Vietnam Guide

A first week in Vietnam

Hanoi, a Ha Long day boat, Hue, and Hoi An. Out of Da Nang.

Day-by-day
DayWhereFocus
1 Hanoi Old Quarter
2 Hanoi Lake and citadel
3 Ha Long Bay Ha Long
4 Hue Hue
5 Hue Hue Citadel
6 Hoi An Hoi An
7 Da Nang Leave Da Nang
Duration7 days
BudgetMidrange
PaceOne landscape, then the coast
1

Day 1: Old Quarter

Land in Hanoi and walk the Old Quarter. Book an airport transfer from Noi Bai. Search Old Quarter hotels for the night.

2

Day 2: Lake and citadel

Walk Hoan Kiem Lake and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The lake path is free. Sight tickets are separate.

3

Day 3: Ha Long

Take a day boat. Route 2 clocks Ti Top, Sung Sot, and Luon at 5–6 hours.

4

Day 4: Hue

Travel to Hue. The five SE trains from Hà Nội take 12 hours 35 minutes to 14 hours 12 minutes (SE3 is the short end, SE9 the long end). A flight time is Check on arrival. Search Hue hotels for the night.

5

Day 5: Hue Citadel

Visit the citadel on the 200,000 VND adult ticket.

6

Day 6: Hoi An

Travel to Hoi An and walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge. Search Old Town hotels for the night.

7

Day 7: Leave Da Nang

Keep the morning in Hoi An. The old town is about 30 km from Da Nang, about 30 minutes on the coast road. Leave from Da Nang airport or Ga Da Nang. There is no train into the old town.

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