How to Spend 8, 10, 14, or 21 Days in Vietnam

With eight days in Vietnam, you can explore cities, coastal towns, and the breathtaking limestone islands of Ha Long Bay.

Eight-day trips, though brief, give travelers a glimpse of local culture and bustling cityscapes. You can wander the Old Quarter of Hanoi, admiring the French influence dominating the architecture or passing through markets to sample spring rolls and barbecued pork. Visiting Ho Chi Minh City later in your trip, you can unpack the regional distinctions between northern and southern Vietnam’s landmark cities.

Stops in Hue and Hoi An add to the cultural flair of an eight-day vacation, showcasing imperial citadels and empirical sites that trace origins to ancient times.

Our 8-day Amazing Vietnam Vacation: Karst Islands to Imperial Citadels tour we highlight below offers a glimpse of what to expect when exploring Vietnam’s highlights.

Day 1: Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay overnight cruise • Cat Ba Island • Kayaking • Snorkeling • Cua Van Floating Village • Tien Ong Cave • Tai Chi class

Days 2-3: Hue

Dai Noi Citadel • Bao La Village • Authentic Vietnamese dinner

Day 4: Hoi An

Hai Van Pass • Hoi An Ancient Town • An Bang beach

Days 5-6: Ho Chi Minh City

Reunification Palace • Notre Dame Cathedral • The Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City • Vespa tour • Mekong sampan boat tour • Cao Dai Temple • Ancient Mandarin House • Binh Hoa Phuoc

Days 7-8: Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake • Traditional water-puppet show • Culinary tour

Learn more: 1 Week Vietnam Itineraries

Ten-day trips to Vietnam allow visitors to spend more time in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh’s sprawling cityscape straddling the Saigon River.

With a few extra days to see these famous destinations, you can take your time visiting landmarks like the Giác Lâm Temple, strolling around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and exploring the dramatic wartime exhibitions at the Cu Chi Tunnels.

You can also enjoy an overnight cruise across the turquoise waters of Ha Long Bay, with kayaking and snorkeling experiences, and head for the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to step inside the Unesco-listed Phong Nha Cave.

In our 10-Day Picturesque Highlights Tour of Vietnam below, we share what is possible as you experience the bustling cities and breathtaking natural landscapes across the country.

Days 1-3: Ho Chi Minh City

Mekong speed-boat tour • Tuong Van Pagoda • Cao Dai Temple • Authentic Vietnamese dinner • Street-food tour • Vietnamese cooking class

Days 4-6: Phong Nha

Dong Suon Lake • Phong Nha Botanic Gardens • Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park safari • Hung Ton Cave • Tu Lan Caves • Phong Nha Cave

Days 7-8: Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter • Day trip to Ninh Binh • Bai Dinh Pagoda • Trang An Grottoes • Sampan boat tour

Days 9-10: Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay overnight cruise • Fishing village tour • Snorkeling • Kayaking • Ha Long Bay beaches

Learn more: 10 Day Vietnam Itineraries

With 14 days in Vietnam, you can discover far-flung destinations, while still making room for days exploring the historic districts of Hanoi.

After uncovering Vietnamese culture and history in the Old Quarter and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and watching a traditional water-puppet show, you can ride in a first-class train cabin to the northern Sapa hills. Here, views of gold and green rice paddies cascading the slopes steal the show, and authenticity shines from rural villages and towns.

You can spend the rest of your time admiring nature, including the mighty falls of Cao Bang, the forested mountains of Mai Chau, and the karst landscapes of Ninh Binh.

Zicasso’s History & Culture Tour of North Vietnam below is a sample itinerary that shares how to explore the treasures of northern Vietnam in two weeks.

Days 1-4: Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake • Ngoc Son Temple • Huc Bridge • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum • Street-food tour • Day trip to Duong Lam village • Vietnamese tea ceremony

Days 5-7: Sapa

First-class train trip • Silver Waterfall in Thac Bac • Hoang Lien National Park • Ham Rong Mountain • Tram Ton Pass • Hmong village tour • Authentic Hmong dinner

Days 8-9: Cao Bang

Ban Gioc Waterfall • Riverboat cruise • Nguom Ngao Cave • Pac Bo Historical Complex

Days 10-12: Mai Chau

Hiking and walking • Authentic Vietnamese massage • Vietnamese dance performance

Days 13-14: Ninh Binh

Red River Delta • Bai Dinh Temple • Tam Coc • Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex • Sampan boat tour • Bich Dong Pagoda

Learn more: 2 Week North Vietnam Itineraries

On a 21-day trip to Vietnam, you can explore every inch of the country, from the northern reaches of Sapa to the central imperial city of Hue and the Cu Chi Tunnels, a stone’s throw from Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam.

You will spend multiple days in most destinations, giving you time to experience the history, culture, and natural beauty that spans the country. Tours of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, cruises across Ha Long Bay, cultural activities in Sapa, and history trips through the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City are all possible on extended stays in Vietnam.

You can also enjoy the glamour of Nha Trang and the culture of Can Tho as you watch sunsets by the sea while sipping cocktails or glide along rivers picking fruit and vegetables from boats at floating markets.

Explore The Ultimate Vietnam Tour: An In-Depth Cultural Journey that we highlight below for an idea of how you can make and see the most of Vietnam during 21 days in the country.

Days 1-2: Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum • Ba Dinh Square • One Pillar Pagoda • Hanoi Old Quarter

Day 3: Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay overnight cruise • Sung Sot Cave • Snorkeling • Kayaking • Ha Long Bay beaches

Days 4-6: Sapa

First-class overnight train trip • Lao Cai market • Hmong village tour • Sapa culinary tour • Ban Ho Village

Days 7-8: Hanoi

First-class overnight train trip • Private cooking demonstration • City tour

Days 9-10: Hue

Perfume River • Dragon boat cruise • Thien Mu Pagoda • Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang • Hue Imperial City • Thai Hoa Palace

Days 11-12: Hoi An

Cham Museum in Danang • China Beach • Japanese Bridge • Tan Ky House • My SonSanctuary • Hoi An Ancient Town

Days 13-15: Nha Trang

Nha Trang beaches • Snorkeling • Kayaking • Long Son Pagoda

Days 16-18: Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon River • Ho Chi Minh City culinary tour • Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon • Reunification Palace • Cao Dai Temple • Cu Chi Tunnels

Day 19: Can Tho

Mekong riverboat cruise

Days 20-21: Ho Chi Minh City

Cai Rang floating market • Ho Chi Minh City street-food tour

However you wish to spend your time in Vietnam, there are ways to plan a trip that takes advantage of the number of days you have. Our Vietnam tours & vacations offer plenty of inspiration to start envisioning your vacation.

To learn more about Vietnam and browse recommendations on what to do and where to go, view our Vietnam travel guide.