Your route, north to south
Vietnam is long and thin. These five stops run from the north of the country to the south.
- North
Hanoi, Sapa & Ninh Binh
Vietnam's capital, in the north: old streets, museums and street food. Ninh Binh (about 2.5 hrs) and Sapa's mountains (about 5.5 hrs) are trips from here.
Fly in: Hanoi (HAN)
- North coast
Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba
The famous bay of limestone islands, 2.5–3 hours by road from Hanoi. Take a day or overnight cruise, or stay on Cat Ba Island, a ferry ride away.
From Hanoi: 2.5–3 hrs by road
- Central
Da Nang & Hoi An
Central Vietnam's beach city, Da Nang, and the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An close by. Home to the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills and the Marble Mountains.
From Ha Long Bay: back through Hanoi, then fly to Da Nang (DAD)
- South-central coast
Nha Trang
Vietnam's main beach-resort city on the south-central coast: island boat trips, diving, mud baths and a big theme park. About an hour by air from Da Nang.
From Da Nang: about 1 hr by air to Nha Trang (CXR)
- South
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Vietnam's biggest city, still called Saigon by many: markets, the War Remnants Museum and street-food alleys. About an hour by air from Nha Trang.
From Nha Trang: about 1 hr by air to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)