For a backpacker, a 10 day in Vietnam itinerary can cover so much history, culture, and unforgettable sights.
With 10 days in Vietnam, you can visit a number of cities and towns that give a taste of this credibly diverse and vibrant Southeast Asian gem.
You don’t have to spend long in Vietnam to see some beautiful sights and meet genuine people. There’s a reason why Vietnam is high on a lot of backpackers bucket list – there are endless things to do and see, its budget-friendly, there’s tasty cuisine and being such a friendly country to explore, there’s really no reason why Vietnam shouldn’t be your next adventure.
So, let’s get into ten days in Vietnam!
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10 days in Vietnam itinerary – Who is this for
First of all, who is the 10 days in Vietnam itinerary for?
- If your a budget traveler, looking to fit a lot into only ten days in Vietnam, this post is for you.
- If you’re looking at getting a mix of all aspects of Vietnam, sights, culture, history, with a little adventure thrown in, this post is for you.
- If you’re just looking for some inspiration on what to see in Vietnam, this post is for you.
If you have more than 10 days in Vietnam, you can add (or replace) things easily. At the bottom of this post, I have included some extra things to do in Vietnam – if a destination or activity sounds more for you, go ahead and change it out.
I’d love to hear how you changed this itinerary out to better suit your style of travel – leave me a comment at the bottom of this post.
Beginning your 10 day travel plan in Vietnam
We begin this 10 day adventure in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a common international hub and many flights connect through there – meaning it’s a decent chance this is the city you’ll fly into.
You can check for cheap flights to Vietnam at Momondo and Skyscanner.
This 10 day travel route through Vietnam begins in the south of the country – Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi in the north.
It would be easy to reverse this 10 day Vietnam travel itinerary and go from north to south. If you’re crossing the land border from Laos into Vietnam, then this would be a great option.
Day 1 to 2 – 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City is one of Vietnam’s most important cities – both financially and culturally. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) got its name after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 – named after Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s first communist party leader.
The city had been known as Saigon since French rule in 1862. It’s one of Asia’s busiest city’s – you will have to get good at crossing the road in a sea of motorbikes.
Day 1
Depending on what time you arrive in Vietnam, your first day might now allow for too much free time. If you’re flying international to Ho Chi Minh, jetlag can be a real pain, but if you want to push through, 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City is a good amount of time.
Independence Palace or Reunification Palace
Entrance Fee – 40,000 VND ($2 USD)
One of Ho Chi Minh’s most famous buildings, Reunification Palace was the home base of General Ngo Dinh Diem until his death in 1963. It wasn’t until 1975 that this palace in Saigon made international headlines.
Crashing through the front gate of the Palace, a North Vietnamese Tank signaled the end of the Vietnamese War. Taking a tour through this well-preserved building is a great way to start your 2-day itinerary in Ho Chi Minh City.
There is plenty to see in the 5 levels throughout the Palace. From a command bunker, war room, telecommunications room and secret tunnels, the massive Saigon Palace is one of those memorable sights in HCMC.
Make sure to visit the tank that crashed through the gate – it’s on display it the front of the Palace.
The Independence Palace if Saigo is open 7:30am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm. There are free guided tours of the Palace in English.\
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Free to enter
A beautiful French colonial cathedral, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon was built between 1863 and 1880 and is a unique sight around the chaotic streets of HCMC in Vietnam.
Located in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the much longer, official name Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception, stands at 58 meters tall to the tip of its two blocks towers.
The opening hours of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh is from 6am to 8pm.
War Remnants Museum
20,000 VND – ($1 USD)
Ho Chi Minh City played a historical role in the Vietnam War, and the War Remnants Museum is a must visit for those looking to learn more about the history of the city.
Holding historical articles from the Vietnam Way (1955 to 1975) and the First Indochina War (1946 to 1954) and is great for a history buff.
As with many museums, you can almost taste the propaganda in some articles on display, but it is an interesting and informative look into two very bloody and brutal wars that shaped Vietnam as we know it today.
Apart from posters and artifacts used during those times, there’s a range of military vehicles in the open-air style section of the War Remnants Museum. It’s a must visit for those interested in the history of the city when spending 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh’s War Remnants Museum is open from 7:30am to 6pm, every day of the week.
Ben Thanh Market
Entrance is free
Interested in local souvenirs in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a range of other goods motherhood trinkets? From bamboo handicrafts to barbecued fish – there’s something for every traveler at Ben Thanh Market.
