Vietnam 2 Week Itinerary North to South: Complete Travel Guide For The Best Experience

Are you thinking about a Vietnam itinerary for 2 weeks? When being a Vietnam first-timer, you may have a lot of concerns before your trip. How much does 2 weeks in Vietnam cost? When is the best time to go? etc. In this blog, Indochina Voyages will give you complete Vietnam holiday packages all inclusive in 2 weeks!

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Vietnam from North to South

Get to know Vietnam before you go

With more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline, the country of Vietnam is stretched along the North to the South with two large deltas – the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta by its ends. This geographic feature creates different climate zones and climate seasons. The North of Vietnam, which shares its North and Northwest border with China and Laos, has 4 distinctive seasons. While the South, which shares a border with Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand, inherits two separate wet and dry weather seasons.

Apparently, the long and narrow country enables Vietnam to have diversified ethnicities and minority groups. Most of them stretch along its border and in the mountain areas. In the flat land, there are metropolises in the 3 main regions of the country from North, Central, and South which are Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City respectively. In these cities, life is exposed to its traditions, living habits, and dynamically bustling daily activities.

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The highlight travel map of Vietnam

So if you want to capture every sight and corner of the country, it’s impossible to do all in a Vietnam itinerary of 2 weeks, at least a Vietnam itinerary of 3 weeks or more should be required. However, with a 2-week itinerary, you also be immersed enough in the Vietnam cultural highlight.

Planning an affordable one, matching your time, and not missing any nice sightseeing Vietnam has to offer, is in fact, not a big deal. Don’t forget to focus on the below key points. You will better plan a trip exactly for yourself without doing too much hassle work.

2-Week Vietnam Itinerary North to South – Where to go?

With 14 days from the North to the South, you can visit the most-wanted destinations. Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Vietnam’s culture, history, and cuisine as you embark on a unique two-week tour that allows you to capture all the highlights. This carefully curated itinerary ensures that you not only witness the iconic landmarks and delve into the storied past but also experience the natural beauty of the landscapes, soak in the tranquility of pristine beaches, and witness the captivating daily life of the local people.

What can you expect in Vietnam Travel Packages?

  • Immerse yourself in the captivating charm of Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter
  • Explore the picturesque landscapes of Sapa and surrounding areas, with thrilling trekking options
  • Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Ha Long Bay on an unforgettable overnight cruise
  • Uncover the rich historical legacy of the Imperial City of Hue and its ancient royal structures
  • Wander through the enchanting streets of Hoi An town and relax on the serene An Bang Beach
  • Marvel at the ancient ruins of My Son, a testament to the once-glorious Champa Kingdom
  • Discover the vibrant energy of Saigon and immerse yourself in the daily life of the Mekong Delta

Week 1: Cultural Highlights of the North

Day 1 – 2: Hanoi Arrival – Hanoi Old Quarter Charm

During the first two days, embark on a captivating Hanoi City Tour, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore the lively streets of the Old Quarter, visit renowned landmarks, and indulge in the delectable flavors of street food.

Day 3: Hanoi Hidden Charm – Tho Ha Village

Day 3 presents an exciting opportunity to uncover the hidden charm of Tho Ha Village, located near Hanoi. Immerse yourself in the village’s captivating atmosphere, explore its rich cultural heritage, and witness traditional crafts such as pottery and rice paper making.

Day 4 – 5: Halong Bay – An Amazing UNESCO Wonder of the World

Over the course of Days 4 and 5, prepare to be enchanted as you embark on a mesmerizing overnight cruise through the ethereal beauty of Halong Bay. Let’s witness the captivating scenery that surrounds you, allowing its breathtaking landscapes to leave an indelible impression on your journey. Then hop on a train to travel to Lao Cai, and prepare for the adventure to marvelous Nothern Vietnam Mountainous.

Day 6 – 7: Sapa – Magnificent Vietnam Mountainous

As you reach Sapa in Lao Cai, Days 6 and 7 will be filled with adventure as you join a trekking tour to explore the vibrant and unique life of ethnic minorities. Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring landscape adorned with Vietnam’s iconic terraced fields, a sight that will leave you mesmerized and deeply connected to the natural beauty of the region.

North Vietnam with various experiences

Week 2: Vietnam Central Charm to the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City and tranquil Mekong Delta

Day 8 – 9: Hue – The rich historical land with Vietnam’s imperial past

Embark on a flight to Hue and prepare to be enchanted as you delve into a captivating city tour, where you’ll discover Hue’s rich history through visits to ancient imperial citadels, and sacred pagodas, and immerse yourself in the city’s cultural heritage.

