Perfect Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks for First Time Travel

This article will give you a perfect Vietnam itinerary 2 weeks, including the best places to visit in this country. So let’s read this article to understand our unique trip.

Southeast Asia has many destinations, which are perfect for vacations and holidays, and Vietnam is one of the great and safe ones. This beautiful country is known as a place of attractive natural scenery, a glorious against foreign invaders history, and one of the best cuisines in the world.

If you want to visit our country but do not know where to begin, this article is for you. BestPrice Travel will bring you a Vietnam itinerary for 2 weeks, which will allow you to feel the quintessential beauty of this country from a different perspective.

This exciting Vietnam two-week tour itinerary will allow you to get a deeper insight into the culture of various destinations, experience plenty of exciting activities, and enjoy a ton of local dishes. So many great things are waiting for you ahead. So keep reading to see more!

Day 1: Hello Saigon!

This 2 weeks in Vietnam tour will begin with an exploration of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as "Saigon", one of the busiest cities and the main economic hub of Vietnam.

As soon as you arrive at the airport, you will be greeted by our dedicated guide and driver. Then, you will then be taken to the hotel. In most cases, check-in time is 2 pm. However, it is okay to ask with BestPrice Travel in advance for an earlier check-in, as long as you accept to pay an additional fee.

On the first day, you are free to explore the magnificent Ho Chi Minh city in your own way. But if you don't know where to start, here are a few recommendations for you:

• Water Puppet Show - A unique Vietnamese kind of traditional art using water puppetry to illustrate the stories of Vietnamese history and culture over 1,000 years.
• Saigon Street Food Tour - As the sun goes down, you will join a variety of activities, especially the best local dishes in Saigon.

Saigon broken rice

Day 2: Explore Saigon City Centre

As the second day of your Vietnam two weeks itinerary begins, it's time to take a tour of the city center to get a closer look at this bustling metropolis.

The first destination of the day will be the Reunification Palace. It is an important historical relic of Vietnam, where the end of the US invasion of Vietnam was put. Next, you will visit two typical buildings of the city: the Old Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon.

Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral

After that, you will arrive at the market, the day's final destination. Here, you will be free to shop for souvenirs or enjoy local dishes. At the end of the day, come back to the hotel, and the rest of the day will be your free time.

For any further interest in Saigon, please take a look at the 10 Best Tours in Ho Chi Minh City 2022 on our website.

Day 3 & 4: A Short Trip to Mekong Delta

Day 3: Feel the Authentic Mekong

After having a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to Cai Be. Once you arrive, our local guide will greet you and guide you to enjoy some fresh fruit. Then, you will discover the rice floating market in Cai Be, which is considered the largest rice trading place in the Southwest region of this beautiful country.

Next, the next place of your day will be Dong Hoa Hiep commune and the Cai Be floating market. That's when you can immerse yourself in the idyllic life of the locals of this bustling area.

After having fun at the market, you will move to Tan Phong islet, where you can visit Hai Yen Bee Farm. You will indeed have exciting experiences at this bee farm, such as:

• Drink fresh honey tea
• Visit a flower garden designed only for bees
• Get more knowledge about bee's life
• Visit the Lingzhi mushroom area
• Try to pass the monkey bridge
• Challenge yourself by pulling fish hooves

After leaving Hai Yen Bee Farm, the orchards will be your next destination. Here, you will enjoy the fantastic tropical fruits and even get to pick them yourself. Beyond that, you will enjoy a live performance of "Don Ca Tai Tu," one of the folk music genres of Vietnam.

Don Ca Tai Tu music performance

After a morning full of activities, you may want to take a quick nap before joining the "ditch fishing hook," a daily activity of the locals, in the afternoon. Let's make your meal even better with some Mekong fish you've caught yourself.

After that, you will need to take a shower and then make dinner with the homestay's local chef. End the 3rd day of your 2 week trip to Vietnam with a delicious dinner and overnight stay at a local homestay.

