Two Weeks in Vietnam: A Journey Worth Planning Twice

Vietnam drew almost 780,000 American tourists in 2024, ranking the U.S. sixth among all international visitors. That number has been climbing for years, and it's not hard to understand why Vietnam travel is so popular. 

Traveling in Vietnam is inexpensive, the food is extraordinary, the history is fascinating, and the terrain changes so drastically from south to north that two weeks feels like visiting three different countries in one trip. The trick is knowing where to visit and how to pace it. Below is a two-week itinerary that builds momentum as you move and leaves room to breathe. 

Currency: Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND). It is a cash-heavy country so make sure to exchange before you go.

Currency Exchange International, the #1 currency exchange provider in the U.S., offers online ordering for next-day home delivery or you can pick up at a branch near you.

Here's a quick look at the Vietnam itinerary: 

Ho Chi Minh City: Days 1–3 

Most flights from the U.S. land here, and the city starts working on you before you've even cleared customs. Motorbikes pour through every intersection in a fluid, somehow organized swarm. Street vendors set up plastic stools and steaming pho on sidewalks barely wide enough for two people to pass. 

Give yourself day one to recover from the flight and absorb the pace. You’ll also get your first feel for local prices. Vietnam is very affordable, but things move fast, so having VND notes on hand makes life easier for taxis, street food, and tips.

By day two, you'll be ready to spend a morning at the War Remnants Museum. It's a heavy few hours, but it gives the rest of your trip a kind of context that no guidebook could replace. 

District 1 is the place to be after dark. The rooftop bars along Bui Vien are always lively, and the skyline at night makes it clear that this city has outgrown any assumptions you may have arrived with.

Hoi An and Da Nang: Days 4–7 

A short domestic flight north takes you to a completely different environment.  

Da Nang deserves at least a full day. My Khe Beach goes on and on for miles, and the South China Sea stays warm enough to swim in year-round. The Dragon Bridge lights up and breathes real fire on weekends, which sounds gimmicky until you're standing in front of it. 

Thirty minutes down the road, Hoi An lives in its own timeline entirely. The UNESCO-protected Old Town fills with paper lanterns after dark, with their reflections bleeding across the Thu Bon River in a way that photographs could never capture. 

Also, don't forget to get a suit or dress made while you're in Hoi An. The tailors here turn around custom clothing in 24 to 48 hours at prices that feel almost unreal. But remember that many shops are cash-only so make sure you have the right currency with you.

Plan for two nights minimum in Hoi An, but don't be surprised if you end up wanting to stay a third.  

Ha Long Bay: Days 8–10 

Ha Long Bay is not a day trip. Book an overnight cruise of ideally two nights so you get a chance to really register the dimensions of this natural wonder. 

Almost two thousand limestone karsts rise out of the water across the bay, and your cruise will pass incredibly close. For an even closer look, take a kayak and go through the countless caves in the limestone. This is the kind of activity that you'll remember years later when someone asks about your favorite trip. 

Wake up early on your last morning aboard. The fog sits low on the water before the other passengers wake up, and that hour alone justifies the journey north. 

Hanoi: Days 11–14 

Ending in Hanoi is a deliberate choice, and it pays off. 

The capital moves at a pace that lets you look at things. The Old Quarter's 36 streets were each named for the trades once operating on them, and walking through them still feels like a living map of the city's past. 

Pull up a tiny stool near Hoan Kiem Lake and order an egg coffee. It's a thick, custardy foam layered over strong Vietnamese coffee, and it tastes like nothing else you've had before. 

There's no shortage of things to do in Hanoi, but here's a shortlist worth considering for the last few days of your trip: 

• Visit the Temple of Literature: It's one of the best-preserved historic sites in Vietnam, and a slow morning here feels like time well spent. 

• Eat bun cha at a local spot: Grilled pork with vermicelli noodles and dipping broth. It's a dish that feels entirely specific to this city and worth tracking down before you fly home. 

• Spend an evening at Hoan Kiem Lake: The city quiets here in a way the south never does, and it's the right note to close fourteen days on. 

The contrast between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is what makes this route work as a whole. With fourteen days, you'll have plenty of time to fall hard for Vietnam. But it's rarely enough to feel finished with it. 

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