# 7 days in Vietnam: an itinerary by city

> A week in Vietnam runs north to south through the whole country. Two days in [Hanoi](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi): the Temple of Literature, the citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake and a Ha Long Bay cruise. A day in [Da Nang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang): the Dragon Bridge, the Cham museum and Lady Buddha. Two days in [Hoi An](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an): the lantern-lit Old Town and the Champa temples of My Son. The last two are [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city) and the Mekong Delta. Flights between north, centre and south take about 1 h 20 min.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/in-7-days

## Who it suits

- A first trip to Vietnam
- Independent: domestic flights and Grab
- Cities, history and nature in a week

Not for:

- Beach only — go straight to Nha Trang, Phu Quoc or Mui Ne
- Sapa and Ninh Binh need more days in the north

When to go: February to April: warm in the north, dry in the centre and south.

## Day 1 — [Hanoi](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi.md)

1. [Tran Quoc Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/tran-quoc-pagoda.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
   ↓ 21 min by transport
2. [Temple of Literature](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/temple-of-literature.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 70,000 VND, under-16s free
   ↓ 11 min on foot
3. [Imperial Citadel of Thang Long](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/thang-long-citadel.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 100,000 VND
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 18 min on foot
4. [St Joseph's Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/hanoi-cathedral.md) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
   ↓ 6 min on foot
5. [Hoan Kiem Lake](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/hoan-kiem-lake.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free; Ngoc Son Temple 50,000 VND
   ↓ 6 min on foot
6. [Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/hanoi-water-puppet-theatre.md) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 100,000–200,000 VND

Total with walks: 7 h 22 min

## Day 2 — [Hanoi](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi.md)

1. [Ha Long Bay](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hanoi/ha-long-bay.md) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more

Total with walks: 4 h

Transfer Hanoi → Da Nang: flight, ≈ 1 h 20 min

## Day 3 — [Da Nang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang.md)

1. [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
   ↓ 8 min on foot
2. [Museum of Cham Sculpture](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/cham-museum.md) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 60,000 VND
   ↓ 13 min on foot
3. [Da Nang Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-cathedral.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 22 min by transport
4. [My Khe Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/my-khe-beach.md) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra
   ↓ 29 min by transport
5. [Lady Buddha](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/lady-buddha.md) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free

Total with walks: 7 h 2 min

Transfer Da Nang → Hoi An: Grab or taxi, ≈ 30–45 min

## Day 4 — [Hoi An](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an.md)

1. [Hoi An Central Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-central-market.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry
   ↓ 3 min on foot
2. [Fujian Assembly Hall](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/fujian-assembly-hall.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND
   ↓ 3 min on foot
3. [Quan Cong Temple](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/quan-cong-temple.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 5 min on foot
4. [Hoi An Ancient Town](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-old-town.md) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 80,000–120,000 VND; streets free
   ↓ 3 min on foot
5. [Tan Ky Old House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/tan-ky-old-house.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · One Old Town ticket coupon
   ↓ 4 min on foot
6. [Japanese Covered Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/japanese-covered-bridge.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Old Town ticket: 80,000–120,000 VND

Total with walks: 6 h 33 min

## Day 5 — [Hoi An](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an.md)

1. [An Bang Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/an-bang-beach.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 1 h 41 min by transport
2. [My Son Sanctuary](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/my-son-sanctuary.md) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · 150,000 VND

Total with walks: 7 h 11 min

Transfer Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City: flight from Da Nang, ≈ 1 h 20 min

## Day 6 — [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city.md)

1. [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry
   ↓ 10 min on foot
2. [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
   ↓ 9 min on foot
3. [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 3 min on foot
4. [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
   ↓ 9 min on foot
5. [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
   ↓ 10 min on foot
6. [Bitexco Financial Tower](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/bitexco-financial-tower.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 240,000 VND

Total with walks: 6 h 16 min

## Day 7 — [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city.md)

1. [Mekong Delta](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/mekong-delta.md) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Day tour from $25

Total with walks: 4 h

## How the week works

The route runs north to south without doubling back: Hanoi — Da Nang — Hoi An — Ho Chi Minh City. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: two days each in Hanoi, Hoi An and Saigon, one in Da Nang.

Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City, or the other way round.

## The cities on the route

Hanoi is the capital in the north: the Old Quarter, the 1070 Temple of Literature and Ha Long Bay 2.5–3 hours away. Da Nang is a seaside city with bridges over the Han River. Hoi An is a UNESCO-listed 15th–19th-century port 30–45 minutes from Da Nang. Ho Chi Minh City is old Saigon: the French cathedral and post office, Ben Thanh Market and the Mekong Delta nearby.

## Weather by region

Vietnam has three climates. The north has cool winters of 15–20 °C and hot, wet summers. The centre's rainy season is September to December, when Hoi An can flood. The south is dry from December to April, with short daily downpours from May to November. February to April suits the whole route.

## Getting around independently

Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Saigon are domestic flights of about 1 h 20 min. Da Nang to Hoi An is 30–45 minutes by Grab or taxi. Within cities use Grab, and walk in Hoi An and central Hanoi.

## Vietnam itinerary for 5 or 10 days

Five days: Hanoi with Ha Long, and Hoi An with Da Nang. Ten days: add the sea at [Nha Trang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang), [Phu Quoc](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phu-quoc) or [Mui Ne](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet), and a day in [Da Lat](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat) in the highlands on the way south.

## Tips

- Book the Ha Long and Mekong Delta tours the day before.
- The Hoi An Old Town ticket comes as coupons — pick your sites in advance.
- Domestic flights are cheap — use them instead of long train rides.
- Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.
- Pagodas and temples want shoulders and knees covered; shoes come off at the door of the halls.

## Questions

### What is a good 7-day Vietnam itinerary?

Hanoi for 2 days with Ha Long, Da Nang for 1, Hoi An for 2 and Ho Chi Minh City for 2 with the Mekong Delta.

### Can you travel around Vietnam independently?

Yes: domestic flights, Grab, and day tours to Ha Long and the Mekong Delta.

### How long is the flight from Hanoi to Da Nang?

About 1 h 20 min.

### How do I get from Da Nang to Hoi An?

By Grab or taxi, 30–45 minutes.

### What can I see in Vietnam in 5 days?

Hanoi with Ha Long, and Hoi An with Da Nang.

### When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

February to April — good weather in all three regions.

### Where are the beaches in Vietnam?

Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Mui Ne, each with its own itineraries.

### Is it good with kids?

Yes; Da Nang and Ba Na Hills have plenty for children.

### Is there a dress code at pagodas?

Pagodas and temples want shoulders and knees covered; shoes come off at the door of the halls.

### What currency is used in Vietnam?

Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.

## Sources

- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
- Wikipedia: Vietnam

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