Vietnam Itinerary For 2 weeks (14 days)

How This Vietnam Itinerary Works

For the starting spot, there are two options: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Since these 2 cities are the main arrival destinations of Vietnam, there aren’t so many differences for each choice.

However, I had a trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh last year, the suggested Vietnam 14 days itinerary below will follow the North to South route.

Noted that Vietnam is a long country. Each part is hers covers the highlights that will satisfy each traveler’s taste.

For example: In the North, we have Hanoi – the capital, Halong Bay – the dreamland that no one wants to miss, Sapa – the marvelous mountainous area,…In the Central, Hue city – the ancient capital is another can’t-miss, Da Nang – the young city with wonderful beaches and picturesque bridges at night, Hoi An ancient town. In the South, we can hardly skip Nha Trang, Da Lat – the most romantic city, HCMC – the modern and bustling country that makes you want to stay awake for the whole night.

AZ Local Trip itinerary map

Moreover, I will give you a suitable time for each place. The weather in Vietnam is split by region. Generally, it is warm and humid.

For one who loves a relaxing trip: Hanoi 3 days, Halong bay 3 days, Hue 1 day, Da Nang Hoi An 3 days, HCMC 4 days

For one who loves to get under the skin of Vietnam, your vietnam two week itinerary would be: Hanoi 2 days, Halong bay 2 days, Hue 1 day, Da Nang – Hoi An 2 days, Da Lat 2 days, HCMC 3 days, Mekong Delta 2 days.

I will go detail with the second option since it covers more destinations. Therefore, you can totally arrange the what to do in vietnam for 2 weeks plan with the first choice.

Now let’s get started!!!

Detailed Vietnam Itinerary for 2 weeks trip

HANOI – the first place you set foot on and it never disappoints anyone

Day 1 & Day 2

Over the centuries, Hanoi is the land of many relics, historical and architectural works such as: Temple of Literature, Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake), One Pillar Pagoda, Ngoc Son Temple, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Bat Trang ceramic village

 

Tran Quoc pagoda, one of the most famous pagoda in Hanoi

Hoa Lo prison

Hoa Lo prison – the most horror prison in Asia

In addition, Hanoi also has many large lakes such as West Lake, Truc Bach, Thien Quang, Hoan Kiem … This not only helps reduce the heat of summer, but also turns the capital into a famous tourist spot.

When traveling to Hanoi, you can not ignore the specialties that have made the brand of Hanoi cuisine such as steamed rice pancake, La Vong grilled fish, Crisp shrimp pastry, Banh Mi…. Especially when it comes to Pho, Hanoi is the best place to try.

HALONG BAY – the World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO

Day 3 & Day 4

You know, I’ve been asking a lot of my foreign friends as well as tourists that if you had only 1 day to travel to Vietnam, which place would you choose? Undoubtedly, most of them said: “Halong Bay”.

I would say, Halong has a full convergence of factors that become a top-check in any traveler’s bucket list.

Thousands of islands, dozens of beautiful caves have created an aesthetic value of the Gulf.

Mesmerising landscape and beach in Ha Long Bay

Kayaking in Ha Long Bay

Kayaking in Ha Long Bay

Visiting Halong Bay, you will have a chance to admire the splendid mother nature through the caves and the Karst topography by cruising, kayaking or swimming at pristine beaches.

For your curiosity on this destination, don’t miss my guide to a Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night.

HUE – The Old Imperial City

Day 5

Hue is one of the three largest tourist areas in Vietnam. Come to Hue you will come to a beautiful scenic area, with charming Huong river (Perfume river), peaceful side of the majestic Ngu Binh mountain.

From Hanoi, the easiest way to reach Hue is by airplane.

You can get to Hue by two airlines: Vietnam Airlines & VietJet Air to Phu Bai Airport (Hue). Phu Bai Airport (Hue) is 15 km away from Hue city center which takes about 25 minutes.

From here, you can catch a taxi or book a 4-seat car to go to the hotel in central Hue.

(Taking a bus to Hue is simple and cheap, but you will have to spend at least one day to move from Hanoi or Saigon to Hue)

For getting around in Hue:

You can rent a motorbike for a price of VND 100-200.000 per day to facilitate sightseeing. When visiting the Citadel you should take a cyclo to feel the rustic and rustic scene here.

Hue is famous for its mausoleum, the Citadel, temples. The tombs in Hue are often away from the city so if you want to visit those places,  don’t hesitate to book a taxi ride.

