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

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any codes that work for that time period. Most only work up until end of the year. The app may provide some codes that work though.

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!

Fantastic place and definitely do Halong bay cruise with auco cruise its the best one they have. Everything is super cheap just be careful of those rickshaw drivers, make sure you get a final agreed price or they will try scam you saying the price was for one way. Enjoy your trip

Remember you will need an visa for Vietnam and don't get ripped off by the fake companies that offer to do this for you - we went for 3 weeks via HK and got our visa from the Vietnamese embassy in HK

Thank you so much. Just booked the flights! Eeek! Now for the rest! Hope you have a great trip when you go.
Thanks again.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Wife and I already booked something very similar but need to organise an itinerary. Can't wait for Feb/March when we go.

Try including Cat Ba island and doing a Halong Bay cruise from there. Did it a couple of years ago.
train and ferry from Ha Noi. Cat Ba hotel 6usd, cruise 18usd (all day inc. meals etc.)

The weather is a bit murky then though!

Sorry, forgot to say........top berth on the sleeper train is best, quieter (less noise from the wheels etc.) darker, (less light when you stop in stations) and nobody stepping on you to get up/down to the top bunk!

Yeah I know December isn't brilliant in the Hanoi part of the country, better around Con Dao though. I'm not keen on the Halong cruise so I'll look into Cat Ba too. I know Sapa may be a bit wet too for hiking. That said, one Xmas we were hiking in Lombok in Bali in monsoon, thought it was OK til I got undressed in my tent to find 4 leaches stuck to me :confused:

Boy did I scream!

see seat61 site, there's a little known train station in Ha Noi, about 1usd to Hai Phong, a bit of a walk to ferry, an hour to Cat Ba for around 1usd too!

Sounds fantastic! We visited Hanoi in 2012 and had an Amazing time :smiley: did the over night cruise to Ha Long bay and wish we had gone for the two nights it really is worth spending the extra time, it was such a great cruise and with the travel out /and back would have preferred 2 nights.
We were concerned sleeping on a smallish boat but the whole place was like a milk pond, thoroughly enjoyed ..have a fab trip!!!

thankyou so much x

I am going to try to fit in a trip to Angkor Wat as it isn't that far. Can fly from HCMC, or go overland, but I think it takes a while. Maybe fly one way to save time? Any tips anyone?

Any options on Ethiad flights from London please?

I only seem to get Turkish Airways or China airlines for these kinds of prices :/

Alternatively a cheap flight to EDI :P

how long have you planned for Sapa as its a long journey, we coudln't fit it in our schedule.

In HCM i would recomend XO tours we did the food tour, be brave!! In Hanoi there are free city tours completed by the students, they woudn't even take a tip.

We did a day trip along the mekong which was good but i really wanted to go Can Gio Mangrove Forest but didn't book in time.

Also a quick tip: I looked to buy clothes and found that i couldn't get my waist size "36R" I was too fat :wink: Plenty of shops sell "seconds" not sure if they are fakes though. I picked up some North Face Jackets (£35) for my little brother and they are still fine 12 months on.

Sapa is on our schedule for 3/4 nights, still finalising this bit. Whether we go by train or use the Sapa Express bus I don't know. I've read mixed reviews about sleep quality on the overnight trains. I'm also concerned about the rain in December.

Thank you for your hints and tips. I thought maybe 3 days in Siem reap and less time in HCMC and Hanoi. I'v got 19 days. We are not city people so that might work for us. I would like to get to Sapa as well though!

Haha! I'm doing the same now. I have got one book that I have had for some time and I'm busy reading that, but I'm going to get some more tomorrow. Yes, I thought the Mekong delta would be great to see. I also had a look at flights to Siem Reap from London for another trip, maybe combining it with Myanmar. Wasn't as expensive as I thought it might be! Not sure how to find when the cheapest times are though. Other than putting in random dates, but it takes ages, so if that's what you do, I take my hat off to you! I am really grateful for your work on these trips. I make fudge for a living so if you pm me I will send you some. So, still trying to decide whether to include Cambodia this time or not! I'll let you know! Thanks again.

we went a few years ago and it was nearly this just for our flights through Dubai. Amazing place that had great hotels ate great prices. If going to nah trang as a couple, try and get the Mia resort, beautiful place. we want from south to north and then back south to fly out.

