My Vietnam 10 Days Itinerary: Heritage and Nature

Are you eager to discover Southeast Asia at its best? The S-shaped country is an ideal destination for its natural and cultural beauty. A Vietnam 10 days itinerary immerses you in the daily life of the local populations, between unique monuments and landscapes. Once you decide to travel there, many questions will come to mind: What to do in Vietnam in 10 days? What to see and visit?

Here’s a travel diary by Sophie Ardhuin, who stayed in Vietnam with her husband and friends in April 2022, just after the country reopened to tourism.

Written by Lan DUONG (Travel Consultant) Updated on 07-12-2024

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1. My Vietnam 10 Days Itinerary

What to see in Vietnam in 10 days? You'll be captivated by everything, from Halong Bay to its earthly version, namely Ninh Binh; from the grand caves of Phong Nha to the charming imperial ancient city of Hue, to the port of Hoi An. You will visit the most central sites that have been recognized as global heritage by UNESCO, with an option to extend the trip to the south of the country or to Cambodia, where the beautifully situated temples of Angkor await.

Below is my 10-day Vietnam itinerary:

• Day 1-2: Hanoi, city tour

• Day 3-4: Junk cruise on Halong Bay

• Day 5: Ninh Binh (terrestrial Halong Bay)

• Day 6: Phong Nha, cave visits

• Day 7: Hue, the ancient imperial capital

• Day 8: My Son, the ancient Cham sanctuary

• Day 9: Hoi An, old port city

• Day 10: Return to Hanoi or continue to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Let's go into detail about what we did during our Vietnam stay in 10 days!

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Days 1-2: Hanoi, Tour of the Vietnamese Capital

The friendly local English-speaking tour guide received us after landing in Hanoi and took us to our hotel in Hoan Kiem, the historical core of the millennium-old capital of Vietnam. After some rest, we began our first short walk into the city center. The informal walk, aimed at soaking in the charm of the city, is an actual part of the "What to visit in Vietnam in 10 days" itinerary.

This time, in a safe environment, we took a tour of the Lake of the Returned Sword – which is called "Hoan Kiem," our first Vietnamese words! It only took an hour, admiring the Jade Mountain Temple and the Turtle Islet. We were in the heart of Hanoi, just as in the adjacent old quarter of 36 streets, where numerous artisanal trades were once practiced.

A tour of Hoan Kiem Lake, the translated name of which is "the Lake of the Retrieved Sword," became our first words in the locals' tongue! It took us only an hour, during which we admired the Temple of the Jade Mountain and the Turtle Islet. We were in the very heart of Hanoi, as well as in the adjacent old quarter of the 36 streets, where so many trades were once practiced.

And before we got into the hotel for our first night, there was also one last little "class of aperitif," as the guide put it: an evening umami phở, the excellent local noodle soup, served right on the sidewalk.

The next day, our friendly guide, whose English was excellent, showed us the most remarkable cultural sites and historical monuments of Hanoi. About two kilometers from Hoan Kiem Lake, we first visited the Temple of Literature, the national symbol of education.

• Temple of Literature Hours:  8:00 - 17:00
• Location: 58 Quoc Tu Giam St., Dong Da, Hanoi. It is located about 2km southwest of Hanoi Old Quarter.
• Fun fact:  Night tour activities have just been implemented at this location, you can find out more to see if the experience is worth it.

Then we went to Ba Dinh Square, where the mausoleum and house of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of reunified Vietnam, are located. We admired the current presidential palace nearby, as well as other architectural witnesses of the French Indochina colonial heritage, such as St. Joseph's Cathedral and the Opera House.

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Our next stop was the Museum of Ethnography, a place that hosts a collection of various items and pictures displaying the different peoples of Vietnam; it also shed some light on local rural life. That finished the day with a performance of the very typical Red River water puppetry.

• Overnight at the hotel the agency booked for us: Hanoi La Siesta (Over 5000 5⭐ ratings on Tripadvisor)
• My opinion on the Hanoi itinerary : 1 or 2 days are enough to explore Hanoi. If you want to deepen your experience, you can extend your stay or explore on your own after the trip.

Days 3-4: Junk Cruise on Halong Bay - UNESCO World Heritage

A visit to Vietnam is not complete in 10 days without traversing the sublime route through Halong Bay, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It's a few hours' drive from Hanoi, and once we arrived at the coast, we boarded a traditional junk at our disposal with its crew.

