If you are questioning whether 5 days in Vietnam trip will give you memorable experiences and great relaxation, we guarantees it will. Let’s unveil each part of the journey right here. We will give you useful advice on transportation, sightseeing spots, and travel tips specifically for travelers.
How to travel to Vietnam
Transportation
Foreign tourists can enter Vietnam through 9 international airports, 26 land border gates (with China, Laos, and Cambodia), and 17 sea border gates.
The most common way is by air. The busiest international airports in Vietnam include Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang (Da Nang), and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City). You can book tickets online early from airlines to Vietnam to find good deals.
Upon entering Vietnam, you have many options for traveling across the country. The most popular means are by airplane, long-distance bus or minivan, train, or motorbike. Other options for local travel experience include jeep cars, city buses, double-decker buses, cyclos, tuktuk, electric buggies, cruises, or bamboo boats.
Procedure
Vietnam currently has the following visa exemption policies (updated as of May 2024):
- 45-day visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries: Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Belarus.
- 30-day visa exemption for citizens of 6 countries: Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Laos.
- 21-day visa exemption for citizens of the Philippines.
- 14-day visa exemption for citizens of 2 countries: Brunei and Myanmar.
If you do not fall under these categories, you will need to apply for a visa to enter Vietnam. You can apply for an e-visa or a visa on arrival. It is advisable to apply for your visa at least one month before your trip to ensure a smooth process.
Budget
Travel budget for one person in Vietnam for 5 days and 4 nights is approximately $200 – $400 (excluding airfare from your country to Vietnam). This depends on your spending habits, service usage, and shopping needs. To optimize your expenses, you can check detailed prices online or consult friends before making any purchase decisions.
Explore Vietnam in 5 days
Specifically, what can you expect in 5 days in Vietnam? We have got you covered with some suggestions for you here depending on your travel style. With 5 days, to optimize time, effort and cost, we first recommend you explore programs by region: North – Central – South.
Northern Vietnam itinerary 5 days
Northern Vietnam has many interesting travel destinations. Here we introduce to you the Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay route.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
After landing at Noi Bai Airport and transferring to downtown to check into your hotel, you can spend time exploring the bustling Old Quarter, French Quarter, and Sword Lake area by foot. A street food tour and shopping are also unique and special activities in this area.
Hanoi offers many transportation options for you to explore the city at a leisurely pace, such as by motorbike, cyclo, electric buggy car, bicycle, or double-decker bus. You can easily find rentals or purchase tickets for these modes of transportation.
Day 2: Explore Hanoi Day and Night
On the second day, get ready to venture beyond the Old Quarter to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Imperial Citadel for a historical perspective or explore the relaxing Westlake area.
You can catch a long bus ride to the colorful Quang Phu Cau Incense Village or visit Bat Trang Pottery Village to admire and craft handmade items yourself.
In the evening, you can relax with a massage session at your hotel, then enjoy Beer Street Ta Hien or various downtown sky bars like Moonlight, Top of Hanoi, The Summit Bar, etc.
Day 3: Day trip to Ninh Binh Ancient Capital
Spend 2 hours by bus to visit the picturesque ancient capital of Ninh Binh. You can explore Hoa Lu, the first feudal capital of Vietnam, take a boat trip through Trang An or Tam Coc, and challenge yourself with a light hike to the peak of Mua Cave to enjoy an overview of the Tam Coc valley. Finally, have a leisurely bike ride before heading back to Hanoi.
Day 4: Head to Ha Long Bay

After breakfast, get on the bus for a 2-3 hour journey to Ha Long Bay to ensure you arrive on time to board your cruise. Once you have boarded and checked in, you will spend 2 days relaxing and exploring the bay.
Depending on the cruise you choose when booking, each one will have different decor and itineraries. Common activities usually include:
- Visiting islands and caves in the bay.
- Touring a fishing village or a pearl farm.
- Kayaking or rowing a sampan boat in the bay.
- Enjoying onboard activities and services such as cooking classes, squid fishing, morning tai chi, massages, sunset cocktails, swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc.
Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi Arrival
After experiencing the cruise itinerary, you will return from the cruise to the shore at Ha Long and head back to Hanoi. On the way, you can stop at rest areas along the road to shop for souvenirs and local specialties. After that, get ready for your flight home.
Additionally, there are still many more routes to the North mountains that you can try, such as:
- Hanoi – Sapa – Ha Giang
- Hanoi – Lao Cai – Sapa
- Hanoi – Cao Bang – Ba Be – Ha Giang
- Hanoi – Yen Bai – Moc Chau
Central Vietnam itinerary 5 days

