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Vietnam is a LARGE country, but one that should 100% be on your bucket list. Because it’s so big, most people look at making itineraries of 14 to 20 days to see it. But what if you don’t have that much time? What if you only have time for a 10-day Itinerary around Vietnam?
In this Blog we will share with you how to plan your 10-day trip to Vietnam and the places you cannot miss! And if you prefer to watch our video about it, you can see it here 😊
Day 1: Arrival and Settling in
In your first day, we recommend you to fly in to Hanoi. This is the capital of Vietnam and quite honestly, our favorite place in the country. There is simply SO much to see, the culture is vibrant, the food is delicious, and don’t get us started with the coffee. So on the first day, drop your bags, and go out into the Old Quarter. Here you will be able to feel the buzz of the city.
Days 2-3: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi has a lot to see, so we recommend you spend 2 days exploring it. Some of the most iconic places to visit include the famous Train Street – where you can walk on the tracks, grab a drink on cafes right next to it, and witness the iconic train passing by right in front of you. You will also want to explore the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, among others. If you’re interested in knowing the Top 10 places to see when visiting Hanoi, you can check out our Blog about it.
Day 4: Travel to Cat Ba
While in Hanoi, go to the Old Quarter and find yourself a travel store (there are loads of them in the streets) who can take you to Cat Ba. The trip will should cost less than USD 25 per person, which includes the transfer, bus and boat. You should depart in the morning and arrive with enough time to go for a walk in the Promenade of Cat Ba. The views are absolutely incredible. You also want to buy the tickets for a day tour to Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay. These can cost as little as USD 35 per person, depending on the season in which you visit.
Day 5: Do the 1 Day Tour to Lan Ha and Ha Long Bays
You will be picked up in the morning and take on the boat to explore the Bays. The tour will include a guide, food and several activities such as going out with Kayaks, and visiting different spots (we got to see Monkey Island). If you want to learn more about the experience of taking this tour, read this blog. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend everyone to do it!
Day 6: Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Get a transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh – we got ours with Cat Ba Express both ways – and that should take you around 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic. You will arrive and have some time to see the town and prepare your full day of exploring the day after.
Days 7: Spend the day exploring Ninh Binh
Explore Ninh Binh’s beautiful views by climbing up Hang Múa – the stairs are steep but the views are worth it, and the ticket entrance should cost you around USD 4. We also recommend you to do a boat ride down the Trang An River. It’s super relaxing to float down the river as you absorb the views and the nature around you.
Days 8-10: Travel to, and explore Ho Chi Minh City
Get yourself to Ho Chi Minh City, and in your first day, visit Ben Thanh Market. This may seem like an overwhelming market to visit, bu there is absolutely everything you may want to purchase – from souvenirs to clothes and even food. Near the market there are a few places where you can buy tickets wo one of the tours, and we recommend you book yourself a tour to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels in Day 9.
After the tour on day 9, explore the Museum of War Remnants – It’s very emotive and graphical to learn about how Vietnam has been shaped by the invasion of the French and American armies. For the remainder of day walk around the city, and find a local place to dine in.
In no time, you have reached day 10. If you have time, we recommend you to drop by the Caffe Apartments (if you love coffee like we do 😜), the Ho Chi Minh Statue and the Saigon Central Post Office. They are walking distance from one another and all worth visiting. And unfortunately, this is the end of the journey, so it’s time to head back to the airport.
As you can see, the itinerary fits as much as possible in a fairly smooth way, but in all honesty, we recommend 14 days to do this. It just gives you some more breathing time inbteween days of exploring and activities. If you have even more time you can even explore Sapa, Da Nang and Hoi An.
So, tell us – would you consider doing a 10 day trip to Vietnam?
Let us know below or via our Youtube Channel!
