count bases, not places. Every hotel change costs half a day. On a 10-day trip, four bases feel relaxed and six feel rushed.
- Fly the long legs. Hanoi–Hue or Da Nang and Da Nang–Saigon are about 1 hour 15 minutes by air, compared with a full day or more by road or train.
- Leave one unplanned afternoon in Hoi An and in Hanoi. It is what guests remember most.
Frequently asked questions
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