Vietnam is truly an incredible country, not yet too attacked by mass tourism, compared to other countries in Asia. A crossing from North to South or vice versa allows you to appreciate the flavours of the Dragon, from the heat of Cochinchina to the sweetness of Tonkinese via ancient Annam. Whether you are in one of these three Vietnamese icons, a heritage preserved by UNESCO always reveals itself: Halong, Hoi An, and Hue.

What to do and what to visit to discover the natural and cultural treasures of Vietnam for two weeks? Our 14-day Vietnam Tour itinerary ideas will help you take full advantage of it.

First, we would like to share with you part of the result of the survey on travellers' feelings about their trip to Vietnam, carried out by Authentik Vietnam in 2019 (before Covid).

We asked them another question about the advantages and disadvantages of a trip to Vietnam according to them. And here is our summary.

BENEFITS

DISADVANTAGES

1. Mass tourism in certain sites
2. Heavy traffic, pollution, and dirt in cities
3. Scams in tourist places
4. Very long transport time from North to South by train
5. Ubiquitous Construction

Now we are focusing on itinerary ideas for a 14-day tour in Vietnam.

1. 14-day tour in North Vietnam only

If you are a fan of discovering things off the beaten track, consider staying in the North for just 2 weeks.

By taking advantage of this tour, you will have the opportunity to explore in depth the North-East where authenticity is the most condensed in the country. This region will in fact offer you places and experiences to discover, each more incredible than the last. From Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you will certainly not be disappointed with the effort made as this region is breathtakingly beautiful.

You end the tour with a memorable excursion to Ba Be, a wild place with its jewel, the largest freshwater lake in the country, and a dream cruise aboard the junk in the middle of Halong Bay, a marvel classified in the list of Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Go there, it's worth the detour.

Day 1: Hanoi – arrival: Welcome to Hanoi, walk in the old quarter, discover the life of Hanoians
Day 2: Hanoi – city tour: Visit the Temple of Literature and the Ethnography Museum, explore the French Quarter, experience the water puppet show
Day 3: Hanoi – discover its surroundings: Discover rural life in the villages of Nom and bonsai of Phung Cong, and experience making pottery in the village of Bat Trang
Day 4: Hanoi– Ha Giang: Road to Ha Giang, easy hike to the villages of Me - Lup - Tha, a night at a homestay
Day 5: Ha Giang – hiking: Hiking in the Tay Con Linh mountain range, discover villages of Tha - Na Thac - Khuoi My - Lung Vai - Ha Thanh
Day 6: Ha Giang – Dong Van: Discover the Dong Van karst plateau geopark, the twin Fairy Mountains, the commune of the Hmong & Bo Y ethnic groups, the palace of the Hmong king
Day 7: Dong Van - Meo Vac – Bao Lac: Road to Bao Lac, stop at Ma Pi Leng pass, exploration of the authentic life of the Lo and Hmong minorities in Bao Lac
Day 8: Bao Lac – Cao Bang: Road to Cao Bang. Meeting a San Chi ethnic group in a hidden hillside village
Day 9: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Quang Uyen: Visit the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam - Ban Gioc, Nguom Ngao cave. Meeting with the Nung in Quang Uyen. Night at a local’s place.
Day 10: Quang Uyen – Cao Bang – Ba Be: Boat trip on Ba Be Lake, visit to Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall
Day 11: Ba Be – Hanoi: Boat trip on Ba Be Lake, visit Dau Dang Waterfall and Puong Cave, return to Hanoi
Day 12: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay: transfer to Halong Bay, cruise, swimming & kayaking, cooking class
Day 13: Halong – Hanoi: Continuation of the cruise, return to Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi – departure flight

2. 14-day tour in Vietnam (from North to South)

With a 14-day stay, you can visit the must-see attractions from the North to the South of the country.

