10-day Vietnam Itinerary: Hoi An, Ha Giang and Hanoi

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam and have around 10 days to explore, this Vietnam itinerary is perfect for you. It’s a great option for anyone who can only take a week off work, or for travelers adding Vietnam to a longer Southeast Asia trip, just like I did. This itinerary takes you from the lantern-filled streets of Hoi An, through the mountains of the Ha Giang Loop, and finishes in the bustling capital city of Hanoi. You’ll get to explore a few unique parts of the country in just over a week!

Why Visit Vietnam?

Vietnam is one of my favorite countries that I visited during my 2 months in Asia. It’s affordable, full of culture, and has some of the friendliest people I’ve met on my travels. The country offers an incredible mix of natural beauty, vibrant cities, and cultural charm. It’s the perfect destination for any type of traveler, whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both.

Here’s a few reasons why Vietnam should be on your travel bucket list:

• It’s affordable. Vietnam is one of the most budget-friendly destinations in Asia, with cheap but delicious food, affordable accommodation and easy transportation. You can travel comfortably without spending much.
• The food is incredible. When travelling to Vietnam you’ll of course find the best pho and banh mi, but you’ll also find that Vietnamese food is so much more. It’s fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly diverse, with each region having different specialties. And don’t get me started on the coffee… you must try their famous drinks, coconut coffee and egg coffee!
• Adventure in the mountains. The northern mountains of Vietnam are perfect for travelers who love nature and adventure. The Ha Giang Loop is an unforgettable motorbike adventure, with winding mountain roads, rice terraces, and views that go on forever.
• Relaxation at the beach. If you prefer a slow, relaxing vacation, Vietnam’s beaches are great for that. Spend your days biking to An Bang Beach in Hoi An, exploring Da Nang’s coastline, or visiting the tropical island of Phu Quoc.
• Charming, cultural cities. From the picturesque, lantern-lit streets of Hoi An to the busy markets and coffee shops of Hanoi, each city has its own personality filled with history, culture, and color.

Solo Female Travel in Vietnam

Vietnam is a wonderful destination for solo female travelers. Although I didn’t visit Vietnam as a solo traveler, I know I would feel safe if I did. The country is very tourist-friendly, transportation is easy to navigate, and hostels make it simple to meet other travelers. My friend and I always felt safe walking around as two women, even at night, and found that locals were kind and welcoming. We met many solo female travelers who had no complaints about the safety of Vietnam!

Like most destinations in Southeast Asia and the world, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in busy areas. Take basic safety precautions by keeping your valuables close in a crossbody bag and try to stick to well-lit streets at night.

Transportation

Getting around Vietnam is easy and affordable, with plenty of options depending on your budget and travel style. The country is long and narrow, so distances between destinations can be larger than they look on the map, but domestic travel is well-connected.

For long distances, domestic flights are the fastest, but most expensive option. Airlines like VietJet Air offer cheap and frequent flights between major cities such as Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. My friend and I flew with VietJet Air to get from Da Nang to Hanoi, and the flight was around $80 USD.

If you have a bit more time and want to save money, buses are a great choice for backpackers. Sleeper buses, which typically travel overnight, are equipped with reclining seats, almost like little beds, so you can still get a good night’s sleep. They’re great for long routes like Hanoi to Ha Giang or Hoi An to Ninh Binh, and they double as accommodation for the night! Just keep in mind that comfort levels vary depending on the company and price, so do your research before booking.

Trains are another option between Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. The famous Reunification Express offers scenic views of the countryside and coast, but it’s slower than flying. I haven’t personally taken the trains in Vietnam, so I can’t comment on the comfort or safety.

Within each city, getting around is simple thanks to Grab, a ride-share app similar to Uber. You can use it to order cars or motorbikes, and it’s inexpensive, reliable, and safe.

Visa Requirements for Vietnam

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll need a visa to enter Vietnam. The process is simple and can be done entirely online through Vietnam’s official e-visa website.

You can apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry e-visa, both valid for stays of up to 30 days. The application usually takes about three business days to process, and the fee is around $25 USD, so make sure you plan ahead. You’ll receive your visa approval letter by email, which you’ll need to print out and show when you arrive in Vietnam.