The famous places in Hue should not be missed for your trip are:

+ Perfume River, Trang Tien Bridge has long been into poetry, you can admire the city by the “dragon”  boat on the romantic Perfume River.

+ If you do not have time to go to Lang Co beach which is quite far away from Hue center, pay a visit to Thuan An beach instead. This is a pristine beach with crystal clear water, white and clean sand. From Hue center, you can go by taxi or take a bus.

Coming to Hue, you can hardly miss the special cuisine here.

Hue cuisine is extremely rich and unique. I highly recommend you try these local foods:

+ Com Hen (Mussel rice): This Hue specialty is often sold outside the restaurant or at street vendors in Hue. The food is a colorful rice bowl mixed with other rustic foods such as laksa leaves, peanuts, banana flower and of course the mussels with many spices. With a surprisingly cheap price of VND 7,000, you can have a tasty bowl of Com Hen.

Some good places for Com Hen are at Han Mac Tu Street, Truong Dinh Street,…

Mussels Rice

Mussels Rice is a must try if you come to Hue City

+ Hue beef noodle soup is made with true Hue flavor. A bowl of Bun Bo Hue is full with white noodles with pomegranates floating on the top, along with lemon, chili sauce, and other spices. To find a nice Bun Bo Hue is not difficult because they are mainly sold on all roads in Hue.

See more: 5 days in Vietnam 

DA NANG – HOI AN

Day 6 & Day 7

Da Nang is a dynamic and young city located in the central of Vietnam. In this what to do in vietnam for 2 weeks, I will show you a detailed itinerary for 2 days in Da Nang.

Day 6

Departure to Da Nang. Check in hotel, have lunch and rest. In the afternoon you can go to My Khe Beach to enjoy the fresh sea air. After dinner, you can visit the Asian park and experience the 115-meter Sun Wheel ride.

Here, you can catch a glimpse Da Nang shimmering at night. Especially, with an impressive height of 115m, visitors can fully enjoy Danang with a new perspective never been explored.

Sun Wheel – Top 10 of highest wheels on the world which 115 metters height

Day 7

After having a Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Ba Na Hills, you can ask for the hotel’s shuttle service which will take you about 1 hour to reach Ba Na Hills. Here, you buy a cable car ticket and start the Ba Na tour. Ba Na cable car line is recorded as the longest cable car in the world, running from the foot of Ba Na mountain to the Vong Nguyet.

Sitting on the cable car Ba Na Hills suspended in the middle of the clouds, looking down the mountains and forests, you will admire the majestic and spectacular mountains, forests, waterfalls.

dragon bridge

Ba Na Hills is an extremely diverse entertainment community. You can also admire the 27m high Buddha statue at Linh Ung Pagoda, wine cellar, love garden or Fantasy park.

Back to the city center, you can watch the Dragon Bridge spraying water and shooting fire at night (on weekends only). If you have time, please visit the lizards of Hoa Phuc, the Love Bridge nearby and watching the pace of life Da Nang at night.

See more: 7 days in Vietnam

DA LAT – The Dreaming land

Day 8 & Day 9

The distance from Da Nang to Da Lat is over 800km so it takes about 16 hours for transferring by bus although this transportation is many locals’ preference. Again, my advice for the transportation to Da Lat in this vietnam two week itinerary is by airplane.

Noted that Da Nang – Da Lat buses are limited while Flight tickets are expensive and traveling by train is difficult. That’s why you should book in advance as soon as possible (the peak month are from May to August)

dalat

With many beautiful sceneries, Dalat is one of the most famous tourist cities in Vietnam. In the French colonial period, the Latin name Datis Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem means “giving joy and coolness to people”. Dalat is also well-known for other names such as the city of flowers, the city of love, the city of spring or the city of fog.

Here is my suggested schedule for 2 days in Da Lat:

Day 8

First, you go to Datanla Waterfall – the most beautiful and famous waterfall in Da Lat. Here you will not only visit, admire the amazing natural scenery of the falls but also experience the thrilling activities like the modern tube slide system which is extremely interesting.

After that, you continue to explore Truc Lam Zen Monastery – a famous tourist attraction in Da Lat. When you come here, you will go to pray for the Buddha’s blessing, a fortune for the whole family. The quiet space here is believed to help you relax.

