Vietnam Dream Vacation: Plan Like a Pro
Things to Keep in mind:
Vietnam has so much to offer, it can be overwhelming to try and cover everything in one visit.
You need at least 2 weeks to touch (North, Central and South Vietnam) and cover all the major highlights.
If this is your first visit, and you only have 7 days, I would highly recommend you pick North and Central Vietnam to make the most of your experience.
Interesting fact: Vietnam, with its distinctive S-shaped geography, is reflected in the map on the right side of this guide. As you follow my pins, you'll traverse the country's most remarkable destinations, and it's quite a fun coincidence that they also form an "S" shape themselves.
Getting Started Process
Flights (For Indian Travellers)
It's best to book your roundtrip tickets directly from the Vietjet website for the best prices & offers. They almost always have discount offers running(Diwali would be upcoming), and the round trip price during discounts comes down to Rs 15-18k for the off-season. On average, the roundtrip prices from Delhi are Rs 20 - 22k INR.
Another important thing to keep in mind if you are booking directly with Vietjet is to make sure you are entering your name in the correct order, it's your Family/Last name in the first field followed by your first name in the second field. I met a lot of people who filled the opposite and had to pay name change fees at the airport.
One important thing to note when booking with Vietjet is that they are a low-cost airline, and hence, only 7 kg of cabin baggage is allowed. If you need to carry more luggage, it's cheaper to book it in advance through their website (around 2k for 20 kgs).
Visa Process
The visa application process is straightforward and can be completed entirely online via the official website using this link. The cost of the visa is $25 (as of today). Only apply for the visa through this official website.
The official website says that the visa will be processed in 3 days but that is not correct as it might actually take upto 7 days. I would recommend you to apply at least 10 days prior to your actual travel date for a hassle-free experience.
Another mistake that I have seen a lot of people make is the intended date of entry on the e-visa form, always make sure you put the intended date of entry as at least 1 or 2 days prior to your actual entry date into Vietnam. We were leaving from Delhi on the 16th of March, so I had put the 14th of March as my intended date of entry)
Please only use credit cards with international transactions enabled for your payments on both the Visa and Vietjet website.
By following these tips, you'll be able to book your Vietnam trip with ease and avoid any last-minute problems or extra charges.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is not mandatory for Vietnam Visa, but I still insist on always having travel insurance when travelling abroad.
It doesn't cost much and covers everything from hospitalization, flight cancellation to baggage loss, which is completely worth the amount to save you from experiencing any travel anxiety!
For Indian Travellers - I got the Tata AIG travel insurance from Make My Trip for just Rs 450 per person for my 9 days of travel to Vietnam.
7-Day Vietnam Itinerary
Day 1: Fly in Ha Noi
Like most people, you would fly into Vietnam through its very capital - the awesome city of Hanoi, the city that changes colors by the dawn and where you can get the most amazing coconut and egg coffees!
Hanoi - the beautiful Capital:
Most people don’t know this but Hanoi is one of the best places to explore and immerse in the culture of Vietnam. If this is your first time in Vietnam, I would encourage you to book your first-night stay in the Old Quarters to get the city's vibe.
Few of my recommendations are:
Everyone on the staff was super friendly, they even offered us complimentary welcome tea and snacks on arrival.
The balconies are super tiny with huge white curtains giving you a very European vibe.
Other Stay Options:
Most flights from India arrive very early morning and the check-in is not until 12 - 2 pm, you can request early check-in, although in my experience it was chargeable and very expensive to do so I skipped it.
All Hotels and Hostels have luggage storage, so you can keep your luggage and go for a stroll around the Old Quarters.
Spend your day visiting old quarters, the famous Ha Noi Train Street, getting coconut coffee, some Banh Mi, and a slow walk beside Hoan Kiem Lake.
Things to do:
- Start your first day in the Vietnamese capital by taking a stroll through the city and going to Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Take a walk and some pictures on the gorgeous red bridge between the sacred Buddhist Ngoc Son Temple and the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of Hanoi. The bridge has the best side view. The entry ticket is just 30k VND per person.
