The Ultimate Vietnam Itinerary - Explore the Best of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and More

(D)Day-wise Itinerary : Day-wise Vietnam Itinerary: Things to See in Each City and What to Eat (4/5)

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Index :👇

(A)Introduction: A brief overview of the blog’s purpose, theme, and content ✅
(B)Prerequisites: Things to know before traveling to Vietnam ✅
(C)Must-Carry Documents/Medicines: Checklist of documents and medicines to keep handy while traveling to Vietnam ✅
(D)Day-wise Itinerary: Things to see in each city and what to eat in Vietnam 👈 (You're here!)
(E)Conclusion: A summary of our experience and impressions of Vietnam

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• Do you want to discover the best attractions and activities in each city in Vietnam?
• Are you looking for a perfect itinerary to explore Vietnam in 10 days, 2 weeks, or 1 month?
• Do you love to taste the most delicious and authentic dishes in Vietnam?
• Do you need to know the entry fees and how to plan your day itinerary for each destination?
• How can I avoid scams and tourist traps in Vietnam?
• What are some of the most popular dishes and drinks in Vietnam? 
• What are the must-see attractions in Vietnam?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you have come to the right place. This page will provide you with all the information and tips you need to plan your dream trip to Vietnam. Read on and find out how to experience the culture, history, and beauty of this amazing country.

(D) 1. Day-wise Itinerary

10-Day Vietnam Adventure Itinerary

• Day 0: Depart from India
• Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and explore the city
• Day 2: Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta
• Day 3: Transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and explore the city
• Day 4: Transfer from Nha Trang to Hoi An and explore the city
• Day 5: Visit Da Nang and its surroundings
• Day 6: Take a day trip to Ba Na Hills
• Day 7: Transfer from Da Nang to Hanoi and explore the city
• Day 8: Take a boat trip to Halong Bay
• Day 9: Visit Ninh Binh
• Day 10: Return to India in the evening
  

Note: For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), departure will be from your own country. Rest of the itinerary remains the same.

With just 80,000 INR (~ 963.20 USD) each, we enjoyed a 10-day trip to Vietnam, where we explored its stunning scenery, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. And that’s all-inclusive: food, travel, transport, shopping, tours, and stays. 😍

Also all prices mentioned in this blog post are for two people (me and my wife).

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Ho Chi Minh City : 2 Days

1. What are the Pre-Travel Costs for Vietnam? A Guide to Visa, Flight and Insurance Expenses
👉Day 0: Depart from India

No	Itinerary	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Vietnam eVisa	4319.98	INR	IDFC First Wealth Debitcard (Online)	The actual cost was $25 per person, but there was a small forex charge for the international transaction, so we paid ₹2,159.99 per person
2	Flight to HCMC (Vietjet Air)	26314.96	INR	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	Booked a Vietjet Air flight directly on their website for two people
3	Travel Insurance	952.00	INR	IDFC First Wealth Select CC (Online)	Purchased Travel insurance from PolicyBazaar of $100,000 each which 476.00 INR premium for each
4	2-NightStay in HCMC (Airbnb)	4746.68	INR	ICICI Sapphiro CC (Online)	Booked an Airbnb in District 1, near AUGUDA COFFEE, NGÃ 6 PHÙ ĐỔNG

2. How Much Does It Cost to Visit Ho Chi Minh City? A Detailed Guide to the Expenses for Attractions and Activities
👉Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and explore the city

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	SIMCard - Vinaphone	380,000	VND	Cash	Vinaphone - Choose this. This is the cheapest yet best. No network issues. Bought 2 SIMs from airport, both with unlimited data for 15 days with 5GB per day high-speed limit. One SIM had local calls for a few minutes (200k), while the other one was just data(180k)
2	Airport Bus To District 1	25,000	VND	Cash	Bus:109 costs 20k/pax and Bus:152 costs 5k/pax. We took Bus:152. They charged 5k per trolley bag, so we paid 25k for 2 people and 3 bags
3	Independence Palace (Palace+Exhibition)	130,000	VND	Cash	Admission tickets include the Exhibit (25k) and Palace (40k) per person. Exhibit can be ignored.
4	War Remnants Museum	80,000	VND	Cash	Ticket price: 40k VND per person. A must-visit place.
5	Sai Gon Central Post Office	-	-	-	Entrance is free
6	Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon	-	-	-	It is under renovation. It is in front of the Central Post Office
7	Ho Chi Minh City Book Street	-	-	-	It is located next to the Central Post Office. Good for a walk
8	Ben Thanh Market	-	-	-	We found everything to be expensive here — coffee, local food items, clothes, bags. If you're skilled at bargaining, you might find good deals on bags. The local vegetarian food dishes are quite enjoyable
9	Saigon Sightseeing By Night (MOTORBIKE)	750,000	VND	IDFC First Wow CC (Online)	2619.12 INR was charged. Booked through Saigon Adventure, we negotiated for this rate. While food was not included, the bike ride is a must and definitely worth it
10	Bui Vien Street	-	-	-	Night Party Place. Try the local beers. Food is expensive

3. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Day Tour from Ho Chi Minh: What to Expect and How Much to Spend
👉Day 2: Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	CuChiTunnels + MekongDelta DayTour	17,00,000	VND	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	6111.8 INR was charged to my card. I booked through FB with VN Bike Tour through 'David Văn', an excellent agent. Worth every penny!
2	Sài Gòn Square	-	-	-	Shopping place, but you need to be quite adept at bargaining
3	Nguyen Hue Street	-	-	-	A must-visit place for a night walk and dinner. Lots of young artists perform here

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Nha Trang : 1 Days

4. How to Spend a Perfect Day in Nha Trang: Top Attractions and Costs
👉Day 3: Transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and explore the city

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Train from HCMC to NhaTrang (DSVN - SE8)	960,000	VND	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	A total of 3498.24 INR was charged to my card. The cost was 480k VND per person in Coach number 7: Room 4 beds, Air-Con
2	Ponagar Temple	60,000	VND	Cash	The ticket is priced at 30K VND per person. A must-visit
3	Chợ Đầm (Dam Market)	-	-	-	A shopping place, but nothing extraordinary
4	Chùa Long Sơn (Long Son Pagoda)	-	-	-	A slight hike and not too crowded, but a must-visit place
5	Chợ Đêm (Night Market)	-	-	-	Shopping and night food street: Great items available, including clothes; however, strong bargaining skills are required.
6	Tháp Trầm Hương (Agarwood Tower)	-	-	-	Infront of the nightmarket entrance - A peaceful place to relax near the beach after a tiring day
7	Lotte Mart Nha Trang Gold Coast	-	-	-	A good place to shop for local food items for takeaway
8	1-NightStay in NhaTrang (Agoda)	1903.53	INR	Flipkart Axis CC (Online)	Booked a studio apartment with partial SeaView at Lotus Village in Nha Trang. My card was charged a Forex fee for this transaction

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Da Nang + Hội An : 3 Days

5. The Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Hoi An: Highlights and Expensess
👉Day 4: Transfer from Nha Trang to Hoi An and explore the city

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Private taxi to NhaTrang Airport	250,000	VND	Cash	Xe du lịch Thiện Thành Nha Trang - found on Google Maps. Recommended!
2	Flight from NhaTrang to DaNang (Vietnam Airlines)	7422.36	INR	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	Booked a morning flight to Da Nang and then transferred to Hoi An
3	Private taxi to Hoi An	250,000	VND	Cash	Taxi Hội An - Đà Nẵng - found on Google Maps and booked from Danang airport to Hoi An hotel
4	Thánh thất Hội An (Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An)	-	-	-	A good place for capturing pics (easily accessible by bicycle)
5	Chùa Cầu (Japanese Bridge)	-	-	-	The bridge was under renovation but remained a major tourist attraction
6	Assembly Hall Of Fujian (Hoi Quan Phuoc Kien)	-	-	-	A good place for capturing pics (easily accessible by bicycle)
7	Bà Mụ Temple	-	-	-	A good place for capturing pics (easily accessible by bicycle)
8	Hội quán Quảng Đông (Cantonese Assembly Hall)	-	-	-	It has an entrance fee (no need to buy). Watch it from outside
9	Miếu Quan Công (Guan Di Temple)	-	-	-	A beautiful temple by the road. No entrance fees were asked, so I visited the inside for free. It's located in front of the food market
10	Food Market	-	-	-	A place to try local food dishes, where vegans like us can walk around and observe
11	Lantern Boat Ride	150,000	VND	Cash	An essential activity. The rates are fixed. Purchase the tickets from government officials sitting nearby An Hoi Bridge
12	Hội An Night Market	-	-	-	An amazing street filled with lights and lanterns. A bit crowded, but you cannot miss it as it's a very happening street. Walk by, and you'll find food and drinks along the way
13	1-NightStay in Hoi An (Agoda)	1453.06	INR	IDFC First Wealth Select CC (Online)	Stayed in 'The 1993 Homestay'. The rooms were perfect, clean, neat, and new. (Cancelled my initial plan to stay in Danang)

