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Vietnam. A culmination of vibrant culture, natural beauty and delicious food, right in the heart of southeast Asia. From hikes featuring cliffside rice terraces to streets bustling with local vendors, you’ll find plenty to love in this 7-day Vietnam itinerary.
Hanoi Old Quarter
When planning this trip, I knew I wanted to experience a bit of everything. The mega metropolises, the mountainous countryside, and of course the famed Ha Long Bay. My problem… was time, as it always seems to be. With only 1 week of PTO to spend, I needed a well planned itinerary if I wanted to make it work.
After weeks spent researching, I decided to stick to the northern region of Vietnam where travel between different landscapes was relatively fast. By staying in the North, I was able to see Ha Long (the coastal region), Hanoi (the capitol city), and Sapa (mountainous village) all within a week.
Note: Any big city in Southeast Asia can be very overwhelming to visitors, with constant auditory overload, motor bike exhaust, and street vendors targeting tourists. That being said, I purposely created this itinerary to sandwich the city experience between more relaxing regions of the country. Retrospectively, I wouldn’t have changed a thing!
All US citizens need to obtain a visa to enter the country and it would be wise to do this before booking your accommodations or flights. You can apply for the electronic visa by visiting their National Immigration Portal and paying the $25 dollar fee.
Note: Your passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months after your date of planned entry.
If you’ll be exploring the northern part of Vietnam in this itinerary you will want to fly into the Noi Bai airport of Hanoi. It’s not the easiest place to get to logistically and will likely require a layover in Asia if you are coming from the States. The trek took us 16+ hours from Hawaii with a stop in either Korea or Japan.
When you are going short distances within cities, you will be able to have hotels arrange taxis for you or you can use the Grab app (like Uber or Lyft in the states). Oftentimes, we would walk if our destination was within a mile because the traffic is horrendous. Beware if you try to get your own rides, drivers will significantly up-charge tourists.
One of the most difficult parts of planning my Vietnam itinerary was figuring out how to get from one region of the country to another. For example, from Hanoi airport to Ha long bay (2+ hours). Some blogs suggested taking trains, or overnight buses, while others stated shared/personal cars would be the safest bet.
Now that I’ve experienced it first hand, I can definitely say that pre-booking a personal car was the way to go. Although more expensive, you will save ample time and be awarded peace of mind which are both invaluable when traveling abroad. I used a company called Welcome Pickups and it worked out perfectly! (Not sponsored) I was easily able to book the rides myself on their website and my drivers all spoke English very well.
Arriving in Hanoi mid day, tired and jet lagged, I was glad I had pre-booked a driver instead of needing to find a shuttle or bus to take us to Ha Long. I spotted our driver outside of customs, holding our names up on a sign. Our driver loaded our bags into his SUV, and we began the 3 hour long drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
(Note: the welcome pickups driver with send you a message via what’s app with pick up details)
When we arrived at the Wyndham hotel in Ha Long late that afternoon, we checked in and were blown away with the room we received. We had high floor to ceiling windows lining our balcony, looking out over the bay.
The hotel also had an infinity pool, gym and casino for guests to use.
As the sun started to set, we began strolling the streets of Ha Long and found a hole in the wall restaurant to satisfy our pho craving. A full meal for 3 USD?! Yes, please.
Beef pho for $2.88 USD
Note: If you don’t have prior arrangements for tomorrow, look at booking a tour/activity through your hotel concierge. You’ll be able to choose from a plethora of options including: boat tours, kayaks, etc.
The 2nd day of the Vietnam itinerary is all about exploring Ha Long bay, a major tourist destination for good reason.
Ha Long is one of the few special places in the world you can deep water solo
We came to Ha Long for a very specific activity… deep water soloing! A form of rock climbing in which you can freely rock climb above the ocean and jump down into open waters, a thrill hard to come by, especially in the states.
Climbing groups get brought out on small boats to the start of graded routes
We coordinated our expedition with Catba Climbing, a tremendous small business who went above and beyond our expectations. If you’re up for a unique adventure, I would definitely recommend giving them a try!
Everyone will take turns climbing before jumping off the rock and swimming back to the boat
Check out my Vietnam deep water soloing post for more details.
Note: You do not need to be an advanced climber, but you should be comfortable swimming in open water and with heights if you plan to partake in this activity.
We arrived back in Ha long late that afternoon and had time to shower and clean up before grabbing dinner. This costal region is known for it’s seafood, so try one of the highly rated restaurants in the area including:
We started this morning slow, with a hotel buffet breakfast which to our surprise was a known attraction. Tourists were getting dropped off to this weekend brunch by the busload, so we figured we had to try it for ourselves.
At noon, we checked out of our Ha Long hotel and began the 3 hour drive back to Hanoi. (Again, using drivers from Welcome Pickups)
I could tell we were getting close to the city center when the streets started coming alive. Vehicles, motorbikes, and vendors all seemed to be in constant competition with who could be loudest. I felt overwhelmed but at the same time awestruck by Hanoi. A place I can only describe as chaotically beautiful.
