A Vietnam Itinerary: from north to south

Vietnam is indisputably one of the most intoxicating places on the planet. More than 10 million travellers visited Vietnam in 2016 for its history, beautiful landscapes, and yummy Vietnamese food! Our Vietnam itinerary was from north to south, starting in Hanoi and traveling all the way to Ho Chi Minh City. We visited Vietnam in October, which is the last month of summer in Vietnam. Read on for our top six things to do in this charming country!

6 Things to do in Vietnam

1. Try a Vietnamese Egg Coffee in Hanoi

There are many things to do in Hanoi, such as visiting the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Hanoi Opera House, and going to a water puppet show. But a must-do in Hanoi is to try a Vietnamese egg coffee! Coffee in Vietnam has a distinct, rich flavour – mainly due to the coffee beans that are roasted in butter with a touch of cocoa. Along with this delicious mix is a topping of whipped egg yolks and sugar, adding extra creaminess and sweetness! Yummy!

2. Cruise in Halong Bay

Another highlight of Vietnam is to visit the UNESCO heritage site of Halong Bay, aka the Bay of the Descending Dragon. We booked a 1-night cruise, and the tour operator arranged for a pick-up from our hotel. It takes about 3 hours to reach the pier from Hanoi, so be sure to bring along a good book or create a playlist to keep you entertained during the journey.
We arrived at Halong Bay around midday and enjoyed the amazing scenery. That night, we relaxed on the upper deck and witnessed an amazing sunset! We also explored the Sung Sot Cave in the bay the next morning which has amazing, elevated views after the long climb to the top.

3. Explore the sights in Hue

We arrived in Hue early one morning and stayed at the Moonlight Hotel which was fantastic! The room and bathroom were beautifully furnished, and the views from our room and the rooftop restaurant were incredible! They also have a lovely swimming pool and Jacuzzi for you to enjoy. The two most famous sights in Hue to explore are the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial City.

4. Check out the Long Hung Church ruin

From Hue you can book a tour to travel to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Vietnam. Here you can explore many sites with fascinating history related to the Vietnam War. My favourite was the Long Hung Church in the Quang Tri Province, which was pocked with hundreds of bullet holes due to an 81 day battle that occurred here.

The blue sign on the right reads: “In 1972, the resilient fight of our soldiers and people took place against the counter-attacks by American and South Army to reoccupy Quang Tri town. Long Hung Church was one of important positions to protect the town at this place, we fought against hundreds of counter-attacks by the enemy and helped to protect Quang Tri Old Citadel for 81 days and nights of history. Long Hung Church a relic of the war. This place is the memorial of the bravery of our soldiers and people”.

5: Bike the Hoi Van Pass to Hoi An

From Hue, we traveled by motorbike to Hoi An. This was a great way to see the Vietnamese coastline as you travel over the Hoi Van mountain pass. The views from the pass are incredible! There are bus tours as well, but these use the tunnel and do not travel over the pass. So if you are adventurous, we highly recommend a bike tour!

6. Be a beach bum at An Bang Beach

We arrived in Hoi An from from our motorbike tour in the evening. It is a fairly bustling town during the day, but incredibly beautiful and romantic at night! This is because of all the stunning, colorful lanterns that light up the town.

We stayed at Lantana Hotel Boutique Hotel and Spa in Hoi An, which was amazing! The location was perfect for exploring the town, and the staff were super friendly. They also offer free drop-off and collection to An Bang Beach every day – just let reception know which time slot suits you!

That concludes our top six things to do in a two week Vietnam itinerary. It is incredibly easy to fall in love with this country’s history, culture, and yummy cuisine! Just make sure you have prepared most of your travel needs beforehand — your itinerary, accommodation, tour guide, etc. — to save you from the headache of arranging things on the spot! Ready to conquer Vietnam?

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