Vietnam is over sixteen hundred kilometres long, and that single fact governs everything about planning a trip there. The north, the centre and the south are rarely in the same season at the same time, which means there is no universally correct itinerary. There is only the right direction for your month.
The short answer
Fifteen days is the right length: five in the north, four or five in the centre, and the rest in the south. Travel north to south between roughly March and May, and south to north between September and November. Flying the long legs rather than taking the train saves whole days you will want elsewhere.
Days 1 to 5, the north
Hanoi rewards walking more than sightseeing. The old quarter is a working neighbourhood rather than a preserved one, and two days is enough to get the rhythm of it, including at least one morning spent on nothing but breakfast and coffee, which in Hanoi is a legitimate activity.
From there the north splits. Halong Bay and the quieter Lan Ha Bay next to it deliver the limestone seascape everyone comes for, and an overnight on the water is worth more than a day trip. Inland, the terraced valleys around Sapa and Ha Giang offer trekking among ethnic minority communities and some of the most striking landscape in the country. Doing both in five days is possible but tight, and most travellers get more out of choosing one.
Days 6 to 10, the centre
Hue was the imperial capital, and its citadel and royal tombs along the Perfume River give the trip its historical spine. The road south from Hue over the Hai Van pass to Da Nang is one of the great coastal drives in Asia, and worth doing by road rather than through the tunnel.
Hoi An is the stop travellers extend. A preserved trading port of lanterns and tailors, small enough to cross on foot, with a beach fifteen minutes away and the best cooking classes in the country. It is also the natural place in a Vietnam itinerary to stop moving for three nights.
Days 11 to 15, the south
Ho Chi Minh City is louder, faster and more commercial than Hanoi, and the contrast between the two is one of the most interesting things about travelling the whole country. Two days covers the city and the war history around it.
The Mekong Delta is the part most itineraries under-serve. A day trip out of the city gives you a floating market and a boat ride. Two nights staying in the delta gives you the thing itself: canals, orchards, a completely different pace of life. If your fifteen days have any slack, put it here.
The season problem, explained properly
The north has a real winter: cool, often grey and misty from December to February, which is atmospheric over Halong Bay but not sunny. It is hot and humid from May to September.
The centre, around Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An, has its heaviest rain roughly from September to December, and this is the region that most often disrupts an itinerary, with genuine flooding some years.
The south is tropical and simpler: dry from around December to April, wet from May to November, with rain that usually falls hard and briefly in the afternoon rather than all day.
The practical upshot is that March and April are the safest bet for the whole country in one trip. Any other month means accepting a compromise somewhere, and knowing where that compromise sits is the whole job of planning.
Getting around
Domestic flights link the three regions in about two hours each and are always included in our circuits when the itinerary needs them. International flights never are, and we handle them separately through our flight desk. The overnight train is a genuine experience but costs a night and a day, so take it because you want to, not to save money.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Vietnam?
Fifteen days lets you travel the whole country without rushing: around five days in the north, four or five in the centre and the rest in the south. Ten days means choosing two regions rather than three.
When is the best time to travel to Vietnam?
March and April are the most reliable months for the whole country at once. The north is cool and misty from December to February, the centre has its heaviest rain from September to December, and the south is dry from December to April.
Should you travel Vietnam north to south or south to north?
It depends on the month rather than on preference. North to south works well from March to May. South to north suits September to November, when the centre and north improve as you move up the country.
Is Halong Bay worth an overnight stay?
Yes. A day trip gives you the bay at its busiest hours, while an overnight lets you see it early and late when the day boats have gone. Neighbouring Lan Ha Bay is quieter for the same landscape.
Build it around your dates
Our routes are on the Vietnam page, including From North to South, Treasures of Vietnam and Vietnam, land of emotions. Tell us your month first and we will set the direction of travel around it. Request your quotation.