This 2-week tour begins with Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, in the North of the country. Then head to the country of the Thai ethnic group at Mai Chau. Continue the journey by rowing boat to Ninh Binh, nicknamed “Halong Bay on land” and without forgetting to spend an incredible cruise aboard a boat in the magical Halong Bay. Then, arrive at the Centre to discover the historical treasures, listed as world heritage sites in Hue and Hoi An. Here, you will feel like you are soaking up the atmosphere where time has stood still. Finally, end your stay in Vietnam with an exploration of Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Day 1: Hanoi – arrival: welcome to Hanoi. Walking tour in the Old Quarter
Day 2: Hanoi – city tour: Visit the Temple of Literature and the Ethnography Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the French Quarter, and experience the water puppet show.
Day 3: Hanoi – Mai Chau: Road to Mai Chau, stop at Thung Khe pass, discover the authentic Thai life in Mai Hich, night at a local homestay
Day 4: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh (land Halong Bay): Road to Ninh Binh: rowing boat excursion to Tam Coc, beautiful bike rides in Van Lam village, visit to Bich Dong pagoda and temple by Thai Vi
Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay: Transfer to Halong Bay. Cruise on Lan Ha Bay. Kayaking
Day 6: Halong – Hanoi – flight to Hue: Continuation of the cruise, return to Hanoi, flight to Hue
Day 7: Hue – city tour: Visit Minh Mang Tomb, boat trip on the Perfume River, bike ride to Thuy Bieu village, cooking class experience, visit to the Imperial City.
Day 8: Hue-Hoian: Departure for Hoian visiting the Hai Van pass. Arrival in Hoian, visit Hoian old town
Day 9: Hoian – discovery: visit the surrounding villages
Day 10: Hoian – flight to Ho Chi Minh – city tour: flight to Saigon, city tour: Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Chinatown, Fito Museum
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh: Boat trip on the Ben Tre river, bike ride to Nhon Thanh village, meeting with locals, transfer to Tra Vinh. Night at a local’s place.
Day 12: Tra Vinh – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen: transfer to Long Xuyen visiting Sa Dec: Kien An Cung pagoda, Huynh Thuy Le house, local market, Caodaist temple, crocodile farm
Day 13: Long Xuyen – Ho Chi Minh: Discover the Long Xuyen floating market, a bike ride on the islet of Ong Ho
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – departure flight

3. 14-day tour in Vietnam (South to North)

This 14-day tour will introduce you to the country's most popular destinations.

Depart from bustling Ho Chi Minh City, and explore the Mekong Delta by taking a boat trip past peaceful villages and fruit orchards. Then head to the heritage towns of Hoi An and Hue. Let the poetic soul guide you by taking a cruise on the Perfume River in Hue or taking the road in the ancient town of Hoi An, the most popular stopover for visitors to Vietnam for its unparalleled charm. A fabulous mix of architecture between three cultures, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese, will immerse you in the streets of times gone by with low houses and pagodas. A bike ride in the countryside in Hue and Hoian is well recommended to enjoy the total tranquillity and discover some of the craft villages. In the North, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, and Halong Bay reveal exceptional riches. Its magical landscapes, its magnificent caves, and its authentic villages, all make it a unique trip.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Arrival
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – city tour
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh – Ben Tre – Can Tho: Boat trip in Ben Tre, bike ride through the villages, road to Can Tho
Day 4: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh: Boat trip in the famous Cai Rang floating market, discover the fruit garden, visit the ancient house of Binh Thuy
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh - Da Nang – Hoi An: flight to Da Nang, transfer to Hoian, visit old Hoian
Day 6: Hoi An, city tour: bike ride to discover the surrounding villages
Day 7: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hue: the road to Hue, stop at Hai Van pass, visit the imperial city of Hue, Thien Mu pagoda
Day 8: Hue - city tour - flight to Hanoi: Visit the tomb of Minh Mang, boat trip on the Perfume River, discover the village of Thuy Bieu. Flight to Hanoi
Day 9: Hanoi – city tour: Visit the must-sees: temple of Literature, ethnography museum, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Attend a water puppet show.
Day 10: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Mai Hich: Road to Mai Chau, stop at Thung Khe pass, discover the authentic life in Thai villages, night with locals in Mai Hich
Day 11: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh (land Halong Bay): Road to Ninh Binh: rowing boat excursion in Tam Coc, beautiful bike rides through the villages, visit the Bich Dong pagoda and Dinh temple The in Hoa Lu
Day 12: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay: transfer to Halong. Cruise and night aboard a junk
Day 13: Halong Bay – Hanoi: Continuation of the cruise, return to Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi – departure flight

