2 Weeks in Vietnam & Thailand - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Nature, History & Culture in Vietnam & Thailand

This classic highlights itinerary is a good fit for first-time travelers looking for a balance of urban and rural experiences as well as several days at the beach. In Vietnam, you'll attend a water puppet show and sample street food in Hanoi, cruise Ha Long Bay, learn the history of the Cu Chi Tunnels, and engage with villages along the Mekong Delta. Then, in Thailand, you'll cruise the Chao Phraya River, taste street eats in Chinatown, shop fresh at the floating market, take a temples tour, hike in Erawan National Park, and spend your final days snorkeling and sunbathing in Phuket. 

Dive into Vietnamese culture and cuisine with a traditional water puppet show and a tasting tour of Hanoi's street food (yes, there will be pho noodle soup!). Next, your driver will take you to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise that includes a swim in a secret cove, a kayak trip to a hidden beach, and a cooking class on board. Then, fly to Ho Chi Minh City, where you'll learn local history at the Cu Chi Tunnels and engage with village life on a boat ride along the Mekong Delta. Catch a flight to Bangkok (Thailand) and enjoy some free time to cruise the Chao Phraya River and sample street food in Chinatown.

Shop for fresh produce and handicrafts at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, then join a temple tour that includes the giant, gold-plated reclining Buddha statue at Wat Pho. Escape to nature on a day trip to Kanchanaburi, where you can hike in Erawan National Park and take a dip at the waterfalls. Finally, you'll fly to Phuket and soak up the beach vibes with a waterfront dinner and a snorkeling excursion to the Phi Phi Islands. Make the most of your last days with souvenir shopping, watersports, and a boat ride among the karst formations in Phang Nga Bay before departure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Vietnam & Thailand's Culture & Cuisine

Discover Vietnam and Thailand's culture through its cuisine on this food-focused itinerary. You'll dine on gourmet fare at the Ly Club Restaurant in Hanoi, participate in a tea tasting and cooking class in the Ba Vi countryside, perfect your spring roll-making skills in a cooking class on a boat in Ha Long Bay, prepare a meal with a local family in Hoi An, take a tasting tour of Bangkok's multicultural cuisine, and nibble street eats at the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market in Krabi. 

Get to know Hanoi with a guided tour of the sites, including Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist shrine in the city, before sitting down to a gourmet meal in an ornate French villa at the Ly Club Restaurant. Venture into the Ba Vi countryside for a day filled with tea tasting, cooking, and cycling with the villagers. Next, your driver will take you to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise where you'll explore a karst cavern, make spring rolls and other Vietnamese dishes in a cooking class on board your boat, and try your hand at catching squid. Then, fly to Da Nang, where you'll meet your driver, who'll transfer you to Hoi An.

Put your bartering skills to the test while shopping in charming Hoi An's Ancient Town, then cruise the Thu Bon River in a basket boat before preparing a meal with a local family. Fly to Bangkok and rub elbows with residents feasting on street food in Chinatown, or join other tourists for street eats on Khao San Road. Take a hike in Erawan National Park, then experience multicultural cuisine on a tasting tour along Charoen Krung Road. Cap off your Southeast Asia adventure in Krabi with an island-hopping tour, a beach day at Railay Beach, and street food tasting at the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Secrets of Vietnam & Thailand

Pick up the pace and go off the beaten trail with this multicountry trip as you focus on northern Vietnam and the length of Thailand—from Chiang Mai to Phuket—balancing culture, cuisine, history, spirituality, and outdoor experiences. You'll cruise past spiritual sites on a sampan boat tour in Ninh Binh, visit traditional hill tribe villages in Sapa, tour the temples and taste award-winning foods in Bangkok, trek in the jungle and see Lanna-style temples in Chiang Mai, and end with a relaxing beach getaway in Krabi.

See Hanoi at your own pace, wandering the streets of the Old Quarter by foot or cruising along in a three-wheeled cyclo, then refuel with some bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli) at the famous Bun Cha Huong Lien. Then, head to Ninh Binh, where you'll float past karst scenery and spiritual sites like Dia Linh Mountain on a flat-bottomed sampan boat before climbing the 500 steps at Mua Cave for panoramic vistas over Tam Coc. Enjoy an overnight stay onboard a junk ship at Ha Long Bay, then catch a train to Sapa to visit traditional hill tribe villages and a cable car ride to the top of Fansipan, Vietnam's tallest mountain.

Return to Hanoi by train for your flight to Bangkok, where you'll tour the canals and watch the sunset at Wat Saket. Choose your evening adventure following dining at the Michelin-starred streetside restaurant, Jay Fai: exploring lively Khao San Road or heading to Chinatown to browse the food stalls and markets. Visit the Emerald Buddha on the Grand Palace grounds, then shop at the Chatuchak Market before flying north to Chiang Mai, where you'll visit Lanna-style temples and trek in the jungle. End your journey in Krabi—swimming at Ao Nang and soaking in the hot springs and emerald lagoon. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Natural Treasures of Vietnam & Thailand

See Vietnam and Thailand from another perspective on this adventure, an excellent choice for boat-loving travelers who want to hit the highlights. After tasting street food in Hanoi, you'll cruise Hoa Binh Lake in Mai Chau, ride a traditional sampan in Ninh Binh, enjoy a luxurious stay aboard a ship on Ha Long Bay, tour the Mekong Delta by boat, cruise the Bangkok canals on a long-tail boat and visit riverside temples, and join a snorkeling excursion in the Phi Phi islands. The chance to eat lunch with a family in Mai Chau, meet artisans along the Mekong Delta, and cook with a Lanna family in Chiang Mai is also a fit for travelers interested in engaging with local people.

