10 Days in Vietnam: My Solo Trip from Hoi An to Hanoi

Planning 10 days in Vietnam? My route takes you from Hoi An to Hue, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi, with lantern-filled streets, wonderful food, mountain views, and two train journeys I was excited to take. Fly into Da Nang and out of Hanoi, and you can keep moving north without backtracking.

I’m Lisa, and I took this trip solo a month before turning 60, fitting the whole adventure, including flights, into two weeks off work. I’ve linked my city guides below for where to stay, tours I booked, places to eat, and getting around.

About the day count: My actual trip was 11 nights across 12 calendar days, including arrival and departure. To make it exactly ten days, trim the stops that suit your flights and interests. You’ll find options below for shortening each city.

My Vietnam Itinerary at a Glance

How I Fit This Trip into Two Weeks Off Work

My wish list hadn’t gotten the memo that I only had two weeks off. Hoi An, Hue, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, a cruise, maybe somewhere else in the south. I wanted to see it all.

Little by little, I whittled it down to the places that fit my timeline, interests, and the September weather. I worked hard on this itinerary, and I wanted enough time to enjoy being there.

I also didn’t want to backtrack. So many itineraries I found had you spend a few days somewhere, return to an airport, fly to another city, and repeat. I wanted the travel between cities to be part of the fun.

That’s where the heritage train from Da Nang to Hue and the overnight train from Hue to Ninh Binh came in. I could keep heading north and have two very different train experiences along the way.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the Cu Chi Tunnels, and the Mekong Delta stayed off this itinerary. So did Sapa and a Ha Long Bay cruise.

There was only so much I could fit into one trip, and I preferred giving these four places enough time rather than squeezing in more.

Traveling in September

September added another layer to the planning. Vietnam doesn’t have one weather pattern for the whole country. Central Vietnam, including Hoi An and Hue, is entering its wetter season, while northern Vietnam moves toward autumn. Southern Vietnam is still in its rainy season. The Vietnam Tourism weather guide helped me understand the regional differences.

Days 1–3: Hoi An

After that long flight, I was ready for Hoi An. And I started with a little luxury at Moire Hoi An, across the river from Ancient Town. My river-view room had a private patio, and yes, I felt a little bougie.

The pool and excellent breakfast made it even easier to settle into vacation mode.

I wandered past yellow buildings and lanterns, popped into historic sites, and ate. Oh, did I eat. The 12 Flavors food tour was so much fun, with regional dishes and stops I never would have found myself. White rose dumplings, market food, black sesame dessert soup. There was a lot to eat, and I had company for dinner too.

One morning, I borrowed a bicycle and rode through rice fields, past water buffalo, and out to An Bang Beach. This was the Vietnam I’d been picturing! I’d planned to visit the vegetable village too, but by the ride back, I was hot and ready to be done. The hotel pool was calling.

Before leaving Hoi An, I arranged a private driver through my hotel to take me to Marble Mountains in Da Nang, then drop me at the train station. Exploring caves and pagodas made a much better end to my stay than heading straight to the station.

I loved having three nights here. I’d go back to Moire in a heartbeat, and that food tour would be on my list again.

Read my Hoi An guide for where to stay, what to do, and the tours I recommend.

Days 4–6: Hue

Getting to Hue was part of the fun. I took the heritage train from Da Nang, booked a VIP soft seat, and settled in on the right side for the coastal views.

I loved this ride. Mountains and coastline outside my window, a comfortable VIP seat, and musicians and a dancer in the next carriage. So much more fun than another airport afternoon.

Hue was packed with places I wanted to see, so I booked this full-day guided tour to see the Imperial City, royal tombs, pagoda, incense village, and Perfume River.

We went from palace courtyards to lunch on a dragon boat to trying our hands at rolling incense. I kept finding a new favorite stop. And I was very happy to get back into that air-conditioned bus. Hue was hot!

My other day was slower, with salt coffee, the royal antiquities museum, and tea at Hien Tra Nhi Do Mai. The owner and I ended up talking about his newborn twins and my grandkids. There I was, drinking tea under the lanterns and chatting about our families in Hue. I loved it.

I stayed at Chum Boutique Hotel, but next time I’d choose the Saigon Morin Hotel for the riverfront location, breakfast, and pool.

That evening, I boarded the Lotus Express overnight train from Hue to Ninh Binh. It let me enjoy the day in Hue and keep moving north overnight, with arrival around 8 a.m.

One thing I’d recommend bringing for the overnight train? This sleeping bag liner. It gave me peace of mind about the bedding. You never quite know what you’ll find, and having my own layer to sleep in meant one less thing to worry about. It was the single best thing I brought on the whole trip.

Read my Hue guide for the historic-sites tour, coffee, tea house, and hotel recommendations.

Days 7–9: Ninh Binh

Oh, Ninh Binh. The green countryside, those enormous karst mountains, and my balcony at Trang An Ecolodge looking straight into it all. I was so happy to be here. I could have spent quite a while just sitting there.

