A few notes to get out of the way before we proceed to the list of things to do in Vietnam:
1. This list on things to do in Vietnam DOES NOT cover all of Vietnam. Please, Vietnam has A LOT MORE to offer than what’s written below.
2. I have to balance between seeing as much as possible versus just rushing from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’.
3. Mui Ne and Dalat are noticeably left out here. It’s not that they are inferior to the other attractions. It’s just that they are a little, just a little, out of the way of the main route to go from north to south (or vice versa).
4. This point is worth repeating again – This suggested itinerary DOES NOT cover all of Vietnam. If you can afford the time, do a 2 months Vietnam tour to comfortably say you have seen it all.
Day 01 – Hanoi
Day 02 – Hanoi
HCM Mausoleum
Museum of Ethnology
Day 03
Day 04
Halong Bay
Back to Hanoi in the evening
Day 05 – Hanoi
West Lake
Hoa Lo Prison
Lenin Park
Night train to Sapa
Day 06 – Sapa
Sapa Market
Cat Cat Village
Tram Ton Pass
Day 07 – Sapa
Ta Van Village
Sapa Radio Tower
Day 08 – Sapa
Hang loose
Day 09 – Sapa
Hang loose
Night train back to Hanoi
Day 10 – Hanoi
Temple of Literature
Ho Tay Pagoda
Bach Ma Temple
Evening bus to Hue
Day 11 – Hue
Day 12 – Hue
Boat trips
Hang loose
Day 13 – Hoi An
Morning bus to Hoi An
Arrive Hoi An in the afternoon
Hang loose
Day 14 – Hoi An
Day 15 – Hoi An
Hang loose
Day 16 – Hoi An
My Son
Night bus to Nha Trang
Day 17 – Nha Trang
Day 18 – Nha Trang
Island boat tour
Diving
Mud baths
Day 19 – Nha Trang
Po Nagar Cham Towers
Long Son Pagoda
Sleeper bus to HCMC, Saigon
Day 20 – HCMC
Ben Thanh Market
Saigon Square Shopping Centre
Reunification Palace
Notre Dame Cathedral
Saigon Post Office
Day 21 – HCMC
Cholon, Binh Tay Market
Ong Bon Pagoda
War Remnants Museum
Ben Thanh Night Market
Day 22 – HCMC
Guided tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and the Cao Dai Temple
Hang loose in the Saigon backpacker’s hostel area
Day 23 – HCMC
Guided tour to the Mekong Delta
Day 24 – HCMC
Mariamman Hindu Temple
History Museum
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Day 25 – HCMC
Hang loose
Hi there,
I’ll be travelling to Vietnam with another friend for an 8day trip. Would you be able to suggest to me what is the best itineary that I can create so that I can get the best of Vietnam in 8 just 8 days?
Dear Sweeling, thank you for dropping by.
It’s not a great idea to see the whole of Vietnam in just 8 days. I suggest doing the north covering Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa with this window.
Hue and Hoi An – very interesting to visit. A lot of special and delicious food. Peaceful and quite romantic for couple
Hi Duong, completely agree