6. How to Make the Most of Your Day in Da Nang: Top Attractions and Costs
👉Day 5: Visit Da Nang and its surroundings

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Half Day Taxi (Danang Sightseeing)	11,50,000	VND	Cash	Booked an 8-10 hour private taxi from Hoi An
2	An Bang Beach	-	-	-	A famous beach in Hoi An
3	The Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)	80,000	VND	Cash	A must-go place. Don't take the elevator (15k VND), and don't visit the other cave - Động Âm Phủ (20K VND), and don't buy the map (15k VND). Instead, head directly to Marble Mountains with a price of 40k VND each. It involves a short hike. Remember to carry water bottles
4	Chùa Nam Sơn (Nam Son Pagoda)	-	-	-	A very beautiful temple. A must-go place
5	My Khe Beach	-	-	-	A famous beach in Danang
6	Chùa Linh Ứng (Monkey Mountain)	-	-	-	Free entrance. A must-go-to place. Very beautiful pagoda and a famous one
7	Han Market	-	-	-	It's a wholesale market, so it's a good place to buy groceries, shoes, clothes, bamboo bags, belts—everything. Shopkeepers are rude here, but you can still negotiate and purchase items from here
8	Chợ Đêm Sơn Trà (Night Market)	-	-	-	A very famous night market with lots of local good food options. For vegans like us, it was difficult to find food, but we managed. There is also a shopping night street inside, but it's costly
9	Love Bridge (Cầu Tình Yêu Đà Nẵng)	-	-	-	A very beautiful and scenic view of the city and Dragon Bridge at night
10	Dragon Bridge	-	-	-	The bridge looks truly beautiful at night
11	2-NightStay in Hoi An	861,000	VND	Cash	Booked 2 nights at Cheerful Hoi An Hostel based on the reviews, but the host was too pushy when selling tours. The rooms were okay, but I would skip staying here in the future

7. The Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge from Hoi An
👉Day 6: Take a day trip to Ba Na Hills

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Ba Na Hills	5867.00	INR	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	Booked via Klook (recommended). It was 890K VND per person. All major activities are included in this price. Didn't book the food buffet and purchased food while we were there, as there are many external food shops available
2	Taxi To and Fro HoiAn - BaNaHills	900,000	VND	Cash	Bit costlier, as Bike on rent are available at 150k VND per day; car drivers wait the entire day over there, thus contributing to this price
3	Old Town - Hoi An	-	-	-	Just cycled our night through the lightning streets and had local foods

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Hanoi : 4 Days

8. How to Spend One Day in Hanoi, Vietnam on a Budget

👉Day 7: Transfer from Da Nang to Hanoi and explore the city

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Flight from Danang to Hanoi (Bamboo Airways)	7658.57	INR	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	Booked a morning flight to Hanoi, but our flight was delayed by 1hr 15min
2	Airport Taxi to Hotel	280,000	VND	Cash	Booked directly through the hotel; consider 'Đi chung Taxi' on FB for better prices
3	Temple Of Literature	60,000	VND	Cash	A must-visit sacred place. It's a 30K VND ticket per person
4	Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum	-	-	-	Please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Didn't go inside, but it's a good place for a walk and taking pictures
5	Presidential Palace	-	-	-	Please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Didn't go inside, but it's a good place for a walk and taking pictures
6	Ho Chi Minh Museum	-	-	-	Please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Didn't go inside, but it's a good place for a walk and taking pictures
7	One Pillar Pagoda	-	-	-	Walk-by location.The mausoleum, palace, and museum are all in the same campus. Please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees
8	Hanoi Train Street	-	-	-	The locals can be unfriendly on the standard Google Maps-based street. Instead, search for '65 Railway Coffee' and head there
9	St. Joseph's Cathedral	-	-	-	A lovely church to visit and take pictures of at night
10	Hanoi Night Market (Chợ Đêm Phố Cổ Hà Nội)	-	-	-	Visit this must-see street for affordable shopping. It's a top choice for clothes, souvenirs, shoes, local food, and coffee
11	Ta Hien Beer Street - Hanoi Old Quarter (Old Quarter Ta Hien Corner)	-	-	-	It's a vibrant and crowded nightlife street with higher prices, but be sure to try the local Hanoi beers
12	3-NightStay in Hanoi (Booking.com)	1,720,000	VND	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	VND 1,620,000 was the initial price. An additional 100,000 VND was the late checkout fee. I paid 5452.67 INR via card and 200K VND in cash (as that amount was pending with me before leaving the country)