- It's time for coffee, there are so many great coffee places in Ha Noi but a must visit is the Note Coffe.
Best Place for Banh Mi:
Banh Mi is vietnamese sandwich, made of short baguette with thin, crisp crust and a soft, airy texture and stuffing.
Best Places to see the sunset:
The best time to enjoy the train street is early morning or evening (check train timings with locals). I did not enjoy the train street much, it is just a place to get good photographs, so if you do not actively enjoy clicking photographs, feel free to miss it.
Best Dinner Place:
After Dinner, I highly recommend taking a walk along the Hoan Kiem Lake to experience the culture of the city. The whole city comes alive at night and people come out to drink beer (called Bia Hoi) - sitting over very small chairs, there are people playing music and dancing as well.
If you are a party person, you can go to Bier Street afterward (Here, you can either go to a bar or sit with local people drinking beer)- From my experience, I would also recommend avoiding eating roadside while on this street as the food does not feel hygienic enough and might make you sick.
Day 2: Ha Noi - Da Nang
Take an overnight bus or an early morning flight to the coastal town of Da Nang, and spend your day visiting some of the best-ever beaches and watching the Dragon Fire Show at the end of your day.
Best Beaches in Da Nang are:
- Non Nuoc Beach
- My Khe Beach
- Da Nang is just 30 minutes from Hoi An, so I would highly recommend booking your stay in Hoi An only. You can do a day visit to Da Nang.
- You can rent Scooters to move around, they cost just Rs 450 - 500 or $5-6 per day, although be aware that the Indian or International driving license is not valid in Vietnam and if you get caught - you will have to pay the fine. But I did not see this happening at all, we were able to comfortably use scooters to move around the city.
Day 3 : Da Nang - Hoi An
Just 30 minutes from Da Nang is the old lantern city of Hoi An, which was definitely one of my favorite cities to visit. Spend your day by cycling to the coconut Village, driving through the rice fields in between, and end your day by taking a Lantern Boat Ride.
If this is your first time here, I would recommend staying close to the main market as that is where most attractions are, here is a place I've personally stayed at and loved!
Start early morning on your cycle or rented scooter and head to the rice fields first, and then head for the Coconut village below
Coming back, have brunch at Rosie's Cafe with yummy coffee and food.
For the evening, go to the Hoi An Market - take cycles only - as vehicles are not allowed inside the market. There is a small parking outside in case the market is far from your place of stay.
End your day with a Lantern Boat Ride - do the ride between 6:30 - 7:30 PM Vietnamese time for the best experience.
Day 4: Ba Na Hills -> Ha Noi
Start your day early morning to have the place to yourself since it's a popular spot and seems to get really crowded.
Pro- tip : Buy the tickets from Klook, without lunch option to avoid the long queues at the entry.
Here is how you want to go about your day at Ba Na Hill:
- Start with the beautiful golden bridge first thing as it gets the most crowded.
- Enter the french village and don't forget to try the self drive roller coaster (it is one of the most fun things to do)!
Take a night bus or evening flight back to Ha Noi
Spend the night in Ha Noi and get a good rest before leaving for Lan Ha Bay the next day!
Day 5: Ha Noi - Lan Ha Bay
Embark on an overnight cruise in Lan Ha Bay to discover a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is famous for its stunning limestone mountains rising up from emerald waters that formed from thousand years ago.
- Ha Long Bay has become very overcrowded, so you can instead take an overnight cruise of Lan Ha Bay, it's cleaner and a more beautiful experience if you have more days - you can extend your visit to Cat Ba Island as well but a 2-day 1-night cruise is great for a 5-7 day Vietnam visit.
- Pick a 5-star cruise, the prices are not much over the 4-star cruises but the experience is so much better. There are a lot of options, but I have personally tried the Dora Cruise. (You can check images here) - but I can help you make a reservation at a lower price through my local contact here. (Please reach out through email to avail the same).