The busy Ho Chi Minh City Ben Thanh Market is pretty much a one-stop shop. The market is best for shopping in the early hours of the morning when it is less crowded and the heat isn’t as severe. This is also a great place to try local foods for dinner – as around 20 restaurants serve tasty meals.
Ben Thanh Market is open 7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm. While some goods are negotiable, others are at a fixed price and the seller won’t budge.
Day 2
For today, I suggest getting out of the bustling city for a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. I did two-day trips, Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
They are both quite touristic tours, but they are very budget-friendly and allows you to see Vietnam with a knowledgeable guide.
Both these tours take up pretty much a full day, but you’ll have the evening to explore the lights of Ho Chi Minh, or explore any sights you missed out on from the first day in Vietnam.o
Cu Chi Tunnels
From 330,000 VND ($14 USD) online
The Cu Chi Tunnels is a popular tourist spot to learn mostly about the Vietnam War, heavily from a Vietnamese perspective.
Cu Chi Tunnels is part of an extensive network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong throughout the war.
Bot only is there plenty of displays showing how survived underground during the war, you can also fire a range of weapons at the Cu Chi Tunnel firing range.
You can book a Cu Chi Tunnel tour in advance, or read more about the vast network of tunnels in Vietnam.
Mekong Delta Day Tour
From 430,000 VND ($19 USD) online
Exploring the Mekong Delta is another popular day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll explore sights around this network of rivers and even have a memorable ride on a long tail boat (be prepared to tip the boat driver).
You’ll end up visiting some pretty unique attractions, such as a local sweet factory and honey bee facility.
While you can’t escape the hordes of tourists on a day-trip, it is an interesting time if you have another day in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you’d rather a less touristic adventure to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, there are overnight tours available.
Alternatively, if you like the sound of both, you can squeeze both trips into the one day. This Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnel tours last around 11 hours. It’s a long day filled with plenty of sights and things to do.
How to travel from Ho Chin Minh to Hoi An
Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An is pretty simple. The quickest way is to fly to Da Nang and take a bus or a taxi from there.
A flight takes just under 90 minutes and then another hour for the bus/taxi journey from Da Nang to Hoi An.
For around 500,000 Vietnamese Dong ($21 USD) you can take a direct bus, either through the day or overnight to Hoi An.
Day 3 to 4 – 2 days in Hoi An itinerary
An old port town in Central Vietnam that is known for its history. A well preserved UNESCO Heritage town that’s known for its iconic Japanese Bridge, lantern festival and ancient streets.
Cooking classes, tailored suits with fruit on them, the “best banh mi” in the world and a picturesque town wait for you at the town of Hoi An.
If you’re lucky enough to visit Hoi An on a full-motion, make sure to get out along the riverside and experience the full moon lantern festival.
There are plenty of great tours from Hoi An if you’re looking to spend a little more time taking in what the old port town has to offer.
If you’re looking at tailored fruit suits, or fitted dresses, I suggest getting measured as soon as possible – sometimes it takes a little longer to make the clothes than you would think.
Day 3
Depending on how to get to Hoi An, you may have a little less time to explore this ancient port, so the first day is a little relaxed. Feel free to change the order of things below (the 5 ticket pass can be brought and done whenever you have the spare time).
You can create a pretty solid travel itinerary of Hoi An in 2 days, but this small town has a lot more to offer if you have a little extra time to spare.
Free bike tour of Hoi An
Free tour, but tips are not included
I love free walking tours – it’s a budget-friendly way of exploring a city/town with a knowledgeable local – you get to ask plenty of questions and get a totally new perspective of a destination.
Hoi An is a little different. There was no walking tour when I visited. But there was a free bike tour of Hoi An. Exact same concept, except you’re peddling.
The tour was through FreeTourHoiAn and begins from downtown. You’ll cross the Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Carpentry Village and see how locals create plenty of items – from handheld fans to wooden boats.
You’ll explore the neighborhood around the village, from straw mat makers, to rice cracker creations and temples – you’ll get a feel for rural life around Hoi An and Vietnam as well.
While this tour doesn’t cost to go on, tips for each place you visited are expected, and your guide, who is likely a university student, is well worth a few dollars for their time.
Explore the Hoi An Old Town with the 5-pass ticket
120,000 VND for 5 tickets
This is a great way to see the sights around Hoi An and help provide funding that goes into keeping Hoi An as picturesque and well preserved as you see it today.
With this booklet of tickets, you get to choose 5 sights around the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Hoi An – so you only see what you want to.
