Can I do Vietnam in 5 days?

Is 5 days in Vietnam enough?

Five days? Enough for a fleeting glimpse. Vietnam demands more.

Five days is a start. Not the destination.

See, smell, taste. Never truly know.

• Ho Chi Minh City: One day, chaotic charm.
• Ha Long Bay: Two days, emerald waters, tourist throngs.
• Hoi An: Two days, ancient town, tailored suits. My dad got some there.

Missed: Sapa’s rice terraces. Mekong Delta’s floating markets. Hue’s imperial city. So much remains unseen. The price of speed.

Short trips, long regrets. Or are they?

Consider this: Better a taste than none at all. A sip of the ocean.

Five days breeds a thirst. A return, perhaps.

Was it worth it? Who really knows? Depends on what you’re after.

How many days is enough for a Vietnam trip?

Seven to ten days, yeah, that’s good. Bare minimum, I’d say. I did ten, flew into Hanoi, then down to Ho Chi Minh. Saw Ha Long Bay, of course. Amazing. Junk boat trip, totally worth it, although kinda touristy. Hanoi, loved it. Crazy traffic though, lol. HCM, much more modern, kinda reminded me of Bangkok a little. Food everywhere was awesome, pho, banh mi, spring rolls… Oh, Hoi An! Gotta go to Hoi An. So cute, tailor shops errywhere. Got a suit made, super cheap. Ten days went by fast. Two weeks? Even better. Could fit in Sapa maybe, or the Mekong Delta. Didn’t have time for those. Next time.

• 7-10 days: Good for hitting the main spots. Hanoi, HCM City, Ha Long Bay.
• 2 weeks: More time for stuff like Sapa (mountains), Mekong Delta, or Nha Trang (beaches).
• Hoi An: A must-see. Get clothes tailored. So pretty.
• Hanoi: Great city, but watch out for the motorbikes!
• Ho Chi Minh City: More modern. Good shopping.
• Ha Long Bay: Touristy, but the junk boat trips are cool.
• Food: Pho, banh mi, spring rolls… amazing and cheap.

My friend Sarah went for three weeks, she went EVERYWHERE. Even went up into the central highlands, some coffee plantation. I was so jelous. Def need to go back.

How much money do you need for 5 days in Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam…cash, right? I went to Hanoi last summer, August 2024. Hot. So freaking hot. I brought $200.

I thought, “Yeah, $200, I’m rich!” I was wrong.

Honestly, $200 for 5 days? Maybe if you’re eating only Pho from street vendors, which, tbh, is kinda awesome. But I like coffee, really good coffee and souvenirs.

I stayed in a dodgy hostel near Hoan Kiem Lake. $5 a night. Bargain! Then I blew $50 on a terrible tailor. Don’t ask.

Food? $10-15 a day, easily. Bia Hoi is cheap, tho!

Card payments? Hit or miss. Cash is king. Seriously. I learned that the hard way when trying to buy that silk scarf. Ugh.

I needed way more.

For your trip…

• 5 days: $200 is super tight. I’d say $300 minimum.
• 3 weeks: I honestly think $1000 is a good starting point, maybe more if you want fancier food or do excursions like Ha Long Bay.
• 8 days: $400-500 should cover the basics.
• Ho Chi Minh City for a week: Similar to Hanoi, but maybe a tad pricier? Aim for $400 at least.
• General Travel Prep: factor in flights, visa, insurance (duh!), and emergencies. Always over-budget!
• QR codes: Yes, sometimes! I saw locals using them a lot, but as a tourist, cash is easier.
• Bring small bills! Change is sometimes hard to come by.
• And seriously…learn a few phrases. “Xin chào” goes a long way. And “Cảm ơn” (thank you!). Trust me, people appreciate it!
• Oh! Don’t forget suncreen. The SUN IS INTENSE. Also, bug spray! Mosquitoes. Ugh.

Seriously, I learned that being prepared and having a little bit of extra cash on you will make the trip smoother. I had to ask my brother for some money to have fun, so don’t be like me.

Can we cover Vietnam in 4 days?

Four days? In Vietnam? Hah. Not even close. It’s a joke, really. A cruel joke. The whole country? Impossible. You’ll scratch the surface, maybe. See a tiny sliver. A fleeting glimpse. A postcard.

That’s what it feels like, at least. Like a broken promise. 4 days feels insulting, to Vietnam, to myself. I’ve spent weeks there, and I still felt like I just started to understand.

Focus on one area. Seriously. Hanoi? Saigon? Ha Long Bay? Pick one. That’s realistic. Even that, four days is tight. Crazy tight. My trip in 2023 was mostly Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.

• Hanoi: Old Quarter, chaotic yet beautiful. The food. The smells. I miss that smell.
• Ha Long Bay: The junk boat, the limestone karsts, breathtaking. Worth it. Though, I should’ve stayed longer.