If you have more time, you should visit Tuyen Lam Lake – the most beautiful lake in Da Lat and experience cable car to Robin Hill.

In the Afternoon, you continue to go to the valley of love in Dalat to enjoy the romantic beauty with hundreds of different kinds of flowers.

Linh Phuoc pagoda

Not only a pagoda, Linh Phuoc pagoda more likely a “Buhddist Museum”

The next point is Ve Chai Pagoda, also known as Linh Phuoc Pagoda, then you should pay a visit to a local Strawberry Garden.

After dinner, you can walk to Dalat night market is also very interesting and try some local foods such as Banh Trang Nuong, Banh Chuoi Nuong,…

See more: 8 days in Vietnam

Day 9

After breakfast, you visit Van Thanh flower village to see a variety of different flowers such as roses, Salem flowers, carnations …

Continue to the Golden Valley

Journey to LangBiang Mountain – the legendary mountain of Dalat. If you have more time to travel, then you can go hiking up the mountain to explore the whole beauty of LangBiang, otherwise, you can rent a Jeep to move.

In the afternoon: You can visit Domain de Marie church, the old railway station.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Day 10, Day 11 & Day 12

For moving from Da Lat to HCMC:

If you go by bus, it would take about 7 hours. Otherwise, you can travel by airplane to save time.

Dubbed as the “Pearl of the Far East”, Ho Chi Minh City has long been a cultural, economic and political center of Vietnam.

Traveling to Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City which is more than 300 years old now, you can meet the high-rise buildings located close to the sanctuary, amusement park, crowded shopping center and also ancient villas, traditional markets that have existed for hundreds of years.

For what to do in this bustling city for 3 days 2 nights, here is what I planned for you:

Day 10

After departing to HCMC in the morning, take a rest and have breakfast there. You should choose hotels located in the central area for easy access to the sites. Moreover, the central area also has many good services for you.

Start your first day in Ho Chi Minh City by learning more about the Vietnam War – from Vietnam’s perspective. Therefore, the War Remnants Museum is a must-go for you.

War Remnants Museum

Then you should pay a visit to Ben Thanh Market which will bring you a nice and memorable moment. Here you can find souvenirs for your friends, try some local sweet foods and learn how to bargain like a real local.

At night, do not go to bed early and feel a bustling Saigon instead. No wonder people call this place “the city that never sleeps”. You can stroll along the pedestrian Nguyen Hue, the Bach Dang Wharf,…Otherwise, you can join one of the nightclubs here.

Day 11

Don’t forget to Prepare a small backpack with sunscreen, a hat and a bottle of water to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is a famous historical site with interconnected tunnels such as spider webs in the middle. Try to go down the tunnel, you will be surprised because the tunnel system is designed nicely to the soldier’s active revolution. And do not forget to enjoy the hot potato with hot sesame salt which is very sweet and fragrant.

In the evening, catch a taxi and come to Anh Sao bridge in Phu My Hung urban area, District 7. This bridge is only for pedestrians, so you are absolutely safe. The two sides of the bridge are decorated with light and water spray system. When the night comes, this place is as beautiful as a galaxy.

Day 12

Get a food tour around HCMC with Banh Xeo Nam Bo, Goi Cuon,…You will be amazed by its own flavor.

At night, try a river cruise experience, you will be exploring the beauty of the city at night while sightseeing with dinner on the boat restaurant. Depending on the quality of service, the cost of a trip along the Saigon River cost from VND 80,000 per person.Bun bo Nam Bo (Mixed Beef rice noodle) which lighty, meaty and sweety definitely make you want to take the second bowl

Vietnam itinerary for 12 days 

MEKONG DELTA

Day 13 & 14

Come to the Mekong Delta tour for 2 days and 1 night, you will escape the noise of Saigon life and feel the harmony with the peace of the countryside instead.

First place is My Tho which is 70 km away from HCMC.

MEKONG DELTA

After reaching Con Lan Village, you will have a chance to travel on a small boat along the river.

Then you will see how locals here make Keo Dua (coconut candy) which is a specialty here.

At night you can sleep in a locals’ house as an interesting experience and have some conversations with them.

Next day, you will visit Cai Rang floating market – the largest market in the Mekong Delta. Here, you will visit the pineapple boat – enjoy the pineapple of Can Tho.

Next you will see how locals make rice papers and probably learn from them, Lastly, we’ll be back to HCMC and get ready for departure flight.

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