Most first Vietnam itineraries try to do Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City in six nights, and spend two of them in airports. The country runs 1,650 km north to south with three separate climates — picking one region and going deep beats a highlight reel.
The three Vietnams
| Region | Base | Best for | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Hanoi | Ha Long Bay, Sapa terraces, old-quarter food | Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr |
| Centre | Da Nang / Hoi An | Beaches, tailoring, Hue heritage, Ba Na Hills | Feb–Aug |
| South | Ho Chi Minh City | Mekong Delta, Cu Chi, Phu Quoc beaches | Dec–Apr |
Desk tip: Flying in from India? Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have the cheapest fares from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Da Nang usually needs one stop, so the centre-only trip works best as a 6N or longer.
A 6N route that actually breathes
- Night 1–3: Hanoi — old quarter, egg coffee, a day trip to Ninh Binh
- Night 4: Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise (Lan Ha is quieter)
- Night 5–6: back to Hanoi, or a short hop to Da Nang for two beach days
- Skip: adding Ho Chi Minh City to the same six nights
Money, visa and ground rules
Indian passport holders get an e-visa online — apply at least a week ahead and carry a printout. Cash still rules outside hotels: keep small dong notes for taxis and street food, and use Grab instead of hailing. Rail and sleeper buses are cheap but eat a night; domestic flights are often the same price as a sleeper bus booked late.
Food you should not negotiate
- Pho bo at a street stall before 09:00 — the broth is freshest
- Banh mi from a cart, not a cafe
- Cao lau in Hoi An — only made with local well water
- Vegetarians: ask for 'chay' and skip fish-sauce dips
Planning Vietnam?Send us your dates — we reply with a real itinerary and a price, not a brochure.Chat on WhatsApp“One region, one unpacked suitcase, and a Ha Long or Hoi An night in the middle. That is the Vietnam week people come back raving about.”