Why This Circuit

Five Cities, Built for First-Time Vietnam

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Hanoi — Old Quarter capital

Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, French Quarter cafés and the best street food in the north.

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Ha Long Bay — UNESCO cruise

Overnight cruise through one of the world's most dramatic seascapes — 1,600 limestone karst islands rising from emerald water.

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Hue — imperial capital

The 19th-century Nguyen Dynasty capital. Citadel, Imperial Tombs and the Perfume River — Vietnam's UNESCO cultural heart.

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Hoi An — lantern town

UNESCO Old Town lit by silk lanterns at night, riverside cafés, tailor district, cooking classes and the wide beach.

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HCMC + Cu Chi finish

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) — energetic south finish, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels day-trip.

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Offline GPS navigator + e-Visa

Mobile playbook with GPS to every Old Quarter alley + step-by-step e-Visa walkthrough.

The Route

9 Nights, 5 Cities, North to South

⚡ e-Visa required: Indian passport gets a 90-day Vietnam e-Visa for USD 25 — apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, 3 working days. Apply 2 weeks before travel.

★ Best months: February–April (dry, mild north + south). Hoi An and central Vietnam dry from Feb–Aug. November–January can be cool/grey in Hanoi.

🥗 Vietnamese vegetarian: Buddhist temple culture means "com chay" / "pho chay" (vegetarian rice / pho) restaurants in every city. Hoi An has the best vegetarian scene in the country.

Nights 1–2 · City 1

Hanoi — Old Quarter capital

Arrive HAN. Two nights in Hanoi. Old Quarter walking, Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature, water puppet show, train-street and bia hoi corner.

Night 3 · Zone 2

Ha Long Bay — UNESCO cruise

2D/1N Ha Long Bay cruise from Hanoi. Kayak through karst caves, swimming, fresh seafood (vegetarian options on luxury cruises), tai chi sunrise.

Night 4 · City 3

Hue — imperial capital

Fly to Hue. One night at the imperial capital. Citadel + Forbidden Purple City, dragon-boat cruise on Perfume River, Imperial Tombs (Tu Duc).

Nights 5–7 · City 4

Hoi An — lantern town

Hai Van Pass private car to Hoi An. Three nights — UNESCO Old Town night walk, tailor district (24-hour custom suits), An Bang Beach, cooking class on the river, Marble Mountains.

Nights 8–9 · City 5

HCMC — south finish

Fly DAD → SGN. Two nights in Ho Chi Minh City. Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame + Saigon Central Post Office, Cu Chi Tunnels half-day, Ben Thanh Market street food.

Day 10