North to South Vietnam 9N is a ten-day route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. It is for travellers who want to see the whole country without rushing each stop, and it follows the shape many travellers recommend: Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay in the north, Hoi An and Da Nang in the centre, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Hanoi gives you the Old Quarter and street food. Ninh Binh adds a sampan ride through the karst waterways of Trang An, a stop travellers often wish they had planned. Ha Long Bay is an overnight cruise, Hoi An brings lantern-lit evenings, Da Nang offers beaches and the Marble Mountains, and Ho Chi Minh City ends with colonial landmarks and the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Hotels, daily breakfast, private transfers, sightseeing by private vehicle, the cruise and visa assistance are included. Flights, the e-visa fee, insurance and other meals are extra. Read our Vietnam places to visit guide and the 7-day itinerary to compare lengths, or see the shorter Vietnam Highlights 6N.
Your trip expert can stretch, shorten or swap any day.
Land at Noi Bai International Airport and meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. Check in near the Old Quarter, Hanoi's easiest first base. Rest after the flight, then take a short walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and have an easy dinner of local dishes.
Spend the day in Hanoi. Walk the Old Quarter, see the French colonial architecture and circle Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoi has Vietnam's strongest street-food culture, so plan time to eat. Do not stack a Ha Long Bay cruise onto this day; the early start and traffic make it exhausting.
Drive to Ninh Binh and visit Trang An early for a sampan ride through its karst waterways. Add Hoa Lu and the viewpoints around Mua Cave. Choose Trang An or Tam Coc, not both, because they duplicate scenery. Travellers often wish they had given Ninh Binh more time, so enjoy the slower pace here.
Transfer to Ha Long Bay and board your cruise. Sail among limestone karsts, caves and floating communities in the UNESCO-listed seascape, and spend the night on board. An overnight stay is much better than a rushed day cruise. Weather can alter the route, so your planner confirms the vessel's sailing plan.
Return to shore after breakfast and transfer for your domestic flight from Hanoi to Da Nang. Your planner times the flight against the cruise schedule. On landing, drive to Hoi An and check in near the old town. Spend the evening among the lanterns of this preserved trading town.
Explore the Ancient Town, its tailor workshops and the nearby countryside at an easy pace. Stay near the old town for evening access, but keep beach time separate, since An Bang is not a walkable extension of every riverside hotel. Consider a cooking or cycling experience as an optional extra.
Move to Da Nang, a practical base for beaches, the Marble Mountains and the Hai Van Pass. Visit the Marble Mountains, then spend the afternoon at My Khe Beach. If you want the Golden Bridge, plan a full day, because it is far from the coast. Hue is an alternative for heritage lovers.
Transfer to Da Nang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Check in to your District 1 hotel. Cluster the central sights on foot, including French colonial landmarks, wartime museums and a lively market. Finish with southern Vietnamese food at a local restaurant.
Set aside a separate half-day for the Cu Chi Tunnels, because traffic from the city is unpredictable. Return for a relaxed afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City. Some travellers swap this for a Mekong Delta day; if you want that, ask your planner, and pick a smaller-group tour instead of a rushed one.
Enjoy breakfast and check out. If your flight is later, use the morning for a last market visit near your hotel. Your driver takes you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure, leaving ample time for city traffic and check-in.
Flights are not included.
Ninh Binh gets its own night, which travellers say is time well spent.
The Ha Long Bay cruise is overnight; weather can change the route.
Two domestic flights link Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Cu Chi needs a separate half-day because traffic is unpredictable.
A Mekong Delta day can replace Cu Chi on request.
Breakfast is included daily; other meals are extra.
Flights to Vietnam are not included and are booked separately.
The Vietnam e-visa fee, unlisted entry fees and travel insurance are extra.
March to April and October to November are the broad favourable windows; see the [Vietnam travel guide](/vietnam-travel-guide/).
FAQs
What travellers ask about this trip. Your trip expert can answer anything else.
Nine nights covers the north, centre and south at a steady pace: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Add nights if you want Sapa, Hue or the Mekong Delta, which need extra time and flights.
Nine nights in comfort-category hotels on twin sharing, daily breakfast, private transfers and sightseeing, an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise, a Trang An sampan ride, a Cu Chi Tunnels excursion and visa assistance. Flights, the e-visa fee and insurance are extra.
Domestic flights between Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are not part of the land inclusions unless your quote lists them. International flights are also booked separately. Your planner shows every sector in a written quote so there are no surprises.
Yes. Many one-day Mekong tours spend more time on transfers than on waterways, so choose a smaller-group tour or an overnight stay. Cu Chi and the Mekong are both far from the city centre, so ask your planner which suits you.
March to April and October to November give the best balance across all three regions. Weather varies by region, and central Vietnam may be wet in October. May to September is hotter, with heavy rain and possible storms.
Travellers often skip Ninh Binh and then wish they had not. It adds a sampan ride through Trang An's karst waterways, Hoa Lu and viewpoints around Mua Cave. Visit Trang An early and pick it or Tam Coc, not both.
More ideas
Hanoi 2N · Ha Long Bay 1N · Hoi An 2N · Ho Chi Minh City 1N
Hanoi 2N · Ha Long Bay 1N · Hoi An 2N · Da Nang 2N
Hanoi 3N · Ha Long Bay 1N · Ho Chi Minh City 2N · Siem Reap 3N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
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