Classic North-to-South Vietnam Tour

Travel south from Hanoi to Saigon, connecting Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and the Mekong Delta.

The most popular route for first-time visitors to Vietnam. Explore the ancient capital, Ninh Binh, and a Halong Bay cruise in the north; visit the Imperial City and royal tombs in Hue, cross the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An in the center; and end in Saigon in the south. Long distances are covered by two domestic flights, with private cars and trains used for the rest. The itinerary is full but not rushed. Sapa, Phong Nha, and beach resorts are excluded, making it ideal for those who want to see the highlights of both north and south in one go.

Feb–Apr is relatively dry and pleasant across the north, center, and south; Oct–Nov often brings typhoons and flooding to the central region.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Hanoi & Explore the Old Quarter

Hanoi（Hanoi Old Quarter、Hoan Kiem Lake、Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre）

Take Bus 86 or a taxi from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter (about 1 hour), then explore on foot.

Stay: Old Quarter (36 Streets)

Day 2 · Ba Dinh Square, Temple of Literature & Imperial Citadel

Hanoi（Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum、One Pillar Pagoda、Temple of Literature、Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long）

Combine walking with taxis. Sights are concentrated in the Ba Dinh District, with about half an hour of driving throughout the day.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is usually closed on Mondays and Fridays; it is best to go early in the morning.

Stay: Old Quarter (36 Streets)

Day 3 · Ninh Binh Karsts & Caves

Ninh Binh（Hoa Lu Ancient Capital、Ninh Binh (Trang An / Tam Coc)、Hang Mua (Mua Cave Viewpoint)）

Take a minibus or train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (about 2 hours), then hire a car or rent a bicycle locally to connect the sights.

Stay: Tam Coc

Day 4 · Board Halong Bay Cruise

Ha Long Bay（Ha Long Bay Cruise Area、Ti Top Island）

Take a shuttle bus from Ninh Binh to Halong harbor early in the morning (about 3.5 hours) and board the cruise at noon.

Cruise itineraries and transfers must be booked in advance; double-check the departure harbor.

Day 5 · Disembark Cruise & Fly to Hue

Ha Long Bay（Sung Sot Cave） → Hue

Disembark in the morning and return to Hanoi (about 3 hours). Fly from Noi Bai Airport to Hue in the evening (about 1 hour 20 minutes).

Stay: Le Loi Street, Perfume River South Bank

Day 6 · Hue Imperial City & Perfume River

Hue（Imperial City of Hue、Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities、Thien Mu Pagoda、Dong Ba Market）

Walk across the Truong Tien Bridge to enter the Imperial City. Take a dragon boat or taxi to Thien Mu Pagoda in the afternoon.

Stay: Le Loi Street, Perfume River South Bank

Day 7 · Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty

Hue（Tomb of Tu Duc、Tomb of Minh Mang、Tomb of Khai Dinh）

Hire a car or motorbike to visit the three main royal tombs south of the city. Each one-way trip takes about half an hour, with about 5 hours of sightseeing for the day.

Stay: Le Loi Street, Perfume River South Bank

Day 8 · Cross Hai Van Pass to Hoi An

Hue（Lang Co Bay & Lap An Lagoon、Hai Van Pass） → Da Nang（Marble Mountains）

Hire a car or ride a motorbike via the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An, about 4 hours, or 6 hours including stops.

Stay: Hoi An Ancient Town Area

Day 9 · My Son Sanctuary & Lantern Night

Da Nang（My Son Sanctuary、Hoi An Ancient Town、Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)）

Take a car to My Son in the morning (about 1 hour one way), and return to the Ancient Town for a walking tour in the afternoon.

Arrive early at My Son to avoid the midday heat. Exploring the Ancient Town is more comfortable in the late afternoon.

Stay: Hoi An Ancient Town Area

Day 10 · Vegetable Gardens, Coconut Groves & Beach

Da Nang（Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Cam Thanh、Tra Que Vegetable Village、An Bang Beach）

Rent a bicycle to explore. Tra Que Village and An Bang Beach are both within 5 km of the Ancient Town.

Stay: Hoi An Ancient Town Area

Day 11 · Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Da Nang（Museum of Cham Sculpture） → Central Ho Chi Minh City（Nguyen Hue Walking Street & City Hall）

Travel from Hoi An to Da Nang (about 45 minutes), fly to Ho Chi Minh City (about 1 hour 20 minutes), and take a taxi to the city center.

Stay: District 1 (Dong Khoi Street)

Day 12 · Cu Chi Tunnels & War History

Central Ho Chi Minh City（Cu Chi Tunnels、War Remnants Museum）

Join a tour or hire a car to the Cu Chi Tunnels (about 2 hours one way). Return to the city center in the afternoon to visit museums on foot.

Stay: District 1 (Dong Khoi Street)

Day 13 · Mekong Delta Day Trip

Central Ho Chi Minh City（Mekong Delta）

Join a day tour to My Tho and Ben Tre, about 2 hours one way. Transfer to small boats locally to explore the canals.

Stay: District 1 (Dong Khoi Street)

Day 14 · French Colonial Saigon & Departure

Central Ho Chi Minh City（Independence Palace、Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office、Ben Thanh Market）

Explore District 1 on foot. Take a taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport according to your flight time (about half an hour).

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