This great cruise actually allowed us to snap some of the most striking images during our stay here.

Splendid caves like Thien Canh Son, with marvelous stalagmites and stalactites, were also included in this aquatic exploration of ours. The cruise continued to Cap La, where we enjoyed kayaking and swimming in the beautiful waters, weather permitting.
 

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We spent the late afternoon at our hotel in Halong Bay, where we relaxed on the top deck, sipping coconut juice. Later, we attended a cooking class to learn how to make local egg rolls before having dinner featuring local seafood. There was also a little night fishing before we went to bed.

After an extremely good night's sleep afloat in comfortable beds, we rose early at dawn to catch the first light of day as it emerged from between thousands of sugar loaves in the bay, giving us what was arguably the most magical moment of our trip.

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Then again, before lunchtime finds us on board, we take a leisurely kayaking visit to the fishing village of Vung Vieng. We return to Hanoi so that we can continue our journey the next day to the other Halong Bay—the land one in Ninh Binh province. The driver is on time, as always.

• The cruise that Kampá Tour booked for us: Comfortable space, ideal for couples
• My opinion on the Ha Long itinerary:  Ha Long is very beautiful, deserving of its title as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My advice is not to miss this place. In addition, there is a helicopter rental service, ideal for couples who plan to stay here for about 2 days or more.

Day 5: Ninh Binh, Tam Coc, Mua Cave

We headed south from Hanoi to arrive at the limestone area around Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, in less than two hours. I could see that the sugar loaves do look like those in Halong Bay, except they have rice paddies, rivers, and lakes instead of the sea. First on our list was the Mua Cave, at the top of which we climbed the 486 white stone steps without a single regret. That panoramic view probably counts among the most spectacular of our ten days.

• Mua Cave Opening Hours: 06:00 – 19:00
• Location: Approximately 5.8 km from the entrance of Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area to the northwest.

It also gave us an overview of the surroundings of Tam Coc village. Once there, we took a lovely bucolic bike ride in the Tonkinese countryside before having lunch. In the afternoon, we continued exploring this unique site with a boat trip on the Ngo Dong River. It winds between rice fields and limestone peaks, and we were also impressed by our rower. She propelled our boat with her feet, and we passed through three tunnels where we could touch the ceiling.

In the evening, we took a night train near Tam Coc to continue our journey south. A 10-day trip to Vietnam would be almost impossible without this type of night travel, in cabins we found comfortable.

• Location:  Ninh Bình station is approximately 7km west of Tam Coc tourist area.
• Transfer time: The time on the train is around 10 hours
• My opinion about the overnight train from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha : Each train cabin has 4 beds, arranged in 2 bunk beds. The train staff is very friendly and the environment is clean. The toilets are located at the end of each carriage. Of course, there is no shower on the train. Overall, I really enjoyed this trip because it gave me a new and exciting feeling, as well as giving me the opportunity to admire the beauty of Vietnam at night.

If you have more time in Ninh Binh, you can explore Bai Dinh Pagoda further. It is a large pagoda complex with many Asian records. It is on the list of:  Top 11 Temples and Pagodas in Vietnam to Visit

Day 6: Phong Nha, the Natural Paradise of Vietnam

After our early morning arrival at Dong Hoi station, we were taken to Phong Nha National Park, another UNESCO world natural heritage site. We began its exploration by sailing on its underground river, one of the longest in the world. Another highlight of our 10-day Vietnam itinerary!

• Location:  Dong Hoi Station is located about 45km northwest of Phong Nha National Park
• Transfer time: almost 45 minutes

We then visited splendid caves and took a pleasant walk on the limestone mountain of Ke Bang before heading to Hue, the ancient imperial capital. Once settled in our lovely hotel, we dined, enjoying a cylindrical rice noodle soup with beef. It was the famous local dish “bun bo Hue”, served with a pork shank and mortadella, deliciously flavored with local leaves and herbs.

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Day 7: Hue, the Ancient Imperial Capital

After our first night in the historic metropolis of Central Vietnam, we explored Hue - the Imperial City of the 13 kings of the Nguyen dynasty. They "reigned" there for a century and a half, from Napoleonic times until World War II. We also visited the mausoleum of Minh Mang, the Emperor famous for having had 142 children with 43 concubines. This is another must-do activity on a 10-day trip to Vietnam.

