13 days in Vietnam itineraries is a perfect duration for you to discover the country, offering a deep glimpse of history, culture, and natural beauty. Within nearly 2 weeks in Vietnam, you can set foot in different parts of the nation, and indulge in the emerald rice fields of the North, picturesque coastal beaches of the Central, and chaotic Southern region. In the following article, let’s delve into how to plan a perfect 13-day trip to Vietnam and check out the most favored tour itineraries.
Suggest for 13 Days in Vietnam Itineraries
Itinerary 1: Vietnam 13 Days Over the Northern Region
Day 1 – Arrive in Hanoi: Check in at the hotel and relax.
Day 2 – Hanoi City tour: Check out Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, the Temple of Literature, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
Day 3 – Leave Hanoi for Mai Chau: and have lunch at a local restaurant before joining a trekking adventure to beautiful villages. Night at a homestay in Mai Chau.
Day 4 – Hike the Mai Chau Valley: Visit Thai people – a rich cultural and ethnic community in Northern Vietnam. After lunch, embark on a journey to Son La.
Day 5 – Visit Son La’s highlights: Time to visit a provincial museum and the nearby old prison. Then, transfer to Dien Bien Phu over Pha Din Pass. Visit the Dien Bien Phu Museum and an old battlefield.
Day 6 – Transfer to Lai Chau: Travel for a half day to reach Lai Chau Town, where you can take a boat ride to Da River, enjoy beautiful mountain sceneries, and see the local way of life up close.
Day 7 – Move to Sapa: Go on a 180-kilometer journey to Sa Pa, where you can indulge in the cool weather of a hill town.
Day 8 – Hike to Lao Chai – Ta Van village: Meet with Black Hmong and Dzay people.
Day 9 – Lao Cai Market Tour: Visit an ethnic market in Lao Cai province, such as Bac Ha Market, Coc Ly Market, etc.
Day 10 – Transfer from Sapa to Hanoi: Check in at the hotel and enjoy time to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Day 11 – Ha Long Bay Cruise: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, and embark on a 2-day 1-night cruise to discover this World Heritage Site of Vietnam. You will have a chance to indulge in the pristine clearwater with kayaking or swimming, visit gorgeous caves, learn the local way of life at a traditional floating fishing village, get your luck with night squid fishing, etc.
Day 12 – Ha Long – Hanoi: End of Ha Long Bay cruise at noon and return to Hanoi.
Day 13 – Depart Hanoi.
>>> Check here for the detailed tour program. Or, look for similar itineraries at our Best North Vietnam Tours.
Itinerary 2: Vietnam 13 Days From North to Central
Day 1 – Arrive in Hanoi.
Day 2 – Hanoi city tour: Check out Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
Day 3 – Transfer to Ninh Binh province: Visit Van Long Nature Reserve – which is considered the “Ha Long Bay on land” of Vietnam. After lunch, you head to Cuc Phuong National Park and take a short hike to visit prehistoric caves. Night in the forest.
Day 4 – Discover Ninh Binh highlights: Morning discover nature with many rare trees and animals. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Muong Village before the driver picks you up. If time permits, you can visit Bich Dong Pagoda and take a bike ride through the tranquility of Van Lam village.
Day 5 – Move to Ha Long Bay: Embark on the cruise at noon and start your journey to discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam.
Day 6 – Ha Long Bay cruise: Follow the cruise itinerary to explore the magical highlights of Ha Long Bay.
Day 7 – Ha Long – Hanoi – Lao Cai: Disembark from the cruise, return to Hanoi, and night train to Lao Cai.
Day 8 – Market tour: This morning, you will visit an ethnic market in Lao Cai, Coc Ly, or Bac Ha market. Then, transfer to Sapa, check in at the hotel, and rest.
Day 9 – Full-day trekking in Sapa: Discover Cat Cat village, Y Linh Ho, and Lao Chai – Ta Van villages. Night at a local residence in Ta Van village.
Day 10 – Sapa sightseeing: Take the road to Giang Ta Chai, home to the Red Dao Minority. Your final stop is Ban Ho village, visit Muong Hoa and La Ve streams. Night train to Hanoi.
Day 11 – Hanoi – Dong Hoi: Fly to Dong Hoi in the early morning. Afternoon visit famous tourist destinations like Quang Binh Quan, Luy Thay, Tam Hoa temple, and Dong Hoi Shopping Center.
Day 12 – Explore Phong Nha National Park: Observe beautiful limestone formations, caves, and spectacular forests.
Day 13 – Depart.
>>> The detailed tour program is presented at our Authentic Vietnam in 13 days tour.
Itinerary 3: Southern Vietnam 13 Days for Beach Lovers
Day 1 – Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City: Check in at the hotel, and have time to relax and discover the city’s nightlife on your way.
Day 2 – Saigon – Phan Thiet: Transfer to Phan Thiet by car, passing beautiful roads with dense rubber plantations. Check in at the hotel and relax.
Day 3 – Beach day: Time to relax on the beautiful beach of Phan Thiet. You can also opt to play golf at a nearby golf course.
Day 4 – Phan Thiet – Nha Trang: Depart to Nha Trang, and stop in Phan Rang to visit the Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers.
Day 5 – Discover Nha Trang Bay: Try snorkeling and swimming in the pristine clear water. Afternoon visit Long Son Pagoda, Po Cham Towers, and the local Dam Market.
Day 6 – Beach day: Free time to relax on the beach.
Day 7 – Transfer to Quy Nhon: Say goodbye to Nha Trang and take the way to Quy Nhon.
Day 8 – Beach day: Free time to relax at the resort or discover Quy Nhon’s tranquil beaches.