Great, thanks.

Hi guys,

Thinking of heading to Vietnam and Cambodia in December for approx 2.5 weeks.

Initial thoughts are as follows in terms of itinerary:

- Fly into Hanoi - Stay 5 nights (this includes cruis to Ha Long Bay) - would an overnight stay in Ha Long Bay be recommended?

- Head to Hoi An for 3 nights

- HCMC for 5 nights

- End the trip with 3 nights in Siem Reap

Any thoughts about whether we would be spending too long / short in each place? Any other ideas / recommendations?

Thanks, sunkissed. I am thinking now to stay in the Mekong Delta for a few days, go back to HCMC and fly to Siem Reap for 3 days and then fly from there to Da Nang for Hoi An and Hue. From there to do Halong Bay, then Hanoi and then Sapa or Mu Cang Chai, back to Hanoi to fly home. I checked the flights and they weren't too bad. No doubt my plans will change a bit before March. Going to check utube. Thanks

Has anyone been to Vietnam over Christmas and new year ? I believe it can be chilly in the north.

I went to Thailand for 3 weeks last Christmas and hoping to do the same this year with Vietnam or Cambodia, just wish the flights were the price in this deal and not £1000 each.

I did the halong bay tour with indochina http://www.indochina-junk.com/

Really went the extra mile

Just in case anyone books any other dates this advice is correct Until 30 June 2017

Thanks for that. I think you are right. Although I would love to see Angkor Wat I think we will leave it for another holiday. So, fly in to HCMC, time on the Mekong Delta then making our way up to Halong Bay via Hoi An, Da Lang, and Hue. Then to Hanoi, Sapa and back to Hanoi to fly home (UK). I think it will be better to see more of Vietnam. We are not as young as we were! Thanks for your input.

I can provide what we did although we had been very busy prior to travel (we both did a 20 hour day before we flew)

9/5 day 1 take off from manchester
10/5 day 2 arrived at HCMC (booked into Villa Song Saigon District 2 - 15-30 mins in a taxi to the centre)
11/5 day 3 day walking round the city
12/5 day 4 mekong delta tour full day
13/5 day 5 shopping in the day time and then the XO "Foodie" Tour in the evening
14/5 day 6 travel to phu quoc (booked into Salinda 3 nights)
15/5 day 7 relax
16/5 day 8 relax
17/5 day 9 travel to HCMC and then onto nha trang (booked into mia resort 3 nights)
18/5 day 10 relax
19/5 day 11 walk round nha trang
20/5 day 12 travel to hanoi (booked into oriental central 6 nights)
21/5 day 13 travel to halong bay
22/5 day 14 halong bay and canoeing
23/5 day 15 travel back to hanoi
24/5 day 16 Hanoi kids (free trip with students trying to improve their english) half day tour
25/5 day 17 cooking lesson at Orchid Cooking Class
26/5 day 18 travel to bangkok
27/5 day 19 trip to the water market and temples
28/5 day 20 trip to tiger temple and elephant sanctuary
29/5 day 21 shopping
30/5 day 22 travel back to uk

I am be travelling to the region with my parents (in their early 60s) now in December. Any comments or suggestions to the below skeleton itinerary:

Days 1-3
Explore Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)

Day 4
Depart Siem Reap for HCMC and spend half a day exploring HCMC

Day 5
Explore HCMC

Day 6
Day tour of Mekong Delta

Day 7
Explore HCMC

Day 8
Extra day in HCMC (can be changed for something else)

Day 9
Travel to Da Nang and transfer onto Hoi An

Day 10
Explore Hoi An

Day 11
Cooking class in Hoi An

Days 12 / 13
Relax on the beach (heard mixed reports about weather in Hoi An in December)

Day 14
Fly to Hanoi and roam around the city

Day 15
Explore Hanoi

Day 16
Go to Halong Bay and stay overnight (Vin Pearl Island perhaps)

Day 17
Day cruise of Halong bay

Day 18
Back to Hanoi for the last day before flying out.

Happy to change the order or places of recommended.

Appreciate any other ideas / changes / things to cover.