This might sound obvious, but make sure you put the correct port of entry when applying for your visa. My friend and I made the mistake of changing our itinerary last minute to arrive in Hoi An, after we had already put Hanoi on the visa. When we got to the airport, we had to wait over an hour to check-in for our flight so they could get approval from the embassy to change our visa. We almost missed our flight to Vietnam! Thankfully everything worked out and we learned our lesson to fill visas out veryyy carefully from now on.

10-day Vietnam Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Da Nang and Travel to Hoi An

Arrive in central Vietnam by flying into Da Nang International Airport. From here, it’s only about a 45-minute drive to Hoi An, where you will be staying. You can order a Grab car or book a private transfer ahead of time here. If you’re arriving late at night, I recommend booking a transfer ahead of time so you have one less thing to worry about when you land.

Once you arrive in Hoi An, check into your hotel, where you will be staying for 4 nights. I highly recommend staying at Hoianese Center Hotel, a small but beautiful hotel that offers tours and activities throughout the city. It’s located just outside the Ancient Town and is surprisingly budget-friendly for how nice it is.

After settling into your hotel, take a walk to the Ancient Town and grab a coconut coffee from a café. But beware, you will become obsessed with this drink and will have to get one every day of your trip. It’s creamy coconut milk blended with condensed milk and ice, with a shot of Vietnamese coffee poured on top. If you’re not a fan of coconut, go for an egg coffee instead.

Hoi An is famous for its tailoring shops and is one of the best (and cheapest) places in the world to get clothes made. If this is something you’d like to do, you should head to a tailor shop on your first day, as the process can take a few days. I talk more about the process and my experience getting clothes made in my post 10 Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam.

In the evening, take a lantern boat ride along the Thu Bon River. The river comes to life as hundreds of paper lanterns are released on the water. Being surrounding by the glowing lanterns and the colorful lights of the Ancient City is the best way to spend your first night in Vietnam!

Day 2 – Explore Hoi An’s Ancient Town and An Bang Beach

Start your morning with a walking tour of Hoi An’s Ancient Town. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with centuries of history, colorful architecture, and charming shop houses. We booked our tour through our hotel, but here is a similar walking tour you can book ahead of time. You’ll visit the iconic spots like the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phap Bao Pagoda, Ba Mu Temple Gate, the Ancient Well, and Fujian Assembly Hall. The tour will help you understand the city’s fascinating blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.

You’ll probably be hungry after your tour, so grab a Banh Mi for lunch. Banh Mi Phuong is the most popular spot in the city, but there’s many other Banh Mi spots to check out if you don’t want to wait in a line.

In the afternoon, rent a bicycle and ride to An Bang Beach. The bike ride takes about 15 minutes and passes through rice paddies and quiet countryside roads. Once you arrive, relax on the beach or grab a drink at one of the many oceanfront cafes. Return to the Ancient Town in the evening to eat dinner and see the lanterns light up once again.

Day 3 – Cooking Class and Coconut Boat Ride

One of the best ways to experience Vietnamese culture is through food. Take a Vietnamese cooking class to learn how to make dishes like spring rolls, banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes), and cold rice noodle salad. Our tour also took us to a local market, where we learned about important Vietnamese vegetables, fruits and spices.

I recommend booking a cooking class that includes a coconut boat ride. Many do since the cooking schools are located right next to the Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Although this is quite a touristy experience, I was really fun and we got some great pictures! This combo tour is almost identical to the one we did:

If you decided to get clothes tailor made in Hoi An, this afternoon would be a good time to go pick them up! You’ll still have one more day in the city just in case you want some extra alterations.

In the evening, visit the Hoi An Night Market to pick up souvenirs and enjoy Vietnamese street food.

Day 4 – Day Trip to Ba Na Hills or Da Nang

If you have an extra day in Hoi An, take a day trip to Ba Na Hills Sun World or Da Nang.

Ba Na Hills is a mountain resort and amusement park located about an hour from Hoi An. You’ll take a scenic cable car ride up the mountain, where you’ll find the famous Golden Bridge held up by giant stone hands, as well as gardens, themed villages, and fun attractions. Read my complete guide to visiting Ba Na Hills from Hoi An below.

If theme parks aren’t your thing, you can spend the day in Da Nang instead. The city has long sandy beaches, modern cafes, and the iconic Dragon Bridge that breathes fire on weekend nights.

