14-day itinerary
2 Weeks in Vietnam
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Hoi An
Vietnam is a sensory explosion of steaming pho bowls, emerald limestone karsts, and golden lantern-lit streets that rewards every backpacker with unforgettable adventure at a fraction of Western prices. From the chaotic motorbike ballet of Hanoi to the timeless fishing villages of Ha Long Bay and the silk-draped alleyways of Hoi An, two weeks is just enough to fall completely in love.
Morning: Land at Noi Bai International Airport, take the affordable express bus to the Old Quarter (€1.50), and check into your hostel near Hoan Kiem Lake.
Afternoon: Stroll the 36 ancient guild streets of the Old Quarter, picking up snacks like banh cuon at a pavement stall and getting gloriously lost in the maze of alleyways.
Evening: Join the crowds on Bia Hoi Corner at the junction of Luong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien streets for 25-cent draught beer and electric street-side energy.
Morning: Wake up early for a bowl of Hanoi-style pho bo at Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan Street, then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the serene One Pillar Pagoda.
Afternoon: Explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (€2 entry) to understand the country's 54 ethnic groups, then cycle around West Lake to Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Evening: Watch a 45-minute traditional water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (€5) and dine on bun cha — smoky grilled pork with vermicelli — at a local spot.
Morning: Join a free walking tour led by Hanoi Free Tour Guides students — a brilliant way to see the Temple of Literature and learn about Vietnamese history through local eyes.
Afternoon: Head to the Dong Xuan covered market to browse cheap souvenirs, pick up a lightweight rain jacket, and haggle for local snacks and dried goods.
Evening: Take the train street experience on Le Duan alley, then settle in at a rooftop bar in the Old Quarter for sunset views over the city's sea of tiled rooftops.
Morning: Board your pre-booked budget cruise (Indochina Junk or similar mid-range operator) from Tuan Chau Marina after a 3.5-hour bus transfer from Hanoi — the journey is part of the adventure.
Afternoon: Sail through surreal karst scenery, kayak through hidden lagoons at Hang Trong cave, and swim in the green jade water before lunch is served on deck.
Evening: Gather on the top deck for a sunset cooking class making fresh spring rolls, then enjoy a communal seafood dinner with fellow travellers under a canopy of stars.
Morning: Rise before 6am for a quiet sunrise on the top deck with coffee, then visit Hang Sung Sot (Surprising Cave) — a cathedral-sized cavern illuminated in ethereal blues and greens.
Afternoon: Kayak solo through a narrow karst arch into a hidden floating fishing village, watch locals haul nets, and swim off the boat in a secluded cove.
Evening: As the cruise returns toward the marina, join a tai chi class on deck at dawn, then spend the final hours watching the limestone towers shrink into the horizon.
Morning: Disembark the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi by midday, and store your luggage at the hostel for a few hours while you grab a final bowl of bun rieu crab noodle soup.
Afternoon: Pick up any last souvenirs in the Old Quarter — lacquerware, silk scarves, and handmade paper goods are all excellent value — and grab a Vietnamese iced coffee at Giang Cafe, birthplace of egg coffee.
Evening: Board the SE3 or SE1 Reunification Express night train from Hanoi Station southbound to Da Nang (soft sleeper berth, ~€25) — your bed is your hotel tonight.
Morning: Arrive in Da Nang by early morning, rent a semi-automatic motorbike (€7/day) or join a scooter tour, and ride the legendary Hai Van Pass — 21km of switchbacks with jaw-dropping ocean panoramas.
Afternoon: Descend into Lang Co fishing village for a quick seafood lunch on the lagoon, then continue south to arrive in Hoi An by early afternoon and check into your guesthouse.
Evening: Walk the lantern-strewn Nguyen Hoang Bridge along the Thu Bon River at dusk, buy a floating lotus lantern (€1) and release it onto the water at night.
Morning: Explore Hoi An Ancient Town on foot before the crowds arrive — visit the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall all on a single €5 combined ticket.
Afternoon: Visit a reputable tailor on Tran Phu Street — Yaly Couture or A Dong Silk — for a custom-made item; allow 48 hours for fitting and collection.
Evening: Eat cao lau — Hoi An's signature thick noodle dish with pork and greens — at Thanh Cao Lau restaurant, then browse the night market on Nguyen Hoang Street.
Morning: Join a half-day cooking class (€20–25) starting with a guided market tour at Hoi An Central Market, then learn to make white rose dumplings, banh xeo sizzling crepes, and fresh spring rolls.
Afternoon: Rent a bicycle (€2/day) and pedal 4km out through emerald rice paddies and water buffalo fields to the sleepy village of Tra Que, where organic herbs for Hoi An's dishes are grown.
Evening: Return to town for sunset drinks at the Deck Bar overlooking the river, then try white rose dumplings for dinner at Ba Le Well — a legendary tiny courtyard restaurant.
Morning: Cycle or grab a xe om (motorbike taxi) 4km east to An Bang Beach — less developed than Cua Dai and beloved by backpackers — plant yourself under a palm umbrella with a fresh coconut.
Afternoon: Hire a local fisherman's boat (negotiate for around €8 return) to cross to Cam Kim Island, where you can watch traditional basket boat builders crafting coracles by hand.
Evening: Back in town, join the weekly Full Moon Lantern Festival if timing aligns (15th of each lunar month) — the Ancient Town goes car-free and glows with thousands of silk lanterns.
Morning: Take an early minibus to My Son Sanctuary (€5 entry plus €7 transport), a UNESCO-listed complex of 4th–14th century Hindu Cham temples hidden in a jungle valley — arrive by 8am before tour groups.
Afternoon: Return to Hoi An and pick up your tailor-made clothes for a fitting, then spend the afternoon exploring the quieter south end of the Ancient Town around the Phap Bao Pagoda.
Evening: Treat yourself to a cold Huda beer at a riverside bar and enjoy a final slow dinner of Hoi An white rose and grilled mango salad at Morning Glory restaurant.
Morning: Sleep in, have a slow breakfast of banh mi from Phuong's famous cart on Le Loi Street (consistently voted Vietnam's best banh mi for under €1.50), then do a final walk through the Ancient Town.
Afternoon: Visit the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (€1.50) to contextualise everything you've seen, then get a 60-minute traditional Vietnamese massage at a local spa (€10–12).
Evening: Sunset drinks at Cargo Club's rooftop terrace overlooking the river, then pack your bags and collect your tailored items for the journey home or onward.
Morning: Take a 30-minute bus from Hoi An to Da Nang (€1.50) and climb the Marble Mountains — five limestone peaks riddled with Buddhist sanctuaries and caves — for panoramic views of the coast.
Afternoon: Head to My Khe Beach for a few hours of swimming and fresh seafood lunch right on the sand, then explore the Dragon Bridge area and the futuristic Han River bridges by foot.
Evening: Position yourself on the Dragon Bridge at 9pm on Saturday or Sunday when it breathes real fire and water for 15 spectacular minutes — a surreal free show loved by locals and visitors alike.
Morning: Rise early for one last Vietnamese iced coffee at a pavement plastic-stool cafe, pack up your newly tailored clothes and lantern souvenirs, and take a final stroll along the Han River promenade.
Afternoon: Head to Da Nang International Airport for your departure flight — arrive 2.5 hours early for international connections — and spend your last dong on airport pho.
Evening: Board your flight home with a memory card full of limestone sunsets, pho-stained napkins, and the lingering smell of incense from a hundred pagodas.
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