Transportations

Hanoi in the North and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the South are two key hubs of Vietnam. They are located about 1,699 km apart in the North and South regions. Hundreds of thousands of trips are made between these two locations daily. Here are ways to travel between them:

Mode of Transports

Travel time

Cost

Description

Plane

2,15 hours

About 50 USD/way

This is the swiftest and most widely favored method of transportation when opting to journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Train

33 - 36 hours

About 36 - 48 USD USD/berth/way

Opting for train travel is more cost-effective, albeit time-consuming. Exploring Vietnam's landscapes from the train can be quite fascinating, but it entails spending a significant portion of your journey onboard. This choice is ideal for those who relish experiencing a day on a train and have ample travel time.

Long bus

31 hours

About 40 USD/berth/way

Traveling by long bus is another transportation experience. While this choice saves costs, it also takes time, with the majority of the journey spent sitting on the bus.

Motorbike

54 - 96 hours (rest time included)

Motorbike 1-month renting fee: 40 - 100 USD

Petrol fee: About 33 USD

If you are passionate about traveling by motorbike to explore Vietnam on your own, this option isn't bad either. You will have the freedom to move around and stop anywhere you like. The familiar route for travelers from Hanoi to HCM is National Highway 1A. If you combine traveling with sightseeing, the duration could extend from one week to one month.

 

Suggested Itineraries

From the two hubs of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are countless travel options available. Here, I will suggest itineraries for 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month for you to consider the time frame and the destinations worth visiting.

Option 1: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary in 1 week

This itinerary is typically relaxed and leisurely, allowing plenty of time for chilling out and exploring the areas of Hanoi 1000-year-old capital, Ninh Binh ancient capital, Halong Bay World Natural Wonder, Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's most bustling economic hub, and the cultural richness of the Mekong Delta region.

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh Itinerary

Travel routes from Hanoi capital of Vietnam

Day 1: Hanoi City tour

  • Hanoi Arrival & Hotel check-in

  • Hanoi City tour by motorbike/double-decker bus/jeep/walking tour

  • Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food

  • Water Puppet Show or Quintessence of Tonkin Show

  • Shopping

Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh

  • Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

  • Tam Coc - Bich Dong or Trang An

  • Mua Cave

  • Biking at Tam Coc then back to Hanoi

Day 3 - 4: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Itineraries for 2 days on a cruise often vary between each cruise. Typically, the schedule will include activities such as kayaking or bamboo boat rides, onboard meals, island visits, cave exploration, fishing villages, swimming, and onboard entertainment.

Day 5: Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City

  • Fly from Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh & Check-in Hotel

  • Ho Chi Minh city tour by motorbike

  • Night time on river cruise Saigon & Shopping

Day 6: Cu Chi & My Tho

  • Cu Chi tunnel half-day

  • Boat trip on the river

  • Visit local house and garden

  • Listen to traditional music

Day 7: Can Gio Mangrove forest

  • Can Gio Mangrove forest half-day trip

  • Ho Chi Minh Departure

 

Option 2: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary in 2 week

This two-week itinerary allows you to revel in the mountainous region of the North in addition to the plains and coastal areas, and also venturing to discover the beautiful heritage land of Central Vietnam.

Vietnam itineraries Northern, Central, and Southern

Vietnam itineraries Northern, Central, and Southern

Day 1: Hanoi City Tour

  • Hanoi Arrival & Hotel check-in

  • Hanoi city tour & Street food

  • Night time: Shopping, Walking Streets, Puppet Show or Quintessence of Tonkin show

Day 2 - 3: Hanoi - Sapa

  • Lao Chai - Ta Van Village trekking to see terraced rice paddies

  • Town tour, shopping, and local food

  • Fansipan Peak

Day 4: Hanoi - Ninh Binh

  • Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

  • Tam Coc - Bich Dong or Trang An

  • Mua Cave

  • Biking at Tam Coc then back to Hanoi

Day 5 - 6: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Enjoy a 2-day 1-night cruise trip

Day 7: Hanoi - Da Nang - Hoi An

  • Da Nang City Tour

  • Hoi An ancient town

Day 8: Da Nang City

  • Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

  • Son Tra Peninsula

  • My Khe beach

Day 9: Da Nang - Hue

  • Hue Imperial Citadel

  • Khai Dinh & Minh Mang Tomb

  • Boat trip on the Huong River & visit Thien Mu Pagoda

Day 10: Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh 

  • Ho Chi Minh City tour

  • Night time on Bui Vien Street or Saigon River cruise trip

Day 11: Cu Chi & Shopping

  • Cu Chi Tunnel historical site

  • Shopping: Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, etc

  • Street food

Day 12 - 13: My Tho - Ben Tre - Can Tho

  • Boating on the Tien River

  • Local village: garden, coconut factory, traditional music performance

  • Cai Rang floating market

Day 14: Can Gio Mangrove forest

  • Can Gio Mangrove forest half-day trip

  • Ho Chi Minh Departure

 

Option 3: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary in 1 month

What do you think about spending a month in Vietnam to thoroughly explore its 17 provinces and cities? Below are suggested tourist destinations for a 30-day Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary. You can choose to skip some places if you want to spend more time in another city.