Day 9 – Beach day: One more day to discover the beautiful scenery on your way.
Day 10 – Quy Nhon – Hoi An: Leave Quy Nhon for Hoi An, and visit My Lai Massacre Memorial on the way. In the afternoon, you will join a walking tour around Hoi An ancient town, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, and so on.
Day 11 – Explore My Son Sanctuary: This is the ancient capital of the Champa Kingdom. Free afternoon to relax on Cua Dai Beach.
Day 12 – Free day in Hoi An: Free time to relax on the beach or take a bike ride around Hoi An old town, where you can see a lot of art galleries, silk and handicraft souvenir shops, etc.
Day 13 – Depart.
>>> Here is the detailed itinerary of this Luxury Vietnam Beach Vacation in 13 Days. Look for more similar trips, please check out our best Vietnam beach holidays.
Top Things to Do During Your 13 Days in Vietnam Itineraries
- Trek to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages in Sapa, meeting Black Hmong and Dzay communities along terraced rice fields
- Cruise Ha Long Bay overnight, ideally with kayaking through the karsts’ hidden lagoons
- Visit an ethnic market in Lao Cai province, such as Bac Ha or Coc Ly, best experienced early in the morning
- Explore Mai Chau’s homestay villages, staying overnight with a White Thai family
- Visit the Dien Bien Phu battlefield and museum, a genuinely significant site in Vietnam’s 20th-century history
- Explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park’s caves, if your route includes central Vietnam
- Watch sunset over Ha Long Bay from the sundeck, one of the most reliably beautiful moments of a multi-day cruise
- Cycle through Mai Chau’s rice paddies, an easy, flat ride connecting the valley’s homestay villages
Best Food to Try in North Vietnam
- Pho: Hanoi’s most famous export, a beef or chicken noodle soup built on a slow-simmered broth.
- Bun Cha: Grilled pork patties over rice vermicelli with a tangy dipping broth, a Hanoi original.
- Thang Co: A Hmong hotpot traditionally made with horse meat, herbs, and organ meats, a Sapa-area specialty.
- Com Chay: Ninh Binh’s crispy rice specialty, broken into chunks and eaten with a savory gravy soup.
- Nem Lui: Grilled pork skewers wrapped in rice paper with fresh herbs, common across northern homestay meals.
Calculating Your Budget for 13 Days in Vietnam Itineraries
Costs vary by travel style, accommodation, transportation, and dining preferences. As a rough guide:
- Accommodation: Budget hostels or basic hotels run $10-20 per night, mid-range comfort $20-50 per night, and luxury hotels and resorts start around $100 per night.
- Transportation: Domestic flights run $30-100 per trip, overnight trains or buses $20-50, motorbike rental around $5-15 per day, with taxis and private car rentals generally inexpensive.
- Food and drink: Street food runs $1-3 per meal, local restaurants $5-10, Western-style restaurants $10-20, with drinks from $0.50-3.
- Activities and entrance fees: Museum and historical site fees run $2-10 per site, day tours $20 to over $100, and a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise $100-300+ depending on the luxury level.
For a mid-range 13-day trip (excluding international flights), a typical breakdown looks like: accommodation around $390 (13 nights at $30), transportation around $200, food around $325, activities around $390, miscellaneous (souvenirs, extras) around $100, and travel insurance around $75, for a total estimate of roughly $1,480. To get a more accurate figure for your own trip, look up current prices for the elements above, since they fluctuate based on season and economic factors, and always keep a contingency fund for unexpected expenses.
Check the Vietnam Visa Policy
Most nationalities can apply for a Vietnam e-visa online, valid for 90 days for a single or multiple entry. A number of countries, including Korea, Japan, and several in Europe, qualify for visa-free entry for up to 45 days. E-visas can be used at major international airports, land border gates (including Lao Cai, relevant if your route touches the far north), and sea border gates, and are applied for entirely online, with an approval code sent by email.
It’s worth applying for your e-visa at least a week before departure to leave room for any processing delays, and printing a copy of your approval letter as backup in case of connectivity issues at immigration. If your route includes the Lao Cai land border crossing specifically, double-check that your visa category covers land entry, since not all do.
Estimated Cost for 13 Days in Vietnam Itineraries
| Tier | Daily Budget (VND) | Daily Budget (~USD) | What’s Included |
| Budget | 500,000-800,000 VND | ~$20-32 | Hostels or budget hotels, street food, local transport |
| Mid-Range | 1,200,000-2,200,000 VND | ~$48-88 | 3-star hotels, mix of restaurants, private day tours |
| Luxury | 3,500,000+ VND | ~$140+ | 4-5 star hotels, private guide and driver, fine dining |
Over 13 days, that works out to roughly $260-416 budget, $624-1,144 mid-range, and $1,820 and up for a luxury version, not including international flights. A Ha Long Bay overnight cruise typically adds $80-250 per person depending on cabin class.
Wrapping Up
Above, we have introduced to you the step by step to plan a perfect trip to Vietnam in 13 days as well as some suggested itineraries. In general, 13 days in Vietnam is enough for you to discover the country throughout or in depth. You can just explore a region or travel along the country. Contact us to plan your trip right now or if you have any questions.
Read more:
Is two weeks in Vietnam enough? This is my first time in Vietnam, so I want to visit the major tourist destinations like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An
Hi Evelyn,
Two weeks in Vietnam is just the right amount of time for you to discover all the major highlights of the country, such as Hanoi, Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta. With a carefully-planned itinerary, you can even spend sometimes in Sapa or Hue.
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam in the upcoming time, refer to our best Vietnam tours for some suggested itineraries. Or, contact us right now for a tailor-made trip.
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
IDC Travel Team.