Day 10: A Glimpse of Danang before going to charming Hoi An Ancient Town

On Day 10, embark on a memorable journey from Hue to Hoi An Ancient Town. Before reaching Hoi An, take a morning stop in Danang to visit the scenic Ocean Clouds Mountain Pass, also known as Hai Van Pass. Then in the afternoon, let’s begin your exploration of the charming Hoi An Old Quater.

Day 11: My Son Sanctuary and discover Hoi An’s handicrafts

Day 11 offers an exciting opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of My Son Sanctuary, where you can marvel at the architectural marvels of the Cham civilization. Afterward, immerse yourself in the vibrant handicraft scene of Hoi An, discovering the town’s exquisite traditional crafts and engaging with local artisans.

Day 12: Depart to Ho Chi Minh City for a vibrant City Tour

On Day 12, depart for Ho Chi Minh City and get ready for a vibrant city tour. Explore the bustling streets, vibrant markets, and historical landmarks of the city. In your free time, wander through the lively and narrow alleys, immersing yourself in the local atmosphere and discovering hidden gems along the way.

Day 13: Mekong Delta Region

Day 13 presents an exciting adventure as you embark on a journey to the Mekong Delta. Explore the enchanting waterways, lush landscapes, and vibrant floating markets, immersing yourself in the rich cultural tapestry and rural charm of this iconic region.

Explore Central and South Vietnam Highlights
Explore Central and South Vietnam Highlights

Day 14: Back to Ho Chi Minh City

On Day 14, after returning to Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and take a relaxing stroll to the central Ben Thanh market area, where you can wrap up any last-minute shopping. As your journey comes to an end, it’s time to pack your bags and bid farewell to the beautiful country of Vietnam, carrying with you unforgettable memories of its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality.

You can take a look at our offer of Vietnam Cultural Highlights 14-day tour, featuring a meticulously crafted itinerary that covers all the mesmerizing highlights of Vietnam mentioned above. Besides, Whether you prefer to explore the North region first or begin your journey in the South and make your way up to Hanoi, our flexible options allow you to customize your tour according to your preferences. All you need to do is choose your Vietnam Tour Packages and then tell us your requirements, we are always willing to customize your lifetime journey!

Some advice to choose the best Vietnam itinerary 2 weeks

Above is our suggestion for a comprehensive 14-day itinerary to explore the highlights of Vietnam. However, you can completely design the program you want based on your personal preferences. Here are some tips for you:

Be more specific about what type of traveler you are

After reading highlights of places to visit, see what you want to do, including your special interests, you might take some suggestions below:

If you are the type of traveler who counts the experience of a country on the whole picture, let’s make it a bit of everything here and there. Let’s plan for some mountains, some downtown, see the main sights, go to some outdoor markets, take some home visits along the road, and try some different eats both in local restaurants and from street sides. This route might work well with Hanoi (3 days) – Halong (2 days) – Sapa (2 days 3 nights by train) – Hue (2 days) – Hoi An (2 days) – Ho Chi Minh (2 days) – Mekong Delta (1 day).

If you are likely a beach breaker and wish to see Vietnam at a slow pace, looking for some leisure days and doing not too much of the sights, see if this version might work: Hanoi (2 days) – Halong Bay (2 days) – Hoi An (4 days) – Saigon & Mekong (2 days) – Phu Quoc Island (3 days).

What if you are after history, and people and in love with the cultural identity of the destination, consider a different two-week travel itinerary in Vietnam that perfectly fits for you as Hanoi (2 days) – Ha Giang (4 days) – Ninh Binh and Halong Bay (3 days) – Hue (2 days) – Hoi An (3 days).

Other expenses

They are based on how you pick the tours to be privately served or group-shared. Since the cost involves a tour guide, the vehicle used, and some other built-in costs of a tour nature, fondly, some of the day tours will be more interesting if you join the group rather than doing them privately. Remember, you can always ask and have the travel consultant suggest when you should make a tailored tour or join the group of itineraries in 2 weeks.

If you travel privately with some mixture of 3-star & 4-star accommodation in a Vietnam itinerary for 2 weeks, the cost is roughly $125 USD- $130/person per day. If you like a bit of everything while gaining some cultural interactions, Vietnam Cultural Highlights 14 Days is a perfect Vietnam travel itinerary.

Let’s follow the above tips and then check further from the booking guide. You can plan with our travel consultant for the irresistible Vietnam Tours 2024 – 2025 that you deserve.

