Vietnam is long and narrow, which makes a first trip easy to overplan. Trying to cover the north, the center and the south in a short visit usually means too many flights and too little time in each place. This 10 day Vietnam itinerary keeps it focused on two very different regions: three days in Hanoi, two on a Ha Long Bay cruise and five in the central coast area around Hoi An and Da Nang.
You’ll find a day-by-day plan, realistic travel times, booking advice and notes on where to stay. It follows the shorter route suggested in our Vietnam travel guide, with the detail you need to plan it. Visa rules, flight schedules, ticket prices and opening hours change, so confirm anything important with the official sources linked below.
10 Day Vietnam Itinerary at a Glance
- Days 1–3: Hanoi. The Old Quarter, lakes, temples, museums, street food and coffee.
- Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay. An overnight cruise among limestone islands, then back to Hanoi.
- Days 6–10: Hoi An and Da Nang. A flight south for the lantern-lit old town, beaches, nearby ruins and mountains.
Each stop has a different mood. Hanoi is busy, historic and full of food. Ha Long Bay is scenery and quiet water. Hoi An is slow, walkable and colorful, with Da Nang’s beaches close by. You fly once, change hotels three times, and finish by the sea. This route leaves out Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, which are better saved for another trip than squeezed in.
Before You Go: Entry Rules
Many visitors need a visa to enter Vietnam, and an electronic visa is available for most nationalities. Sources describe it as valid for up to 90 days, with fees of around 25 US dollars for a single entry, but the details have changed in recent years. Some European and Asian nationalities have been granted a visa-free stay of up to 45 days, and the list and dates are updated from time to time. Check the official Vietnam e-visa portal and your own country’s requirements before you book, because unofficial sites often add fees. Apply well ahead of travel, and make sure your passport has enough validity.
Days 1–3: Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital, and it rewards slow exploring. Crossing the street takes patience, since scooters flow around you, so walk steadily and let them go around. Grab and taxis are useful for longer distances, and the Old Quarter is best on foot.
Day 1: The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
After you arrive, drop your bags and walk through the Old Quarter, where the streets are still organized by trade. Circle Hoan Kiem Lake in the late afternoon, then try a bowl of pho or bun cha at a busy local restaurant. Keep the first day easy.
Day 2: Temples, Museums and Water Puppets
Visit the Temple of Literature, a historic complex dedicated to Confucius and scholarship, then choose a museum such as the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is only open to visitors on certain mornings, it is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and it closes for annual maintenance for around two months in the autumn, so check the current dates before you plan around it. In the evening, watch a traditional water puppet show.
Day 3: Markets, Coffee and a Slow Day
Use your last Hanoi day for the things that make the city special: a market, a local coffee shop, a cooking class or the French-era architecture around the opera house. Pack tonight, because tomorrow you head to the coast. For general planning information, see the official Vietnam tourism site.
Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is famous for its limestone islands rising out of green water, and an overnight cruise is the classic way to see it. A two-day, one-night cruise is the usual choice for a short trip. Most operators include transfers from Hanoi, and the drive is typically around two and a half hours or more, depending on traffic and which pier your cruise uses.
Day 4: Transfer and Cruise
Sources say check-in is usually around midday, and the boat then sails among the islands with time for kayaking, a cave visit or a swim, depending on the weather and the itinerary. Dinner and the night are on board. Compare operators carefully, and read recent reviews for safety and cleanliness.
Day 5: Sunrise and Return to Hanoi
Mornings often include a sunrise view and a light activity, with disembarkation around late morning, and the transfer back to Hanoi arrives in the afternoon. Plan to spend this night in Hanoi, so you’re close to the airport the next morning. If you’d rather avoid the busiest part of the bay, ask about the quieter Lan Ha Bay, or swap the cruise for a day trip to Ninh Binh, a limestone landscape of rivers and caves that is usually reached by road from Hanoi in around two hours.
