A slower-paced journey through Vietnam that combines city life, cultural highlights and time by the coast, with fewer stops and more time to enjoy each place.

Around 12 to 14 nights

A more relaxed Vietnam itinerary with fewer hotel changes, longer stays and time to enjoy each place properly.

Hanoi

Start with three nights in Hanoi.

Explore the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and some of the city’s historic sights, but leave enough unplanned time for coffee shops, markets and restaurants.

A food tour or cooking class works particularly well here and gives a useful introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

Spend one or two nights cruising through the limestone scenery of northern Vietnam.

Rather than treating the cruise as a quick excursion from Hanoi, allowing an overnight stay makes the experience feel much less rushed.

Hoi An

Fly south and stay for four or five nights around Hoi An.

This is one of the best places in Vietnam to slow down. Explore the old town, cycle through the countryside, join a cooking experience or spend time at the beach.

With a longer stay, there is no need to fill every day with organised sightseeing.

Beach Stay

Finish with a few quieter days by the coast, either close to Hoi An or elsewhere in central Vietnam depending on the season.

This itinerary suits travellers who would rather experience fewer places well than spend the holiday constantly moving between destinations.

An adventure-filled journey through Vietnam that balances culture, outdoor activities, and city life with a touch of relaxation at the end.

Around 14 to 16 nights

A more active Vietnam journey combining cities and culture with mountain scenery, trekking, kayaking and cycling.

Hanoi

Begin in Hanoi with time to explore the Old Quarter and some of the capital’s historic sights.

A food tour is a good addition before heading north, particularly if you want to understand more about the regional dishes you will encounter throughout the trip.

Sapa and Northern Vietnam

Travel north into Vietnam’s mountain landscapes.

Sapa and the surrounding valleys offer opportunities for guided walks through rice terraces and rural villages, with routes ranging from fairly gentle walks to longer treks.

This part of the itinerary adds a completely different character to the trip and works particularly well for travellers who want more than city sightseeing.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

Continue to the coast for an overnight cruise.

Kayaking is often one of the highlights, giving you the chance to explore smaller bays and limestone formations away from the main viewing decks.

Hoi An

Fly south to Hoi An for a few days of cycling, food and countryside.

A cycling route through the surrounding villages and rice fields can be combined with a cooking experience or local workshop.

There should still be enough free time to enjoy the old town at your own pace.

Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta

Finish in southern Vietnam.

Explore Ho Chi Minh City, then continue into the Mekong Delta for a contrasting landscape of rivers, orchards and canals.

An overnight stay is worth considering if you want to see more than the busiest day-trip routes.

This itinerary suits travellers who enjoy being active but still want a good balance of culture, food and independent time.

A balanced journey through Vietnam that blends city buzz, adventures, cultural highlights, and downtime designed to keep children, tweens, teens, and parents happy all at once.

Around 12 to 14 nights

A well-paced family journey through Vietnam, balancing city sightseeing, outdoor activities, hands-on experiences and enough downtime to keep the trip enjoyable for different ages.

Hanoi

Begin with a few nights in Hanoi.

The Old Quarter is lively and full of things to see, while a cyclo ride, water-puppet performance or food experience can make sightseeing more engaging for younger travellers.

Keeping some free time in the itinerary is important, particularly after the long journey from the UK.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

An overnight cruise adds something completely different to the trip.

Depending on the boat and route, activities might include kayaking, swimming or short excursions ashore.

For families, the choice of cruise matters. Cabin configuration, food, facilities and journey times are just as important as the headline itinerary.

Hoi An

Hoi An works extremely well for families because there is plenty to do without needing to move hotels.

Cycling, cooking classes, lantern-making, countryside visits and beach time can all be mixed together, while the old town itself is compact and easy to explore.

A longer stay here helps keep the overall trip relaxed.

Ho Chi Minh City

Finish with a few nights in the south.

Choose sightseeing carefully rather than trying to cover everything. Markets, food experiences and selected historic sights can be combined with free time at the hotel or pool.

Depending on ages and interests, the Mekong Delta can also be added.

The key to a good family itinerary in Vietnam is not trying to fit too much in. Fewer stops, sensible journey times and carefully chosen hotels usually make for a much better trip.

A more adventurous journey through Vietnam that combines dramatic mountain scenery, rural landscapes and a quieter stretch of coast.

Around 14 to 18 nights

For travellers who want to see a less familiar side of Vietnam, combining dramatic mountain scenery, quieter rural areas and a stretch of coast away from the busiest resorts.

Hanoi

Start in Hanoi before travelling north.

A couple of nights gives enough time to settle in, explore the Old Quarter and get a first taste of Vietnamese food and city life.

Ha Giang

Continue into Ha Giang, one of the most spectacular regions in northern Vietnam.

Mountain roads, limestone peaks, terraced fields and remote communities make this a very different experience from the classic Hanoi and Ha Long Bay route.

Travel here is slower, so it is worth allowing several nights rather than trying to rush through.

Ba Be National Park

Ba Be offers forests, lakes, caves and quieter rural landscapes.

Boat journeys and gentle walking can be included, and the area works well as a contrast to the dramatic scenery of Ha Giang.

Return to Hanoi

Break the journey with another night in Hanoi before flying south.

This keeps the itinerary manageable and avoids trying to connect long overland journeys directly with domestic flights.

Quy Nhon

Finish on the coast at Quy Nhon.

This is a quieter alternative to Vietnam’s better-known beach areas, with a more local atmosphere and fewer large-scale resorts.

It works particularly well at the end of a more adventurous northern journey, giving you several days to slow down before travelling home.

This itinerary suits repeat visitors or first-time travellers who are happy to trade some of Vietnam’s headline sights for quieter places and more dramatic landscapes.

A journey through Vietnam’s past and present, exploring imperial cities, traditional crafts, historic landmarks, regional food and everyday life.

Around 14 nights

A culture-focused journey through Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, with more time devoted to Vietnam’s history, architecture, food and traditional crafts.

Hanoi

Begin in the capital.

Explore the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature and some of the city’s museums and historic landmarks.

A guided walk or food tour can add useful context and help make sense of the different influences that have shaped Hanoi.

Hue

Fly or travel south to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital.

Visit the Imperial City, royal tombs and pagodas, and allow time to explore the city’s distinctive food culture.

Hue is particularly worthwhile for travellers who want to understand more of Vietnam’s royal and political history rather than simply passing through central Vietnam.

Hoi An

Continue over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An.

Spend time exploring the old town, traditional merchant houses and temples, but also look beyond the centre.

Cooking classes, craft workshops and visits to surrounding villages can all add more depth to the stay.

Ho Chi Minh City

Finish in southern Vietnam.

The War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace are important stops for anyone interested in the country’s more recent history, while the city’s architecture and food scene show a very different side of Vietnam.

Mekong Delta

If time allows, add one or two nights in the Mekong Delta.

The region provides a useful contrast to the cities and offers a closer look at river life, agriculture and communities shaped by the waterways.

This itinerary works particularly well for travellers who want to come home with a better understanding of Vietnam rather than simply having seen its best-known sights.