How to Spend a 1-Week Trip in Vietnam

Now, there are MANY itineraries that can be generated for a one-week trip to Vietnam. Personally, I found it better to stay in the north and central regions to minimize travel time and soak in the seven days I was working with. Depending on your travel style and how much time you have here, you may prefer to mix it up — and I can help you with that! Reach out to me and let me sort out your ideal itinerary for your upcoming travel — because after backpacking for four months, I've heard a thing or two about alternatives here.

You'll likely fly into Noi Bai International Airport. I recommend booking a morning flight so you can check into your hotel downtown and get lost in the swirl of sweet chaos on foot, where your greatest menace is the motorbike (they come in the millions).

I only spent 12 hours in Hanoi (it's just another typical city, to be honest), but here's what I gathered for maximizing your visit to get the most out of your short stay:

10 am: Since the airport is 45 minutes from the downtown Old Quarter, I arranged a hotel pickup and checked in, dropped off bags, and headed for the streets (this is the go-to district for travelers and where you'll spend most of your time).

10:30 am: Take a minute to breathe in the air and just appreciate how many aromas enter your nostrils. The local food being prepared among the lines of food stalls come fresh, cheap and will awaken the Southeast Asian craving in your belly for more. You could look up the best pho in Hanoi, but there are so many pho stalls to choose from, so I just went with the busiest one, and it did not disappoint.

I tend to pick my food based on how clean the place looks. If it doesn't look sanitary, skip it!

11:30 am: After inhaling that hot bowl of bliss, I decided to walk it off while appreciating the street murals in Hanoi's Old Quarter. This quiet street gives a museum of illustrations that spotlight the country's turbulent past and its present-day culture.

12:30 pm: Now for the infamous reel everyone wants to recreate. 65 Railway Coffee was my next destination. If you don't know about this tourist hot spot: several times a day, a train heading south to Ho Chi Minh roars through the heart of Hanoi, just inches away from the shops that line its tracks. You can witness these deafening horn blasts from anywhere along the tracks, but to sit right next to the tracks sipping a cup of coffee as it chugs by is an epic experience I'd wish on anyone.

2:30 pm–5 pm: Depending on your level of energy, I have a couple of recommendations for the next few hours:

• View Ho Chi Minh's body at the mausoleum, if your morbid curiosity needs a peek into past political leaders. Admission is free.

• Visit Hoa Lo Prison Memorial, a somber look into Vietnam's history before gaining its independence and where the prison's most famous American prisoner, John McCain, stayed for five and a half years in confinement.

• People-watch and walk around Hoan Kiem Lake — check out the abandoned temple in the center!

• Take a food tour, because why not? Go discover some of the best pho hidden in the alleyways of Hanoi.

5 pm: Wherever you end up, if you're like me, by early evening, you'll be ready for a shower and some relaxation in the hotel.
The night isn't over yet though. There's still time for Hanoi's best live music: Binh Minh Jazz Club. This intimate venue carries an old-school vibe while serving up great cocktails and hot jazz.

Start the night early so you can end the night early, because tomorrow is a pickup at daybreak for a long drive and a Sapa saga of trekking through the rice fields.

Trekking in Sapa was an unforgettable experience and deserves at least an overnight stay. The guides live among the villages you will visit and are ethnic minorities in Vietnam. They use their local knowledge to create hiking and motorbike tours that create an authentic experience while getting to see the most serene areas of Sapa.

Since I was living the backpacker lifestyle, I booked the backpacker budget-friendly tour through Trekking Tour Sapa, which required a 10:30 pm clunky/cramped/bumpy overnight bus ride to get into Sapa at 5 am. You may feel adventurous and want to do the same, but let's pretend we're balling out and going on a "2-Day Overnight Sapa Tour by Luxury Van Limo from Hanoi" instead...

A trip like this costs around $100/person with everything included, minus travel insurance and dinners.

Example itinerary:

6:45 am: Pickup from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter and depart for Sapa.

9:30–11 am: Take a nap in the backseat of your luxury van limo to Lao Cai city for a breakfast pit stop.

12:30 pm: Arrive at Sapa Town and indulge in a local Vietnamese lunch.

2:30 pm: Take a short trek to the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak (the highest mountain in Vietnam) to discover Cat Village, home of the Black H'mong ethnic people. Your guide will give you insight into the daily life of locals. Continue further to a waterfall where the French built a hydraulic power station.

5 pm: Return to Sapa Town. You'll be recommended the best local restaurants for dinner and will stay overnight in a four-star hotel located in Sapa Centre.

If you're looking for a more difficult experience or need one that doesn't require too much physical activity, the tour company can personalize your trip to fit most criteria.

Example itinerary:

8:30 am: Sleep in and stretch out before savoring breakfast at your hotel.

9:45 am: Embark on a morning trek with your guide to Y Linh Ho through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Streams to the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai. Watch your step as you wander in awe, looking up at the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain before heading to Ta Van village.

This trek takes about three and a half hours over 12 kilometers, but can be adjusted depending on your level of ability.

11:30 am: The bus will pick you up at Ta Van bridge and take you back to Sapa Center.

12 pm: Take a rest and treat yourself to a well-deserved lunch before getting some time to explore on your own — aka picture-posing hour.

2 pm: Meet back with the group at your hotel to prepare for your return to Hanoi.

2:30 pm–9 pm: Put on your coziest fit and hop on the bus back to the city.