The range of things to see is huge. Intricate temples and pagodas, to ornate historical houses. It even gets you entrance to the iconic Japanese Bridge of Hoi An.
For 120,000 Vietnamese Dong (VND), or $5 USD, you get a multi-pass into 5 different attractions. While technically, buying this ticket is mandatory to even enter the Old Town of Hoi An, it is only really enforced when you try and enter a historical site.
You buy these ticket books from one of 11 specific ticket stalls around Hoi An, and decide when and where you want to visit. These ticket sites are typically open from 8am to 5pm daily.
Day 4
This second day in Hoi An begins by leaving the streets to ancient ruins and ends with some delicious food and a lively walk through the narrow streets.
My Son Ruins
150,000 VND ($6.50 USD)
Created by Champa Kings between the 4th and 14th Century, My Son Ruins is a collection of partially destroyed Hindu Temples.
During the peak of the area, over 70 buildings were in the area and were the location of numerous religious ceremonies.
My Son was also an important site, as Champa Kings and national heroes were buried here throughout the centuries.
Being only 42km West of Hoi An, the temple complex is a perfect day trip out of the small town. I recommend taking a tour to My Son, as you’ll lose out on a lot of information just by walking the ruins yourself.
Also, watch out for the giant craters that were caused by bombs during the Vietnam War, causing massive damage to these ancient temples.
If you’d like to go yourself, the entrance fee is 150,000 VND, this includes entrance to the ruins and electric shuttle car from the welcome center. You can visit the ruins from 6:30am to 5:30pm.
Cooking Class in Hoi An
Prices vary – try to book at your hostel for the best price, or check online.
Hoi An is well known for its cuisine – definitely look out for the “worlds best Banh Mi” takeaway shop!
With all these fresh ingredients, it’s no wonder cooking classes are so popular in this old town.
As you explore the streets, you’ll notice plenty of restaurants offering cooking classes, and if you’re into making some delicious food for yourself, even if you’re a total beginner (like I am), it’s easy to make something truly delicious.
I booked the cooking class with Tra Que Garden Resturant through my hostels Paddys Hostel. It was incredible from start to finish. Delicious and enjoyable experience, even for someone with zero background in food or cooking.
Explore the night market of Hoi An
Free to explore
If you’re looking for something to remember this ancient city by, I highly suggest visiting the night market in Hoi An. There is so much on offer – from trinkets, woodworks, posters and the iconic lanterns of Hoi An.
While they are a little more expensive than some souvenirs, a colorful lantern is a perfect way to remember Hoi An. But there is plenty of options.
You can beat the lively atmosphere as well. It’s like the whole town comes out for the social experience. It’s one of Hoi An’s amazing sights.
Also, don’t miss the river at night time – another beautiful sight of this ancient port.
Day 5 – Exploring the Hai Van Pass – Hoi An to Da Nang
One of Vietnam’s most scenic roads – the Hai Van Pass is a popular attraction for tourists to visit and with good reason. The views are stunning.
Bike tours between Hoi An and Hue are common m, as are private cars. Not only is this a great way to travel through Vietnam, but you also get to see plenty of attractions along the way – like the Marble Mountains.
Whatever way you choose to explore the Hai Van Pass, you’ll be treated to sweeping vistas of lush jungle and golden beaches – there are some incredible views, which makes this a fantastic part of 10 days in Vietnam travel itinerary.
You can definitely catch a private tour from Hoi An to Da Nang and see some great sights along the way.
You can also explore different ways to get from Hoi An to Hue in central Vietnam.
Getting from Da Nang to Hue
The 90 kilometers separating Hue and Da Nang takes roughly 2 hours by car. The reason why this short stretch takes so long is you’re traveling through some mountainous areas, with windy roads.
You can book a sightseeing tour from Da Nang to Hue or book a bus ticket here.
Flights from Da Nang to Hue don’t really save much time and cost quite a lot more. There are no direct flights from Da Nang to Hue, you have to stop over in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City – so flying isn’t a great choice for this leg of the journey.
Day 6 – 1 day in Hue
Once the nationals capital city (1802 to 1945), Hue is often overlooked by travelers heading to/from Hoi An.
Hue was once the home of the Emporer, the Forbidden Purple City, along with the Đại Nội Citadel, there’s plenty to see inside the city. By venturing out, you can visit historical places such as Ming Manh Tombs, or explore the abandoned water theme park Ho Thuy Tien.
Forbidden Purple City
~$7 USD donation to enter
Construction of Hue began in 1804 and only from roughly 160 structures, a handful of buildings have survived the numerous conflicts Hue has seen in its history.
