Is 4 days enough for Vietnam?

Is 4 nights enough for Vietnam?

Four nights in Vietnam? Pfft, that’s like trying to taste the ocean with a thimble. I went there back in August 2023.

Hanoi was madness. I barely scratched the surface.

Think motorbike chaos, amazing pho near Hoan Kiem Lake, and sweltering heat.

I wished I had a month! Four days? It’s nothing really.

I remember thinking, “This place is too much!”.

I ended up skipping Ha Long Bay. Regrets!

Here’s the breakdown of my (too) short trip:

• Day 1: Land in Hanoi, Old Quarter chaos, temple visit.
• Day 2: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, street food binge.
• Day 3: Train street, water puppet show, Bia Hoi corner.
• Day 4: Panic buying souvenirs, airport dash.

Seriously, focus on one city. Or you’ll just be stressed. I know that.

Is 3 days in Vietnam enough?

Hanoi. Crazy traffic. 3 days, definitely Hanoi. Pho for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Egg coffee. Strong. Maybe a motorbike tour? Weaving through streets. Imagine the smells. Exhaust, street food. Hot. Humid. Should pack light clothes. Linen. Cotton.

Old Quarter. Wandering. Lost. Good. Finding little shops. Silk. Lacquerware. Bargaining. Fun. Annoying too. Hanoi is chaotic, but vibrant. Train Street. Tourists galore. Still cool though. Night market. So much stuff. Cheap.

Halong Bay. Cruise? Impossible in 3 days. Stick to Hanoi. Maybe a day trip to Sapa? No. Too far. Focus. Water puppets. Traditional. Worth seeing. Bia Hoi. Street beer. Cheap. Plastic stools.

• Hanoi is the best option for 3 days.
• Food. Culture. History.
• Forget beach. Forget mountains.
• Prioritize Old Quarter.
• Explore. Get lost.
• Drink strong coffee. Eat pho.
• Book flights, hotels in advance.
• Visa. Check requirements.
• USD. Dong. Exchange rate. Check current rates.
• Pack light. Hot. Sweaty.
• Learn basic Vietnamese phrases.

My trip in 2021… Different. Longer. This is just for a short trip. Quick in, quick out. Effective. See as much as possible. Limited time. Maximize it. No regrets. Hanoi, it is. Done.

How many nights do you need in Vietnam?

Seven to ten days? Hah! That’s like saying you only need a single bite of a delicious banh mi. Insulting, really.

For a whirlwind tour, hitting the major cities, three days might suffice. But you’ll emerge feeling like a caffeinated hummingbird – buzzing, but utterly exhausted. Think of it as a very intense Instagram photoshoot.

To actually experience Vietnam, I’d say at least two weeks. Two weeks for the love of Pho, for the sake of all those hidden temples, for the sheer joy of getting delightfully lost in the alleyways of Hoi An.

My last trip (2023, don’t @ me) involved a month, and even that felt too short. Seriously.

• Short Trip (3 days): Hanoi, Ha Long Bay (cruise), Ho Chi Minh City – pure sensory overload.
• Medium Trip (7-10 days): Add Hue, Hoi An, perhaps a Mekong Delta excursion. Still rushed, but manageable.
• Epic Trip (2+ weeks): You’ll finally grasp the nuance – beyond the tourist traps. Sapa trekking, anyone? I’m already planning my next one. Seriously.

Bottom line: More time equals more awesome. Duh. This isn’t rocket science, people.

My 2023 trip involved a three day stay in Hanoi (loved the old quarter!), followed by a week in Hoi An (tailor-made clothes, amazing food!), and finished with five days exploring the Mekong Delta. Totally worth it, even if I came back with slightly more souvenirs than my luggage would allow. oops!