Vietnam in 10 days: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City
By Ganesh ·
A 10-day Vietnam route for travellers from India: three nights in Hanoi with a day in Ninh Binh, a night on Ha Long Bay, three nights in Hoi An and two in Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta. Flights, e-visa and rough costs in rupees.
Ten days is enough to see Vietnam's north, centre and south if you fly the long hops. Spend three nights in Hanoi, one on a boat in Ha Long Bay, three in Hoi An and two in Ho Chi Minh City. Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (or the other way round). There are direct flights to both from several Indian cities.
The route
| Days | Base | Nights | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Hanoi | 3 | Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, a day in Ninh Binh |
| 4 | Ha Long Bay | 1 | Overnight cruise, kayaking, caves |
| 5-7 | Hoi An | 3 | Old town, tailors, beaches, Marble Mountains or My Son |
| 8-10 | Ho Chi Minh City | 2 | District 1, war museum, Cu Chi or the Mekong Delta |
Day by day
Day 1, Hanoi
Stay in or near the Old Quarter. Walk round Hoan Kiem Lake in the evening, when the streets around it close to traffic on weekends. Try bun cha and egg coffee. Crossing the road is easier than it looks: walk at a slow, steady pace and the bikes flow around you.
Day 2, Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is about two hours south. Take a rowing boat through the limestone karsts at Trang An or Tam Coc, then climb the 500 steps at Hang Mua for the view. Most hotels sell a day tour with lunch, which saves arranging transport.
Day 3, more Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum (closed on some weekdays and for a few weeks most years, so check), the Temple of Literature and the train street if it's open to visitors. Watch a water puppet show in the evening.
Day 4, Ha Long Bay
A bus picks you up in the morning for the 2.5-hour drive. One-night cruises are the sweet spot: you get the sunset and sunrise on the water, a cave visit and kayaking. Lan Ha Bay routes are usually quieter than the main Ha Long ones. Pick a boat by recent reviews, not the photos.
Day 5, fly to Da Nang, on to Hoi An
You're back in Hanoi around lunchtime on day 5. Take an afternoon flight to Da Nang (1 hour 20 minutes) and a 45-minute taxi to Hoi An. The lantern-lit old town at night is the reason people come.
Day 6, Hoi An
Buy the old-town ticket and visit a few of the assembly halls and old houses. If you want clothes made, see a tailor on the first morning so there's time for a fitting. Afternoon at An Bang beach.
Day 7, a day out from Hoi An
Choose the Marble Mountains and Da Nang's beach, the My Son temple ruins (go early, it gets very hot), or the Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge. The Ba Na day is touristy and pricey, but kids love it.
Day 8, Ho Chi Minh City
Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (about 1.5 hours). See the War Remnants Museum, the old post office and Ben Thanh market. Evenings on Nguyen Hue walking street are lively.
Day 9, Cu Chi tunnels or the Mekong Delta
Both are half to full day trips. The tunnels are about 1.5 hours away. The Mekong trip goes by boat through canals and orchards. You can combine both in one long day if you don't mind the bus time.
Day 10, home
Tan Son Nhat airport is 20 to 40 minutes from District 1, depending on traffic, which can be bad in the evening.
Visa
Indian passport holders can get an e-visa. Since August 2023 it's valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Apply only on the Vietnamese government's official e-visa portal, and be wary of agent sites that look official and charge extra. Fees are set in US dollars and change, so check the portal before you apply.
Rough cost per person
| Item | Budget (₹, approx.) | Mid-range (₹, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights from India | 22,000-35,000 | 35,000-50,000 |
| Two domestic flights | 6,000-10,000 | 9,000-14,000 |
| Stays, sharing a room, 8 nights | 12,000-20,000 | 25,000-45,000 |
| Ha Long one-night cruise | 8,000-12,000 | 14,000-25,000 |
| Day tours and tickets | 6,000-10,000 | 10,000-16,000 |
| Food and local transport | 8,000-12,000 | 12,000-20,000 |
| E-visa and insurance | 3,000-4,500 | 3,500-5,000 |
| Total | 65,000-1,03,500 | 1,08,500-1,75,000 |
When to go
Vietnam is long, so the weather differs by region. March to May works for the whole route. The north is cool and sometimes grey from December to February. The centre (Hoi An) gets heavy rain and storms from about September to November. The south is hot all year, with a wet season from May to October.
Tips
- Use Grab for taxis and bikes. Agree prices before getting into a cyclo.
- Vegetarian food is easy to find in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Look for "chay" restaurants, often run by Buddhist families.
- Carry some dong in small notes. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants.
Questions people ask
Can I add Sapa?
Only by cutting something. Sapa needs two nights, with an overnight train or a five-hour bus each way. Drop day 3 in Hanoi and one night in Hoi An.
Is one night on Ha Long enough?
For most people, yes. Two nights gets you further into the bay and away from other boats.
Hoi An or Da Nang as a base?
Hoi An, unless your main goal is a beach resort. Da Nang is a modern city; Hoi An is the old town you came to see.
Photo: Gate in Imperial City, Huế (III) by Supanut Arunoprayote, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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Read in: वियतनाम में 10 दिन: हनोई, हा लॉन्ग बे, होई आन और हो ची मिन्ह सिटी