Hanoi to Da Nang by Air
Flights from Hanoi to Da Nang take roughly an hour and fifteen minutes in the air, though airport time makes it a longer day. Several airlines serve the route, including Vietnam Airlines, so compare schedules and baggage allowances and book early for the best fares. Da Nang airport is the gateway for Hoi An, roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by taxi or transfer, depending on traffic.
Days 6–10: Hoi An and Da Nang
Hoi An is a small, preserved trading port of narrow lanes, yellow-walled shophouses and lanterns, and it is best explored on foot or by bicycle. Da Nang is a modern coastal city with long beaches, close enough for easy day trips.
Day 6: Arrive in Hoi An
After the flight and transfer, check in and wander the old town in the evening, when the lanterns come on. Note that Hoi An uses an entrance ticket system for the old town, and an official notice from January 2026 lists two ticket tiers with different numbers of included monuments, so read the current announcement and buy your ticket before entering.
Day 7: The Old Town and Food
Spend the day inside the old town, with its assembly halls, historic houses and covered bridge, and take a cooking class or a market tour. Hoi An is known for dishes such as cao lau and banh mi, and for its tailors, who can make clothes in a day or two if you give them time.
Day 8: A Beach Day or My Son
Spend the morning at An Bang beach, or take a half-day trip to My Son, the ruins of a Cham-era temple complex in the hills. Go early, because it’s hot and the light is better.
Day 9: Da Nang, the Marble Mountains and the Coast
Take a short ride to Da Nang to see the Marble Mountains, a cluster of limestone hills with caves and pagodas, then walk along My Khe Beach or the riverfront and the Dragon Bridge in the evening. If you want to add the imperial city of Hue, it’s a long day trip from here, so consider the longer 14-day route in our guide instead.
Day 10: A Slow Final Day and Departure
Keep your last morning relaxed, with a walk and a long breakfast. Then head to the airport, and leave a generous buffer, because the transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport can take about an hour.
Vietnam Travel Tips
- Use the official visa site. Look for the government portal only, and be wary of lookalike sites that charge extra.
- Cross streets slowly. Walk at a steady pace and don’t stop suddenly, so riders can predict your path.
- Dress for temples and the mausoleum. Cover your shoulders and knees, and follow the posted rules.
- Choose cruises carefully. Compare operators, itineraries and recent reviews, and check what’s included.
- Keep some cash. Cards are common in hotels and larger restaurants, but small shops and markets often prefer cash.
Where to Stay on This Vietnam Itinerary
Hanoi
The Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake put you within walking distance of most sights, but they are noisy at night, so ask for a quiet room. The French Quarter is calmer and more spacious.
Hoi An
Staying in or near the old town is convenient for evening walks. Beachside resorts near An Bang are quieter and need a short ride or bicycle trip into town.
Da Nang
If you’d like a few nights by the sea, My Khe beach has hotels and resorts at many prices, with an easy link to the airport.
Best Time for This 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary
Vietnam has several climate zones, so the best month depends on your route. The north is generally most comfortable in spring and autumn, while the central coast gets most of its rain and storms from roughly September to December, with a risk of flooding in places like Hoi An. For this route, February to April is often the safest window, but check the forecast and local advice close to your dates, and consider travel insurance if you travel in typhoon season.
Is 10 Days Enough for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An?
Ten days is enough for a rewarding first trip, as long as you accept that you are choosing highlights. Three days in Hanoi, a night on the bay and five on the central coast gives you the north and the middle of the country without constant packing. If you have more time, the longer route in our guide adds Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.
Want to plan around food, culture or the coast? Our guides to what to eat in Vietnam, Vietnamese culture and local customs and Vietnam’s coastlines and beaches will help you decide where to spend extra time.
Final Thoughts on This 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary
A good Vietnam trip isn’t the one that covers the most places. It’s the one that gives each region enough time to feel different. Sort out your visa early, book your cruise and domestic flight in advance, check the weather for the central coast and keep an afternoon free in each stop. For more on choosing regions, seasons and costs, read the full Vietnam travel guide.