16-day family Vietnam from Saigon and Can Tho to Ha Long Bay
16 days, 15 nights: Ho Chi Minh City (3N), Mekong Delta (1N), Da Nang (2N), Hoi An (3N), Hanoi (3N), Ninh Binh (1N), Ha Long Bay (2N). 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: Explore Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
- Cu Chi Tunnels half-day · 5 h. Hot and cramped — skip with young kids.
- War Remnants Museum · 2 h. Graphic in parts — preview before taking kids.
Local tip: Hot and cramped — skip with young kids.
Day 3: Explore Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta · Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta, Road ~2–3.5h
- Cai Rang floating market at sunrise · 3 h. Needs a night in Can Tho — the market winds down by 9am.
Local tip: Needs a night in Can Tho — the market winds down by 9am.
Day 5: Mekong Delta → Da Nang
Da Nang · Mekong Delta to Da Nang, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Marble Mountains caves & pagodas · 2 h
- Dragon Bridge fire & water show · 1 h. Saturdays & Sundays at 9pm only.
Local tip: Saturdays & Sundays at 9pm only.
Day 6: 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 7: Da Nang → Hoi An
Hoi An · Da Nang to Hoi An, Car ~45 min
- Hoi An Ancient Town heritage walk · 2.5 h. The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.
- Lantern boat on the Thu Bon river · 1 h
Local tip: The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.
Day 8: Explore Hoi An
Hoi An
- Cam Thanh coconut basket boat · 2 h
- Market tour & Vietnamese cooking class · 4 h
- Tailor fitting (24–48h turnaround) · 1.5 h. Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.
Local tip: Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.
Day 9: Explore Hoi An
Hoi An
- An Bang beach afternoon · 3 h
- My Son Sanctuary sunrise · 5 h
Day 10: Hoi An → Hanoi
Hanoi · Hoi An to Hanoi, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
Local tip: Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
Day 11: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Thang Long water puppet show · 1 h. Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2 h
- Bat Trang pottery village half-day · 4 h
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
Local tip: Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
Day 12: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
- 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
Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Day 13: 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.
- Cycling through rice fields · 2 h
Local tip: Start by 8am to beat tour buses.
Day 14: 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 15: Explore Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
- Ti Top Island viewpoint · 1.5 h
- Sun World Ha Long Queen cable car · 2 h
Day 16: Depart from Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights): District 1. Walk to museums, markets and the river.
- Mekong Delta (1 night): Can Tho riverside. Positioned for the sunrise floating market.
- Da Nang (2 nights): My Khe beachfront. Beach across the road; Ba Na and Hoi An within an hour.
- Hoi An (3 nights): Ancient Town edge. Walk to lanterns at night without the noise.
- Hanoi (3 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 (2 nights): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.