Is two weeks enough for Vietnam?
Yes, but not for every part of the country. Two weeks comfortably fits Hanoi, one northern landscape and central Vietnam. A north-to-south trip can also be done by flying between regions, but it will involve more packing and less time in each place.
Full answer
Two weeks is enough for a very good Vietnam trip.
The mistake is trying to turn it into a complete tour of the country.
Vietnam stretches for more than 1,600 kilometres from north to south. Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City may look like a simple line, but each move uses most of a day once airports, stations and hotels are included.
The trip that suits most first visitors
Use the fortnight for Hanoi, one northern landscape and central Vietnam.
Spend four nights in Hanoi. Add Ninh Binh for rivers and limestone country, or Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay for a night on the water. Then fly or take a well-timed train to Hue, Da Nang or Hoi An.
Central Vietnam is worth more than a quick stop. Hue needs time for the citadel, tombs and food. Hoi An is far more pleasant when you can see the old streets early in the day and still have time for the coast or countryside. Da Nang is useful for the airport, beach and restaurants, and can be a better base than Hoi An for travellers who prefer a larger city.
This route feels complete even though the south is left for later.
A faster whole-country trip
A two-week north-to-south trip is possible:
- three nights in Hanoi;
- two nights in Ninh Binh or one night on the bay;
- four nights across Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang;
- three nights in Ho Chi Minh City;
- one or two nights in the Mekong, or use the time to slow the route down.
Fly between the north, centre and south. Do not add long overnight trains simply to avoid flying unless the train itself is something you want.
This trip shows more of the country, but each region receives less time. It suits travellers who enjoy moving quickly and may not return soon.
What two weeks does not handle well
Two weeks is not enough for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Ha Giang, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong and a beach island.
It is also a poor length for several overnight journeys. Saving the price of a hotel is not a saving if the following day is lost to poor sleep.
With children or a slower pace
Use three main bases at most.
Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Hoi An or Da Nang make a straightforward family trip. Another option is Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong and a southern beach. Domestic flights are usually easier than long sleeper buses with young children.
With three weeks
Three weeks allows the country to be travelled from north to south without every region feeling abbreviated.
You can give Hanoi and the north a week, central Vietnam five or six days, and the south another week. There is still a need to choose between mountain areas and beaches, but the route stops feeling like a chain of departures.