9. 1-Day Halong Bay Tour from Hanoi: The Perfect Way to See the UNESCO World Heritage Site

👉Day 8: Take a boat trip to Halong Bay

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Halong Bay: A Day Cruise with Arcadia Cruise (Route 2)	2,400,000	VND	Fi Money Debitcard (Online)	Charged 8553.37 in INR. 1,200,000 VND per pax. Booked through FB with ‘Kenny Minh,’ the owner of ‘Vietnam Package Vacation.’ Pickup and drop were in a private limousine bus from Hanoi. Highly recommended!
2	Hoàn Kiếm Lake	-	-	-	Stroll at night along the night market
3	Hanoi Night Market (Chợ Đêm Phố Cổ Hà Nội)	-	-	-	Visit it every day as you may find something new each day

10. Ninh Binh Private Tour from Hanoi: A Luxurious Way to Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site
👉Day 9: Visit Ninh Binh

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	1-Day Ninh Binh from Hanoi	6312.10	INR	IDFC First Wow CC (Online)	Agreed price: 880k VND per person. I was charged 1,810,825 VND (an additional 50,825 VND for online payment, almost 3% extra). My agent didn't waive this fee. Despite this, it's an amazing place one shouldn't miss. Very fulfilling and satisfying! Booked via Vietsail Tours
2	Hoàn Kiếm Lake	-	-	-	Stroll at night along the night market
3	Hanoi Night Market (Chợ Đêm Phố Cổ Hà Nội)	-	-	-	Visit it every day as you may find something new each day

11. The best way to spend your last day in Hanoi before flying back to India
👉Day 10: Return to India in the evening

No	Activity	Cost	Currency	Paid Via	Notes
1	Ngoc Son Temple	60,000	VND	Cash	It's located in the center of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The ticket costs 30K VND per person
2	Hoa Lo Prison Relic	60,000	VND	Cash	A must-visit place. 30K VND per person for a ticket
3	Airport Taxi to Hanoi Airport	190,000	VND	Cash	Booked via FB: 'Đi chung Taxi'. Very reliable, economical, and the cheapest in Hanoi. Highly recommended!

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Note for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) reading this : I had paid the amounts using my forex card, so I was charged in INR. For those transactions, I have provided figures in my local currency in the above table. However, all the figures are still relevant even to you, so please use any currency exchange online and convert INR to your own currency likewise and understand the prices accordingly..
 
Other Notes : 

• Refer to this for real-time VISA exchange Calculator rates.
  
• All activities paid with the Fi Money Debit card include a markup fee. ( 2.5% + 18% of 2.5% = 2.95%) This fee will be reversed within the next 30 days. So X = Final Amount / (1 + 0.0295)
• I used Grab for all internal transfers in each city. They often offer 50% off, so the average cost for a cab from one place to another for four people is usually under 20K.
  
  

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(D) 2. The Best Vegetarian Food in Vietnam

Here are some of the best Vegeterian Food Dishes to try or buy when in Vietnam :

1. Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon :

• Bánh mì chảo Dì Nữ : Banh mi chay + Milk coffee Good for breakfast, Ask for egg-free version
• Ben Thanh Market : Bánh Xèo chay (Crispy Pancakes) + Chả Giò Chay (Vegetarian Spring Rolls) + Chilled Coconut Water + Trà đá (Vietnamese Iced Tea) Lunch is pricey, but the local dishes are good, worth a try
• Like Coffee - Banh Mi : Special Vegetarian (No Meat) Banh Mi Very good taste
• Try the famous local Saigon beers: Bia Saigon, Larue, 333, and Huda
• Ca phe sua (Vietnamese iced coffee with milk)
• Bạc xỉu (Vietnamese iced white coffee)
• Nuoc Rau Ma (Pennywort Juice)
• Trà Chanh (Lemon tea) Too good and refreshing
• Bánh tráng nướng Chay (Vegan Vietnamese Pizza)
• bánh mì kẹp kem (ice cream sandwich)
  

2. Nha Trang :

• Chanh Muối (Salty lemonade) Very yummy & refreshing
• nước mía (Vietnamese Sugarcane Juice)
• Yên Nhà Hàng Chay & Yoga Nha Trang : Mì Xào Giòn (Crispy Noodle Stir Fry) + Vegan Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) One of the best vegan foods here
• Kem ống (Tubular ice cream)
  

