Perfect Vietnam Itinerary 2 Weeks for First Time Travel

This exciting Vietnam itinerary 2 weeks 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 let’s read this article to plan your trip perfectly.

Day 1: Hello Saigon!

This 2 weeks of our 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.

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 - 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, it's time to visit 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

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: Feel the Authentic Mekong Delta

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.

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

 

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

 

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.

You'll dine at local food stalls as part of your street food. Here are the recommended foods 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. 

• 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. 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: 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 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. 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: Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh Village

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

You will cycle 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.

Boat tour in Cam Thanh Village

 

Day 7: Tranfer from Hoi An to Hue

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. 

 

Day 8: Hue City Discovery

Take a boat trip on Huong river. The boat 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.

Cooking class at Thuy Bieu Eco-Village

 

Day 9: Explore the Hue Surroundings

The 9th day of your 2 weeks in Vietnam is the time to explore Hue freely. Here are the recommended for your activities:

• Hue DMZ Full-Day

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.

 

• Hue Countryside Cycling

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. 

Cycling in Hue's surroundings

 

Day 10: Flight Hue to Hanoi

On the 10th day, 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

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.

 

• 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.

 

• 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. 

 

• 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.

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

Hoa Lo Prison (Credit: @John Lander)

 

• 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.

 

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.

Enjoy the sightseeing on the Halong Bay cruise

 

 

Day 14: It’s Time to Say Goodbye

The end is part of the journey, so enjoy your last time in the beautiful capital of Vietnam before go to the airport. 

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 Vietnam tour 2 weeks 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)