Day 4: Experience Like A Local

On the next day, it is wise to wake up earlier than usual to enjoy the countryside's clear sounds and fresh air in the morning. A good suggestion is to wander around the village to see the busy routine of local farmers in the morning.

Next, return to your homestay and have breakfast before joining a funny cycling trip around Tan Phong Island. During this Mekong Delta trip, do not miss the chance to visit traditional handicraft workshops, and it is alright to join exciting activities here, such as:

• Creat rice papers
• Make roofs using nipa leaves 
• Visit the local school
• Create jackfruit leaf cakes
• Water hyacinth products
• Knit banana hammock

See how to make rice papers

Then you will return to the harbor by boat after checking out at the homestay, and our driver will take you to the airport to catch your flight to Danang. Your lunch will take place at a restaurant on the way back to the beautiful Ho Chi Minh city.

We will arrange a guide at Danang airport to be responsible for taking you to a hotel in Hoi An. You will be free to use the rest of the day. 

We recommend taking advantage of this free time to sleep to restore health. However, if you don't need a break, it's okay to explore Hoi An by yourself at night.

Day 5: The Taste of Hoi An

During the 5th day of this Vietnam two-week itinerary, you can freely explore Hoi An ancient town. Meanwhile, your unique evening Hoi An street food tour will begin when the night comes.

The guide of BestPrice Travel will pick you up late in the afternoon and will be responsible for guiding you through the streets, which have tons of local restaurants, coffee shops, markets, food stalls/vendors, and more.

You'll dine at local food stalls as part of your street food tour. Here are the recommended foods for your food tour, which you should try at least once in Hoi An ancient town:

• Cao Lau: It is the signature dry noodles of Hoi An and many other places in Vietnam. It consists of various layers created by plenty of toppings in one large bowl. A bowl of Cao Lau at street vendors costs about $1 for each bowl. It is easy to find Cao Lau in the old town or around Hoi An.

• Mi Quang (Quang Noodle): Your street food experience in Hoi An will be incomplete if you miss Mi Quang, which is a noodle dish typical for Quang Nam province. Like Cao Lau, this dish is served with a little bit of broth. In fact, Mi Quang comes in many kinds and can be served with pork, shrimp, chicken, quail egg, beef, snakehead fish, and vegetables and topped with rice crackers and peanuts. A bowl of Quang Noodle costs around $1 and is available in plenty of street vendors in this town.

• Banh Mi: It is also known as the Vietnamese Baguette, which Banh Mi Queen makes. Every visitor coming to this town must try banh mi at least once. There are various things inside this dish sold here, including pork floss, pork liver pate, pork belly, boiled shredded chicken, ham, cucumber, tomato, some herbs, and more. Each loaf should cost from $0,5 to $1, depending on what you want to put inside it.

• Banh Khot: Banh Khot is also a popular traditional street food in Central Vietnam. This dish is a round pancake made from coconut milk, rice flour, and turmeric and topped with vegetables and quail eggs.

Banh Khot - Vietnamese Mini Pancake (Credit: @TripAdvisor)

• Grilled pork wrapped in rice paper with vegetables: If you are a BBQ lover, this dish should be on the list of must-try dishes in Hoi An. The Hoi An grilled pork is typically served with vegetables, rice paper, and a unique sauce made from peanut, sesame, pork liver pate, and other ingredients. Vegetables eaten with this grilled pork are a mixture of fish herb, lettuce, sliced star fruit, mango, cucumber, young banana, basil, cilantro, etc. All of these ingredients will be wrapped with the grilled pork in two rice paper layers, including one wet rice paper and one dry rice paper.

• Balut: It is a strange dish, even listed in the world's 10 most weird foods list. It is a tiny duck that still stays inside an eggshell, which will dare many visitors. But, trust us, you will love this dish from the first try. It also offers a vast amount of proteins.

• Hoi An tofu: Tofu is something very familiar to anyone on this planet. However, that does not mean you should skip Hoi An tofu. You can serve it as a good snack and dessert when it is cold or hot. This dish feature a great flavor thanks to some jelly, boiled sugar coconut cream, and ginger. So if you are looking for a good type of dessert in this town, it is the way to go. It is available on some streets in the old town and costs only about $0.5 for a bowl.