1 month in Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City itinerary

1-month in Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City itinerary

Day 1 - 2: Hanoi City Tour

  • Hanoi Arrival & Hotel check-in

  • Hanoi City tour & Street food

  • Hanoi Traditional Villages: Bat Trang Ceramic & Quang Phu Cau Incence Village

  • Night time: Shopping

Day 3 - 4: Hanoi - Mai Chau

  • Stay at a local homestay

  • Biking or hiking in the valley and forest

  • Local market

Day 5 - 6: Mai Chau - Sapa

  • Lao Chai - Ta Van - Y Linh Ho Village trekking to see terraced rice paddies

  • Town tour, shopping, and local food

  • Fansipan Peak

  • Cat Cat Village - Silver Water Fall - O Quy Ho Pass

Day 7 - 8: Sapa - Ha Giang

  • Quan Ba Gate

  • Ha Giang Loop & Nho Que River

  • King of the Hmong Palace

  • Lung Cu Flag Point

  • Ma Pi Leng Pass

  • Visit Dong Van Town

Day 9: Ha Giang - Cao Bang

  • Pac Bo historical site

  • Lenin Spring

Day 10: Cao Bang - Bac Kan - Hanoi

  • Ban Gioc Waterfall

  • Nguom Ngao Cave

Day 11- 12: Hanoi - Ninh Binh

  • Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

  • Tam Coc - Bich Dong or Trang An

  • Mua Cave

  • Biking at Tam Coc

  • Hoa Lu Old Quarter

  • Bai Dinh Pagoda

Day 13 - 15: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Enjoy a 3-day 2-night cruise trip or a 2-day 1-night cruise trip and 1 night at the city

Day 16 - 17: Hanoi - Quang Binh

  • Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park

  • Forest retreat at a resort

  • Nhat Le Beach

Day 18 - 19: Quang Binh - Da Nang 

  • Da Nang City & local markets

  • Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

  • Son Tra Peninsula

  • My Khe beach

Day 20 -21: - Da Nang - Hue

  • Hue Imperial Citadel

  • Khai Dinh & Minh Mang Tomb

  • Boat trip on the Huong River & visit Thien Mu Pagoda

  • Visit rural village

  • Tam Giang Lagoon

Day 22: Da Nang - Hoi An

  • Hoi An Old Town

  • Lantern-making class & Cooking class

  • Tra Que garden

Day 23 - 24: Da Nang - Nha Trang

  • Ponagar Tower

  • Nha Trang City

  • Nha Trang beaches & Island: Doc Let, Tam Island, Dai Beach, etc

Day 25: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh

  • Ho Chi Minh City tour

  • Night time on Bui Vien Street or Saigon River cruise trip

Day 26 - 27: Cu Chi - Mekong Delta

  • Cu Chi tunnel half-day

  • Boat trip on the river

  • Visit local house and garden

  • Listen to traditional music

Day 28 - 30: Phu Quoc Island

  • Phu Quoc Beaches: Long Beach, Sao Beach, etc.

  • Phu Quoc Islands: Mong Tay, May Rut, Buom, Dam, etc.

  • Phu Quoc National Park

  • Island hopping

  • Phu Quoc night market

 

Budget

Apart from the transportation costs outlined above, I have some budget suggestions for you during your travel duration:

Visa cost

  • 25 USD for single entry

  • 50 USD for multiple entry

Accommodation

  • Homestay: 6 - 20 USD/room/night

  • 3-star hotel: 12 - 20 USD/room/night

  • 4-star hotel: 40 - 60 USD/room/night

  • 5-star hotel: From 80 USD/room/night

Food & Drink

2- 8 USD/meal

Ticket

  • 2 - 10 USD for an entrance ticket

  • 40 - 60 USD for a ticket to entertain complex

Guide

12 - 20 USD/day

Tour

12 - 20 USD/half-day tour

Personal Expenses

From 2 USD/day

City transport

About 4 - 8 USD/day (bus, car, motorbike, bike, etc)

 

If you travel according to the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary for two weeks with a 4-star budget, the expenses can be around 1,200 - 1,500 USD per person.

Travel Tips

Finally, if you are planning your Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary, you might find the following tips helpful:

  • Get your visa ready: You should apply for your visa in advance for at least 2 weeks before your flight time to Vietnam.

  • Ideal time for visiting Vietnam: You may want to plan your visit between September and April. Vietnam experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer months from May to August. However, if you can tolerate such weather conditions, you can still travel during this period.

  • Weather variations: Northern Vietnam experiences four distinct seasons, including a cold winter. While the Central and Southern regions have only rainy and dry seasons. You might need to wear a jacket in Hanoi but only a T-shirt in Ho Chi Minh City. Be sure to check the temperatures when packing your luggage to prepare appropriate sets of clothes.

  • Recommended items to pack: Sunblock, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes or sandals.

  • Vietnamese Currency (VND): Card payments are widely accepted in major cities in Vietnam. However, you should carry a few million Dongs in cash as backup.

For a comprehensive look, don't miss our post on travel guide to Vietnam!

The Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary is a classic travel route that never fails to captivate, especially for first-time visitors to Vietnam. You can continue exploring the New Asia Tours website to discover other recommendations for customized package tours tailored to different budgets and offering the best discount. Should you have any inquiries or wish to know more details, don't hesitate to reach out to our team with your message. We are here to help!