Sample Itinerary · Tripcuro

Couple

Vietnam Grand Tour: Hanoi to
Saigon

The full length of Vietnam over three weeks, north to south by road, rail-town and cruise

18 Nights · December 2025 – January 2026 · Vietnam

View Day-by-Day

Trip Overview

Duration

18 Nights

December 2025 – January 2026 · Couple

Where

Vietnam

Overnight cruise through the karst islands of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay · Cable car to the summit of Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak, from Sapa · Ride the Hai Van Pass between Lang Co and Hoi An by scooter

Budget

USD 40–130 per night for two

Land hotels and the Ha Long cruise ran roughly USD 40–130 per night for two, with the beachfront resort at the upper end; add domestic flights (Saigon–Hue, Da Nang–Hanoi) and scooter hire in each town.

Where You'll Stay

Thien Hai Hotel

District 1, Ho Chi Minh City · 2 Nights

Central base for Saigon sightseeing

Vina Vintage Hotel

Hue · 1 Night

Near the Imperial Citadel and Perfume River

Angsana Lang Co

Lang Co, near Hue · 2 Nights

Beachfront resort with garden-balcony rooms

River Suites Hoi An

Hoi An Old Town · 2 Nights

Riverside, walking distance to the ancient town

Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills

Ba Na Hills · 1 Night

On the mountain for Golden Bridge sunrise

Fivitel Da Nang

Da Nang · 2 Nights

River-view balcony rooms near My Khe Beach

Tam Coc Golden Sky Homestay

Tam Coc, Ninh Binh · 2 Nights

Pool homestay among the karst rice fields

Verdure Lotus Cruises

Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay · 1 Night

Overnight bay cruise

Sapa Mountain Resort (Affiliated by Melia)

Sapa, Lao Cai Province · 1 Night

Mountain-town base for Fansipan

Matilda Boutique and Spa Hotel

Hanoi Old Quarter · 2 Nights

Boutique stay near Hoan Kiem Lake

Day-by-Day Itinerary

DAY

Day 1 of 19

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Land in Saigon in the morning and settle into District 1
Hire a scooter for getting around the city
Sightseeing among the central landmarks
Evening exploring Japan Town

DAY

Day 2 of 19

Cu Chi Tunnels & night market

Morning tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels
Return to the city and rest in the afternoon
Evening at a night market, or catch an opera performance

DAY

Day 3 of 19

Fly south-coast to Hue

Early morning flight from Saigon to Hue
Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel
Check in and rest; hire a scooter for the town
Evening dragon-boat ride on the Perfume River

DAY

Day 4 of 19

Hue to Lang Co resort

Scenic ride south from Hue to the Lang Co coast
Check in to the beachfront resort for two nights
Unwind by the lagoon and beach

DAY

Day 5 of 19

Resort day at Lang Co

Full day at leisure on the Lang Co peninsula
Beach, pool and spa time
Sunset over the East Sea

DAY

Day 6 of 19

Hai Van Pass to Hoi An

Ride the legendary Hai Van Pass by scooter
Pit stop at a hidden beach along the way
Arrive in Hoi An and settle in
First evening in the Old Town

DAY

Day 7 of 19

Hoi An Old Town

Explore the heritage shophouses of the ancient town
Coconut boat ride at Cam Thanh coconut village
Relax among the lanterns after dark

DAY

Day 8 of 19

Up to Ba Na Hills

Depart for the Ba Na Hills mountain resort
Ride the cable car up to the theme park
Walk the Golden Hand Bridge
Overnight on the mountain for its night ambience

DAY

Day 9 of 19

Ba Na sunrise, on to Da Nang

Wake early for sunrise at the Golden Bridge
Descend and transfer to Da Nang
Evening at Linh Ung Pagoda and Son Tra
Catch the Dragon Bridge fire show

DAY

Day 10 of 19

Da Nang beaches & markets

Morning at My Khe Beach
Explore the Marble Mountains
Bargain and shop at Con Market

DAY

Day 11 of 19

Fly north to Ninh Binh

Flight from Da Nang up to Hanoi
Transfer on to the Ninh Binh countryside
Settle into a homestay among the rice fields

DAY

Day 12 of 19

Trang An & Tam Coc

Sampan boat trip through Trang An or Tam Coc
Climb to the Mua Cave viewpoint
Cycle among the limestone karsts

DAY

Day 13 of 19

Board the Ha Long cruise

Morning transfer to the cruise harbour
Begin an overnight cruise on Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay
Kayaking, swimming and sunset among the islands
Dinner and overnight aboard

DAY

Day 14 of 19

Cruise ends, bus to Sapa

Morning activities as the cruise winds down
Time in Ha Long town
Afternoon coach up to the mountains of Sapa

DAY

Day 15 of 19

Cat Cat & Muong Hoa Valley

Walk to Cat Cat village
Explore the terraced Muong Hoa Valley
Meet local hill-tribe communities

DAY

Day 16 of 19

Summit Fansipan

Head to Sun Plaza in Sapa town
Funicular to Muong Hoa, then cable car up Fansipan
Reach the summit of Vietnam's highest peak

DAY

Day 17 of 19

Sapa town, return to Hanoi

Relax in Sapa; visit the old stone church
Transfer back down to Hanoi
Settle into the Old Quarter

DAY

Day 18 of 19

Hanoi Old Quarter

Explore Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Watch a traditional water puppet show
Coffee and street food through the day

DAY

Day 19 of 19

Hanoi & departure

Final sightseeing and last-minute shopping
Evening flight home

Good to Know

Best travelled one long arc

Vietnam is over 1,600 km end to end. Short domestic flights link the far-apart legs (Saigon–Hue, Da Nang–Hanoi) while scenic drives and the Hai Van Pass cover the central coast, so no single transfer feels punishing.

Scooter town by town

This trip rents scooters afresh in Saigon, Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang rather than one long-haul bike. It is the most flexible way to explore each base, but hire an experienced rider for the Hai Van Pass.

Book the Ha Long cruise early

Overnight cruise cabins on Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay sell out around New Year. Lock in the boat and confirm the harbour transfer in advance; pay any driver-direct legs on the day.

Layer up for the mountains

Sapa and the Fansipan summit are cold and often misty in winter, a sharp contrast to the tropical coast. Pack a warm layer even though the rest of the trip is beach weather.

Winter timing

Late December to early January brings festive energy to Saigon and Hanoi and cool, clear days in the north. Book Christmas and New Year nights well ahead as coastal resorts fill up.

Vietnam Grand Tour: Hanoi toSaigon