3 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Three weeks in Vietnam and we covered serious ground—ticking off most of the UNESCO gems, sailing through the limestone dreamscape of Lan Ha Bay by yacht (as one does), and getting utterly charmed by Hoi An’s lantern-lit ancient streets. We trekked through Pu Luong’s endless rice terraces, saw many huge Buddhas, and yes… became fully, irrevocably addicted to Vietnamese coffee. This trip was pure magic—and made unforgettable by the warmth of the Vietnamese people we met along the way.
Practical Bits
For a 2 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Fly from Hoi An (Da Nang airport) straight to Hanoi—skip the Mai Chau and Ninh Binh stops.
For a 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary
Skip the Mekong Delta and Hoi An beach day, go to Hue or My Son Sanctuary instead, and fly from Hoi An (Da Nang airport) directly to Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
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1.5-hour Vietnam Airlines flight to Da Nang (DAD)
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40-minute private car to Hoi An
Hoi An to Mai Chau
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1.5-hour Vietnam Airlines flight to HCMC (SGN)
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2-hour flight to Tho Xuan Airport (THD)
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3-hour private car to Avana Retreat in Mai Chau
Mai Chau to Ninh Binh
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4-hour private car to Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh to Hanoi
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
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3-hour shared limousine to harbour
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30-minute speed boat to Elite of the Seas yacht
Travelling Between Destinations
Travel Essentials
Best time to go to Vietnam
We traveled March 15 – April 6, and the weather? Mostly dry and partly sunny with just two hiccups: a rainy day in Ninh Binh (bring a light jacket!) and a quick shower our last night in Hanoi. Regional vibes: Ho Chi Minh / Mekong Delta – Hot and humid. Hoi An – Warm and lovely. Mai Chau – Hot and lush. Ninh Binh – Cool and misty. Hanoi / Ha Long Bay – Mild and breezy. Best travel window? November to April is Vietnam’s dry season—ideal for sunshine and sightseeing. By region: North: Nov–Mar = cool and dry. Central: Jan–Aug = sunny beach days. South: Nov–Apr = warm and dry. Bonus: Want golden rice terraces? Go in late September to early October—harvest season is supposed to be pure magic. If the forecast looks rainy, don’t stress! Vietnam’s weather is unpredictable, and the rain might not even materialise—it’s often much clearer than it seems.
Vietnam tourist visas
Citizens of 29 countries*—including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Denmark—can waltz into Vietnam visa-free for tourism. Just make sure your passport is valid for six months beyond your departure date and has two blank pages ready for action. Everyone else (hey, fellow Americans!) will need a $25 USD single-entry or $50 USD multi-entry e-visa (good for up to 90 days). Grab yours before you go: https://evisa.gov.vn/ Heads up: Visa rules can change faster than a scooter in Saigon traffic. Always double-check the latest entry requirements on your government’s official travel advice website before you book. Better safe than passport panic! *Here’s the full list of 29 countries that can enter Vietnam visa-free, plus how long you can stay and play: 90 days: Chile, Panama 45 days: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK 30 days: Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Belarus 21 days: Philippines 14 days: Brunei, Myanmar
Vietnam currency
Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND)—and yes, it’s totally normal to feel like a millionaire with all those zeros. But don’t get too excited—while Vietnam is a tremendous value, you won’t have millionaire spending power! Tourist prices are often listed in USD, but don’t get too comfy—you’ll still need to pay in VND, based on the day’s exchange rate.
Vietnamese eSIM
If you’re like us and prefer your SIM card to stay where it belongs—inside your phone—skip the local shop and grab an eSIM. We went with Airalo, and it worked like a charm—way cheaper than our provider’s roaming charges. It’s data-only, but that was perfect since we stayed connected via WhatsApp (Vietnam loves it for everything from restaurant bookings to chatting with drivers).
Vaccinations needed for Vietnam
While you don’t need any vaccines to enter Vietnam, we made sure we were up to date on hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and typhoid—the usual travel suspects. We also got Japanese encephalitis (hello, rice terraces) and rabies—because Vietnam is considered high-risk, and frankly, we weren’t taking any chances. Chat with your healthcare provider to see if vaccines make sense for your Vietnam adventure—because the right precautions depend on your personal health situation. Start early—some vaccines, require multiple doses spaced out over several weeks. Don’t leave it to the last minute unless you want your travel prep to include a race against the clock. Hep A, tetanus, diphtheria, and typhoid? All free on the NHS—thank you, public healthcare! The rest? We shopped around and landed on Superdrug for rabies and Japanese encephalitis: https://healthclinics.superdrug.com/travel-clinic/ Vaccine availability, pricing, and schedules vary by country—so check your own government’s travel health site to see what’s covered and when to book your jabs. One last note about rabies: Even with the vaccine, if you’re scratched, bitten, or licked, you still need more vaccine doses after you've been exposed. But if you’re not vaccinated? You’ll need even more doses, plus a fast-acting shot called rabies immune globulin—and who knows how easy that is to find in rural Vietnam? We didn’t plan to test it. No matter how adorable pets and stray dogs were, we kept our hands to ourselves.
International hospitals in Vietnam
We didn’t need them (thankfully!), but here are a few hospitals that claim to meet international hygiene standards—just in case. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) -- Centre Médical International (CMI); 8am-7pm closed Sun +84 28 3827 2366 -- Vinmec Central Park International Hospital +84 28 3622 1166 Da Nang (near Hoi Ann) -- Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital +84 23 6371 1111 Hanoi -- Thu Cuc International General Hospital Emergency: +84 901 793 122; +84 936 388 288 -- Vinmec International Hospital (Times City) +84 24 3974 3556 -- Hanoi French Hospital +84 24 3574 1111 -- Japan International Eye Hospital +84 24 3715 3666 Ha long -- Vinmec Hạ Long International Hospital +84 203 3828 188 Air Ambulance Worldwide +1 877-922-9675 / +1 727-781-1198
15 Vietnam Travel Tips
From crossing the street like a local (with blind confidence) to decoding menus for hidden allergens, these Vietnam travel tips will have you exploring like a seasoned adventurer in no time.