12 days from south to north in style: Saigon, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long
12 days, 11 nights: Ho Chi Minh City (2N), Phu Quoc (3N), Da Nang (2N), Hanoi (2N), Ninh Binh (1N), Ha Long Bay (1N) + Mekong Delta day trip. Best time to go: Best Feb–Apr, when all three regions are dry; Oct–Dec is wet on the central coast.
Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
- Independence Palace & Central Post Office · 2 h
- Ben Thanh Market · 1.5 h. Bargain; prices start high.
Local tip: Bargain; prices start high.
Day 2: Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho / Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City
- Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho / Ben Tre) · 9 h. Sampan canals, coconut candy and fruit orchards in one day from HCMC.
Local tip: Sampan canals, coconut candy and fruit orchards in one day from HCMC.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City → Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc · Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Sao Beach · 3 h
Day 4: Hon Thom cable car & Kiss of the Sea show
Phu Quoc
- Hon Thom cable car & Kiss of the Sea show · 6 h. Combo with the round-trip cable car saves vs separate tickets.
Local tip: Combo with the round-trip cable car saves vs separate tickets.
Day 5: 4-island snorkelling boat trip
Phu Quoc
Day 6: Phu Quoc → Da Nang
Da Nang · Phu Quoc to Da Nang, Domestic flight ~1–2h
Day 7: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge by cable car
Da Nang
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge by cable car · 7 h. Be on the first cable car (~8am) for an empty Golden Bridge.
Local tip: Be on the first cable car (~8am) for an empty Golden Bridge.
Day 8: Da Nang → Hanoi
Hanoi · Da Nang to Hanoi, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Day 9: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
- Thang Long water puppet show · 1 h. Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda · 2 h. Mornings only, shoulders/knees covered; closed some Mondays and Fridays.
- Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2 h
Local tip: Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
Day 10: Hanoi → Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh · Hanoi to Ninh Binh, Private van ~2h
- Trang An boat ride through caves · 2.5 h. Start by 8am to beat tour buses.
- Mua Cave viewpoint climb · 1.5 h. ~500 steps; go for sunset.
Local tip: Start by 8am to beat tour buses.
Day 11: Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay · Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay, Private transfer ~3h
- Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise · Full day. Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
- Kayaking & Sung Sot cave · 2 h. Usually included on cruises — confirm before paying extra.
Local tip: Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
Day 12: Depart from Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
- Ti Top Island viewpoint · 1.5 h
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights): District 1. Walk to museums, markets and the river.
- Phu Quoc (3 nights): Long Beach resorts. West-coast sunsets, pools, 15 min to town.
- Da Nang (2 nights): My Khe beachfront. Beach across the road; Ba Na and Hoi An within an hour.
- Hanoi (2 nights): Hoan Kiem boutique stays. Quiet lanes, still walkable to the Old Quarter.
- Ninh Binh (1 night): Tam Coc / Hoa Lu boutique lodges. Pools and karst views, close to both boat rides.
- Ha Long Bay (1 night): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.