Culture spine · 12 days (no island)

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Hanoi

• Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
• Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.

Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Hanoi

Hanoi

• Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
• Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
• Thang Long water puppet show · 1 h. Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda · 2 h. Mornings only, shoulders/knees covered; closed some Mondays and Fridays.
• Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2 h

Local tip: Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Hanoi

Hanoi

• Hanoi vintage jeep or Vespa city tour · 3 h
• Bat Trang pottery village half-day · 4 h

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Hanoi → Sapa

Sapa · Hanoi to Sapa, Sleeper bus / train via Lao Cai ~6h

• O Quy Ho Pass & Silver Waterfall · 3 h

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Guided rice-terrace trek (Lao Chai–Ta Van)

Sapa

• Guided rice-terrace trek (Lao Chai–Ta Van) · 5 h. Best terraces Sep (harvest) and May–June (water-filled).

Local tip: Best terraces Sep (harvest) and May–June (water-filled).

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Sapa → Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay · Sapa to Ha Long Bay, Via Hanoi ~8h

• Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise · Full day. Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
• Kayaking & Sung Sot cave · 2 h. Usually included on cruises — confirm before paying extra.

Local tip: Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Ha Long Bay → Hue

Hue · Ha Long Bay to Hue, Domestic flight ~1–2h

• Imperial City (Hue Citadel) · 3 h

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Hue → Hoi An

Hoi An · Hue to Hoi An, Hai Van Pass car ~3.5h

• Hoi An Ancient Town heritage walk · 2.5 h. The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.

Local tip: The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Explore Hoi An

Hoi An

• Lantern boat on the Thu Bon river · 1 h
• Cam Thanh coconut basket boat · 2 h
• Market tour & Vietnamese cooking class · 4 h
• Tailor fitting (24–48h turnaround) · 1.5 h. Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.

Local tip: Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City · Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City, Domestic flight ~1–2h

• War Remnants Museum · 2 h. Graphic in parts — preview before taking kids.

Local tip: Graphic in parts — preview before taking kids.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps

Day 11: Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho / Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

• Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho / Ben Tre) · 9 h. Sampan canals, coconut candy and fruit orchards in one day from HCMC.

Local tip: Sampan canals, coconut candy and fruit orchards in one day from HCMC.

Open day 11 route in Google Maps

Day 12: Depart from Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

• Independence Palace & Central Post Office · 2 h

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Open day 12 route in Google Maps