Got a week to travel in Vietnam? That is wonderful, but it brings up concerns about exploring new places. Vietnam is rated as a very travel-friendly destination. Still, there are many questions about which route to follow, how to move around, where to stay, where to eat, and any tips for integrating with the local flow. This article will help you visualize your 7 days in Vietnam with some guidance and suggestions.
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Overview
One week in Vietnam is sufficient for you to discover, experience, and get a sense of Vietnam’s essence. Vietnam is a destination with much to explore, a variety of activities, friendly people, reasonable costs, diverse dining options, and relatively good services. You can visit Vietnam on a trip with your company, friends, family, for a honeymoon, or even solo.
The expenses for a week-long trip in Vietnam (not including international flights) are around $300 if you use basic services, and from $700 to $1000 if you want a comfortable trip with 4- to 5-star services. You can travel independently or book a tour through a travel agency for pre-arranged services.
Spending on travel, food, and lodging in Vietnam is typically not seen as costly. The main concern for many considering a trip to Vietnam is the international flight ticket. Travelers often try to book their flights early to secure the best prices.
The second thing you need to prepare for before your trip is your visa. Visa processing times can range from one week to one month. Therefore, we recommend that you prepare your visa well in advance, ideally about one month before your trip. This ensures that your travel plans won’t be disrupted due to delayed visa approval.
Transportation
Most travelers enter Vietnam via international airports. Additionally, entry can be made via land border crossings or sea routes.
For domestic travel within Vietnam:
- The most popular modes of transportation to get around are by plane, train, long-distance bus, and motorbike.
- In remote provinces where there are no airports or trains, long-distance buses are the most common and time-efficient choice.
Within cities:
- Tourists can get around by calling taxis.
- Booking ride-hailing services through apps like XanhSM (electric vehicles) and Grab, Be, and Gojek (petrol vehicles).
- Taking city buses.
- Renting motorbikes or bicycles.
- Using boats or ferries in river areas.
- Some modes of transport at tourist destinations like Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh are high-speed trains, cyclos, electric buggies, double-decker buses, jeeps, and Minsk motorbikes.
The cost of long-distance travel over 10km ranges from 200,000 VND to 3,000,000 VND (7,8 – 118 USD) per trip. Short-distance travel from 1 to less than 10km typically costs from 1 to 4 USD.
Some suggested Itineraries
With 7 days in Vietnam, you can explore 3-5 cities. Vietnam has three main regions: North, Central, and South. Flights between these regions typically take 1,5 – 2,5 hours. You can choose to explore cities within each region individually or combine cities across different regions such as North-Central, North-South, or Central-South, or even travel across all three regions. Below are some specific itinerary options for your reference.
Option 1: Northern Vietnam
This itinerary encompasses visits to the capital city of Hanoi, renowned for its bustling and vibrant ambiance, the ancient capital of Ninh Binh with its awe-inspiring natural landscapes, the lively highlands of Sapa, and the globally acclaimed wonder of Halong Bay.
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 2: Hanoi City Explore
- Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh day trip
- Day 4 – 5: Hanoi – Sapa vibrant highland
- Day 6 – 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hanoi
In addition to this classic route, you can also choose rugged mountainous routes such as Ha Giang – Cao Bang – Bac Kan or the route from Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Yen Bai.
Option 2: Southern Vietnam
The beauty of Southern Vietnam lies in its colorful cities and the extensive network of waterways in the river delta. You will witness dense waterways intricately woven into the daily life of the local people.
- Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
- Day 2: Ho Chi Minh day trip
- Day 3: Ho Chi Minh – Cao Dai – Cu Chi
- Day 4: My Tho – Ben Tre
- Day 5: Can Tho
- Day 6: Chau Doc – Ho Chi Minh
Option 3: Central Vietnam
The Central region is a captivating heritage area where ancient values are preserved amidst a tranquil pace of life. With this itinerary, you can explore the vibrant young city of Da Nang, the eco-friendly Hoi An, and the historic former capital of Hue.
- Day 1: Da Nang – Hoi An ancient town
- Day 2: Hoi An Coconut Village
- Day 3: Ba Na Hills Da Nang
- Day 4: Marble Mountain and Son Tra Penninsula
- Day 5: Da Nang free day
- Day 6 – 7: Da Nang – Hue
Option 4: North & Central Vietnam
Here are some recommended travel itineraries for visiting locations in North and Central Vietnam. The stops are Hanoi, Halong Bay, Da Nang, and Hoi An.
