A year is already gone since we arrived for the first time in Asia, and we’re now planning to go back soon.
Our plan was to travel from north to south and try to see/do as much as we could, but unexpected events sometimes happen and plans can change completely.
Better have the flexibility to stay in one place a bit longer if you get sick (as happened to Fabio with some garlic in Hanoi).
We travelled between mid-March to beginning of April. The weather in the North was cloudy and a bit chilly (no chances to enjoy a swim), in the south (HCMC) was very hot and humid.
Our final schedule
Day 1 Hanoi, (read more in the dedicated post on Hanoi or about the Vietnamese craft beers scene)
Day 2-3 Halong Bay Cruise, (read more about our experience at this link)
Day 3-4-5 Hanoi, (read more in the dedicated post on Hanoi or about the Vietnamese craft beers scene)
Day 5-6-7 Ninh Binh, (read more info at this link)
We’ve reached Ninh Binh by train from Hanoi, very easy to book via baolau.com (in English), we paid for 2 tickets one way Vietnamese Dong 324,000/£10 ish.
Day 7 Hanoi/Huè (read more info about Huè at this link)
We’ve decided to take a Vietjet flight (1 hour) in order to save time and reach our destination well rested instead of travelling overnight by train (12 hours ish). It was a great choice.
Day 8 Huè/Hoi An; highly recommended to drive from Huè to Hoi An (check out our post for more info)
Day 9-10-11-12 Hoi An (a post about Hoi An is coming soon)
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon); from Hoi An to HCMC we’ve took another Vietjet flight (1 hour). Flying in Vietnam is quite an experience. Get ready for a very often delayed flight, noisy and kids running in the corridor even during landing.
Day 13-14 Can Thơ, Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour; we explored the areas on a guided tour organised by Hieutour Co., highly recommended. (very soon a post about our experience with them)
Day 14 -15 Ho Chi Minh City
Suggested places that we missed but they worth a visit: Ban Gioc–Detian Falls, Sapa, Hang Sơn Đoòng (interesting reading about this magical place here), My Son, Nha Trang, Đà Lạt, Mũi Né, Phú Quoc and the new Golden Bridge (Vietnamese: Cầu Vàng)