4. 14-day tour in Vietnam (with a seaside stay)

If you are looking for a circuit alternating discovery, meeting, and relaxing at the beach. Let yourself be guided by these 2 itinerary ideas below:

4.1. 14-day Vietnam itinerary for the period May to September

It is an ideal circuit to live authentic experiences in the North, without forgetting the time to relax at the Centre beach in summer where it is sunny and the sea is calm and clear.

In fact, by taking advantage of this 14-day tour in Vietnam, you will still have the opportunity to go to less touristy places to get a real taste of Vietnam! In fact, you will never miss the great experiences of contemplating the breath-taking landscapes of the Mai Chau valley or experiencing moments of meeting and sharing with the Thai people. In addition, the discovery of Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and a cruise to Halong Bay are essential before arriving at the Centre to soak up the romantic atmosphere of its cities. You end your tour with a moment of relaxation at Hoi An Beach.

Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi- city tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Mai Hich
Day 4: Mai Hich – Ninh Binh
Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong
Day 6: Halong – Hanoi – flight to Hue
Day 7: Hue – city tour
Day 8: Hue – Hoian
Day 9: Hoian – discovery of villages
Day 10: Hoian – seaside stay
Day 11: Hoian – seaside stay
Day 12: Hoian – seaside stay
Day 13: Hoian – seaside stay
Day 14: Hoian – Hanoi – departure flight

4.2. 14 days Vietnam itinerary for the period November to April

This tour takes you through the must-see attractions of the North: from the old quarter of Hanoi to Halong Bay, passing through the magnificent Thai villages of Mai Chau and Ninh Binh. Then, head to the South of the country to visit Ho Chi Minh City and discover the Mekong Delta before going to the paradise island of Phu Quoc for a seaside stay.

A few words about Phu Quoc:

Phu Quoc Island is a seaside resort combining relaxation and discovery along the heavenly beaches of Vietnam. It is undoubtedly an exceptional place to absolutely go in the dry season. Its islands with their magnificent seabed, its national park, its forests, and also its incredible charming resorts must make your tour in Vietnam a most memorable escape.

Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi- city tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Mai Hich
Day 4: Mai Hich – Ninh Binh
Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong
Day 6: Halong – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh flight
Day 7: Ho Chi Minh – city tour
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh – Ben Tre – Cai Lay
Day 9: Cai Lay – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen
Day 10: Long Xuyen – Rach Gia – fast boat to Phu Quoc
Day 11: Phu Quoc – seaside stay
Day 12: Phu Quoc – seaside stay
Day 13: Phu Quoc – seaside stay
Day 14: Phu Quoc – flight to Ho Chi Minh – departure flight

5. Tips and tricks for having a good trip to Vietnam

Take a look at the brief list of our tips for making your trip to Vietnam a success by avoiding mistakes in preparing for and during your trip.

- Choose the best time according to the region and the month to go to Vietnam

- Do not overload your itinerary. A moderate pace is the guarantee of a successful circuit!

- Do not overload your suitcase and adapt the contents of your suitcase to the season.

- Do not take a day trip to Halong Bay. A minimum cruise of 2 days and 1 night is recommended to enjoy this wonder.

- Don’t miss out on sleeping with locals. It will undoubtedly be a unique travel experience.

- Don’t ignore street food. This culinary experience will delight your taste buds and give you great travel memories!

- Choose your local English-speaking travel agency carefully to meet your expectations

- Don’t forget to take out travel insurance to leave with peace of mind and to deal with any unforeseen events

Take inspiration from our programs and contact us so that we can build the trip of your dreams together.

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