Ultimate 7 Night Vietnam Itinerary: A Mix of Lively Cities, a Two Night Cruise and Beaches
Vietnam was the fifth stop on our five-week trip through Southeast Asia, following Thailand, Singapore, Bali, and Bangkok. We spent seven nights (March 22nd to March 29th) exploring northern and central Vietnam, with stops in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, and a short layover in Ho Chi Minh City before flying to Japan.
One thing that surprised me most about Vietnam was how different each destination felt. Hanoi was busy and full of history, Ha Long Bay was peaceful and unlike anywhere I’d ever been, and Da Nang offered a completely different vibe with beautiful beaches, great cafés, and easy access to nearby attractions like Hoi An and Ba Na Hills.
Looking back, I think our itinerary was a great mix of cities, nature, and time to relax. We packed a lot into one week without feeling rushed, and I’d recommend a similar route to anyone visiting Vietnam for the first time.
In this guide, I’ll share exactly how we spent our seven nights, along with tips, recommendations, and a few things I’d do differently if I visited again.
Looking for planning tips? Before reading our itinerary, check out our Vietnam Travel Guide, where I cover the best time to visit, how to get around, costs, safety tips, and everything you should know before your trip.
7 Night Vietnam Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Destination | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi | Beer Street, Old Quarter |
| Day 2 | Ninh Binh Day Trip | Tam Coc Boat Ride, Mua Cave |
| Day 3 | Ha Long Bay Cruise | Check-in, kayaking, sunset |
| Day 4 | Ha Long Bay Lazy Day | Took advantage of having 2 nights on the cruise and lounged around this day |
| Day 5 | Ha Long Bay -> Da Nang | Dragon Bridge Fire Show and night market |
| Day 6 | Hoi An Day Trip | Beach cafes, Coconut Boat Tour, Hoi An Ancient Town |
| Day 7 | Ba Na Hills | Sun World and Golden Bridge |
| Day 8 | Ho Chi Minh City | 12 hour layover adventure: The Gangs Beer Garden before flying to Japan |
- We originally considered visiting either northern or southern Vietnam, but with only one week we decided to split our time between Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Da Nang. It gave us a chance to experience Vietnam’s busy cities, incredible natural scenery, and beautiful beaches all in one trip.
- We skipped Ho Chi Minh City this time, only spending about 12 hours there before our flight to Japan. If we had a few extra days, I would have added at least two nights there to explore more of the city.
- Next visit to Vietnam I would love to travel far north to Sa Pa and Cao bang.
Day 1: Arriving in Hanoi
After flying in from spendnig the last 3 nights in Bangkok, we arrived in Hanoi and headed straight to our Airbnb in the Old Quarter. The entrance to our Airbnb seemed a little sketchy through dark hallways and stairs but once we got inside the Airbnb it was fine.
Once settled, we wandered through the bustling streets before making our way to the famous Beer Street.
Tiny plastic stools lined the sidewalks while locals and travelers packed the streets.
Because our friend spoke Vietnamese, we got to try dishes we probably wouldn’t have ordered ourselves. It was the perfect introduction to Vietnam’s food scene.
We spent the evening enjoying local beers, meeting fellow travelers, and soaking in the energy of Hanoi before calling it a night.
Day 2: Ninh Binh Day Trip & Hanoi Rooftop Bars
The morning started with what would become my newest obsession: Vietnamese egg coffee.
We visited Gau Coffee & Bakery, and I immediately understood the hype. Rich Vietnamese coffee topped with a creamy whipped egg mixture tastes like coffee and dessert combined.
Afterward, our driver picked us up for the two-hour journey to Ninh Binh.
Often called the “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is filled with dramatic limestone mountains rising from rice fields and rivers.
Ninh Binh Activities:
Bich Dong Pagoda
- This 15th-century temple is built directly into the limestone cliffs. This is free to visit.
- Highlights include:
- Three separate temple levels
- Cave passageways
- Incredible valley views
- Remember to dress respectfully (you must cover your shoulders and knees) since it remains an active place of worship.
Tam Coc Boat Ride
- This ended up being one of my favorite activities in Vietnam.
- For about two hours, we floated through:
- Limestone valleys
- Rice fields
- Three natural caves
- The boat ride cost around $10 per person
- Each boat is supposed to only take 2 passengers but they were nice and let all 3 of us ride in the same boat
- Tipping is expected at the end, typically around $4 per boat
- They made us a photo album of a handful of pictures they took of us while we were on the boat which we ended up buying for $9.
- The rowers famously paddle using their feet, which was impressive to watch.
- Even better, vendors floated by selling cold drinks, so naturally we bought beers and enjoyed the scenery.
- If we had more time, I also would have loved to visit Trang An, another famous boat route known for its dramatic scenery and longer more organized excursions.
Two Hour Drive Back to Hanoi
- Back in Hanoi, we grabbed Bun Cha for dinner in Old Quarter before spending the evening hopping between rooftop bars including Terraco Sky Bar and Moonlight Sky Bar.
- The nighttime views over Hanoi were incredible.
Days 3-4: Ha Long Bay Cruise
We were up early for our cruise transfer that picked us up right outside our Airbnb in Hanoi.
The drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay took roughly 2.5 hours.
After arriving at the port and waiting with other travelers, we finally boarded our Peony Cruise.
Why We Loved Peony Cruise
Our room included:
- Private balcony
- Large windows
- Bathtub with bay views
- Our room was a little crammed since there was 3 of us
As we cruised through the emerald waters and towering limestone karsts, it quickly became obvious why Ha Long Bay is considered one of Vietnam’s most famous destinations.
