Ultimate Vietnam: Cities, Countryside & Waterways - 15 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Explore

Welcome to Vietnam! This country holds a long and storied history, which is no more evident than in its capital city of Hanoi. First inhabited some 3,000 years ago, this is one of the oldest capitals on the planet. Waiting for you at Noi Bay International Airport will be a personal driver who will take you to your hotel in the city. After that, you can explore Hanoi on a self-guided tour.

Perhaps start with a walk through the Old Quarter, where you can browse the markets, visit street vendors, and enjoy a drink at one of the many bohemian bars and cafés. Then, take in some local history and mythology with a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. At the north end is the Temple of the Jade Mountain, built in the 18th century to honor Tran Hung Dao, a military commander who famously repelled two Mongol invasions.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour

In the morning, head out to discover the beauty and history of Hanoi on a full-day tour. First, you'll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to see the final resting place of "Uncle Ho." Continue on to the 11th-century Temple of Literature, which is dedicated to Confucius. Fun fact: this temple was the first-ever university in Vietnam, and even today, students burn incense and pray at its altars for academic success.

After a lunch of traditional pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), you can visit one of the numerous museums and temples around Hanoi. Top options include the Women's Museum, the National Historical Museum, and Quan Thanh, an 11th-century Taoist temple. Another highlight is the Museum of Ethnology, which preserves the cultural heritage of the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Later in the afternoon, take a bicycle ride around Hoem Kiem Lake to experience typical Hanoian life and Vietnamese culture. Finish the tour with some traditional Vietnamese entertainment: a water puppet show. It's an art that has been practiced in this part of Vietnam for centuries. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 3: Transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve & Hike

Leave Hanoi early and embark on a four-hour scenic drive west to the valley of Mai Chau. On the way, you'll stop in Pom Coong. This village is home to the Thai people of northern Vietnam, who represent the second-largest ethnic group in the country. Upon arrival, you'll sit down to lunch with some friendly locals.

Then, take a short drive to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. This protected area is the ancestral home of the Thai people and is comprised of forested mountains and green valleys dotted with terraced rice paddies and traditional villages. Here, you'll embark on a three-hour intermediate-level hike that covers just over 5.5 miles (9 km). Along the way, you'll be treated to spectacular views of mountains, villages, and terraced rice paddies.

In the late afternoon, you'll arrive at the ecolodge where you'll spend the night, located in the traditional village of Don. The lodge sits in an idyllic part of Pu Luong, overlooking terraced rice fields and surrounded by towering palms. 

Day 4: Transfer to Ninh Binh

Day 5: Sightseeing in Ninh Binh

Wake up for an early breakfast, then spend time browsing the local market near your hotel. Afterward, hop in a sampan (traditional boat) for a scenic ride down the river. Upon returning to Tam Coc, you'll visit some of the other highlight landmarks in the area. These include the 13th-century Thai Vi Temple, the 15th-century Bich Dong Pagoda, and Thung Nham, a bird garden home to over 40 species, including storks, herons, and tropical starlings. 

Day 6: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Overnight Cruise & Optional Activities

Today, you'll transfer by car about 3.5 hours north to the coast and Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the true natural wonders of the world. In this sweet spot where the land meets the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,000 karst islets rise above emerald waters, resembling the spine of a giant reptile—hence the name Ha Long ("Descending Dragon"). Here, you'll board a ship for a two-day cruise.

Once aboard, you'll sit down for a delicious lunch and then get underway. The ship will pass a number of islets before arriving at a secluded lagoon in Lan Ha Bay, part of the Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve archipelago. Here, the boat will drop anchor, and you'll take a kayak tour. During the excursion, you'll pass through narrow waterways around the karst mountains and visit the area's famous floating villages. Continue through a natural tunnel to a lagoon where you can swim in the water and relax on a secluded beach.

In the late afternoon, you'll return to the boat, and everyone will gather on the top deck to witness the golden sunset over the water. Then, join a cooking class on board the ship, during which the experienced chef will teach your group how to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes. Later, you can opt for activities like games and movies or head out on a nighttime squid-fishing excursion.

Day 8: Hue City Tour, Bike to Rural Villages

In the morning, embark on a guided tour of Hue's Imperial City. One of Vietnam's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this walled citadel was built in 1804 and is surrounded by a moat. You'll tour this well-preserved landmark, once the center of Vietnam's government, during the Nguyen Dynasty. Then, take a scenic boat ride down the Perfume River, stopping at the 17th-century Thien Mu Pagoda. Its most prominent feature is Phuoc Duyen, a seven-tiered, octagonal tower that has become an icon of Hue.

After touring the pagoda, continue the pleasant journey downstream, enjoying lunch on the boat as you go. Eventually, you'll arrive at Tien Non, the most famous craft village in Hue. Residents here began making the town's famous artificial flowers centuries ago, as they withstood the elements better than real flowers. They serve both cultural and spiritual purposes: villagers decorate their homes with them during Tet, they wear them on clothing, and they use them to worship ancestors ceremonially. Here, you'll visit a flower-making workshop and can even try to make one yourself.

Then, hop on a bicycle and ride to another village, this one famous for its traditional folk paintings. After admiring the local art, you'll spend more time riding around Hue's stunning countryside. Later, transfer back to the city and your hotel.  

Day 9: Transfer to Hoi An, Explore the Ancient Town

Day 10: Visit Tra Que Village & Hoi An City Tour

Day 11: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the hour-long ride north to Da Nang and the airport. Here, you'll catch a 1.5-hour flight south to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. This city is a captivating mix of the old and the new. Despite a communist revolution and devastating war, it has retained much of its distinctive cultural mix of Asian and Western traditions. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Day 12: Free Day in Ho Chi Minh City 

Today is yours to explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own. Perhaps head out on a self-guided tour. You can stop at the War Remnants Museum to see exhibits covering the First Indochina War and the American War. Then, visit 19th-century landmarks like the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Opera House. Another highlight is the Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace. This is the former home of the president of South Vietnam, which was taken over when Saigon fell in 1975.

Day 14: Day Trip to Mekong Delta 

A driver will pick you up early for the two-hour transfer to My Tho, the first city on the main arm of the mighty Mekong River. When you get there, you'll drive over the Rach Mieu suspension bridge, which offers panoramic views of the Mekong and its surrounding islands. Continue to the city of Ben Tre, where you'll board a boat for an hour-long cruise on the Ben Tre River, a tributary of Ham Luong, the fourth branch of the Mekong.

Sit back and relax while you drift down the waterway into a peaceful canal. Stop for a visit at famous local businesses like a coconut-husking workshop and a coconut candy factory. Then, browse a waterfront market before stopping in at a workshop where skilled craftspeople hand-weave sleeping mats out of sedge grass—a tradition in the region.

Then, experience the beautiful countryside when you embark on a bicycle ride (or motorized scooter trip) along the coconut groves and cucumber farms. Enjoy lunch at a local home before continuing to explore exotic orchards and vegetable gardens on foot. The tour finishes with a peaceful paddle along the river on a traditional wooden sampan. Afterward, your boat will be waiting to take you back to Ben Tre and on to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Depending on your flight schedule, you'll enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the airport for your flight home. This concludes your greatest hits tour of Vietnam. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Vietnam? Check out these other Vietnam itineraries, explore more ways to spend 15 days in Vietnam, or discover the best time to visit Vietnam.