- It's best to get their pick-up service as well, they offer pickup through great limousine buses. I found a local vendor who offered this transport service for a much cheaper price though.
Some other good 5 star cruise options are:
Day 6: Ha Long Bay - Ninh Binh
Spend your last day in Vietnam in this quaint town, best for slow travel in Vietnam, chill by the Tam Coc Lake and enjoy Karaoke Buses at Night!
Take a luxury bus directly from Ha Long to your stay in Ninh Binh, this costs around $17 per person for a (2.5 - 3 hour ride)
Check-in and rest up, the best play to stay here is:
The sunset view from this property is dreamy and the breakfast is good too. The swimming pool and farm are other great additions to the place.
If you want something more budget friendly, then here is your option:
If you want to stay at a hostel and meet other travellers, the best one is:
Day 7: Ninh Bing - Ha Noi Airport
Start your day with an early morning hike to Mua Caves, if you can - I absolutely absolutely recommend watching the sunrise from here. The view is spectacular.
It's almost 500 steps but totally worth it!
After coming back, fill yourself up with some good breakfast and head to taking a 3-hour long boat ride at Trang An, it's an absolute wonder.
After the long relaxing boat ride, it's time to pack your bags and get ready to leave, take a taxi directly to Ha Noi Airport, and say goodbye to Vietnam.
If you have more than 7 days in Vietnam, you can consider covering taking the below adventures & visiting some of these places:
North Vietnam:
- Ha Giang Loop (3-5 days)
Central Vietnam:
You can do the Elephant cave trek here with @junglebosstours, it is an epic experience and costs around $85-100 with pick up and drop included and I highly recommend doing this adventure with them.
South Vietnam:
Farther South:
Nitty Gritty:
- The last quick stroll before you land in Vietnam is that you want to have your Google Translate app downloaded offline, even after being a major tourist destination now - not a lot of people in Vietnam understand English, but they are very comfortable with using Google Translate.
- Getting sim cards is easy, airport prices are expensive - you can ask the hotel staff to keep them ready for your arrival (Add prices and major sim card names)
- You would also want to book your airport taxi in advance because you wouldn't have internet access to book an Uber and the taxis at the airport charge heftily. You can have your hotel arrange one or email me at travelwithritika10@gmail.com and I will get you in touch with a local vendor there who offers very discounted prices. (P.S. - I will also help you bargain to ensure you are getting the best prices on everything)
- Another option is if you want to get that local experience - you can always take bus number 86 from the airport that goes to the Old Quarter.
- Cash is King in Vietnam. You can carry the Niyo Global debit card or other international debit cards and withdraw cash in Ha Noi or if you want to carry cash, the easiest currency to exchange is USD, I will also help you with the right local place that will give you the best exchange rates in Hanoi.
A quick note: If you choose to book hotels using my guide, please consider making your reservations through my provided links by clicking on the "Check Prices" button. This way, I earn a small commission for my work without any additional cost to you. If you come across other accommodations you'd like to stay at, feel free to let me know, and I can review them and add them to my guide for you to book through my links as well.
Thank you for getting my Vietnam guide, I am committed to ensuring it delivers value to you, so if you have any questions need more information, or just have some feedback - feel free to reach out to me through email at:
Please note, that I continuously update this guide with relevant information as I acquire it.
If you're looking to personalise your Vietnam journey, you can take advantage of my custom Itinerary service, available through the services page. This ensures that you'll have the most exceptional and stress-free experience during your Vietnam trip.
Together, we can explore various aspects of your trip, such as:
- Tailoring your itinerary to the best destinations that match your unique travel style and preferences.
- Deciding the ideal duration for your stay at each location.
- Discovering the finest dining establishments that cater to your specific meal preferences.
Have more questions or need further guidance? Don't hesitate to reach out, and I'll be delighted to assist you in creating a memorable Vietnam adventure.
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