• Banh Beo (Water fern cake): It is also known as steamed rice cake, a traditional Vietnamese dish. While visiting Hoi An, it is wise to enjoy this cake as it is not prevalent elsewhere. Instead, it can only be found in some central Vietnam cities, such as Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, and Hoi An. It has a thin, small, round shape similar to a leaf. You can only find it in Central Vietnam. Different from Hue Banh Beo. Banh Beo here is typically served in a small bowl, and its wet topping is made with minced pork, shrimp, and spring onion, while its dry topping is made from deep-fried Cao Lau noodles.

• Banh Xeo (Rice flour pancakes): Translating as the sizzling pancake. The batter is fried with prawns, pork, and bean sprouts.

Banh Xeo Hoi An

• Black sesame sweet soup: As its name suggests, this dessert is made from black sesame, combined with pennywort, sugar, and a kind of Chinese medicine. Despite its strange black color that might confuse tourists walking around, this dish is a great dessert popular in this old town. There is no denying that it can change your mind about food with black color. This sweet soup is usually served when it's still hot and costs only about $0.5 per bowl.

• Mango cake: When you hear the name of this dish, you may think that it is a cake made from mango. Yet, this cake is made nothing from mango. Instead, it is made from sticky rice, sugar, and peanuts. Its only connection to the mango is that its shape is like this fruit. This cake is white, round, and small, so you can easily hold it in your hand.

• Coffee: Your trip to the Hoi An town will be less than perfect if you miss the delicious coffee here. Here, the coffee cups are the perfect combination of the best coffee beans and sweet condensed milk.

Day 6 & 7: Discover Hoi An Outskirt

Day 6: Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh Village

The 6th day of your Vietnam 14-day itinerary will be the most enjoyable one of the farming days you have in your life.

You will meet our guide at the hotel before continuing your itinerary by cycling to Cam Thanh Village - a famous place on the outskirts of Hoi An town. Once you've arrived at Cam Thanh, a local host will greet you and invite you to join them in farming activities, growing wet rice in most cases.

After farming, it is time to go to a local fishing village and fish with skilled fishers and anglers. Finally, you will explore a water coconut jungle on a basket boat. You will have lunch at a homestay before the 6th day of your trip ends.

Boat tour in Cam Thanh Village

Day 7: Hoi An - Hue Road Transfer

Your 7th day will begin with a long journey from Hoi An to Hue via the famous Deo Hai Van (Cloudy Pass),  referred to as “one of the best coast roads in the world” by BBC’s Top Gear Viet Nam Special, by a private car or shuttle bus, depending on your needs. 

On the way to Hue, you can ask our driver to stop at a few places to take photos and go sightseeing (not including the admission fee).

Day 8, 9 & 10: Explore Hue Inside Out

Day 8: Hue City Discovery Tour

After completing your breakfast, you will meet our tour guide at the hotel and be taken to Toa Kham wharf, where you will have a Perfume River boat trip. 

Your boat trip will stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbolic ancient Buddhist temple in Hue. This pagoda and its surroundings perfectly harmonize with ancient architecture, natural landscape, and religious atmosphere.

Then, your boat trip will continue, allowing you to enjoy the scenic scenery along the tranquil and beautiful river, followed by debarking to visit Thuy Bieu Eco-village.

Here, you have a chance to gain more knowledge about the old architecture in Hue called garden home or "Nha Vuon." Plus, it's also the time when you can cycle or walk for about two hours throughout the village to feel the quiet local daily life and visit a few handicraft-making households.

Once your Thuy Bieu village tour is over, your Vietnam 14-day itinerary will be continued with a Cooking Class at Thuy Bieu Eco-village. This cooking class will allow you to learn to make some traditional dishes of Hue, and you can even taste your works.

Cooking class at Thuy Bieu Eco-Village

Next is your relaxation time when you soak your feet in medicinal herb water and are massaged by skilled professionals.