Make sure you bring some Dong cash with you on this trip because you will have the peer-pressured opportunity to buy souvenirs from the locals and it will be a little awkward if you don't buy anything (as it was for me running out of cash).

Now, this is a trip I had been dying to do and didn't have the time for (I went to Hue instead), but based on my traveler friend recs, this is a must-do tour if you have two days to squeeze it in.

7:30 am: You'll be picked up from your Hanoi hotel to embark on a scenic 2.5-hour drive through the lush lands of the Red River Delta to reach the Trang An boat pier.

When you get there, you'll continue your journey on a three-hour sampan riverboat cruise through tunnel-like caves in the Inland Halong Bay, a jaw-dropping area known for its karst formations. After this unforgettable experience, you'll sit yourself for a hearty Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you'll gear up for a cycling journey on the backroads through the countryside to reach Hang Mua. This popular viewpoint will lure you up to summit and presumably, add an endless supply of photos to your camera roll. Marvel at the panoramic views of the karst formations and capture some memories with your new friends/spouse/tour guide/yourself. Hike back downhill and continue your bike ride to Tam Coc area before checking into your hotel to rest up before dinner.

Based on my experience with booking tours, I highly recommend booking through a local website. TripAdvisor and Viator take a large portion of profit from these small companies, and these small entrepreneurs do it better anyway!

8 am: Start with a full breakfast before speeding off on a scenic, 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay.

Upon arrival, you'll embark on a deluxe boat recommended based on your preferred style (your tour guide will find you your ideal option), and follow its cruise schedule to set sail through this world-famous bay in the afternoon. While on board, you can participate in some "yolo" activities off the boat, like swimming or hiking to a limestone cave while taking in the impressive scenery on the in-between.

In the evening, enjoy another spicy platter of Vietnamese cuisine on the boat before spending the night onboard. Take this opportunity to relax, reflect and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Halong Bay.

Since I didn't go on this tour, I don't have the specifics. However, based on my traveler friends' opinions, they preferred Ninh Binh over Halong Bay, since Halong Bay gets very touristy. So, if you only have time to do one of these trips, Ninh Binh is the one to pick.

Flights from Hanoi to Da Nang City Airport are generally pretty cheap ($80 round-trip) and only take a little over an hour in the air. About 45 minutes south of Da Nang rests one of Vietnam's most charming UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I absolutely loved Hoi An, so I think it's worth flying down for at least two days. With it town streets lined with lanterns, Japanese architectural influence and mystical alleys that are a feast for your eyes, it felt like I was walking through a Disney fairytale movie set.

Da Nang is also a go-to destination for many travelers. However, I found it to be too crowded of a city with more tourist traps and dirty beaches. I wouldn't spend too much time here unless you have time to kill (which you won't).

6:25-7:45 am: Catch the early flight to Hoi An so you can really seize the day.

9 am: Check into your hotel in Old Town (where you will be spending most of your traveler time).

10 am–1 pm: Grab a coffee and explore the sights of this ancient city. It's easy to get lost in a daze just meandering around the maze of yellow walls, historically preserved family houses, pagodas, art centers and the Japanese Bridge.

1 pm: Make your way to the Hoi An Basket Boat for a unique 60-minute tour that takes you through the lush coconut forests of Cam Thanh Village. This tour was awesome because we learned about the traditional uses of the basket boat and fishing techniques (you get to attempt to catch crabs!) with updated conservation efforts, while passing through a floating workshop of local artists showcasing their handicraft, coconut-making. The most hilarious moment was witnessing (and participating) in the basket boat performance show. The spinning of the boats using a rhythmic paddle movement in some sort of dance with "Gangam Style" blasting on the speakers — I was laughing in awe of the spectacle before me.

3 pm: Head back to the hotel and freshen up for the evening.

5 pm: As the sun starts to set, grab a bite to eat on the water in Old Town (I recommend making a reservation so you have the best view of the river). Once day has turned to night, take a personal boat ride on the Thu Bồn River to watch the twinkling lights of the floating lanterns bring this fairytale city to life.

My friend and I got scammed by taking the first offer we got. This river gets pretty crowded with vendors fighting to get you on their boat, so remember to never take the first offer — it'll always be way higher than the second or third.

Hoi An doesn't have much nightlife and the city shuts down quite early, so its best to get to bed early and wake up early so you can make the most of your time when the city is popping.

4:30–7:30 am: Even if you're not much of an "early bird gets the worm" type of person, you will still love a sunrise kayaking tour with Hoi An Kayak Tours.

You'll be picked up at 4:30 from your hotel and paddle along the Thu Bon River with uninterrupted views of the horizon until you reach the Cua Dai bridge to catch an epic view of the sun rising over the ocean. The paddle will end with an exciting view of local life at the bustling fish market and the chance to buy breakfast from local vendors and seek the caffeine you need at one of their cafés. On the way back, you'll paddle through a coco-palm island for a unique view into the ecosystem in Hoi An before transferring back to your hotel.

This tour is not available from November to January during the rainy season.

10 am: After taking a rest at the hotel, go be a beach bum along this coast of long, gorgeous stretches of white sand beaches. An Bang and Cua Dai are among the two most famous in the area and just a couple miles from Old Town. You'll spend $1 on beach loungers and have table service for the remainder of your stay — it's the perfect way to end a long and eventful adventure through Vietnam.