In a nutshell
- Vietnam is an incredibly diverse country — and a road trip is the best way to see it. In two weeks, you can hit all the most important highlights Vietnam has to offer.
- We’ll walk you through our Vietnam itinerary with a map and day-by-day plan. For every stop, you’ll get our hotel recommendations and a rundown of what’s truly worth your time.
- As a bonus, we’ve put together two alternative routes — one for three weeks if you have more time, and one for adventurers who want something off the beaten path.
The Classic 2-Week Vietnam Itinerary on a Map
Vietnam is a narrow country. That means you’re not really doing a loop — you’re traveling straight through the country from one end to the other. It doesn’t matter whether you start in the north or the south. We arrived in the south in Saigon and traveled from there toward the north. Our return flight departed from Hanoi.
To give you an overview, we’ve marked all the stops on a map.
Our 2-Week Vietnam Itinerary at a Glance
Before we walk you through each stop in detail, here’s a quick overview of the full route.
- Days 0–2: Saigon
- Days 3–5: Hội An
- Days 6–8: Hanoi
- Days 9–10: Halong Bay
- Days 11–14: Sapa
What’s the Best Way to Get Around Vietnam?
In our Vietnam travel guide, we especially recommend the bus and the plane for getting from city to city. Buses take longer than a domestic flight, but they’re cheaper and honestly not nearly as uncomfortable as you might expect. On most routes, sleeper buses run with reclining seats so you can stretch your legs out pretty well.
There are also trains connecting the major destinations. They run less frequently, though, often take longer, and cost more than the buses.
For each leg of this Vietnam route, we’ll tell you the best way to reach the next stop.
More tips on getting around Vietnam in our Vietnam travel tips
Days 0 to 2: Saigon
Saigon is a cool mix of Southeast Asia and Europe. There are lively markets, towering skyscrapers, a lovely Chinatown, and colonial buildings dotted throughout. Most of Saigon’s highlights are close together, so you can simply stroll from one to the next.
Along the way, you’ll get your first taste of just how much the Vietnamese love motorbikes. Dozens of them gather at every traffic light, waiting for the signal to go.
By the way, Saigon is also officially known as Ho Chi Minh City.
Our Hotel Pick for Saigon
The Little Saigon Boutique Hotel is a fantastic place to stay. It’s charmingly decorated and in a super central location — you can walk to most of the highlights in under 20 minutes.
Book the Little Saigon Boutique Hotel
All our hotel recommendations for Saigon can be found here:
Highlights in Saigon
- Old Post Office
- War Remnants Museum
- Ben Thanh Market
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Book Street
- Landmark 81
- Chinatown
- City Hall
- Day trip to the Mekong Delta
Here are more tips on Saigon:
Onward to Hội An
The best way to reach Hội An is by plane. You’ll land at the neighboring city of Da Nang and can be in Hội An by taxi in under an hour.
Days 3 to 5: Hội An
Hội An is one of the absolute highlights of any Vietnam itinerary. Think of it as the Vietnamese Venice — canals, hundreds of boats, and an incredible number of colorful lanterns strung across the streets. Especially at sunset and after dark, the lights are seriously stunning.
During the day, you’re just a short bike ride from rice fields, or you can explore the beautiful historic district — where, by the way, motorbikes are mostly banned. You’ll also find loads of tailor shops here. Getting something custom-made in Hội An is practically a rite of passage, and it’s totally doable even in two weeks.
Our Hotel Picks for Hội An
We stayed at the Golden Soulmate Homestay. It’s a little outside the old quarter, but they have bicycles that get you there in ten minutes — and the family running it is absolutely lovely.
Book the Golden Soulmate Homestay
If you’d prefer a hotel, we recommend the Little Gem Boutique Hotel — a 5-star boutique hotel with a pool.
Book the Little Gem Boutique Hotel
Our tip: Make sure to book a place that offers bike rentals. Traffic in the city is manageable, and with a bicycle you can take great rides through the rice fields or head down to the beach. Both of our picks above include free bikes.
All our hotel recommendations for Hội An can be found here:
Highlights in Hội An
- Old Town
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Night Market
- Rice fields of Cam Kim
- Get a dress or suit tailor-made
- Day trip to My Son Holyland
- Day trip to Cham Island
See all our attractions in Hội An:
Onward to Hanoi
From Hội An, the overnight bus to Hanoi is a solid option. You’ll be on the road for about 12 hours and arrive in the capital the next morning. If that sounds like too much, you can also cover this stretch by plane.
Days 6 to 8: Hanoi
In Hanoi, it’s wonderfully chaotic again. The city overflows with motorbikes and people heading in every direction — and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.
If you prefer something a bit calmer, there are still plenty of parks and lakes where the pace slows right down. On weekends, vehicles are banned around Hoan Kiem Lake, so you can wander those streets without any hassle.
As everywhere in Vietnam, Hanoi has incredible street food. Above all, don’t miss pho (noodle soup with vegetables and meat) and bánh mì (a filled baguette sandwich).
Our Hotel Pick for Hanoi
We recommend Su Casa Old Quarter. You’re not right in the thick of it, but you’re close to Train Street and the rooms are stylishly decorated.
More hotel tips for Hanoi can be found here:
Highlights in Hanoi
- Old Quarter
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Train Street
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
Here are all our tips for Hanoi:
Onward to Halong Bay
From Hanoi, you’ll head out on a two-day excursion to Halong Bay. You can do this on a guided tour from Hanoi or take the bus to the coast independently and arrange a boat there. We’d recommend the guided tour — that way you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Days 9 to 10: Halong Bay
Halong Bay is famous for its towering limestone karsts rising out of the water. They make for a breathtaking backdrop on a boat tour, during which you’ll also visit caves, beaches, small island villages, and kayak between the rocks.