Your Hue one-day itinerary will end at Tam Giang - Chuon Lagoon. You will discover this fantastic destination on a sampan boat. A visit to this place will allow you to get a better sense of the daily lives of fishers and find out the way locals catch fish in the lagoon. And, of course, it is alright to fish on your own here.

Your dinner will take place at a nearby restaurant. And there is nothing more wonderful than enjoying delicious food while watching the stunning sunset view at a beautiful lagoon, right? Then you will return to Hue City at around half past 7 pm.

Day 9: Explore the Hue Surroundings

The 9th day of your 2 weeks in Vietnam is the time to explore Hue freely. But If you are not confident in discovering this city on your own, it is possible to book one of the recommended day tours below:

• Hue DMZ Full-Day Tour

If you love history, this tour is a perfect choice. Through this history tour, you will discover the brutality of the US-initiated Vietnam War and the Vietnamese struggles for independence.

You will get to explore the Demilitarized Zone first-hand, a jungle-filled area that was strategically important during the Vietnam War. While traveling along the mountain roads, your guide will tell the story behind famous historical sites such as Vinh Moc tunnels, Hien Luong bridge, and the Khe Sanh battle base.

Besides the heroic historical stories, you will also enjoy the charm and beauty of nature here with mountains, forests, rivers, and so on and so forth.

• Hue Countryside Cycling Tour

If you are an active person, you will love spending a day cycling and sightseeing on this trip. In addition to the mausoleums, imperial citadel, and pagodas, this dreamy land of Hue also owns a peaceful countryside with many traditional craft villages. 

This trip is an opportunity to escape the city hustle and enjoy the peace and freshness of the countryside. Plus, you will also gain an insight into local life on this relaxing bike tour. It's also fun to explore the lives of the friendly locals while cycling through some of the area's best scenery.

Cycling tour in Hue's surroundings

Day 10: Hue - Hanoi Flight

On the 10th day of your two weeks in Vietnam, enjoy your last moments in this dreamy land of Hue while packing your goods. Then, our driver will take you to the airport to catch a flight to the beautiful capital of Vietnam - Hanoi City.

Then, after you board your flight at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, our driver will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. After that, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring this beautiful capital freely.

Day 11: It's Time For Vietnam Capital

Our guide will meet you at your hotel to help you start your new day with a Hanoi motorbike city tour to discover the beautiful capital. You will welcome the fresh morning of the capital by enjoying a cup of Egg coffee at Cafe Giang, the birthplace of a drink that is considered one of Hanoi's specialties. Next, you will continue the exploration of Hanoi's most famous landmarks, including:

• Long Bien Bridge and Chuong Duong Bridge

Long Bien is currently one of five bridges crossing Hanoi's Red River. It is not a modern bridge, but it is well-known thanks to its historical value. Specifically, this bridge is considered a symbol of bravery during the Vietnam War. Also, Long Bien Bridge was even one of the four most excellent bridges in the world when it was built.

This unique bridge was started in 1989 and completed in 1902. It features 19 spans and is the first steel bridge across the Red River of the Vietnamese capital. Vietnamese workers directly built this bridge with indigenous materials, such as Hai Phong's cement, Phu Tho's wood, and Hue's Long Tho lime.

Long Bien Bridge has become one of the famous historical spots in Vietnam thanks to being placed at the right time and in the right place. This bridge connects North Central and Nothern of Vietnam, allowing people to transport tons of rice from the cities to the battlefield of Dien Bien Phu, making an essential contribution to Vietnam's victory over France in 1954.

Experiencing the Vietnam War initiated by the US, Long Bien Bridge was bombed countless times by the US Air Force, causing some of its spans to be destroyed. So, Long Bien Bridge is a living historical relic for the Vietnamese. It is valid proof of the crimes of the US imperialists and the unyielding strength of the Vietnamese army and people.

After visiting Long Bien Bridge, your guide will take you to the Chuong Duong Bridge. It is a modern bridge with four lanes connecting two sides of the Red River. The Chuong Duong Bridge stands out because Vietnamese workers built it without international support.