- Day 1 – 2: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 3 – 4: Halong Bay
- Day 5: Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An
- Day 6 – 7: Da Nang City
Likewise, you can pair different tourist spots in the North and South or the Central and South.
Option 5: Vietnam 7 days
Or, you could use your 7 days to visit all three regions in Vietnam:
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 2: Hanoi Discovering
- Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay
- Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Da Nang
- Day 5: Da Nang – Hoi An
- Day 6 : Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City
- Day 7: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta
Accommodation
To select appropriate lodging, it is important to determine your needs and budget, check reviews on online booking platforms, read customer ratings, and make reservations early to ensure a satisfactory accommodation experience during your journey.
Accommodation options in Vietnam range from city center locations near tourist spots for easy access, to secluded and serene settings for those seeking peace and quiet. Accommodation choices in Vietnam vary from buildings, homestays, boutique hotels, resorts, villas, and bungalows to various unique hotel concepts that emphasize local culture or meet international standards.
Vietnam has a variety of globally acclaimed hotel chains such as Accor, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Wyndham, MGallery… Additionally, there are also popular local hotel chains that are tailored for international travelers, including Vinpearl, BRG, Muong Thanh, Sun Group, FLC, Emotional Vietnam, EHG, etc.
To choose a room that suits your preferences, you can carefully review the services, amenities, maintenance quality, reviews, room views, and consider pricing. You can also seek recommendations from reputable local tour operators who regularly survey and assess hotels to match customer needs. Accommodation costs in Vietnam typically range from 600,000 to 3,000,000 VND/2 pax/1 night (24 – 119 USD).
How to Select a Dining Spot
When spending 7 days in Vietnam, one important aspect to consider is what to eat. Usually, tourists don’t need to worry about food and often give high praise to the local cuisine and street food.
Food is abundant on every street, offering everything from traditional Vietnamese fare to international cuisines such as Western, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indian, and Halal food. The fast food chains available in Vietnam include KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Jollibee, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, and Pizza 4P’s. To savor Vietnamese cuisine, you can visit traditional Vietnamese restaurants, street food vendors, or eateries listed in the Michelin Guide.
Dishes you should try when visiting Vietnam include traditional meals with rice; various noodle dishes like pho and bun; banh mi, desserts, seafood, fruits, and local snacks. If you are concerned about the different cuisines, consider carrying digestive enzymes, allergy medication, and anti-diarrheal medicine before you travel.
Dining costs at casual restaurants in Vietnam range from 200,000 to 600,000 VND/meal ( 8 – 24 USD), while street food typically costs between 40,000 and 100,000 VND per dish (1,6 – 4 USD).
Local Customs & Tips
Finally, here are some notes to keep in mind before you prepare for your journey of 7 days in Vietnam:
- Check the weather for the time of your travel and pack accordingly.
- Different cities can have very different weather and temperature variations.
- Vietnam is safe for tourists, but be cautious of losing belongings or being overcharged for items.
- Wifi and internet in Vietnam are quite strong and stable, with average mobile network speeds at 46.66 Mbps and fixed network speeds at 84.18 Mbps.
- High-mountain areas in Vietnam usually have slower network speeds and phone signals.
- You can easily buy a SIM card and exchange money for VND at the airport.
- Useful apps in Vietnam include translation, currency exchange, and transportation booking apps.
- Popular call apps in Vietnam are Zalo and Messenger.
- Always keep the phone numbers of acquaintances, hotels, or rental services for emergencies.
- If you plan to enjoy traditional Vietnamese food, you need to learn how to use chopsticks.
- Tap water in Vietnam is not drinkable.
- Traffic in Vietnam can be chaotic and seem dangerous, but you can signal to cross the street by raising your hand.
- Services and goods in Vietnam are quite convenient, and you can buy any necessary items here.
- Highly regarded local products in Vietnam include coffee, tea, garments, footwear, ceramics, pearls, silver jewelry, wooden crafts, bamboo and rattan products, spices, nuts, and organic products.
These are the guidelines if you plan to spend 7 days in Vietnam exploring the country’s famous destinations, natural beauty, culture, and local people. Save it for later and have a wonderful trip!
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