Vietnam: North to South
The classic Hanoi-to-Saigon overland run down the length of Vietnam - limestone bays, the old imperial capital, lantern-lit Hoi An and the Mekong-fed south, stitched together by the Reunification Express, sleeper buses and cheap domestic flights.
10–21 days · Point-to-point
When to go
- FestivalTết (Lunar New Year) (late Jan - Feb) — trains, buses and flights book out and many businesses close for about a week; prices spike - avoid arriving in the Tết window unless you plan for it
- WeatherCentral Vietnam flood/typhoon season (Oct - Nov) — Hue and Hoi An flood most years and the central coast is the country's weakest weather window
- WeatherNorth - south climate split — the north is cool and misty Dec - Feb while the south stays dry Nov - Apr; Feb - Apr is the window that travels best end-to-end
Hanoi to Saigon down the spine of the country is the route most first trips to Vietnam are built around, and for good reason: it threads the north's limestone bays, the imperial centre, lantern-lit Hoi An and the southern delta in one logical line, and the Reunification Express, sleeper buses and $40 domestic flights make every hop easy. Two weeks is comfortable; with three you can add Sapa in the north and the Mekong and an island in the south.
This route's vibe
What you get across the whole trip, blended from each stop's strengths.
Stop by stop
The route
Adjust trip length, budget, and travel style — the stops, transport, and cost update to match.
- 1
Hanoi
3 nightsArrival hub and the cultural heart of the north: the Old Quarter's tangle of trade streets, French-colonial boulevards, and the best bowl of phở and egg coffee you'll have all trip - plus a day or two to shake off the flight before going south.
Eat: Phở bò and bún chả in the Old Quarter; egg coffee at a hidden upstairs café off Hàng Gai.
Skip / overrated: The water-puppet show is fine but tourist-heavy; the Old Quarter street life is the real draw.
View Hanoi guide→Getting there· ~141 kmCarRecommendedPrivate car or shared limousine van on the expressway, ~2.5-3h door to door; most cruises include a transfer, so book the boat first and let it carry you.
Book: cruise operator / 12Go — book the cruise and its transfer together - standalone taxis to the pier are overpriced
BusTourist limousine buses run frequently from Hanoi and are the cheapest way to the pier.
Book buses - 2
Ha Long Bay
1 nightThe postcard: thousands of limestone karsts rising out of jade water, best seen on an overnight boat so you wake up in the bay rather than racing back to Hanoi.
Skip / overrated: Day-trip cruises are crammed and rushed - do an overnight, and consider quieter Lan Ha Bay / Bai Tu Long over the main Ha Long route.
View Ha Long Bay guide→Getting there· ~146 kmCarRecommendedCross-country private transfer skipping Hanoi, ~3.5h; the flexible way to link the bay straight to the karsts.
Book: hotel desk / 12Go
BusDoable by bus but usually means backtracking through Hanoi; a through-transfer is worth the small premium.
Book buses - 3
Ninh Binh
1 night'Ha Long Bay on land' - the same karst scenery flooded with rice paddies, explored by rowboat at Tam Cốc or Tràng An and by bike between ancient temples. A calm counterpoint to the bay's crowds.
View Ninh Binh guide→Getting there· ~452 kmTrainRecommendedThe Reunification Express overnight south from Ninh Bình; a soft-sleeper berth turns the long middle of the country into one night's travel.
Book: 12Go / Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn) — soft-sleeper berths sell out around Tết and in summer - book a few days ahead
Book trainsFlightFaster only if you route via Hanoi or Da Nang airports; the airport detour usually erases the time saving on this particular leg.
- 4
Hue
2 nightsThe Nguyễn-dynasty imperial capital: a walled Citadel, royal tombs strung along the Perfume River, and Vietnam's most refined regional cuisine.
Eat: Bún bò Huế and the city's delicate imperial 'royal' dishes.
View Hue guide→Getting there· ~103 kmCarRecommendedPrivate car over the Hải Vân Pass, ~3-4h with photo stops at the pass and Marble Mountains - the single best transfer of the trip.
Book: hotel desk / local operator — agree the Hải Vân Pass route and stops up front, or the driver will just take the tunnel
BusFrequent tourist buses and limousine vans run Hue - Hoi An for a fraction of the car price.
Book busesTrainThe Hue - Da Nang rail run is famously scenic; you then taxi the last 45 min to Hoi An (which has no station).
Book trains - 5
Hoi An
3 nightsThe trip's slow heart: a lantern-lit old port of tailor shops and riverside cafés, beaches a short cycle away, and a base for the Mỹ Sơn ruins and the Hải Vân Pass.
Eat: Cao lầu and white-rose dumplings - both essentially unique to Hoi An.
View Hoi An guide→Getting there· ~413 kmFlightRecommendedDa Nang (DAD) to Cam Ranh/Nha Trang, ~1h in the air; the time-efficient way to skip a long coastal slog.
Book: VietJet / Bamboo via Kayak — fly from Da Nang (DAD), not Hoi An - Hoi An has no airport; allow time for the 45-min transfer to DAD
TrainOvernight Reunification sleeper from Da Nang saves a night's hotel and is a classic ride.
Book: 12Go / Vietnam Railways
Book trains - 6
Nha Trang
2 nightsThe south-central beach break: a long city beach, island-hopping boat trips and diving, and the jump-off back to the rail/air spine south.
Skip / overrated: Nha Trang is built-up and party-heavy; if you want quieter sand, swap in Quy Nhơn or push straight to the Mekong.
View Nha Trang guide→Getting there· ~321 kmFlightRecommendedCam Ranh/Nha Trang to Tan Son Nhat (SGN), ~1h; the standard final hop into Saigon.
Book: VietJet / Bamboo via Kayak
TrainOvernight Reunification sleeper ~7-8h pulls into central Saigon by morning.
Book: 12Go / Vietnam Railways — book a soft-sleeper, not a hard-seat, for the overnight
Book trains - 7
Ho Chi Minh City
3 nightsSaigon: the frenetic, motorbike-swarmed economic capital - War Remnants Museum, French-era landmarks, the country's best street food, and the gateway to the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
Eat: Cơm tấm, bánh mì and a night of street food in District 4.
View Ho Chi Minh City guide→
Lodging + daily spend only — excludes flights & intercity transport.
What to skip
Don't try to do it in a week - Vietnam is 1,600 km end to end, and cramming it turns a great trip into a blur of night transport. If you only have seven days, pick the north or the centre, not the whole line.
Practical tips
Travel south-to-north or north-to-south, not back and forth; mix one or two overnight trains/buses (they save a hotel night) with flights on the longest legs; carry small dong for street food; and keep a buffer day in case central-coast weather scrubs a beach stop.
Best for
Common questions
How many days do I need for Vietnam north to south?
Two weeks is the comfortable standard. Ten days works if you fly the long legs and skip Ninh Bình; three weeks lets you add Sapa, the Mekong Delta and an island like Phu Quoc.
Should I take the train or fly between cities?
Mix them. The overnight Reunification Express is cheap, scenic and saves a hotel night on the long Ninh Bình - Hue and Nha Trang - Saigon hops; flights (VietJet, Bamboo) are worth it to skip the longest stretches if you're short on time.
Which direction is better, north to south or south to north?
Either works - most people fly into Hanoi and out of Saigon (or vice-versa) on an open-jaw ticket so they never backtrack. Pick the direction that matches your cheapest open-jaw flights.