Ha Giang
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
Ha Long
Sapa
Mekong Delta
Da Nang
Hue
Hoi An
Ninh Binh
Da Lat
Nha Trang
Phan Thiet
Phu Quoc
Quang Binh
Quy Nhon
Vung Tau
Thai Nguyen
We have exactly two weeks in February, landing in Hanoi and flying out of Ho Chi Minh City, and every itinerary I sketch keeps coming out to 9 stops which is obviously insane.
Right now the list is Hanoi (3 nights), Ha Long Bay (2), Ninh Binh (2), Hue (1), Hoi An (3), Da Lat (2), and HCMC (2). Something has to go. My gut says drop Hue because everyone says it is a half day of tombs and done, but my wife really wants the imperial city.
Also second guessing Da Lat. It looks pretty but is it worth the detour when we already have Sapa? Wait, we do not even have Sapa on the list. Should Sapa replace something? We like food and walking around old streets more than museums, if that helps.
If you had to cut two stops, which ones and why? Tell me what you cut from your own trip and whether you regretted it.
Tiếng Việt
한국어
中文 (中国)
日本語
ไทย
Deutsch
Español
Destinations
Instagram
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Threads
Tiktok
We did almost your exact route in February with two weeks and cut Da Lat, zero regrets. Ninh Binh we did as a day trip from Hanoi and it was plenty, the boat ride is 2 hours and you are done by lunch. That frees a night for Sapa, which in February was the highlight of our whole trip.
Cut Hue to a day trip or drop it entirely, that is the easy one. 1 night in Hue is enough for the tombs and the citadel and honestly the food scene does not justify more. The harder call is Da Lat vs Sapa, and I would pick Sapa in a heartbeat for February, it is crisp and clear and Da Lat is pretty but skippable if you are short on time.
Replying to RoamingRachel
Replying to RoamingRachel @RoamingRachel This is helpful, Hue is officially on the chopping block. Quick follow up, is Ninh Binh doable as a day trip without it feeling rushed? We have 2 nights there right now.
Replying to Andrew Markey
Replying to Andrew Markey @Andrew Markey We did Ninh Binh as a day trip and it was not rushed at all. Left Hanoi at 7:30, Trang An boat 9:30 to noon, lunch, Mua Cave viewpoint in the afternoon, back by 6:30. The boat ride is the main event and it is only two to three hours, so two nights there would have been too much for us. Keep the nights for Sapa.