• St. Joseph's Cathedral

This cathedral is located at 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. This place serves about 3,000 Catholics and regularly occurs religious activities for Christians in Vietnam.

It is designed in the Gothic Revival style, which has been very popular in Europe since the 12th century. Therefore, you will find it somewhat similar to Notre-Dame de Paris.

Address: 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District of Hanoi, Vietnam

Open hours: From Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – 11:00 am and 14:00pm – 20:00p. Sunday: 7:00am – 11:30am and 15:00pm – 20:00pm.

Hanoi St Joseph's Cathedral

• Hanoi Opera House

Hanoi Opera House is considered one of the outstanding architectural works and, at the same time, the most important historical landmark for the beautiful capital of Vietnam. It is located on August Revolution Square, on Trang Tien Street, close to the Vietnam History Museum and Hoan Kiem Lake.

The French started this magnificent work in 1901 and completed it 10 years later. Designed by architects Broyer and Harlay, this building carries many of the colors and architectural features of the Opéra Garnier Theater in Paris but with a smaller stature.

Therefore, the Hanoi Opera House, no doubt, has bold neoclassical features of France, especially in architectural structures, such as the two-roofed roof tile style.

Although this opera house was born later than the theaters in Hai Phong city or Ho Chi Minh city, it is considered the opera house with the complete architecture, making it a characteristic image of Hanoi city.

• Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake)

Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake or Ho Guom) is likened to the soul and heart of Hanoi city. Therefore, various people say that you will not come to Hanoi if you have not visited this place once.

This lake is located in the capital's center and is surrounded by 3 streets: Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay, and Le Thai To. Previously, this lake also had a few other names, such as Luc Thuy lake or Thuy Quan lake. 

In the 15th century, it was renamed Ho Hoan Kiem or Ho Guom as it was associated with the legend of King Le Thai To return the treasure sword to the golden turtle. To experience the trip around Hoan Kiem Lake to the fullest, you can use one of the following vehicles:

Motorcycles: Motorcycles are always compact vehicles, making them suitable for trips around the streets of Hanoi. There are many motorbike rental locations in Hanoi, so ask your guide for advice in choosing a reliable one.

Cyclo: Cyclo is one of the great ideas for visiting Hoan Kiem Lake for foreign tourists. Again, get help from your guide for an affordable cyclo trip.

Electric cars: Electric cars have just appeared in this area, and it is also a perfect way to visit Hoan Kiem Lake and its surrounding areas. The operating time of electric cars service is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and from 7:00 p.m to 11 p.m. Each electric car can carry 8 people, and the average time of a trip ranges from 35 to 60 minutes.

• Hoa Lo Prison

Hoa Lo Prison was considered the largest prison in Indochina during the anti-French resistance war. The French colonialists started building it in 1896 to imprison and torture Vietnamese soldiers or anyone who opposed their policies. Once completed, it became an "unbreakable prison," as expected by the Governor of France. As a result, this prison has become proud of the French governors in Indochina.

Prisoners who were once held here always had to face a "live not by death" situation. Specifically, they struggled with rotten vegetables, rotten rice, and rotten & dried fish every day. Prisoners only have a quarter of an hour a day to shower and walk. When bathing, they all had to stand around a well in the courtyard under the strict supervision of the prison guards. This abuse also applies to female prisoners.

But if you think that's all, you are wrong! This prison is likened to "hell on earth" for a reason. Prisoners daily faced brutal forms of torture by French soldiers. For example, they were hung up for brutally beaten, getting an electric shock, beaten with boxing, and many other forms of brutal torture.

Even though they had to live in such a hell, they still harbor a strong will. The tortures of the French soldiers not only did not subdue them but also strengthened their will instead. These resilient prisoners were constantly looking for opportunities to escape, such as the prison break in 1945 and Christmas Eve in 1954.

After the war ended, the Vietnamese government still used this prison for criminal prisoners. Today, only a few cells of the original building have been preserved and restored as a museum as an important historical site for the Vietnamese people.

