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HiI’m trying to plan our 15 night trip and struggling – there’s so much to see and do! We are keen to mix authentic experiences with some relaxation time, so don’t want to be travelling long distances every couple of days.I think trying to cover North – South will be too much, although that was my initial plan. Therefore, I’m now trying to decide whether mid and South, or mid and North is better. Any highlights for North or South that are definitely “not to be missed” may help with the decision! I’d also love to book a cooking experience, preferably in a Vietnamese home, where we can go to the market to buy produce and then spend time with a family cooking a meal. Any recommendations also gratefully received. We are arriving in 3 weeks, so I need to make some decision!
Hi I’m trying to plan our 15 night trip and struggling – there’s so much to see and do!
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Similar to you, I have just 2 weeks in Vietnam and seek an active experience to learn and explore, culture/history/food. We decided on North and Central, RT Hanoi-NYC May 15-29. but still need to book everything- please share what you end up booking!
All can be found via google and searching travel agencies. We just booked ours includes internal flights, cooking class airport transfers. Let someone do the hastle for you.
Personally I’m not a fan of Hanoi: big, bustly, streams of scooters constantly – but a gateway to Halong Bay: a pretty touristy experience but the limestone outcrops are impressive OR you could take the hour-long train ride to Nimh Binh. (Like Halong Bay but on land and intersected by waterways that you can take a boat along.) The scenery is breathtaking and it’s far less obviously touristy than Halong Bay.
I just did 15 days, north to central. Hanoi was chaotic but I enjoyed the Museum of Literature & HCM museum. Also did a scooter food tour, and a Hanoi cooking class w Rose Kitchen. Day trip to Ninh Binh was a highlight. I did Trang An. Skipped Ha Long Bay.
You should check out May Retreat – Hữu Lũng (2 hours from Hanoi) with the stunning sunset, the delicious local food and the beautiful nature surrounding. Let’s come and enjoy the authentic here.
I have personally really only been in the north, With the exception of the south a little bit with a couple friends that are Vietnamese.
We did north to south in 18 days, even that was hectic and included 2 overnight trains and an internal flight ..you’ll never see it all, just resign to having to return another time! We did so much yet still missed heaps. Maybe do north and some central this time and more central and south next time.
I’ll be doing North and central in three and a half weeks for two weeks.
Have you made plans to visit Sapa and Ha Giang yet?
We have visited Vietnam more than a dozen times. With only two weeks we recommend staying south of the dmz and pick maybe 4 locations. If you plan to many stops in only 15 days you see little and don’t get to experience the real Vietnam you end up experiencing the insides of busses, trains, taxis and the like.