The Trang An boat trip was incredible. We floated right into caves, underneath dripping stalactites, ducking when the ceiling got low. So cool! Then there were the views at Mua Cave and actual bats overhead inside Bich Dong’s Dark Cave. These were easily my three favorites.

I used Grab to get around and explored on my own.

By the third day, I was ready for a silk workshop, a swim, and a lazy afternoon. Hanoi could have my energy tomorrow.

See my Ninh Binh guide for the main sights, where to stay, and ideas for a slower third day.

Days 10–12: Hanoi

Trang An Ecolodge in Ninh Binh arranged a limousine shuttle that took me from hotel to hotel in about two and a half hours. I stayed at Emerald Waters Valley Hotel in the Old Quarter in Hanoi and would book it again without hesitation.

Hanoi had a lot going on, and I was ready to get out and see it. I wandered the Old Quarter, walked around Hoan Kiem Lake, and tried egg coffee. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but that creamy topping tasted like custard. I went back for more on the food tour.

My favorite day was mostly unplanned. I headed toward the cathedral and Ho Chi Minh complex, then kept finding reasons to stop. Train Street, the botanical gardens, Indonesian food at Batavia Cafe. I’d check my map, spot something nearby, and off I’d go.

My final day included the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, a street food tour, and water puppets. The food tour was a highlight, both for the food and the other travelers I met.

My flight left around 11:30 p.m., so I had most of the day. The hotel held my luggage, offered a shower room, and arranged my airport ride. After a shower and a change of clothes, I was ready for the long trip home.

See my Three Days in Hanoi guide for the full itinerary, hotel, food tour, and practical tips.

Getting Around Vietnam on This Route

I used Grab for local journeys, the two trains between cities, and a hotel-arranged shuttle to Hanoi. No rental car or scooter needed. My Grab guide explains the app.

I booked my trains and hotels ahead of time, then worked the activities around them. Once I was there, I used my phone constantly for rides and maps.

I used a 15 day unlimited data Airalo eSIM throughout the trip. It came in handy for booking Grab rides, checking maps, and staying connected as I moved between cities.

How Much Does 10 Days in Vietnam Cost?

Your budget depends on flights, hotels, train accommodation, and tours. I mixed a higher-end Hoi An stay with simpler hotels elsewhere.

These are prices from my visit, not a full budget. Check rates for your dates.

I brought US$500 in cash and exchanged it at Da Nang Airport. That wasn’t my total trip cost. My trains and tours were paid online, and Grab rides went through my card in the app. I paid cash where I could to avoid the card fees and save myself from looking for ATMs.

How to Shorten This Vietnam Itinerary

To shorten this itinerary to exactly ten days in Vietnam, start with your flight times and what interests you most. You can trim a day from any city and still enjoy its main highlights. An early arrival or late departure may give you more exploring time, so choose your adjustments once you know your flights.

Spend One Less Day in Hoi An

Keep Ancient Town and the food tour, skip the countryside or beach day, then visit Marble Mountains and take the heritage train a day earlier.

Take the Overnight Train After Your Hue Tour

Have salt coffee and, if the arrival time and opening hours allow, visit the tea house after reaching Hue on the heritage train. The following day, take the full-day historic-sites tour, collect your luggage, and board the overnight train to Ninh Binh that evening.

Allow time after the tour to collect luggage, eat, and reach the station. You’ll lose the separate museum and exploring day, but keep the major attractions.

Remove the Third Night in Ninh Binh

Keep Trang An on your arrival day and Mua Cave, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Hoa Lu Ancient Town the following day. Leave for Hanoi the next morning instead of staying for the silk workshop and downtime.

Spend One Less Day in Hanoi

Keep the Old Quarter, egg coffee, and Hoan Kiem Lake on arrival. With a late departure the next day, you can visit the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison, then take a food tour before heading to the airport. Include the cathedral in your arrival walk if you’d like.

How Short Would I Make This Trip?

For a true ten days in Vietnam, choose two adjustments. Pick the combination that suits you.

I wouldn’t shorten this four-city route beyond ten days. The travel between places still takes time, even when you trim sightseeing. With less time, I’d cut a city and enjoy the remaining stops rather than keep squeezing them all in.

Questions About Planning 10 Days in Vietnam

Is ten days in Vietnam enough?
Yes, for a trip focused on a few places. Hoi An, Hue, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi fit with the shortening options above. With less than ten days, I’d drop a city rather than keep rushing between all four.

Can I follow this route without renting a scooter?
Yes. I used Grab locally, trains to reach Hue and Ninh Binh, and a hotel-arranged shuttle to Hanoi. I never needed a rental car or scooter.

Did I feel comfortable traveling solo?
I felt safe throughout the trip. Helpful hotel staff, easy Grab rides, and company on the food tours made it feel manageable. The heat and motorbike traffic took more getting used to than being alone.

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If you’re planning your first trip alone, my planning your first solo trip guide can help with the arrangements.

This trip fit into my two weeks off work, included so many places I’d been excited to see, and still gave me afternoons by the pool. After all that planning, I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. And yes, I’d go back.