This massive complex was once the personal grounds of the Emporer and with a huge 10km wall and most, it’s a beautiful sight to see and wonder what it may have looked like in its prime.
There are multiple citadels inside these walls – it’s a pretty cool place to visit.
Hue’s Purple Forbidden City, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, is open from 8:30am to 5pm.
Ho Thuy Tien
Supposed to be free, but there may be a local charging a few dollars to get in at the gate
This is one of those obscure places to visit in Hue. It’s an abandoned water park, with a giant, graffiti-ridden, intricate dragon, perched at one end of the lake.
Apart from the menacing dragon, there’s plenty to explore in the overgrown pathways around the theme park of Hue.
An auditorium, water slides into an algae infested pool, glass tanks that once held crocodiles and – perhaps the strangest of all – a space simulator the size of a minivan. All while cows roam the fields.
Ho Thuy Tien is around 15 minutes out of Hue. It’s best to hire a motorbike and drive the chaotic streets, but you can always hire a taxi to get you out there.
Minh Mang Tombs
110,000 VND ($5 USD) entrance fee
Ming Manh Tombs is a short 15 minute drive from Ho Thuy Tien, and is one of the city’s memorable tombs. It is well preserved and it is much quieter than easier reached Tombs around the area.
It shouldn’t take more than an hour to walk the open fields and beautiful buildings around Ming Manh Tombs.
Holding the body of Emporer Minh Mang, who ruled from 1820 to 1840, a number of monuments and buildings stand today to be explored.
For details information, you can also take a guided tour to Minh Manh Tombs. You can’t beat the information from a tour guide – who will bring the stories to life.
Getting from Hue to Cat Ba Island
Getting from Hue to Cat Ba can be a little time consuming and expensive. There are multiple ways to get from Hue to Cat Ba Island in Vietnam.
- The fastest way to get from Hue to Cat Ba is flying. There are two options for the most direct flight, either Hai Phong or Van Don Airport. Neither of these airports have direct flights from Hue at the time of writing and take 5+ hours.
Hai Phong Airport seems to be the most reliable for availability and prices. The next step is booking your ferry ticket to Cat Ba Island.
Another flight option is from Hue to Hanoi – and take a bus and ferry combo to Cat Ba.
Alternatively, you can book a combination ticket Hue to Cat Ba, which consists of an overnight bus to Hanoi, shuttle bus to ferry terminal and the ferry itself to Cat Ba Island. It’s by far the cheapest option, but it does take a little longer than flying.
Day 7 to 8 – 2 days in Cat Ba Island/Lan Ha Bay
Nestles in the southeastern corner of Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island is the largest of 367 Islands in the Cat Ba Archipelago.
While many tourists flock to the bigger brother, Ha Long Bay, just around the corner, Lan Ha Bay is a quieter and cheaper alternative with a quieter setting, getting closer to the dramatic peaks is easy.
By spending 2 days on Cat Ba Island, you can explore the majestic sights around the area.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most visited attractions. Those towering and abrupt karats sticking out of bright green and aqua waters. It’s honestly unforgettable.
Part of my favorite activities in Vietnam was the area around Cat Ba Island, but instead of Ha Long Bay, I visited Lan Ha Bay. While the company I went with (Asia Outdoors) is no longer in business, there are plenty of great tours around Cat Ba Island.
While Ha Long Bay is seen as the “must-visit destination” in Vietnam, Lan Ha Bay is every bit as beautiful and much less busy.
Getting from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi
Getting from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi is pretty easily done. You’ll take a ferry from the Island to the mainland, and then a bus to Hanoi.
From Cai Vieng Port on Cat Ba Island, it’s a 10 minute speedboat ride, or a 45 minute ferry, usually to Binh Port in Hai Phong.
From here, expect a 2 hour bus ride to downtown Hanoi. All up, the trip is said to take 3.5 hours to get from Cat Ba to Hanoi.
There are multiple companies offering combination tickets from Cat Ba to Hanoi (linked in the section above) and they cost around 370,000 VND ($16USD) and run multiple times a day.
Day 9 to 10 – 2 days in Hanoi
The current capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is one of those places that hold a place in my favorite cities around the world. It’s chaotic, it’s got so much history, temples, unforgettable sights, and the famous egg coffee.
Hanoi is a commonplace to start or end your travels in Vietnam. The busy capital is also a transport hub to get to many other places around Vietnam, such as Ha Long Bay, SaPa or south towards Hoi An. This makes it a popular stop, even if it’s just to catch the next transport out – but you’ll want to spend some time exploring its narrow and colorful streets.
