From our field notes
Vietnam itinerary for 2 or 3 weeks, independently and without a tour
Published 10 October 2026 · updated 10 October 2026 · 4 min read
By Clément Lacaille, publisher · our method
What to do in Vietnam in 15 days or three weeks without an organised tour? The country stretches over 1,600 km: you have to choose and order your stops according to the season. Here are two day-by-day itineraries, with the most sensible transport for each leg (night train, domestic flight, car with driver, ride-hailing) and the rules that stop you losing days. In Vietnam, independent travel almost never means driving a rental car yourself.
The two options at a glance
Both run north to south; reverse them if the season requires (south first from December to February).
| Length | Stops | Domestic flights |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, Hue, Hoi An | 1 (Hanoi → Hue) + departure from Da Nang |
| 3 weeks | Hanoi, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, the bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, Mekong | 2 (Hanoi → Hue, Da Nang → Saigon) |
15-day Vietnam itinerary: the north and the centre
The best first trip, from October to April. Arrive in Hanoi and fly out of Da Nang (open-jaw ticket).
- Days 1-2: Hanoi on foot — Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, street food.
- Days 3-4: Ninh Binh (car with driver or train, 2-3 h) — Trang An by rowing boat at opening, Mua cave at sunset.
- Days 5-6: one-night cruise in Lan Ha Bay (organised transfer), back to Hanoi.
- Day 7: flight Hanoi → Hue, Imperial City late in the day.
- Day 8: imperial tombs, Thien Mu pagoda.
- Day 9: Hue → Hoi An by car with driver over the Hai Van Pass.
- Days 10-13: Hoi An — old town before 8 am, cycling in the rice fields, My Son at opening, An Bang beach.
- Day 14: Da Nang, My Khe beach.
- Day 15: departure from Da Nang.
3-week Vietnam itinerary: north to south
The great classic, ideal in March-April. It adds the Ha Giang loop, done with an easy rider (a local driver rides the motorbike): to ride yourself, you need an international permit plus your national licence, with the motorcycle category, according to the French foreign ministry.
- Days 1-2: Hanoi.
- Days 3-6: Ha Giang loop with an easy rider (day bus from Hanoi, 3-day loop, return).
- Days 7-8: Ninh Binh.
- Days 9-10: Lan Ha or Ha Long Bay, one night on board.
- Day 11: flight Hanoi → Hue.
- Day 12: Hue.
- Day 13: Hai Van Pass → Hoi An.
- Days 14-16: Hoi An and My Son.
- Day 17: flight Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City.
- Day 18: Saigon — War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace.
- Days 19-20: Mekong Delta, night in Can Tho, floating market at dawn.
- Day 21: departure from Ho Chi Minh City.
Which transport for which leg
The rule: one long journey every two or three days at most, and a flight whenever it saves a whole day.
| Leg | Our choice |
|---|---|
| Hanoi → Ninh Binh | Car with driver or day train |
| Hanoi → Lan Ha Bay | Transfer organised by the cruise |
| Hanoi → Ha Giang | Day bus or cabin bus |
| Hanoi → Hue | Flight (or night train in a sleeper) |
| Hue → Hoi An | Car with driver over the Hai Van Pass |
| Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City | Flight |
| Saigon → Mekong | Bus or car with driver |
| In town | On foot, ride-hailing (price shown upfront) |
Adapting the itinerary to the season
The north is ideal in October-November and March-April, cool and grey in winter; the centre is dry from February to August and rainy, with possible floods, from September to December; the south is dry from December to April. Think about mosquitoes too: the study by Do Thi Thanh Toan and colleagues (BMC Public Health, 2014) showed strong dengue seasonality in Hanoi, following temperature and rainfall by eight to ten weeks. Repellent and covering clothes in the evening, in every season.
Five mistakes that cost you days
What we see most often in over-ambitious itineraries:
- Ha Long Bay as a day trip from Hanoi: four to five hours on the road for three hours on the water.
- Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City by train end to end: more than thirty hours, a flight does better.
- Ha Giang in two days: you ride without seeing.
- A tight schedule during Tet: transport full, businesses closed.
- Overstaying the 45-day visa exemption (for French citizens): no extension on site; beyond that, get an e-visa before leaving.
Sources
Travel tips
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1. What you need
Before you go
Readers' questions
What to do in Vietnam in 15 days?
The north and the centre: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, a night in Lan Ha Bay, Hue, the Hai Van Pass and Hoi An, with a Hanoi → Hue flight and a departure from Da Nang.
Can you see all of Vietnam in 3 weeks?
The essentials north to south, yes, with two domestic flights: Hanoi, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, the bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and the Mekong. Phong Nha, Da Lat and Phu Quoc need a fourth week.
Should you rent a car in Vietnam?
No. Independent travellers combine trains, buses, domestic flights, cars with drivers and ride-hailing. Driving requires an international permit plus your national licence, and traffic is dense.
Which direction should you travel Vietnam?
North to south in March-April and October-November; south to north from December to February, finishing in the north as it warms up.
Do you need a visa for a 3-week trip?
Not for French citizens: visa exemption for up to 45 days, passport valid six months on arrival (as of 30/09/2026). Other nationalities should check their own rules; beyond the exemption, get an e-visa on the official portal.