We checked into the JM Marvel hotel which was a prime location within Hanoi’s old quarter. After freshening up, we went up to the rooftop bar to grab a drink and watch the sunset before heading out into town.
JM Marvel Boutique Hotel
Even if you’re not staying in this hotel, the rooftop bar is a popular place in the old quarter to grab a drink.
We then spent the rest of the evening wandering the streets, trying different food, and exploring the local night market.
Beer street in Hanoi’s old quarter
Some popular places to check out include:
Start your only full day in Hanoi by grabbing breakfast and a Vietnamese iced coffee before wandering around Hoàn Kiêm Lake. Here you’ll see locals exercising, playing chess and practicing Tai Chi.
Egg Coffee in Hanoi is a must try (left) – made with egg whites, sugar and condensed milk
Next, head into the inner streets of the Old Quarter and admire the french inspired architecture of the city. Try some Bahn Mi at Bahn Mi 25, Pho at Pho Khoi Hoi or Bun Cha at Dac Kim.
Bun Cha is a must try while in Hanoi – a dish of grilled pork and noddles similar to pho
Stop by St. Joseph’s cathedral, also known as the Hanoi cathedral, to witness one of the most significant religious landmarks in the city.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Once it starts getting close to sunset make your way to the infamous train street. This experience will feel like a tourist trap, but it’s interesting to experience nonetheless.
Train Street an hour before predicted arrival time
Although you’ve probably seen pictures of this street on social media, you likely won’t know the chaos it takes to get here unless you’ve done your research.
You cannot just walk onto this street yourself as there are police/military personal at the gated entrances. Instead, a local must bring you in and seat you at their shop alongside the train tracks. In return, you must buy a coffee/drink from their shop.
Getting more and more crowded
(I say “must” buy because we witnessed many angry shop owners, yelling at tourists in Vietnamese when they did not want to sit at their particular shops or order any drinks.)
These times aren’t always exact but are usually fairly close. Be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes early.
Topas Ecolodge shuttle – $100 USD from Hanoi to Sapa
We departed our hotel at dawn for the mountains of Sapa. I won’t pretend that the journey was an interesting one. There really weren’t many awe inspiring points along what some may see as a tedious 5 hour drive. However, most of the vans/buses that drive up to Sapa are wi-fi equipped which will allow you to watch movies, listen to podcasts or scroll social media to help the time pass a little faster. Trust me, the twists and turns are worth it.
Topas Ecolodge Property
Topas Ecolodge was easily my favorite part of the Vietnam Itinerary. With only 49 mountain bungalows available, this property is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also known to be an icon for sustainable tourism. Check out my Topas Ecolodge post to learn more about my full experience.
Infinity pools at Topas Ecolodge
I’ve always wanted to see cliffside rice terraces in Asia but it wasn’t until my husband requested to come to Vietnam that I became determined to make the desire a reality.
Art installations at Moana Sapa
Start the day by visiting the art installations at Moana Sapa, a cliffside cafe overlooking the Muong Hung Valley terraces. You’ll have to buy a ticket for a couple of dollars to enter but in turn you’ll receive a beverage/water bottle and unlimited time in the facility.
Cliffside art installation
Next, either take some time to explore the main city of Sapa, or hike down into Muong Hung Valley for more rice terrace views.
Muong Hung Valley
As the sun starts to set, make your way back to Topas Ecolodge to take advantage of their heated cliffside infinity pools.
Red Dao Village Loop
The shuttle from Topas Ecolodge back to Hanoi/Noi Bai airport will leave mid-afternoon, so before you leave enjoy a 3 mile hike, around the Red Dao Village Loop. This trail is walking distance from the Topas Ecolodge property and will bring you through rice terraces as well as up and close to local wildlife like water buffalo.
Rice terraces in Sapa
Note: You will likely be followed by villagers from local tribes in Sapa, trying to sell you crafts/tours. Politely but sternly tell them you are not interested or they will follow you for miles…
Villagers following us out of the Topas Ecolodge Property
To end the week, you’ll have the option to take the Topas Ecolodge shuttle back to the old quarter in Hanoi or to Noi Bai airport if you are flying out the same day.
With this 7 day Vietnam itinerary we were able to experience 3 uniquely amazing regions of the country. If we had more time we would have loved to explore Sapa even further. Until next time!
The northern region of Vietnam experiences the best weather from November – April. When temperatures are cool and the region is dry.
I would say plan to spend at least a week in Vietnam, especially if you would like to see attractions outside the city.
Once you’re in Vietnam, food and daily expenses are very cheap. I would plan for $50-$75 USD per person per day.
Photos were taken in collaboration with: Matthew Tonokawa
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