7-Day Vietnam Itinerary: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An & Saigon

I planned this 7-day Vietnam itinerary as a tight loop — Hanoi, a night on Ha Long Bay, a quick flight to Hoi An, then down to Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a sprint, not a slow crawl. But if you only have a week and want to see the north, the coast, and the south, this route hits the high points without wasting time on buses that eat whole days. Here’s exactly how we did it, with the places that worked and the one tour I’d skip.

Is 7 days enough for Vietnam?

No, not really — but it’s enough to get a solid taste. We moved every two days, used early flights, and skipped the central highlands entirely. The trick is to fly between cities, not drive. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet connect Hanoi, Da Nang (gateway to Hoi An), and Ho Chi Minh City in about an hour each. That’s how you save daylight. We lost one morning to a delayed VietJet flight, so budget a little buffer.

Hanoi to Ha Long Bay: 3.5-hour shuttle bus (booked through the cruise company)
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi airport: Same shuttle, then a 40-minute flight to Da Nang
Da Nang to Hoi An: 45-minute taxi or Grab (we paid about 250,000 VND)
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City: Direct 1-hour flight from Da Nang

What should I do in Hanoi in two days?

We based ourselves in the Old Quarter, specifically on Hang Bac Street at La Siesta Premium Hang Be. The location is loud during the day but quiet at night because it’s a small alley. Breakfast included pho and good drip coffee. From there, we walked everywhere.

Day one we did the walking loop: Hoan Kiem Lake at sunrise (locals do tai chi), then St. Joseph’s Cathedral, then the Hanoi Train Street section near Le Duan Street — the one that’s less blocked by security guards. The train passes at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM. We grabbed a plastic stool at Hanoi Train Street Cafe for 20,000 VND coffee and watched it rumble through.

Day two we hit Temple of Literature (quiet, worth the 30,000 VND entry) and ate lunch at Bun Cha Huong Lien — the one Obama visited. The bun cha is good, but the lines are long. I’d skip the Hoa Lo Prison museum unless you’re into war history; it’s small and feels sanitized.

How do I pick a Ha Long Bay cruise for one night?

There are dozens of operators. We went with Swan Cruise — a mid-range option with a 2-day/1-night itinerary. Cost was about $130 per person including transfers, meals, kayaking, and a cave visit. The boat had 12 cabins, not crowded. Food was buffet-style with seafood and spring rolls. The cave (Sung Sot Cave) is crowded but impressive. Kayaking around Titov Island was the highlight — we had 45 minutes of quiet water before the other boats arrived.

Avoid the junk boats that sleep 40+ people. Too loud, too rushed.
Book direct with the cruise company, not through a hostel. Same price, better cabin choice.
Bring seasickness pills. The bay is calm, but the transfer boat to the junk can be choppy.
Skip the squid fishing at night. It’s a gimmick. Instead, sit on the top deck with a beer.

Is Hoi An worth the detour?

Yes, but only for two full days. We flew from Hanoi to Da Nang, grabbed a Grab to Hoi An Ancient Town, and checked into Anantara Hoi An Resort on the Thu Bon River. The location is perfect — two minutes from the Japanese Covered Bridge and the night market. The hotel itself feels colonial and quiet.

The Ancient Town is touristy. The lanterns are pretty, but the crowds at 7 PM are thick. We did a morning walking tour with a local guide (booked through the hotel, $15 each) that showed us the Fujian Assembly Hall, a family home-turned-museum, and a hidden banh mi stall. That was better than wandering blindly.

Banh Mi Phuong is the famous spot. It’s good, but the line is 20 minutes. We preferred Madam Khanh’s Banh Mi — less queue, same crispy bread.
Dinner at Morning Glory Restaurant was solid: white rose dumplings and cao lau noodles. Book a table.
Tailor shops are everywhere. We got a suit at Yaly Couture for $120. Took two fittings in 24 hours. Quality is fine for the price.
Skip the basket boat ride in the coconut forest. It’s a tourist trap with loud music and spinning boats.

How much time do I need in Ho Chi Minh City?

We spent the last two days here, and it was enough for the main sights. We stayed at Hotel des Arts Saigon in District 3 — quiet street, rooftop pool, and walking distance to Notre-Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office (both under renovation in 2024, but you can still see the exteriors). The War Remnants Museum is brutal and essential. Plan two hours, and brace yourself for the Agent Orange exhibit.

Ben Thanh Market is overpriced. Go to Binh Tay Market in Cholon (Chinatown) instead. Less tourist markup, better produce.
Dinner at Secret Garden Saigon on Nguyen Hue Street. It’s a rooftop spot with home-style Vietnamese dishes. The set menu for two was $18.
Drinks at Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar at the Caravelle Hotel. Overpriced, but the view of the Opera House at sunset is worth one cocktail.
Cu Chi Tunnels are a half-day trip. We booked through The Sinh Tourist for $12. It’s touristy but eye-opening. Wear long pants — you crawl.

What’s the best way to get between cities in 7 days?

Fly. We used a mix of Vietnam Airlines (reliable, included 23kg luggage) and VietJet (cheap, but they charged $15 for a carry-on at the gate). Book flights at least two weeks ahead for the best prices — Hanoi to Da Nang was $45, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City was $35.

Hanoi to Ha Long Bay: Shuttle bus (included in cruise price)
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi airport: Same shuttle, 3.5 hours
Hanoi to Da Nang: 1-hour flight
Da Nang to Hoi An: 45-minute Grab
Hoi An to Da Nang airport: Grab, 45 minutes
Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City: 1-hour flight
Within Ho Chi Minh City: Grab bikes for short trips ($1-2), Grab cars for longer ($3-5)

FAQ

Is this itinerary too rushed for a family with kids? Yes. The pace works for solo travelers or couples in their 20s-40s. With kids under 12, I’d drop one city — probably Hoi An — and add a day in Hanoi plus a slower Ha Long Bay cruise with a private cabin. The flights and early mornings wear down younger travelers.

Should I book Ha Long Bay cruises in advance or on arrival? Advance. We booked Swan Cruise three weeks out and got a top-deck cabin. Walk-in prices at Hanoi hostels are similar but cabin choices are worse. If you wait until you’re in the Old Quarter, the best boats are often full.

Can I do this itinerary on a budget of $50 per day? Barely, if you stay in hostels and eat street food. A dorm bed in Hanoi runs $8-12, a bowl of pho is $2, and a VietJet flight is $35. But the Ha Long Bay cruise alone costs $130, and Hoi An’s nicer hotels push $60-80. Realistically, budget $80-100 per day for mid-range comfort, excluding flights.

Conclusion

Fly between cities — trains take too long for a 7-day trip
Book Ha Long Bay cruises directly and early for better cabins
Eat street food in Hanoi and Hoi An; skip the tourist-market stalls
Spend two days in Hoi An — one for the Ancient Town, one for the beach or a bike ride
Don’t skip the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, but give yourself time to decompress after