Hoa Lo Prison Memorial – “Hanoi Hilton”
30,000 VND ($1.30 USD)
Hoa Lo Prison, affectionately nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton” by American pilot prisoner of war (or POWs), is one of Hanoi’s most well known historical sites in the city and even through Vietnam.
Built between 1886 to 1901, back when Vietnam was a part of French Indochina, it was constructed as a prison. While only a fraction remains today as a museum, it’s a sobering history lesson.
A French guillotine is on display used to behead Vietnam revolutionaries and used as a U.S. pilot prison during the Vietnam War, the walls have a lot of dark but it’s an important lesson for travelers.
A word of warning, the information can be a bit one-sided, so take what you read with a grain of salt and know it’s coming from the other side of the coin.
You can visit Hoa Lo Prison Memorial from 8am to 5pm, 7 days a week.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Free to walk around
One of the most scenic, family-friendly and picturesque places in all of Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake, especially at night.
While the lake itself is a beautiful sight, two main attractions can be seen – Thap Rua and Ngoc Son Temple.
Thap Rua, or Turtle Tower, was constructed in 1886 on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake, and is dedicated to a national hero, Le Loi, who freed Vietnam from Chinese forces back in 1425. Thap Rua is lit up beautifully every night – make sure you have a stroll around the quiet lake.
Ngoc Son Temple is a beautiful sight, with its bright red bridge. You can see a display of a turtle that used to call Hoan Kiem Lake home. Opening hours of this temple are 8am to 6pm.
Some say turtles still live in the lake – but I didn’t see any.
Hanoi Free Walking Tour
Free, but tips are not included
I love free walking tours – you learn so much about a new destination. The stories and facts that you’d be hard-pressed to learn anywhere else. They are also budget-friendly.
So if you’re into exploring Hanoi with a local, you can check out the free walking tour of Hanoi here.
For a short run down, you’ll see a few temples and a cathedral. You’ll also learn the full folklore story behind Rap Thua and Hoan Kiem Lake – the one with that describes Le Loi received a sword from a turtle in the lake – and used that to fend off the Chinese army.
There are also statues of national heroes and the ancient gates that used to protect the city from invaders.
Honestly, if you’re looking to learn more about Hanoi, the free walking tour is perfect! You can learn a lot more at the link above.
If you’d rather a more private walking tour of Hanoi, they are as cheap as nearly free but they are still a great way to explore Vietnam’s capital city.
Water Puppet Theatre
100,000 VND and above – An extra charge if you wish to film the show
Dating back to the 11th Century, this form of art originated in northern Vietnam. Today, it’s a popular attraction and Hanoi has one of the best eatery puppet theatres in the nation.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi is the stage of an enjoyable hour long show. Even if you don’t understand a word of Vietnamese, this Performance is one that will amuse and entertain.
You can purchase a ticket at the theater itself, near Hoan Kiem Lake, or you can book online ahead of time to reserve your seat and skip any of the lines.
West Lake
Free to explore
The largest freshwater lake in the city of Hanoi, West Lake is a beautiful acre for a quiet stroll around the 17km kilometer of shoreline.
You can cycle this beautiful oasis inside the city by rented bike from a number of shops along the east shore of the lake.
Apart from beautiful scenery, the area is home to clubs, hotels and restaurants (lots of seafood). And walking at night, with the illuminated city is just as gorgeous as the sun-filed surface of the lake.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
30,000 VND ($1.30 USD)
With artifacts dating as early as the 4th Century, Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a great stop for those looking for an insight into ancient times of Hanoi.
Excavated in 2004, the Imperial Citadel of Hanoi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. On top of structures, wells and pond, ceramics and pottery from China is on display.
Opening times are 8am to 5pm, and open every day, except for Monday.
How to travel around Vietnam
There are a number of ways to travel around Vietnam. Usually, the quicker a transport is, the more expensive it will be.
- Flights in Vietnam are extremely budget-friendly and connect the country well, making it a great option to see a lot in 10 days in Vietnam.
- Overnight buses/trains are other budget-friendly options for travel in Vietnam. This overnight train or bus also acts as your accommodation (providing you can have a decent sleep) and saves a day in travel. It’s one of my favorite ways to travel.
- Lots of shorter buses, trains and ferries have a variety of options. You can check out some of the routes available to book online through two great online portals – 12go.asia and bookaway.com.