Extra points need to be noticed

Remember, after doing some reading for destination guides that are available on Travel Fish or Vietnam Highlights, you will know what to see in Vietnam in 2 weeks, and maybe you can even work out a perfect itinerary based on some suggested hints above.

Though travel by plane from North to the Central or from the Central to South takes only an hour, it takes more time to travel for sightseeing around a region as the roads are not that good to the western standard and with a slower speed limit. Let’s count on this when you build up your travel itinerary to make sure the pace suits you. Another way is you contact a reputable travel company in Vietnam and ask a bunch of questions. There will always be a travel consultant to be in charge of taking care of you, to answer all you need to know and it’s totally free.

FAQs

Is Vietnam a cheap travel destination?

No, it has never been cheap but the cost of living and daily life is quite affordable and inexpensive. You can get a nice meal everywhere such as Vietnam street food from $2 USD for instance a bowl of Pho, Bun Cha, or a big loaf of Banh My. Anyhow, for services engaged in the inbound travel industry which requires business norms and standards internationally, it seems a bit higher than the local living cost.

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Delicious Bun Cha

Does the weather make any matter?

Like the wealth of its attractions in Vietnam that you can’t do all in 2 weeks trip, there will never be 100% perfect weather time to travel into this country. If you are very keen on the sights of Hanoi, its nearby Red River delta, and the northern mountains, the best time of year is from October to April, except for a bit of drizzle in early March.

Though May and June are not too bad the heat might be concerning as the climate often gets up to 36 – 38 degrees Celsius. Hoi An should be cautioned with the first 3 weeks of November as the annual flood season while Phu Quoc will offer complement rain and thunderstorms most of October. Knowing these facts, you will better plan your itinerary and benefit from doing good homework during your travel time.

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Hoan Kiem lake – Hanoi

Where to stay in Vietnam?

A decent Airbnb homestay or 3-star hotel in a pretty central location might range from US$35 – US$55, depending on its service quality and location that is convenient to other necessities; and US$55 – US$100 to a deluxe level of accommodation, equal to 4* hotel ratings and > US$100 for luxury choices. This expense is counted as the major part of your tour price package.

It’s suggested to mix the range and type of accommodation for the 2-week Vietnam trip, just make sure you are doing it where and when wisely. For example, if you have a busy day with sightseeing in Hanoi, it’s better to book with a small & boutique 3* hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. But if you are on the leisure part of the trip in Phu Quoc, it should be in a pretty nice resort where a private beach would be a big plus.

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Private beach in Phu Quoc Island

The same thing goes with Halong Bay, which is often a lifetime experience on board a cruise in the middle of Tonkin Gulf. It’s highly recommended to hook up with a nice boat, generally from 4* rating up. This will make your trip not in the same tone in terms of accommodation and to enjoy the best where it comes to the best and save big when you don’t really need to spend.

>>> Suggested tour: Halong Bay cruises

What if I wish a bit more than only Vietnam?

Then 2 weeks in Vietnam combined with Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand may satisfy your travel hobby. Some people tend not to see one destination at a time but several. This is when after taking a long flight from the other side of the globe, people just don’t want to waste that flight time and see just one place. It’s often the case when a lot of people from North America and Europeans plan to see Vietnam in two weeks, including a short extension to either Luang Prabang in Laos or Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It means that you will squeeze your Vietnam program a bit and save time for the extension. The southern Vietnam itinerary is worth putting off in this case and filling in with the Vietnam and Cambodia Family Tour in 2 weeks or other Indochina countries like Laos and Thailand.

Now, see if this suggested itinerary will fit with the Angkor Wat lovers: Hanoi (2 days) – Ninh Binh & Halong Bay (3 days) – Hue (2 days) – Hoi An (3 days) – Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat (4 days).

Maybe you’ll need to visit 2 countries: Vietnam and Cambodia 2 Weeks: Perfect Itinerary & Complete Travel Guide

The same itinerary will also work if you like the Laos extension for the last 4 days out of the Vietnam itinerary 2 weeks. It is totally doable this way as Danang International Airport is now serving direct flights to these two cities – Luang Prabang and Siem Reap.

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Luang Prabang – Laos

Hope this comprehensive travel guide is designed to assist you in crafting an ideal 2-week itinerary for your trip to Vietnam. It offers a plethora of exciting activities and attractions to ensure a memorable and enjoyable holiday experience. If you have any questions or need some valuable advice, don’t hesitate to contact Indochina Voyages, our team with rich travel experience always welcomes you warmly!

Tim Lee – Travel Specialist

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