3. Hội An :

• nước mía (Vietnamese Sugarcane Juice)
• Taiyaki (Fish-shaped chocolate pastry)
• ROM Vegetarian Bistro - Hoi An : Cà Phê Dừa (Coconut Coffee) + R.OM. Special Fried Rice
  
• Lê Hội Bánh MÌ Chay : Banh Mi Chay Best Vegan Banh Mi Ever! 😍
• Ba Dam Vegetarian Restaurant : Cao lầu (Noodle soup) - Special Local Food + Bánh Bao (Steamed Bun) + Bánh canh (Vietnamese Thick Noodle Soup)
• Kem ống (Tubular ice cream)
• Madam Khanh - The Banh Mi Queen : Chay Banh Mi Good & famous Banh Mi, ask egg-free
• cà phê muối (Salted Coffee) Didn't like it
• Xi Ma (Black Sesame Sweet Soup) Must Try
• Banh Flan (Vietnamese Creme Caramel)
• Chè Bắp (Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding)
  

4. Da Nang :

• Chợ Đêm Sơn Trà : Bánh Tráng Nướng (Vietnamese Pizza) + Che (sweet soup) + Com tam chay (vegetarian broken rice) + Trà Dào (Vietnamese Peach Tea) +  Bánh căn ( Vietnamese fried mini-pancake) + khoai tây xoắn (twisted potato chips)  Need to search well for vegan food, but the night market is very lively and unique
  

5. Hanoi :

• V-Cuisine : Pho Chay (Vegetarian Pho), Bún xào chay (Vegetarian Fried Noodles), Bun tron (Rice Noodle and Tofu mixed with Sauce), Cơm chiên dứa (Vegetable fried rice with pineapple -- ask not to add egg) Our go-to place for vegan dinner
  
• Little Hanoi Restaurant : Mì Xào Rau (Vegetable Stir-fried Noodles) Avg. Test
  
• Cafe Giảng : Sua Chua Cafe (Vietnamese Yogurt Coffee),  Ca Phe Sua Nong (Vietnamese Hot Milk Coffee) | {Ca phe trung (Vietnamese Egg Coffee) was invented here} Too strong and distinct - we didn't enjoy any of the flavors here
• Cộng Cà Phê : Cà Phê Cốt Dừa (Vietnamese Coconut Coffee) Don't miss. Ask them to add sugar. This shop is super famous for this
• Fresh & Go : Kem Bơ Đà Lạt (Avocado Ice Cream) Must Try! + Cà Phê Cốt Dừa (Coconut Coffee)
• Vegan Banh Mi : Shredded Mushroom Banh mi + Crispy pollow dumpling + Fried spring rolls noodles An excellent place
• 65 Railway coffee - 65 coffee : Mì Tôm Trứng (Noodles -- ask not to add egg ), Coconut Coffee, Food is amazing here | {Special Egg Coffee is really famous here}
  
• chè thập cẩm (Vietnamese Mixed Sweet Soup)
  
• Banh Cam (Sweet Vietnamese sesame balls)
• Try the famous local Hanoi beers (they are different from the Saigon ones) and also the freshly brewed beers (Bia Hoi)
  
  

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 Other Notes : 

• Food is cheaper in the South and Central regions than in the North. But shopping is cheaper in the Central and North regions.
• Try different coffees wherever you can, because the same coffee will taste different in the South versus the one in the North. Coffees are usually stronger in the North and sweeter in the South. You should try both.
• For day trips, food is included, like Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, and they have lots of local dishes in buffet. You can try them as per your taste.
• Do try baked rice paper whenever you can find vegan ones. Some famous ones are sesame crunch and banana papers (they are something like our papad but bigger in size and usually sweet - a carry-on food).
• There are lots of options in ‘chè’ - ask for recommendations directly from the seller.
• You will find lots of cheap ice creams everywhere in markets. Try candy as they are available in lots of flavors.
• Beers, teas, and coffees are much cheaper in Convenience stores. Look out for them and try something new daily.
• Egg is considered vegetarian, so make sure when you say ‘chay’, which means vegetarian, you explicitly ask for vegan and to omit egg.
• Try opting for food tours whenever you can to enjoy local and authentic taste

👇👇
"Quiz: What do you think is the best dish I might have enjoyed during my trip?"
Let me know here: https://rdvietnam.blogspot.com/p/about-me-ronaks-blog-context-httpschema.html

 

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Previous Blog: (C)Must-Carry Documents/Medicines: Checklist of documents and medicines to keep handy while traveling to Vietnam
Next Blog: (E)Conclusion: A summary of our experience and impressions of Vietnam

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