Day 5 – Fly from Hoi An to Hanoi, then Bus to Ha Giang

Today is a long travel day. Fly from Da Nang to Hanoi in the morning, then take a bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang for your mountain motorbike adventure. The bus journey takes around six hours and can be arranged with your Ha Giang Loop tour company. You can choose between a midday bus that arrives at night, or an overnight sleeper bus that arrives in the morning.

We decided to take the midday bus so we could get a full night of sleep in a bed before starting the Ha Giang Loop the next morning. But if you want to have some extra time in Hanoi to relax and explore, the overnight bus is a great option. Or if you have the time, spend a night in Hanoi to break up with journey.

Day 6 – Begin the Ha Giang Loop

On Day 6 you’ll embark on the Ha Giang Loop, which is the most incredible adventure you can have in Vietnam (it was my favorite experience of 2 months in Asia). It’s a 3 to 4 day motorbike loop through the northern mountains, where you’ll pass rice terraces, canyons, and tiny rural villages.

Even if you don’t know how to ride a motorbike, you can still do the loop! Most travelers hire an “easy rider,” who drives the bike while you sit on the back. This is what I did, and I loved every second of it.

We booked our tour through Ha Giang Hostel, and I can’t recommend them enough. For more on my experience, read my Complete Guide to the Ha Giang Loop.

On the first day of the tour, you’ll have breakfast and depart around midmorning on the motorbikes. You’ll spend the day winding through the mountains, stopping for photos and lunch, before arriving at your first homestay for the night.

Day 7 – The Ha Giang Loop Continues

Today you’ll travel deeper into the mountains, where the scenery gets even more dramatic. Expect winding roads, dramatic cliffs, and plenty of viewpoints to stop at. Most tours stop at Tu Sản Canyon, the deepest gorge in Vietnam, where you can take a short boat ride through the turquoise water. We brought our bathing suits and we able to swim in the water!

In the evening, you’ll have dinner with your group at a local homestay. These meals were one of my favorite parts of the experience. Everyone sits around the table, sharing food, laughing, and talking about the day’s adventures. We got to know our guides and easy riders (mostly through google translate) and took shots and did karaoke all together. It was so fun!

Day 8 – Return to Ha Giang and Travel Back to Hanoi

Day 8 is your final morning on the loop, but the scenic views haven’t stopped yet. On the way back to Ha Giang City, you’ll pass the Vietnam/China border and the iconic Tham Ma pass viewpoint.

When you return to Ha Giang City, you’ll eat lunch and then take the 6 hour bus back to Hanoi. Of course you can stay in Ha Giang for one more night if you want to relax, but there’s not much to do there besides prepare for the loop.

You’ll arrive in Hanoi pretty late, so head straight to check into your hotel. We stayed at Hanoi Buffalo Hostel in a private room, which I highly recommend for those travelling on a budget. The hostel is located right in the old town within walking distance to all the attractions, and offers free breakfast and free walking tours.

Day 9 – Explore Hanoi

Spend your final full day in Vietnam exploring the capital city of Hanoi. We decided to take advantage of the free walking tour at Hanoi Buffalo Hostel, which took us all around the old town. The tour ended at Hoan Kiem Lake, where we visited Ngoc Son Temple.

At night, visit Train Street, where the trains pass by just inches from local cafes. You’ll likely have to sit and order something at one of the cafes to have a good spot to see a train go by. If you have time, explore the Temple of Literature or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for a bit of history. End your day with dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the busy streets below.

Day 10 – Departure Day

Depending on your flight time, enjoy one last slow morning in Hanoi. Grab your last coconut coffee and breakfast at a local café, do some souvenir shopping, or simply take one more stroll through the Old Quarter. Then head to the airport for your flight home.

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Final Thoughts

I hope this 10-day Vietnam itinerary helps you plan your own trip and gives you an idea of how much you can see in just a short time. Vietnam truly has a little bit of everything: peaceful beaches, lively cities, amazing food and breathtaking mountains, all wrapped up in one unforgettable country.

If you’re planning your trip, make sure to check out my other Vietnam posts, where I dive deeper into the destinations mentioned in this itinerary:

• 10 Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam
• Complete Guide to the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam
• Ba Na Hills Day Trip from Hoi An, Vietnam

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