Travelled south down Vietnam a few years ago. Personally went north to south. Did it this way so I had some beach time in nha trang.

Also it's very easy to find accommodation so I wouldn't book anything other than when you first arrive as this then gives you the flexibility to stay somewhere a bit longer if you like it or move on if you don't.

Accommodation wise there's hostels in HCM and Hanoi but Everywhere else it's hotels however when I was there was very easy to find a nice room for about $10 a night.

A must for me is an easy rider tour amazing 3 days saw so much defo worth it. Just google it.

Highlights for me were

Hanoi old quarter, must sit in the middle of the road one evening and drink the fresh beer.

Stay on a junk boat in ha long bay

Easy rider tour is a must

Jumping of a bridge into the river
Eating live shrimp
Eating water snake
Getting a massage from a massive waterfall
Eating sugar cane straight out of the field
Staying on an island in the middle of a lake with a local community watching the sun set over the lake beer in hand.

Such an amazing country!

I've just finished planning my Christmas & NYE trip to Vietnam and I'm sure someone mentioned Vietnam previously so here is a taster.

This is just over a two week itinerary and you may want to adjust this to suit. I'm doing just over 3 weeks and have included places such as Sapa and Con Dao, with side trips to Mekong Delta but it depends on your interests.

As with most of Asia, you have a choice of a variety of accommodation. I've picked great places which whilst not the cheapest, all have good reviews and are centrally located. You could reduce the cost more with hostels or shared accommodation but the places I've picked are also some I'm staying in on my own trip so I'm confident to recommend them.

You'll fly on 13th March from Edinburgh to HCM. You have 12 Hrs in Abu Dhabi overnight and the screen shot from Etihad suggests you get a free hotel stay which is a bonus too.

14th-17th March

You'll eventually arrive in HCM on 14th March in the evening. You'll stay in HCM for 3 nights. I've picked a great hotel in HCM, the Bich Duyen Hotel which is right in the centre and has really good reviews. You could visit the Mekong Delta from HCM, but there are also plenty of attractions within the city for your short stay here such as the underground tunnels.

17th March

You have another final full day in HCM before you'll take the overnight train today to Nha Trang (screen shots from seat61 website are really helpful here). You'll leave HCM in the evening.

18th-21st March

You'll arrive in Nha Trang in the early hours of the morning, likely tired and shattered! You'll have 3 days of lovely relaxation though and I've splurged on a lovely hotel, the Green World in Nha Trang. With a spa and nr the beach it's not as cheap as the more budget options but it's also not the most expensive either.

21st-25th March

You'll from from Nha Trang to Danang today, a short taxi from Hoi Ann. This looks like it's going to be one of my favourite places and you'll have 4 nights here. I've picked a great rated homestay with 5/5 TripAdvisor reviews and similar on other verified review sites, the Holden Bell Homestay. Ideally located it's a great budget option.

25th March

You'll experience the route on the overnight trains in Vietnam from either Danang/Hue to Hanoi. The price is similar and it's likely you'll probably want to visit Hue which is easily done from Hoi Ann.

26th-31st March (Hanoi and Ha Long Bay)

I've chosen 5 nights in Hanoi, BUT you can adjust this. I'd probably choose 2 nights in Hanoi, then go on an overnight cruise of Ha Long Bay and then return to Hanoi for another 2 nights. Alternatively you could split your time between Hanoi and Sapa if hiking is up your street.

There are lots of Ha Long cruises and I'm not going to recommend one, to be honest it didn't appeal to me that much but I was overruled but if anyone wants details of the one I am doing let me know.

The hotel is the Golden Moon Suite which again has amazing reviews and is centrally located. You can adjust the amount of days here if you choose to do a cruise or visit Sapa.

***Breakdown***

Etihad flights Edinburgh-HCM-Hanoi-Edinburgh £676 for two book @ Travel Up.

3 nights in HCM at the Bich Doyen Hotel £47 book at booking.com

Soft Sleeper air con train from HCM to Nha Trang 536,000pp (how to book look at seat 61 website) - price for 2 £36.16

3 nights in Nha Trang at the Green World Hotel £138 book at Amoma

Flight from Nha Trang to Danang 1,470,000 for 2 book direct with Vietnam Airlines. Total for 2 £49.59

4 nights in Hoi An at the Golden Bell Homestay Hoi An £72.60 book at Expedia

Soft Sleeper air con train from Hue/Danang to Hanoi 834,000pp (how to book look at seat 61 website) Total for 2 £56.29

5 nights in Hanoi at the Golden Moon £128.85 book at Hotels.com

Total £1204.49/£602.24pp

heat!! went to vietnam last year and cost considerably more. Would love to go back but other things are getting in the way

no problem Rachel
we did 3 weeks - HCM,Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hanoi, Halong bay, Hanoi, Bangkok.

This sounds amazing! Thank you so much. I want to book flights but can't work out how to do multi city. When I try individually it costs a lot more. Sorry to be thick! Hope you can help me. I must be missing something - like a brain!

Ah we have just over 3 weeks too, similar Hanoi-Sapa-Halong-Hue/Hoi Ann and then the last bit I'm still working on is Con Dao/HCM and Mekong Delta.

Rachel just be careful you dont put too many destinations in as you will be exhausted.

​ cracking trips! Don't forget that hotels.com / Expedia / ebookers / venere / trivago are all the same company. It's worth checking the price of accommodation on each separately as they all tend to have different rates / discount codes for exactly the same stays. You can save a good 15 - 20% for the same itinerary just by checking a few sites