Day 1: Da Nang City Arrival
Upon arriving in Da Nang on the first day, you can take some time to rest or explore the city. Some suggestions for you include visiting Son Tra Peninsula, Marble Mountains, Cham Museum, My Khe Beach, and the Han or Con wholesale markets.
In the evening, you can visit the Son Tra or Helio night markets, relax on a Han River cruise, enjoy coffee with a view of the city, or watch the fire show at the Dragon Bridge at 9 PM every weekend.
Day 2: Ba Na Hills full day
Ba Na Hills with the Golden Bridge is an iconic destination in Da Nang tourism. This mountain complex offers a wide range of attractions and travel experiences for visitors:
- Experience the cable car ride
- Check out the Dragon Bridge
- Stroll through the French Village
- Have fun at the Fantasy Park
- Visit the Linh Ung Pagoda at the mountain peak
- Enjoy a buffet lunch
In the evening, you can continue to enjoy the nightlife of Da Nang and explore the local cuisine.
Day 3: Da Nang – Hoi An
Today, you can explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: My Son Sanctuary in the morning and Hoi An Ancient Town in the afternoon.
Things to do in Hoi An Ancient Town:
- Visit the Bridge Pagoda
- Explore ancient shop houses and Chinese Communal Houses
- Shop for souvenirs or get tailor-made clothes in just a few hours
- Enjoy a boat ride on the Thu Bon River
In the evening, you can watch the Hoi An Memories show before returning to your hotel in Da Nang.
Day 4: Hoi An Countryside
In addition to its famous ancient charm, the rustic beauty of Hoi An countryside is also very romantic and captivating for tourists. When visiting the countryside of Hoi An, you can directly experience various outdoor activities such as farming, animal husbandry, cooking, and relaxation with herbal foot baths.
Day 5: Da Nang Departure
On your last day in Da Nang, you can explore the city and do some shopping before catching your flight back home.
Southern Vietnam itinerary 5 days

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
After your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, take some time to rest, enjoy the hotel, soak in the city vibe, and savor local food.
In the evening, you can go shopping at centers like Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, and Saigon Center, explore Bui Vien or Nguyen Hue walking streets, or find a local bar that suits your taste to unwind.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Explore the main attractions of the city such as the Reunification Palace (formerly the Presidential Palace), Central Post Office, Do Phu Coffee, War Remnants Museum, etc.
If you are up for a longer journey, you can take a two-hour bus ride to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Day 3: Mekong Countyside
Goodbye bustling city life, hello tranquil Mekong Delta with its calm waters and lush green gardens. A day in the Mekong Delta could include:
- Taking a boat ride on the river.
- Visiting small islands on the river, exploring local homes.
- Eating garden fruits and listening to local music.
- Visiting local facilities making honey, chocolate, coconut candy.
- Experiencing a tuk-tuk ride around the village.
- Rowing a wooden boat through the coconut water forest.
At the end of the day, move to Can Tho, the ‘capital’ of the Mekong Delta.
Day 4: Can Tho Floating market
In the morning, wake up early to visit the floating market. You will explore the bustling trading culture on the water of the local people, try breakfast with noodles made and sell on the boat, and visit handmade craft houses like noodle making and basket weaving. To end the trip, you will visit fruit orchards to discover the richness of Vietnam’s tropical fruit gardens.
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh Departure
On the last day, take some time to enjoy yourself before flying back home.
Travel Tips
Some tips for travelers planning to spend 5 days in Vietnam:
Time to visit Vietnam: Essentially, you can visit Vietnam year-round. However, some favorable times for your trip may be suggested:
North Vietnam | September – April
Note:
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Central Vietnam | January – August |
South Vietnam | September – April |
Things to pack when you visit Vietnam: Personal documents for travel, season-appropriate clothing (check the weather forecast), allergy medication, pain relievers, camera, shoes or walking sandals, sunscreen, appropriate attire for spiritual places such as temples, insect repellent, VND cash.
You should choose hotels located downtown and near tourist attractions for convenient access to services.
Some useful travel apps for foreigners when traveling to Vietnam:
Google Map | Navigation and bus route finding |
Grab/Be/Xanh SM |
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Google Translate | Language translation and image translation when necessary |
Zalo | Popular Vietnamese online calling and messaging app |
Booking.com/Agoda | Hotel room booking |
Currency converter offline | Currency conversion offline |
We hope that the information above has helped you envision how you can experience 5 days in Vietnam. A 5-day trip is short but definately not lacking in interesting experiences about the natural beauty and culture of Vietnam.
At Eviva Tour Vietnam, we meticulously offer quality hotels, restaurants, and suitable itineraries for various travel preferences. You can explore more travel suggestions and update for Vietnam on our Website | Facebook | Instagram.
If you are interested, feel free to leave your questions in the chatbox or send an email to the Eviva Team at [email protected]. Our experienced consultants will get in touch with you to provide advice as soon as possible.