7 Days in Vietnam: Where Should You Go?

Seven days won't cover the whole of Vietnam, and it doesn't need to. A week spent in one region, with time to settle in, is usually more rewarding than a dash between three. Here are four routes that work, each with no more than one internal flight.

Each one assumes you arrive and leave from the nearest international airport: Hanoi for the north, Da Nang for the centre and Ho Chi Minh City for the south.

Option 1: The north

The best choice for a first taste of Vietnam, and for anyone who wants the classic limestone scenery. It is at its most comfortable from October to April, although Hanoi can be grey and cool in the depths of winter.

• Days 1–2: Hanoi's Old Quarter, Temple of Literature and street food
• Days 3–4: Ninh Binh for boat trips through Trang An or Tam Coc, cycling and the view from Hang Mua
• Days 5–6: an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay or the quieter Lan Ha Bay
• Day 7: back to Hanoi for a final evening

Option 2: The central coast

History, old towns and beaches, with very little time on the road. Best from February to August. Distances here are short, so this is the most relaxed of the four routes, and it suits travellers who want a mix of sightseeing and downtime.

• Days 1–2: Hue's Imperial City, royal tombs and the Perfume River
• Day 3: over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
• Days 4–6: Hoi An's Ancient Town, a cooking class, cycling to the villages and the beach at An Bang
• Day 7: Da Nang for the Marble Mountains before your flight

Option 3: The south

City energy, river life and island time. Especially good from December to April, when the south is dry. In the wet months it still works, as the rain tends to come in short afternoon bursts, but sea conditions around Phu Quoc can be less reliable.

• Days 1–2: Ho Chi Minh City, from the War Remnants Museum to the food of District 1 and District 4
• Days 3–4: the Mekong Delta, with a homestay or riverside lodge and an early floating market
• Days 5–7: fly to Phu Quoc for beaches, snorkelling and sunsets

Option 4: A fast highlights week

If you want to see both the north and the centre, it can be done with one flight and a quicker pace: two nights in Hanoi, one night on Ha Long Bay, then fly to Da Nang for three nights in Hoi An. You'll trade some depth for range, and there's little room for weather delays, but it is a satisfying first look at two very different parts of the country.

To make it work, fly out of Hanoi the morning after the cruise returns rather than the same evening, and keep Hoi An as your single base in the centre, with Hue as an optional long day trip.

How to choose

Start with when you're travelling, then who is coming and what kind of days you enjoy. A route that looks perfect in March can be a poor fit in October, and a pace that suits a couple in their thirties may be too much for grandparents or small children.

• Travelling from February to April: any route works; the north and centre are especially pleasant
• Travelling from September to December: favour the north or south over the central coast
• First time in Asia: the north or centre, where distances are short
• Want a beach at the end: the central coast or the south
• Travelling with young children: one region, two bases, no overnight transfers