Is a week long enough in Vietnam?

Can you see Vietnam in one week?

One week in Vietnam? Totally doable. Saw a bunch in just five days, skipped the south though. Hanoi was insane, motorbikes everywhere, phew. Crazy traffic. Food was great, had pho every day, almost. Like, seriously, every day. Then flew to Da Nang, beaches were pretty awesome. Hoi An, like, ancient town, lanterns everywhere. So cool. Should have gone to Hue, heard it was great, oh well. Next time. Did Halong Bay too, boat trip, pretty cool. Loads of islands, like, hundreds. Definitely go back someday. Maybe go south then. Ho Chi Minh City and all that.

• Hanoi: Motorbikes, pho, traffic!
• Da Nang: Beaches are really nice.
• Hoi An: Ancient town, lanterns, cool vibe.
• Halong Bay: Boat trip, tons of islands.

My trip was in 2024. Flew Vietnam Airlines, not bad. Stayed in hostels, mostly. Except Da Nang, fancy hotel there. Spent, like, $600 total, not including flights. Flights were, I dunno, $400 maybe? Round trip from Bangkok. Wish I had more time. Sapa looked cool, rice terraces and stuff. Next trip. Definitely next trip.

How long should we stay in Vietnam?

Vietnam. Seven to ten days? Bless your heart. That’s like speed-dating a country as complex as a bowl of pho. You’ll barely scratch the surface.

• Two weeks minimum. Think of it as a decent first date. You’ll get a taste, maybe a kiss goodnight.
• Three weeks, golden. You’ll start to understand the rhythm, the whispers of history, the symphony of street food. Like a weekend getaway with your new love.
• A month? Ah, now we’re talking. You’ll be arguing with taxi drivers like a local, navigating the markets like a ninja, and your pho slurping will be chef’s kiss.

North to South, like a delicious banh mi: Hanoi’s chaotic charm deserves at least 3 days. Ha Long Bay, 2 days minimum – floating among those karsts is surprisingly meditative. Hue, the ancient capital, needs a good 2 days to soak in the imperial vibes. Hoi An, the tailor’s paradise, demands 3 days. You’ll need new clothes after all that street food. Da Nang, a quick overnight trip, is perfect for beach bums. And Saigon, the vibrant heart, another 3 days minimum. (I once spent a week there just eating and people-watching. No regrets.)

Consider this: My motorbike trip from Hanoi to Saigon took me a month. One glorious, pho-fueled month. Still wasn’t enough. Vietnam gets under your skin like fish sauce, in the best way. You’ll leave craving more. Trust me. I practically live there now, well, in my heart. And on Google Maps, street view. Don’t judge.

Bonus points: Explore the Mekong Delta (3 days minimum). Hike Sapa’s rice terraces (2 days). Con Dao Islands? Yes, please (4 days, minimum, because beaches). Phu Quoc? Meh. (Just kidding. It’s nice, 2 days).

Pro tip: Book flights and accommodation in advance, especially during peak season (November to April). Pack light, like you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia, because, well, you are. Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases. Xin chao! Cam on! (See? You’re already a natural.)

How many days is ideal to visit Vietnam?

Ten days? Seven? No. It’s more. Much more. Vietnam breathes slow, a sigh of ancient rice paddies. Each day, a jewel, sun-drenched and shimmering. Hanoi’s old quarter… a thousand years in a single glance. The scent of pho, a memory forever etched. Oh, the weight of history. Heavy, beautiful.

Two weeks. Yes, two weeks is closer. But even then, the whispers of untouched temples remain. The jade mountains call, a siren’s song. Ha Long Bay, a thousand emerald isles. Each one, a secret story waiting to unfold. I saw it, felt it, the dragon’s breath.

Ho Chi Minh City’s pulse, a relentless thrumming. Modern, yet haunted. The echoes of war. The weight of it. It’s exhausting, exhilarating. I need more time.

• Hanoi: Ancient charm, chaotic beauty. Three days minimum. Absolutely. More, preferably.
• Ha Long Bay: Cruising the emerald waters. Two glorious days lost in its majesty. This is essential.
• Hoi An: Tailor-made clothes, ancient streets… a week wouldn’t be too much. Seriously. Maybe two.
• Ho Chi Minh City: The energy is palpable, a frenetic dance of scooters. Two days. I felt it in my bones. The sheer energy.

A month? Even that might feel short. This isn’t a rushed tour. It’s surrender. To the sun, the scent of jasmine, the warmth. I want to drift. Lose myself. Vietnam demands it. You will know this in your soul.

Southern Vietnam: The Mekong Delta’s slow rhythm, a mystical maze of waterways. Don’t miss it.

Central Vietnam: The stunning beaches, the vibrant cities. More time needed. I wish I had more time.

Northern Vietnam: The terraced rice fields, Sapa’s mist-shrouded peaks, breathtaking. You won’t regret the extra days here.

More days. Always more days. It’s not about counting; it’s about feeling. The heart knows.