The bay has become quite touristy by now, and many day tours hit the same three spots. With a two-day tour, you’ll reach more remote areas and can soak up the spectacular views at a much more relaxed pace — spending the night on board the ship.
Check out the 2-day Halong Bay tour
Highlights on Your Halong Bay Tour
- Kayaking through the Dark & Light Cave
- Ba Trai Dao Beach
- Vietnamese cooking class
- Trung Trang Cave
- Kayaking between the karsts
Here are all our tips on Halong Bay tours:
Onward to Sapa
Back from your excursion, you’ll spend one more night in Hanoi. The next morning, you’ll head to Sapa by bus. The journey takes about five hours, so we don’t recommend an overnight bus — you’d arrive before 5 AM.
Days 11 to 14: Sapa
Sapa is located in the far north of Vietnam. The town itself isn’t all that spectacular — the real draw is the mountain landscape surrounding it. Rice terraces are carved into the hillsides everywhere, and everything is a lush, vivid green. It practically begs you to head outside and explore. You’ll find waterfalls, bamboo forests, and amazing viewpoints.
We also really love the traditional Vietnam you can still experience in the indigenous villages nearby.
Our Hotel Pick for Sapa
The rooms at the Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa are cozy and have everything you need. The absolute standout is the rooftop terrace, with a seriously incredible view over the mountains.
Book the Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa
Here you'll find even more hotel tips:
Highlights in Sapa
- Hiking through the mountain landscape
- Take the cable car up Fansipan — Vietnam’s highest peak
- Love & Silver Waterfall
- Rice terraces
Back to Hanoi
At the end of your trip through Vietnam, you’ll head back to Hanoi, where the nearest international airport is located.
Our Suggested Itinerary for 3 Weeks in Vietnam
If you have more than 14 days, you can absolutely extend the route. Here’s an alternative itinerary for three weeks in Vietnam.
The Classic 3-Week Vietnam Itinerary on a Map
- Days 0–3: Saigon incl. day trip to the Mekong Delta
- Days 4–6: Phu Quoc
- Days 7–10: Hội An
- Days 11–13: Da Nang
- Days 14–16: Hanoi
- Days 17–18: Halong Bay
- Days 19–21: Sapa
You’ll give yourself an extra day in Saigon, leaving time for a day trip to the Mekong Delta — floating markets, fruit plantations, small canals, and plenty of greenery.
From Saigon, you’ll fly to Phu Quoc. The island has gorgeous, long sandy beaches lined with palm trees — a perfect, relaxed start to your Vietnam journey.
From there, you’ll continue to Hội An. Before heading on to Hanoi, though, take some time to explore Da Nang. The city reminds us a little of Miami. It sits right on the coast, with a long beach and high-rises rising up right behind it.
From Da Nang, you’ll continue to Hanoi and then follow the familiar route from there.
For Adventurers: This Was Our Personal Vietnam Itinerary
Our own trip through Vietnam looked a little different from the classic route — we added a small adventure at the end. If you’re up for a one-of-a-kind experience, this is the route for you.
Our Personal Route Through Vietnam on a Map
- Days 0–2: Saigon
- Days 3–5: Hội An
- Days 6–8: Da Nang
- Days 9–10: Hanoi
- Day 11: Day trip to Halong Bay
- Day 12: Travel day to Ha Giang
- Days 13–16: Ha Giang Loop
The biggest difference from the classic route is that we swapped Sapa for the Ha Giang Loop — a motorcycle route through the mountain landscape of northern Vietnam that was honestly one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip.
The scenery, with its sweeping rice terraces, is breathtaking, and in many places mass tourism hasn’t arrived yet. Kids wave at you as you ride by, and some viewpoints you’ll have entirely to yourself.
On this route, you’ll typically ride along with an Easy Rider — a guide on an organized tour. But if you have a motorcycle license plus an international driver’s license, you can rent your own scooter and ride an independent route.
Everything you need to know about the Ha Giang Loop can be found here:
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling Vietnam
When is the best time to visit Vietnam on a road trip?
Vietnam is divided into three climate zones, which makes it tricky to find the single best time to visit Vietnam for a full country road trip.
Your best bet is February or a trip in March — you’ll dodge the rainy season in all regions and enjoy pleasant temperatures throughout.
How much time do you need for a Vietnam road trip?
Plan for at least two weeks. The distances between stops are bigger than they look on a map, and you don’t want to spend your whole trip on buses. Two weeks gives you enough time to actually relax and enjoy each destination.
Which part of Vietnam is the most beautiful?
Honestly, that’s what makes Vietnam so special — every part is completely different. The south has amazing beaches, the north has lush mountain scenery, and great cities are scattered throughout.
That’s exactly why we recommend doing a road trip through the entire country. It’s the only way to see all the highlights Vietnam has to offer.
How much does a trip to Vietnam cost?
Vietnam is a very affordable destination.
The biggest expense will be your flights, which start at around 700–900 euros.
Once you’re there, you can get by comfortably on around 55 to 75 euros per day — covering accommodation, food, transport, tours, and entry fees.
Of course, costs can go higher depending on your travel style.
Can you drive a car yourself through Vietnam?
Technically, yes — but we don’t recommend it.
The distances between stops are long, road conditions can be rough, and city traffic is genuinely chaotic. On top of that, corrupt police officers may cause headaches at traffic stops regardless of your paperwork.
You’ll have a much easier time relying on public transportation — buses and domestic flights get you everywhere you need to go.