Today, a part of Hoa Lo prison is still there as a testament to the pain and loss caused by war, and it is also the embodiment of the resilience and indomitableness of the Vietnamese people. When visiting this place, our guide will have you better understand the historical story behind this prison and the meaning of the artifacts displayed there.

Open hours: 07:30 am - 11:30 am and 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Hoa Lo Prison (Credit: @John Lander)

• Huu Tiep Lake and The B52

If Hoa Loa prison is a historical site related to the invasion of the French colonialists, Huu Tiep Lake is living proof of the Vietnam war caused by the US. When visiting here, you will admire the wreckage of the B52 aircraft, which the US Air Force used to destroy Hanoi to turn the tide. At that time, the US government was so cruel that they ordered the US air force to bomb residential areas, hospitals, and even schools.

After visiting this lake, our guide will take you to a nearby market, which allows you to immerse yourself in the daily life of the locals.

Don't miss out on the Hanoi War Museum Half-Day Tour, if you want to get a deeper insight into the historical destinations in our capital.

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum is located at Ba Dinh Square. It is an extraordinary place for all Vietnamese people because it is now the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the leader who made significant contributions to the independence and freedom of this country.

The complex is not just an ordinary attraction. It used to be the residence of President Ho Chi Minh and has witnessed one of the most critical events in Vietnam - the day President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence to give birth to Vietnam. 

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is modeled after Lenin's mausoleum in Russia and was started construction in 1973 and officially opened in 1975. Respect is all that is required of you when visiting here. Therefore, you should not wear miniskirts and shorts when coming here. Moreover, you will be asked to deposit your bag and camera for security reasons.

Our guide will tell you historical stories about President Ho Chi Minh and various historical events during the tour here. Thanks to that, you will know how precious freedom and Peace are to the Vietnamese people.

After leaving Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, our guide will take you to a nearby vendor/restaurant and end your Hanoi tour with a meal of tasty Vietnamese foods.

Day 12 & 13: Overnight Cruise To Halong Bay

We recommend waking up early to enjoy breakfast at the hotel before saying goodbye to Hanoi. Then, BestPrice's driver will pick you up and take you to Ha Long. It will take you about two and a half hours to travel by road before you dock and board the cruise for the journey to explore the charming Ha Long Bay. After check-in, you will enjoy a wonderful lunch while the cruise is sailing to the bay. You can participate in exciting activities in the afternoon, such as sightseeing, swimming, and kayaking.

Enjoy the sightseeing on the Halong Bay cruise

You need to return to the cruise at sunset to enjoy the sunset party or the "Happy Hour" program. Nothing could be more romantic than enjoying your favorite drink while admiring the beautiful sunset over the bay. After enjoying dinner on board, you can use the rest of the day to enjoy the nightlife in Vinh Ha Long.

The 13th day of your 2 week trip to Vietnam should begin with a simple Tai Chi exercise on deck. But it is alright to sleep in until breakfast starts. After that, your journey to discover Ha Long Bay will continue, allowing you to explore and experience more of this beautiful bay.

Your brunch will take place as the cruise returns to port. Then our driver will take you back to Hanoi. Nighttime in Hanoi is yours, so use it to discover the beauty of Hanoi in your own way.

Day 14: It’s Time to Say Goodbye

The end is part of the journey, and it is time your Vietnam two-week itinerary ends well. So enjoy your last time in the beautiful capital of Vietnam before our driver picks you up at your hotel and takes you to the airport.

So you have received detailed information about the Vietnam itinerary for 2 weeks provided by the BestPrice Travel team. We bet you will have great experiences during your time in Vietnam.

With many unique ideas and various beautiful places included in the itinerary, we will prove that Vietnam is one of the ideal destinations in Asia. So let’s plan your 2-week Vietnam Tour for your upcoming vacation, and let us help you make your trip as perfect as possible.

Thank you for reading! Have an excellent time in Vietnam! Don't forget to share your experience with us and let us know how much you love Vietnam!

Thanh Dat

(Image source: Internet)