
Your Ultimate 2 Weeks in Vietnam Guide: Pagodas, Pho and Fun!
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Join us and spend 2 weeks in Vietnam. This beautiful country is rich in culture and has breath taking landscapes. Travel with us from the Northern misty mountains of Sapa to the buzzing nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City in the South.
In this complete guide we will give you details on how to spend 2 weeks in Vietnam.
Vietnam is a long S-shaped country. It is easy to cover if you plan well. The best part about Vietnam is that its two major international airports are in Hanoi (North) and Ho Chi Minh city (South).
Here are some frequent flights to Hanoi (Noi Ba International Airport).
Departure City | Time Taken | Cost in USD | Airline | Stop |
Sydney | 9 hr 55 min | $300 | Vietnam airline | Nonstop |
London | 16 hrs 50 min | $580 | Qatar Airways/British Airways | 1 |
New York | 22 hr 15 min | $959 | Qatar Airways/American Airlines | 1 |
Mumbai | 8 hr | $200 | Indigo | 1 |
Here are some frequent flights to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Sot Nhat International Airport)
Departure City | Time Taken | Cost | Airline | Stop |
Sydney | 8 hr 50 min | $204 | Vietjet | Nonstop |
London | 15 hr 50 min | $570 | Qatar Airways/British Airways | 1 |
New York | 25 hr 30 min | $585 | Qatar Airways/American Airlines | 1 |
Mumbai | 9 hr 5 min | $175 | Indigo | 1 |
It is best to start either from the North and end the trip in South; or vice versa. That way you can enter through one airport and exit through another.
We flew from Mumbai, India to Vietnam and decided to land in Hanoi. Our total round-trip – India to Vietnam cost us around USD 800- 1000 for 2 people.
Now let’s get into the Vietnam itinerary for 14 days
Two weeks is a good time to travel across Vietnam.
If you can add one more week to your itinerary and make it 3 weeks in Vietnam, you can explore the country with a lot more ease.
Local Travel in Vietnam is very easy, thanks to multiple options like:
Train travel in Vietnam offers a scenic and relaxing way to see the country.
Buses are easy and cost effective mode of travel in Vietnam. f you are in a hurry, then buses may be an issue, as they are usually overnight or take a long time.
Taxis are an easy way to roam within city or travel short routes.
Start your first week in the North. Reach Hanoi and then check out the different towns and cities in the North.
You can reach Sapa from Hanoi by taking a 5-hour sleeper bus. The cost of the bus one way is around USD 10-15.
Sapa is a beautiful mountain town, which is often overlooked but is a must-visit. You can read our Weekend Sapa Itinerary to know everything about places to visit, costs and entry times.
If you love adventure, add the Ha Giang Loop—a thrilling 3-day motorbike trip through Vietnam’s most scenic routes.
Don’t worry if you can’t ride; there will be other riders and you can enjoy this trip as a pillion. If you want to extend your North Vietnam Itinerary, the Ha Giang loop is the perfect addition.
Return back to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Spend 3 nights in Hanoi, with a day trip in between. Let’s go.
Let’s move down from the North to the central part of Vietnam and then to the final leg South of Vietnam.
A short flight from Hanoi (USD 170-200) took us to Hue, Vietnam’s ancient capital. Most people miss this but from Hanoi it is very easy to fly here before going to the next destination.
To find the best places to stay in Hue check out our complete guide to Hue.
Move to your destination through a stunning 3-hour train ride from Hue to Da Nang. Try to fit this train ride in your itinerary. We wanted to do this and that’s why added Hue to our trip, making it a perfect offbeat route.
Just 40 minutes away, Hoi An is pure magic. It is famous for ancient town which is a UNSECO world heritage site. You will feel like you have landed in an old story with cute cafes, vendors, river and lanterns.
Yes, you can go from Da Nang to Hoi An for a day trip and be back. It takes 40 min by road to reach Hoi An. You can take a grab taxi, or a scooter to do this.
You can roam around the Hoi An old town, have lunch in a cozy café and even visit the An Bang beach.
Many travellers go to Nah Trang, which is another beach town down out from Danang.
If you don’t want to visit one more coastal destination, you can do what we did. Travel to Dalat, one of the coolest and most unique cities in Vietnam.
Take an overnight bus from Da Nang to Dalat. It costs about USD 15-20.
Dalat is a pleasant hill town in South-central Dalat.
To be honest Dalat is our personal favourite in the entire country, and Vietnam’s best kept secret.
Check out our ultimate guide on Dalat and absolutely crazy things to do there.
A 7-hour bus ride brought us to Vietnam’s largest city and economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh is more influenced by west as compared to its Northern counterparts, so the crowd is cosmopolitan and the food is diverse.
Throughout our journey, we indulged in:
There are many more delicacies in this country. In our 2 weeks in Vietnam we only touched the tip of the iceberg. Enjoy culinary delights for both meat lovers and vegetarians.
To avoid food poisoning in Vietnam
Weather in Vietnam is diverse and varies from region to region:
North: May to October is hot and humid with higher chance of rainfall in Hanoi and the other northern cities. November to April can be cool, pleasant and dry. As it is the North, December and January can be very cold months. So if you love nippy weather that’s the time for you, or else you can avoid.
Central: This part of the country is relatively temperate. September, October and November can witness high rains. Otherwise the climate is hot and humid throughout. We visited the country in May and we got sporadic showers throughout.
South: From November to April the weather in dry and hot. June, July and August are the rainy months in Ho Chi Minh and other Southern cities.
So now that you know all about our 2 weeks in Vietnam itinerary, what are you waiting for?
Pack your bags and head to this vibrant, warm and culturally rich destination.
If this itinerary helps, check out our Vietnam videos on YouTube. Subscribe for more local travel content. See you in the next adventure!
Hello, we are Sam and Aman, Local Backpackers! Welcome to our world of wanderlust and exploration! We are a travel-loving couple who share a passion for discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and creating unforgettable memories.