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Vietnam · 10 days · checked 30 October 2026

Vietnam itinerary: 10 days (Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City)

A first-timer's run from north to south: Hanoi, a train day-trip to Ninh Binh, one night on a Lan Ha Bay cruise, three nights in Hoi An and a last day in Ho Chi Minh City. Two domestic flights do the long hauls, so no day has more than about 4 hours of travel. The pace is steady, not rushed, and day 8 is a spare day that absorbs weather. Expect about $560 per person on a shoestring, $1,100 mid-range and $2,050 comfortable, excluding international flights and the visa.

HanoiNinh BinhLan Ha BayHanoiHoi AnHo Chi Minh City
Budget, per person$560hostels, street food
Mid-range, per person$1,100double rooms, sit-down meals
Comfort, per person$2,050upper mid-range

On the ground for the whole trip, excluding international flights. Per person, 10 days / 9 nights, excluding international flights and visa fees.

When to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

February to April is the safest window for this exact route. Storm and typhoon season runs May to November (UK FCDO). Central Vietnam floods October to December, worst in October and November: in late October 2025 the Thu Bon river in Hoi An passed its 1964 record and the old town went under. Cruise departures are suspended by the port authority when a storm is forecast, mainly June to October. Winter on the bay is cooler and often misty. If you travel October to December, book refundable rooms in Hoi An, take an upper-floor room, keep day 8 as a buffer and watch the forecast 48 hours out.

Before you go: Neither the UK FCDO (updated 21 Sep 2026) nor the US State Dept (Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, issued 24 Jun 2026) advises against travel to any place on this route. FCDO warns of storm season May to November and seasonal flooding in central Vietnam in October and November, plus flooding around Hanoi and the Mekong Delta. Both flag petty crime and bag-snatching from motorbikes in tourist areas, and unexploded ordnance in former battlefields, mainly central Vietnam and the Laos border (low risk in cities and tourist areas). FCDO also warns of methanol poisoning from drinks bought in licensed bars and shops, and of fake drivers posing as Grab or Xanh SM. FCDO notes Middle East airspace closures are disrupting some flights to Asia, which matters if you connect through the Gulf.

Visa and entry

Vietnam's e-visa is open to every nationality: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, applied for only at evisa.gov.vn. The government fee is widely reported as USD 25 single entry and USD 50 multiple entry (the USD 50 rate for multiple-entry visas up to 90 days is set by Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC); allow at least 3 working days, more around Tet, and the fee is not refunded if refused. US citizens: not visa-exempt, get the e-visa. Indian passport holders: not visa-exempt for the mainland, get the e-visa (visa-free entry applies only on Phu Quoc island when flying there directly from abroad). UAE residents: residency gives you nothing; your passport decides. Emirati citizens are not on the 45-day exemption lists below, so plan on the e-visa and check with the Vietnamese embassy in Abu Dhabi. UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea and Russia: 45 days visa-free (Resolution 44/NQ-CP, 15 Mar 2025 to 14 Mar 2028). Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland: 45 days visa-free (Resolution 229/NQ-CP, 15 Aug 2025 to 14 Aug 2028). EU countries not named here (for example Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Greece) need the e-visa. Passport valid 6 months from arrival with two blank pages; check the stamped date before leaving the airport. The only 2026 change found is a narrow visa waiver for Chinese tour groups to Khanh Hoa (Resolution 325/NQ-CP, from 12 Oct 2026); nothing new for the 45-day list.

Official sources: evisa.gov.vn, vietnam.travel, vietnam.travel, ven.congthuong.vn.

Is a transport pass worth it?

No rail or transport pass is worth it. Vietnam has no tourist rail pass, and this route uses the train only once (Hanoi to Ninh Binh, about 210,000-220,000 VND, $8-9 each way). The long legs (Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Saigon) are about 1 h 20 m flights that cost roughly $25-70 when booked ahead, against most of a day on the train. Fly the long legs, take the train or a limousine van for Ninh Binh, and use Grab or Xanh SM in town.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1: Land at Noi Bai, Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake

Base: Hanoi

Morning

Clear immigration at Noi Bai (HAN) and get into the city.

How: Cheapest: Express Bus 86 from outside the terminal to the Old Quarter by Hoan Kiem Lake (it continues to Hanoi Railway Station). Pay the conductor in cash. Easiest: book a GrabCar or Xanh SM in the app inside the terminal so the fare is fixed before you get in. Metered taxi as a fallback.

Time: 35-60 min, 27-30 km · Cost: Bus 86: 45,000 VND ($1.75). Grab: about 200,000-300,000 VND ($8-12). Metered taxi: about 350,000 VND plus 17,000 VND toll ($14)

Tip: Before you leave the airport, check the date stamped in your passport (45 days, or your e-visa end date). Immigration will not change it later. Ignore free hotel shuttles you did not book.

Afternoon

Check in, then walk the Old Quarter's trade streets and loop Hoan Kiem Lake.