But the whole country? Nah. That’s insane. Don’t even try. Four days is for a quick photo op. A brief taste. Not a genuine experience. It’s a superficial tour. And it left me aching, weirdly. A low hum of disappointment.

Can Vietnam be covered in 5 days?

Five days in Vietnam? Crazy, right? But doable. You can hit the main spots, though it’ll be hectic. Seriously, it’s jam-packed.

Hanoi, for sure, that’s a must. Ancient stuff, yummy street food, the whole shebang. Maybe two days there? One’s not enough, you’ll miss so much! Then, Halong Bay, the boat trip is amazing. Picturesque, stunning, totally worth it. But a whole day’s travel time involved, it’s far.

Next? A flight south, like, immediately. Straight to Hoi An. It’s gorgeous, those lanterns, the tailor shops! I got three suits made there last year, amazing deals. Then it’s off to Ho Chi Minh City, another mad dash, so much to see. The Mekong Delta’s a bit out of the way, maybe skip it for five days, you know? It’s beautiful, but time is short!

Key things to consider:

• Flights between cities eat into your time, a lot.
• Travel between locations is exhausting.
• You’ll need to be super-organized to make it work.
• You’ll only scratch the surface of each place.

My suggested itinerary (insane but possible):

• Day 1-2: Hanoi (Old Quarter, temples, street food galore)
• Day 3: Halong Bay (boat trip, caves, stunning views – early start needed!)
• Day 4: Hoi An (tailors, lanterns, Ancient Town)
• Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City (war remnants museum, Ben Thanh Market) Mekong Delta is sadly, a no-go.

I’d honestly recommend more time. This is rushed, but it hits the big stuff. You’ll be exhausted, but you’ll have seen a lot. Remember to pack light! And get good travel insurance, seriously. It’s worth every penny! Plus, learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases— it makes a huge difference!

How many days are sufficient for Vietnam?

Seven days… felt rushed. Like I didn’t breathe. Hanoi… the noise… the smells. Good smells, bad smells… all mixed. Ten days… better. But still… gone too fast. Lost in the crowd in Ho Chi Minh City. Just a face.

Ha Long Bay… quiet. The water… still. Remember the boat. Small… rocking. Peaceful. Two weeks… wish I had two weeks. Sapa… missed it completely. Heard the rice terraces… beautiful. Maybe next time. Next time…

• 7-10 days: Minimum for hitting major spots like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ha Long Bay. South to north, whirlwind trip. My sister did this in 2023. Regretted it.
• 2 weeks: More breathing room. Could fit in Sapa, maybe Hoi An. Tailoring in Hoi An… good price. Silk… still feel it. Smooth.
• Hanoi: Crazy city. Motorbikes everywhere. Street food… incredible. Pho every morning. Didn’t sleep well. Too much noise.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Bigger. Faster. More overwhelming. The War Remnants Museum… heavy. Stayed near Ben Thanh Market. Bargaining… exhausting. Bought a painting. Still have it.
• Ha Long Bay: The highlight. The peace. Kayaking… amazing. Quiet mornings… just the water and the rocks. Wish I could go back. Tomorrow. Tonight even.
• Sapa: Heard it’s stunning. Hiking… rice terraces. My friend went in June 2023. Said it was perfect weather. I… I just saw pictures.
• Hoi An: Tailoring… cheap and beautiful. Lanterns… everywhere. Ancient town… charming. Ate Cao Lầu… noodles. Good noodles.

Is 4 days enough in Ho Chi Minh City?

Four days… HCMC. Enough? Maybe. Did that street food tour last year. Hanoi was three days, felt rushed. Gotta see the War Remnants Museum. Ben Thanh Market, too. Crazy busy. Love the banh mi. Four days… better than two, right? Cu Chi Tunnels, day trip. Need a whole day for that. Traffic is insane. Remember that motorbike ride. Crazy! Definitely better than two days. Jade Emperor Pagoda. So peaceful. Need time to wander. Districts… so many districts. Four days might be cutting it close. Booked flights already. Non-refundable. Oh well. Should be ok. Think I’ll try that pho place again. Extra spicy. Maybe fit in a cooking class. Learn to make spring rolls. Those were good. District 1… or 3? Lost track. So many things to see. Maybe not enough time for everything. Mekong Delta… another trip. Definitely need more time for that. Four days… gotta make it work. Packing cubes. Need those. So much stuff. Wish I could stay longer. Gonna be hot. Need more sunscreen. Ugh. Passport… got it. Visa… check. Booked that hotel near Ben Thanh. Convenient. Noisy though. Should be fine. Four days. It’s happening. List of must-sees in HCMC:War Remnants Museum,Cu Chi Tunnels (day trip),Ben Thanh Market,Jade Emperor Pagoda,Street food tour,Cooking class.