• Location:  Hue is approximately 200km from Phong Nha, to the northwest (4-4.5 hours drive).
• My impression:  The surprising thing I discovered upon arrival is that the tombs in Hue are spread out, unlike the Bai Dinh Pagoda which has several small temples in one place. I was completely wrong.
• Grave opening hours : 7:00 - 17:30

Another favorite place I've been to is the Thien Mu Pagoda, which is very beautiful, along with its landscapes of the Perfume River and, even the quieter one, Tu Hieu Pagoda. Enshrined here are the tombs of Nguyen dynasty eunuchs, and we were fortunate enough to be present during the bonzes' prayers. Our final discovery in Hue was at Dong Ba Market, the biggest and oldest, where some of my fellow travelers bought local crafts, conical hats, and "ao dai" dresses.

Day 8: The Central Coast and My Son Cham Sanctuary

The next morning, we headed towards Hoi An, a key destination located about 150 kilometers south of Hue. Our 10-day Vietnam itinerary allowed – and required us! – to make several stops along the way. First at the Hai Van Pass, with its view of the splendid China Sea coast. We also visited Lang Co beach and the peaceful Lap An lagoon, at the foot of the coastal mountains.

• Location:  Lang Co Beach is located approximately 45km northeast of Hue Citadel

The picturesque cemeteries along the road did not leave us indifferent. These are "villages" of tombs built like Asian homes, finely sculpted.

Then we reached My Son, the ancient religious capital of the Cham kingdoms, which ruled over a civilization that prospered in the Middle Ages before disappearing. It left behind ruins that enchanted us, like these towers and temples in a small valley surrounded by mountains. This archaeological site was one of the unexpected highlights of our 10-day Vietnam tour. In the late afternoon, we arrived in Hoi An, a tourist spot that, although more famous, also exceeded our expectations.

• My Son Shrine Hours: 06:00 - 17:00 
• Location:  My Son Sanctuary is located approximately 100km south of Hue, about 50km west of Hoi An . More information: Guide to explore My Son Sanctuary

Late in the afternoon, we arrived in Hoi An, a tourist spot that, although better known, also exceeded our expectations.

Day 9: Hoi An, a City with Exceptional Heritage

In Hoi An, the morning was devoted to a walk in the historic and riverfront district of the old port city. European merchants, including the French, stayed there from the 15th century and built some of its most notable buildings. From the Fujian sanctuary to the Phuc Thanh pagoda and from the Japanese bridge – which houses a pagoda! – to the narrow, beautifully decorated alleys, there was plenty to feast our eyes on. All in a cheerful atmosphere because traveling in Vietnam for 10 days also means pleasant contacts with the local population.

In the afternoon, we explored the bucolic surroundings of Hoi An by bike, between lush rice fields, vegetable gardens, and hamlets where even shrimp are raised. In Cam Chau village, we visited a lantern factory, using traditional techniques.

• Overnight at hotel:  La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa  (Over 6000 5⭐ ratings on Tripadvisor)

Day 10: Hoi An and Departure

On the evening before and at the beginning of this last day, we occupied ourselves at our leisure between relaxing and last-minute shopping. What to do in Vietnam after ten days, if not think about souvenirs to bring home? Then in the late afternoon, I took a return flight to Hanoi and then to France, while other travel companions continued to Ho Chi Minh City.

>>> 🗺️✈Interested in a journey discovering Vietnam's heritage and nature? Check out our tours: 10-day Vietnam Itinearies

2. Things to Know About Vietnam Before You Go

The S-shaped country has nearly 100 million inhabitants on a larger area than England. Hanoi is its historical, political, and intellectual capital, but Ho Chi Minh City (known as Saigon before the country's reunification) is its leading economic metropolis. Vietnamese is spoken, along with many dialects used by its 54 ethnic groups. The Viet (or Kinh, as they are also called) represent more than 85% of the population.

Vietnam is a safe country to travel in. Just be careful of pickpockets in some tourist places and motorcycles when crossing the streets in big cities! As for the weather, it is generally pleasant. It can be chilly in the north during the winter months. In hot weather, hotels are usually well equipped with air conditioning and fans.

Conclusion

What to do in Vietnam in 10 days? You have just read the essentials of what you need to know and are ready (or almost!) to discover this country. Do not hesitate, you must know it for its landscapes, its monuments, its cuisine, and also for its very kind inhabitants.

For travel ideas in Vietnam for 10-12 days or a custom Vietnam trip that suits you best, check out:

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