How: On foot from any Old Quarter hotel. Carry your bag on the side away from the traffic.

Time: 2-3 h · Cost: Free

Evening

Water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, on the lake's north-east corner.

How: Walk. Several 50-minute shows a day; book a seat the day before or online.

Time: 50 min · Cost: About $9 standard, $12-13 deluxe, $16 VIP via resellers. Check the VND price at the box office. No child discount.

Tip: Book the evening show for day 1: it is seated and short, good for jet lag.

Where to sleep: Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem). Walking distance to the lake, Bus 86 and the station, and every street-food stall you want. Truc Bach and Ba Dinh dorms run 30-40% cheaper if you want quiet.
Budget: $8-12 a dorm bed; budget rooms from about $24-26 · Mid: 700,000-1,500,000 VND ($28-60) a double · Comfort: Boutique or 4-star, about $70-125 a night on 2026 booking-site listings (check)
Eat: Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van Huu, where Obama and Bourdain ate: bun cha 50,000-60,000 VND ($2-2.30), the 'Obama combo' with a fried seafood roll and a Hanoi beer 100,000-120,000 VND ($4-4.60). Cash. Street pho runs about $1.50-2.50 a bowl, $2.50-4 in tourist spots.
If it rains: Water puppets are indoors. Add Hoa Lo Prison (day 2) today if it pours.

Day 2: Temple of Literature, Imperial Citadel, Hoa Lo Prison

Base: Hanoi

Morning

Temple of Literature, then the Thang Long Imperial Citadel next door to the north.

How: Grab from the Old Quarter, about 10-15 min. Walk between the two (about 15 min). Go early before the tour groups.

Time: 3 h for both · Cost: Temple of Literature 70,000 VND ($2.70). Citadel 100,000 VND ($3.85), 8:00-17:00, closed Mondays. Grab car in the centre about 60,000-120,000 VND

Tip: On a Monday, swap the Citadel for an afternoon walk round West Lake.

Afternoon

Hoa Lo Prison, the 'Hanoi Hilton' French colonial jail.

How: Grab or a 20-min walk south of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Time: 1.5 h · Cost: 50,000 VND ($1.90)

Evening

Book and confirm tomorrow's train and day 4's cruise if not done. Early night: the Ninh Binh train leaves at 06:00.

How: Train tickets on dsvn.vn or 12Go; collect nothing, the e-ticket QR is enough.

Time: 30 min · Cost: -

Where to sleep: Same Old Quarter hotel. Do not change hotels before the cruise: most will store a bag for the night you are on the boat.
Budget: $8-12 a dorm bed · Mid: 700,000-1,500,000 VND ($28-60) a double · Comfort: About $70-125 (check)
Eat: Pho for breakfast at a street stall (about $1.50-2.50). Dinner: back to the Old Quarter for bun cha or pho in a sit-down place.
If it rains: All three sights are mostly under cover except the Citadel grounds. Swap the Citadel for the water puppets if you did not go on day 1.

Get the full 10-day itinerary (PDF)

Print it, save it to your phone, or attach it to your visa application.

Full PDF coming soon

Days 1 and 2 are free above. The full PDF goes on sale shortly.

Day 3: Day trip to Ninh Binh: Trang An boats and Mua Cave· in the full PDF

Base: Hanoi

Train to Ninh Binh, then the Trang An boat trip through limestone caves and flooded valleys (UNESCO).

Day 4: Overnight cruise on Lan Ha Bay· in the full PDF

Base: Lan Ha Bay (on board)

Hotel pick-up, drive to the pier.

Day 5: Sunrise on the bay, back to Hanoi· in the full PDF

Base: Hanoi

Sunrise on deck, tai chi or a cave stop, brunch, disembark around midday (check your boat's schedule).

Day 6: Fly to Da Nang, first evening in Hoi An· in the full PDF

Base: Hoi An

Morning flight Hanoi to Da Nang.

Day 7: My Son Sanctuary and the old town museums· in the full PDF

Base: Hoi An

My Son Sanctuary: ruined Cham Hindu temples in a jungle valley (UNESCO).

Day 8: Spare day: An Bang beach or Marble Mountains (weather buffer)· in the full PDF

Base: Hoi An

Cycle to An Bang beach through the rice fields, or Grab to the Marble Mountains on the road to Da Nang.

Day 9: Fly to Saigon, War Remnants Museum and District 1· in the full PDF

Base: Ho Chi Minh City

Grab from Hoi An to Da Nang airport, fly to Saigon.

Day 10: Cu Chi tunnels, then fly home· in the full PDF

Base: Ho Chi Minh City

Cu Chi tunnels half-day trip.

Get all 10 days in full →

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Sources

We checked 50 sources for this itinerary, official ones first. Prices change; check before you book.

Trip Under is reader-planned, not a travel agency. Prices and rules were checked on 30 October 2026 and move with season and demand. Where a figure could not be confirmed we say "check".