Your perfect 7 day itinerary for Vietnam this year

Vietnam witnessed more than 12 million travelers in 2023. It is a small and beautiful country to spend time with friends, and family, or even alone and get closer to nature in the rawest form possible. While it exists in Southeast Asia, Vietnam provides an authentic and unique culture and experience that is unavailable even in the countries closest to it. In my blog about my experience in the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City, it is evident how the atmosphere is entirely different from other countries even though there are thousands of motorcycles on the road.

Since Vietnam has now become a popular destination for people all around the world, people often struggle to find a perfect 7 day itinerary for Vietnam so that they can cover everything and not have to take too many leaves from the office. To your rescue, I have crafted the perfect itinerary for Vietnam that I followed during my visit to this beautiful country.

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

This is the first day in Vietnam so it is important to get used to the environment and reset body clocks if the time difference is too large. Hence, whatever time you have landed, go straight to the hotel, relax, visit a 7-11, buy some items for you, and just walk down the busy lanes of Ho Chi Minh City. Also, if you want a guided tour or a pre-arranged tour for the next day to explore Ho Chi Ming City, it is better to book the tour on this day as they generally start early in the morning.

Day 2: Explore Ho Chi Minh City

The second day in your perfect itinerary of Vietnam will be spent in this beautiful and busy city of Ho Chi Minh City. Exploring the city is the best option on this day. You can either rent a scooty and cover all the places yourself as they are not too far or contact any travel agency to help you arrange everything.

There are many places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City among which the top attractions include:

* Cu Chi Tunnel

* Bitexo Financial Tower

* Independence Palace

Cu Chi Tunnel

Day 3: Fly to Da Nang

Ho Chi Minh is more like a developed metropolis, and therefore, two days is enough to explore everything that it offers. On your third day in Vietnam, take a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang which is located in central Vietnam. Spend the day in Da Nang, visit a spectacular beach, and do some shopping from the local market.

Day 4: Ride to Hoi An

Start Day 4 of your Vietnam itinerary early as today we need to see the popular Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills. It is one of the most popular spots that tourists love to visit and in all honesty, it was a great experience visiting the bridge. The cable car ride itself is one thing to look forward to.

After spending your half day on the Golden Bridge, now is the time to move to Hoi An where the famous lantern festival of Vietnam takes place. It is a small 28 KM ride and it is best to hire a two-wheeler from Da Nang and return it the next day. Spend this day walking in Hoi An and eating local cuisine. Also, try a boat ride in the night and explore beautiful cafes and walking lanes.

Golden Bridge

Day 5: Fly to Hanoi

The next day we go back to Da Nang (because that's where the airport is) early morning. It is important to remember that since we need to take a flight on the same day, your flight should be in the afternoon or in the evening to Hanoi. Return the two-wheeler and hop on the plane to go to the beautiful city of Hanoi.

Walk on the roads if there is time in the evening and have some Pho to get used to Vietnam's culture.

Day 6: Explore Hanoi

Hanoi is a cultural city with a lot of significance to the tough past it has been through. Today is the day we explore this city on a two-wheeler, Grab taxis, or public transport. The most famous attractions in Hanoi are:

* Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (Highly Recommended)

* Hoa Lo Prison (Recommended)

* Thang Long water puppet theater (make sure you have bookings)

Hanoi is a place to let yourself immerse in the culture of Vietnam. We recommend shopping in markets and having some street foods here. The people are extremely friendly and always welcome company.

Day 7: Say Bye to Vietnam

The final leg of our 7-day itinerary for Vietnam ends on day 7. If you have time in the morning, you can explore the nearby eateries and markets in the morning. Otherwise, go directly to the airport (via public bus or taxi) and back to your country.

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful places I have been to and 7 days are surely not enough to cover all of it. However, this itinerary is enough to make you familiar with every special place and gather great memories during your time in Vietnam.

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