Activities the cruise offered:
- Kayaking through caves
- Swimming opportunities
- Cooking demonstrations (such as spring rolls)
- Tai Chi sessions
- Squid fishing at night
- Happy hours (buy one get one)
- Jacuzzi on the cruise deck
- Cat Ba Island cave tour
One afternoon we kayaked through caves surrounded by towering limestone cliffs.
Another day we visited Cat Ba Island and explored the Trung Trang Cave before returning to the ship.
One thing I loved about the two-night itinerary was that it felt far less rushed than many of the one-night cruises.
There was plenty of time to simply relax on deck and enjoy the scenery. If you don’t have time for 2 nights, one night is also enough to still get the full experience.
Day 4: Hanoi to Da Nang
After departing the Peony Cruise, things got hectic.
We immediately transferred back to Hanoi and then rushed to get a taxi straight to the airport for our evening flight to Da Nang.
After checking into our Airbnb near My Khe Beach, we quickly headed to Dragon Bridge.
We barely made it. Traffic was so bad that we eventually jumped out of our taxi and started running toward the bridge.
Thankfully, we arrived just in time. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM, Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water while lighting up the skyline. The show lasts for about 15 minutes. Don’t stand too close to the head of the dragon if you don’t want to get soaked!
It was one of the coolest free attractions we saw in Vietnam.
Afterward, we explored the nearby Son Tra Night Market, which occurs every night from around 530pm to 1030pm, before heading back to the Airbnb.
Day 5: Coconut Boats & Hoi An Ancient Town
This was a fun day trip to Hoi An from Da Nang which is about a 45 minute drive.
After breakfast at Esco Beach Bar Lounge in My Khe Beach, we headed toward Hoi An.
First stop: The Famous Coconut Boats.
- Each of us had our own round bamboo basket boat while local guides paddled us through the coconut forest.
- What surprised me most was how fun and lively it was.
- Music blasted from speakers, boats spun in circles, people danced, and the entire experience felt like one giant floating party.
- We spent around 1.5 hours here
Afterward, we explored Hoi An Ancient Town.
- With colorful lanterns, yellow colonial buildings, riverside cafes, and narrow streets it was a very lively part of town.
- We walked around and then ate dinner at a restaurant with views of the canal.
- Unfortunately, this day also included one of the biggest travel fails of our trip. While flying our drone over the lantern-filled canal, the battery died. The drone crash-landed on a pedestrian bridge. By the time we ran over, it had disappeared. I was so bummed out, RIP drone.
- The worst part about this, we didn’t upload any of the footage yet so it was all lost.
- If you happened to have found a drone on March 27th, you can keep the drone and just send me the SD card! lol (worth a shot)
- We then headed back to the Airbnb in Da Nang.
Day 6: Golden Bridge & Ba Na Hills
Another egg coffee was mandatory before heading out for the day.
We spent the day exploring Sun World Ba Na Hills, one of Vietnam’s most famous attractions.
The main attraction is the famous Golden Bridge, held up by two giant stone hands. Unfortunately for us it was very foggy while we were there but the huge hand still looked cool in the mist.
Beyond the bridge, the complex includes:
- Cable cars
- Gardens
- Restaurants
- European-inspired architecture
- Entertainment areas
- Alpine coaster
- Rides
Even though it’s very touristy, it was worth visiting.
That evening we grabbed dinner at Pizza 4P’s before ending the night with drinks overlooking the city at Sky 21 Bar and Bistro back in My Khe Beach.
Day 7: A 12-Hour Adventure in Ho Chi Minh City
Our flight landed around 11 AM, and our Tokyo flight wasn’t until 11pm. That gave us roughly 12 hours to explore so we decided to take advantage of this time.
After grabbing a cheap hotel room to store luggage and recharge for a bit, we headed out.
Lunch at Nha Hang Ngon
This charming restaurant was covered in flowers and offered a great introduction to southern Vietnamese cuisine.
The Café Apartment
One of Ho Chi Minh City’s most unique attractions.
A former apartment building has been transformed into multiple levels of:
- Cafes
- Boutiques
- Co-working spaces
The Gangs Beer Garden
This ended up being the perfect way to end Vietnam.
Around 8 PM, the venue transformed from casual beer garden into a full-on party.
People were dancing on tables, singing, cheering beers, and having an absolute blast.
Since our friend knew locals in Ho Chi Minh City, we ended up with a large group and had one of the most fun nights of the trip.
The only problem? We almost missed our flight. By 9:45 PM, we finally realized we needed to leave for our 11:20 PM international departure.
Somehow, despite the chaos, we made it.
7 Nights in Vietnam Overall
While I could have easily spent several weeks exploring Vietnam, I was surprised by how much we experienced in just seven nights.
We explored:
- Historic Hanoi
- Scenic Ninh Binh
- Ha Long Bay
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
- Ba Na Hills
- Ho Chi Minh City
From sipping egg coffee in Hanoi and cruising through Ha Long Bay to riding coconut boats in Hoi An and dancing on tables in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam delivered some of the most memorable moments of our entire five-week Asia adventure.
If you’re planning a Southeast Asia trip and debating whether Vietnam is worth adding to your itinerary, my answer is absolutely yes. The scenery is stunning, the food is incredible, the people are welcoming, and it’s one of the best-value destinations we’ve ever visited.
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