Get acquainted with Hanoi on a guided tour that includes the Presidential Palace and some street eats such as pho bo (beef noodle soup) and bun cha before heading to Mai Chau for lunch with a local family and a short cruise on tranquil Hoa Binh Lake followed by a bike ride through the area's villages of Thai descendants and rice paddies. Next, take a day trip to see the temples of Hoa Lu, followed by a sampan boat ride in Ninh Binh. On Day 4, you'll be transferred to Ha Long Bay for an overnight stay on Athena Royal, where you'll have the chance to kayak among the towering rock formations and swim in the blue-green waters of Ha Long Bay.

Catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City for a tour of the highlights, including Ben Thanh market, and a boat excursion on the Mekong Delta, with stops at a candy workshop and honey farm. Fly to Bangkok and embark on a long-tail boat tour that takes you to Wat Arun and other ornate temples along the canals. Then, fly north to Chiang Mai to learn about the Hmong hill tribe community, walk the Ang-Kha Nature Trail, and prepare Thai dishes with a Lanna family in their traditional teak home. Finally, fly to Phuket, where you'll celebrate with a swimming and snorkeling tour to the Khai and Phi Phi Islands. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Romantic Vietnam & Thailand Escape

Couples and honeymooners interested in engaging the senses and creating memories together might consider this romantic escape. You'll try Vietnamese street food in Hanoi, watch the sunset from the deck of a Ha Long Bay cruise ship, stroll the historic streets of UNESCO-listed Hoi An and share a catered candlelit dinner aboard a bamboo raft, hit the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City and cruise the Saigon River, and get pampered with a spa experience and rooftop dinner in Bangkok. Finally, you'll cap off the trip with a relaxing island getaway to Ko Samui and a romantic dinner on the beach. 

Visit iconic landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature on a tour of Hanoi, see a traditional water puppet show, and experience the city's street food scene. Next, your driver will whisk you away to Ha Long Bay for two days of swimming and sailing among the limestone karsts before continuing to Hoi An, renowned for its lantern-lined streets and ancient architecture. You'll then board a luxury bamboo raft for a sunset meal served by private butlers. On Day 6, fly south to Ho Chi Minh City, where you'll learn about Vietnamese history and culture on a guided tour before enjoying a Saigon River dinner cruise.

Engage with local artisans and chefs as you tour the Mekong Delta and prepare a meal together. On Day 8, fly to Bangkok, where you'll indulge in a spa treatment, visit the ornate temples, and toast your journey with a rooftop dining experience. Witness the unique atmosphere of the Klong Railway Market, where vendors are set up on the tracks, and peruse the produce at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market before flying to Ko Samui for a romantic candlelight dinner on the beach. Spend your final day as you wish: snorkeling, unwinding with a spa treatment or yoga class, or simply lazing on the beach. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Landscapes of Vietnam & Thailand: Cities, Bays, Mountains & Beaches

Adding Da Nang to the itinerary, this multicountry trip is a fit for travelers interested in temples, architecture, and culture. In addition to visiting popular landmarks in Hanoi and Bangkok, you'll also travel into the Ba Na Hills to see the impressive stone hands holding the Golden Bridge, check out the caves and temples of the Marble Mountains, admire the beauty of the Japanese Covered Bridge and other historic architecture in Hoi An, marvel at the ornate designs of Bangkok's temples and palaces, and take a temple-focused tour in Chiang Mai before spending your final days enjoying watersports and beach time in Phuket.  

Kick off your adventure with a meal at Bun Cha Huong Lien and a sunset cocktail at Pan Pacific Hotel's rooftop bar. Learn about Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups at the Museum of Ethnology before setting sail on an overnight cruise at Ha Long Bay. Then, fly to Da Nang, where you'll ride a cable car in the Ba Na Hills and stop by the iconic Golden Bridge held by a pair of giant stone hands—an exciting photo op. Next, your driver will take you to see the caves and temples of the Marble Mountains en route to Hoi An. Shop handcrafted items at the Bay Mau Palm Forest and take a lantern boat ride before flying to Bangkok.

Meet your guide and head to the Central Pier for a canal and temples tour that ends with sunset at Wat Saket. Pick up souvenirs at the Chatuchak Market, and on Day 9 catch a flight to Chiang Mai for a temple tour and a visit to Warorot Market where you can buy fresh produce and flowers. Spend a day learning about elephant care at a jungle sanctuary, then visit the Lanna-style Wat Sri Suphan temple before slurping up one last khao soi (a noodle soup dish popular in Northern Thailand) at the Night Bazaar. Finally, fly to Phuket, where you'll enjoy a sea canoe excursion in Ao Phang Nga National Park. Learn more

More Great 2-Week Vietnam Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Vietnam? Check out these other two-week Vietnam itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.

A note on diacritical and retroflex markings: In order to support the best technical experience and search functions, diacritical markings have been omitted from this article.