Do you have longer than 10 days in Vietnam – extra things to do
Whether you have longer than 10 days in Vietnam or would rather substitute a city mentioned above for a destination/activity below, it’s pretty easy to add or swap out.
Because planning an itinerary for Vietnam is usually North or south, you can swap out, or add places along the way very easily.
Below are some unforgettable experiences in Vietnam that I simply couldn’t jam into the 10 day journey.
Feel free to let me know what you think about these add ons in the comments below.
Phong Nha – Trekking Phong Nha National Park
4 hours/250km north of Hue and 9hours/500km south of Hanoi
If you’re looking to explore caves and sections of the Ho Chi Minh Trail – trekking Phong Nha is what you’re looking for.
Home to dense jungle and narrow, challenging trails, a guided tour is needed as the threat of UXO(unexploded ordnance) is still a threat from the Vietnam War that ended in 1975.
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is home to the world’s largest (known) cave, Don Son Doong.
More people have stood on the summit of Everest than inside this cave – maybe because a tour costs 69.6 million VND ($3000 USD) and 5 days to trek there. To give some perspective, the cave is roughly 8.8km (5.5miles) long.
You can explore the town of Phong Nha by bicycle and see some quiet and memorable sights along the way. It’s a way to see rural Vietnam and meet some colorful locals.
You can browse some other guided tours of Phong Nha Here.
SaPa – Trekking the hills of SaPa
5 hours/320km northwest of Hanoi and 1 hour/40km south of the Chinese border
In northern Vietnam, the town of SaPa is a favorite for hikers and tourists alike. Whether you’re chasing easy and incredible views, like hiking to Cat Cat Village, or a more challenging trek, SaPa has something for everyone looking to explore.
Overnight treks in SaPa are common and provide you with truly unforgettable views. Lush green rice paddys, soaring mountains and friendly locals tending to their crops is all part of what’s on offer around SaPa.
On top of that, you’ll learn how local life exists here and how minority groups, such as Hmong (or Miao), Red Dao (or Yao), as well as a number of other ethnicities.
You can check out tours in SaPa and book ahead of time to make sure you get the multi-day or day trip experience you’re after.
Da Nang – Exploring the colorful city at night
45minutes/35km north of Hoi An and 2 hours/90km south of Hue
As far as an underrated city in Vietnam, Da Nang is one a lot of travelers choose to skip but it’s well worth the effort if you have more than ten days in Vietnam. Why? Well there’s a dragon for a start.
Every weekend, a giant dragon, spanning the “Dragon Bridge” (known as Cau Rong in Vietnamese) shoots giant fireballs from its mouth and soaks the crowd with a jet stream of water. It’s a spectacle that attracts both tourists and locals.
Da Nang has plenty of other things to do – just strolling by the riverside at night gives some beautiful colorful sights as the vibrant lights reflect off the dark River.
Get a beautiful view over the city at Linh Ung Pagoda and wander across the Da Nang Golden Bridge, propped up by two giant hands.
There is plenty to do in Da Nang, and worthwhile adding it to your 10 days in Vietnam, if you have a bit more time.
Ninh Binh – adventure the unforgettable sights of northern Vietnam
1.5 hours/95km south of Hanoi and 1.5 hours/65km north of Thanh Hoa
Ninh Binh is a popular place in Vietnam, and from one Google image search, it’s easy to see why.
The Red Ricer Delta town is home to some stunning views and majestic peaks. There are plenty of tours around Ninh Binh that give you an unforgettable view of how life operates in the area.
Explore the karst landscape of Tam Coc and the Van Long Nature Reserve for some incredible views of rivers, mountains and fields.
There’s also a number of caves to explore and temples to take in the intricate designs – including Bich Dong Pagoda, that’s built into the side of a cliff.
Conclusion of 10 day Vietnam travel plan
Visiting Vietnam for 10 days is long enough to give a small glimpse into why the country is so special. Why this tourism hotspot of Southeast Asia holds a place in many travelers’ hearts, and why you should include it in your travel plans.
From ancient and modern capitals, to fire breathing and graffiti-covered dragons and whole load of unforgettable things to do in Vietnam, it’s no wonder this amazing travel destination in Southeast Asia holds a place in so many travelers’ hearts.
As always, I love to hear your feedback and questions. What should/shouldn’t make the cut in this backpacker 10 day Vietnam itinerary?
What questions weren’t answered? I’d love to help you as much as possible – so please let me know – leave a comment below!
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Thanks for reading this 10 day Vietnam itinerary!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
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