Vietnam was not our first choice when we initially thought about international travel. Being based in Asia, Europe had always been at the top of our travel wishlist. Over the last two years, we had already visited five countries, and this year we felt it was time for a change—something closer to home, yet diverse and exciting.

After shortlisting destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, we finally chose Vietnam. The reason was simple: Vietnam offers everything—from mountains and beaches to vibrant cities and rich culture. Our 9-day Vietnam itinerary covered North, Central, and South Vietnam, giving us a well-rounded experience of the country.

Day 1-3: Hanoi and Nearby Day Trips

We began our Vietnam trip in Hanoi, where we stayed for three days. On the first day, we arrived at our hotel early in the morning around 7:30 AM, which gave us a full day to explore the city.

We spent the day walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, trying the famous Vietnamese coffee and bánh mì, and visiting the Instagram-famous Hanoi Train Street. Since it was a Sunday, we also got to experience the Hanoi Night Market, which turned out to be a complete shopping paradise with vibrant stalls, local food, and a lively atmosphere.

For the next two days, we had booked day trips from Hanoi—one to Ha Long Bay and another to Ninh Binh. These day tours are truly full-day experiences, as they take up almost the entire day from morning to evening.

Day 4-5: Hoi An – The Highlight of Our Vietnam Trip

After Hanoi, we headed to Central Vietnam, covering Hoi An and Da Nang. This was a slightly uncertain phase of our trip due to flood warnings and predicted rainfall, but we decided to stick to our original plan.

While we usually prefer train travel within a country, we chose to fly this time to save time. We took a morning flight from Hanoi around 10:30 AM and reached Da Nang in about an hour. From Da Nang Airport, we took a Grab taxi to Hoi An.

We stayed in Hoi An for one day, and without a doubt, this was the most memorable part of our entire Vietnam trip. Hoi An’s charm, lantern-lit streets, and relaxed vibe made it incredibly special. If we had changed our schedule and skipped our stay here, we would have seriously regretted it.

Day 6-7: Da Nang and Ba Na Hills

The next day, we left Hoi An and checked into our hotel in Da Nang, where we stayed for two days.

On the first day in Da Nang, we explored local attractions such as:

• Dragon Bridge
• Da Nang Beach
• Son Tra Night Market

The night market was not just about shopping—it was one of the best places to experience local Vietnamese street food.

For the following day, we had planned a visit to the famous Ba Na Hills. Starting early in the morning, we spent almost six hours exploring Ba Na Hills, before returning to our Da Nang hotel in the evening.

Day 8-9: Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon)

Our final destination was Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. We took a flight from Da Nang, which unfortunately got delayed by two hours. As a result, we checked into our hotel around 4 PM. Since it was already late, we spent the evening exploring nearby areas.

The next day, we had the option of taking a Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta day trip. However, we decided to stay back in the city and explore District 1, which turned out to be a great decision.

Ho Chi Minh City had a lot to offer, including:

• War Remnants Museum
• Independence Palace
• Saigon Central Post Office
• Ben Thanh Market
• Jade Pagoda
• Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Opera House
• Nguyen Hue walking street
• Ben Nghe Street Food
• Sài Gòn Square

Exploring these attractions gave us a deeper insight into Vietnam’s history and culture.

On the last day, we spent the first half visiting one of the largest supermarkets Co.opmart in Saigon to shop for Vietnamese coffee. Our return flight was scheduled for around 5:30 PM. After lunch, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the airport early, as we had read a lot about long immigration queues at Ho Chi Minh Airport.

The flight was delayed by an hour, and we finally landed in Mumbai around 10 PM.

Is 9 Days Enough for Vietnam?

Overall, 9 days in Vietnam felt sufficient to experience the highlights across North, Central, and South Vietnam. However, if we had the chance to plan again:

• We would add one more day in Hanoi to explore the city itself, as its vibe was truly special. The back-to-back day trips limited our time within the city.
• We would also add one extra day in Hoi An—to relive its magic, cycle through the Old Town lanes, and soak in its charm once again.

Vietnam left us with unforgettable memories, and it’s a destination we would happily return to.