Best Way To Travel Vietnam in 2 Weeks
Why would you want to travel Vietnam in two weeks? Is it because of work? Budget? Family? Why? As small as it might seem, Vietnam has many beautiful destinations, each requiring at least 4 full days. But if you have no option, then below, I suggest the best way to travel Vietnam in 2 weeks.
1. Fly into Sai Gon
Fly into Sai Gon from Bangkok or Cambodia (Siem Reap / Phnom Penh). The bustling metropolis of Sai Gon is the heart of Vietnam and is a must-visit first.
You will arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, buy a sim card, preferably from a Viettel booth, and take a Grab taxi just outside the main building.
Getting the sim card first is good practice because that will ensure you have data to connect your phone and text your family, take and upload videos, order services online, transfer money and book travel services.Â
How many days in Sai Gon
You need at least 3 days in Sai Gon, including the day you arrive.
Where to stay
I suggest you stay in Biu Vien Street if you are single or a couple and can handle the noise and chaotic street life.
To book accommodation, use Agoda, Booking.com or Trip.com to compare prices. On my recent trip, I found Agoda to be more affordable, but that can change. Agoda and Booking.com are sister companies owned by Booking Holdings.
What to do in Sai Gon
Biu Vien Street is an entertainment centre with hotels, massage parlours, nightclubs, and food joints. It is also the red-light district of Sai Gon.
The street is dead during the day but starts coming to life around 4 p.m.
After a good rest in your hotel, go out on the streets and take a walk. Get your phone and cameras ready to shoot some fantastic pictures.
After, find a nice spot and order a couple of beers. Then, take your dinner while enjoying house music blaring from several nightclubs. Retire to your hotel at around 2 am.
On your second day, wake up at around 10 am and walk to Ben Thanh market, about a kilometre from Bien Vien Street.
Spend time at the market feasting on Vietnamese food, buying souvenirs, or just admiring and taking photos. Then, return to Biu Vien Street, rest a bit, and join the party again.
On your third day, walk to Pham Ngu Lao Street and hop onto a tourist bus.
Visit main city attractions and take some selfies. Return to the hotel in the evening, have an early dinner and retire.
Prepare to leave early.
Ensure you have the Grab app ready to book a taxi to Ga Sai Gon (Sai Gon train station) the following day.
2. Take a first-class train to Nha Trang
Nha Trang should be your next stop after Sai Gon. A beach city, Nha Trang is an absolute gem and a must-see while in Viet Nam.
Your train will leave Sai Gon around 9.30 a.m. and arrive in Nha Trang at 6 p.m. Your first-class cabin has four berths. Other passengers from Sai Gon or along the way will join you if they booked.
Food is sold on the train and costs around 150,000 vnd.
The train has hot water and disposable cups to make tea.
The toilets are reasonably clean.
Along the way, enjoy the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside. Watch for the setting sun around 6 p.m.
How many days in Nha Trang
From Ga Nha Trang, take a Grab taxi to your hotel.
Stay at least 3 days in Nha Trang.
Where to stay
If you have the money, stay at top of the range hotels such as Amiana Resort or Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang.
Alternatively, you can stay in mid-range hotels such as Novotel Nha Trang or Panorama Nha Trang. Panorama Nha Trang has some issues, but it is a beautiful hotel in the city centre. Novotel is a few metres away by the beach.
Source: Panorama Nha Trang
If you are low in cash, look for cheaper hotels. Nha Trang has a variety of hotels.
However, stay within the city centre to enjoy nightlife.
What to do in Nha Trang
On your first day, wake up at 9 am, walk around town, grab breakfast and acquaint yourself with the city.
Walk to the beach just a few minutes from the city centre and enjoy the white sand and sea breeze. Shoot some amazing photos from your phone and drone.
After filling your tummy with delicious seafood from one of the restaurants that line the beach, head to the bar to grab some drinks and enjoy the social life.
Later in the night, head to Nha Trang Night Market just outside Panorama Nha Trang.
On day 2, rent a scooter. Unlike Sai Gon, whose traffic is busy, riding in Nha Trang is easy.
A scooter will cost you approximately 200,000 vnd per 24 hours.
I suggest you ride along the beach road, then inland towards Da Lat city and savour the beautiful hills and mountains. Stop along the road to take photos and enjoy the lovely breeze.
Just so you know, the road to Da Lat is very busy, but you should manage. Ride on the sides and always keep to your right-hand side. Do not overspeed.
On day 3, go out for coffee and chill out around the beach. Don’t forget to return the bike.
Retire early to recuperate, ready for your next leg.
3. Take a luxury sleeper bus to Hue
Source: AVG Travels
Skip Hoi An and head straight to Hue. It takes about 14 hours to get to Hue City by bus.
Hoi An receives raving reviews from hipsters, but I didn’t like its vibe. Now and then, you spot Westerners in the market, riding bicycles, or just sitting in a cafe smoking and wasting away. They don’t seem to want to return home.
The locals know tourists will come, so they charge a lot. I tried buying a Rocketman tee shirt (Kim Jong Un) in Hoi An market, and the vendor asked for 750,000 vnd. The t-shirt would usually cost 150 to 200K vnd in Sai Gon.
The town is very touristy for my liking.
Amen, and I cut out that noise and headed straight to An Bang Beach, about 3.5 km from the city centre. Although we had to pay more, it was quieter, relaxed, and pleasant, with a secluded, beautiful beach.
We hired a scooter and rode to town whenever we wanted something, but we spent much of our time at An Bang Beach.
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Pronounced hwi, Hue is the City of Kings. The last and most powerful was the Nguyen Dynasty, founded by Emperor Gia Long.
The city has gone through turmoil, changing hands from Chinese to Japanese to French, but it has weathered the storm and survived.
Before I entered Vietnam, I chatted with a Korean-American chef on a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. He said Hue is the most beautiful city to visit. He was right—I LOVE HUE.
How many days in Hue
Stay at least 3 days in Hue.
Where to stay
I suggest you stay around the Hue Walking Street.
What to do in Hue
After the big bus ride, you will be tired, so just chill around Hue Walking Street. Enjoy music, beer, coffee, and good food.
On your second day, take a tour with motorcycle boys; they come around Hue Walking Street to ask, so do not bother looking. For 6-7 hours, they will charge you approximately 500,000 – 600,000 vnd.
A few of the attractions include:
- Imperial city of Hue
- Tomb of Khai Dinh
- Thien Mu Pagoda
- Perfume River
On your last day, rent a motorbike and drive to An Thang Beach. Take some photos and then return to Hue.
Remember to return the motorbike.
4. Fly to Ha Noi
Your next stop is Ha Noi, the capital of Viet Nam. I suggest you fly as you have limited days left. Your flight will take approximately 1.20 minutes.
How many days in Ha Noi
Stay at least 1 day.
Where to stay
The Old Quarter.
What to do in Ha Noi
Go to the Night Market in the Old Quarter. Explore Old Quarter.
5. Take a bus to Ha Long Bay
At least visit Ha Long Bay before you leave Viet Nam to crown it off.
Ha Long Bay is a stunner about 3 hours from Ha Noi by bus.
Where to stay
I recommend staying in Bai Chay, specifically at the The Yen Residences Ha Long Bay.
What to do in Ha Long Bay
- Ask the attendant for details of the cruise. A half-day cruise should cost no more than US$35; a luxury cruise, including transport and a buffet, will cost US$50.
- Also, visit the city and check out their seafood. Be careful, as seafood in Bai Chay is very expensive, costing up to 5,000,000 vnd in some restaurants.
6. Return to Ha Noi and fly out.
On your 14th day, return to Ha Noi and head straight to the airport. Please note that it could take up to an hour to get to Noi Bai International Airport from Ha Noi so ensure you keep time.
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