Start your foodie journey in Ho Chi Minh City with a visit to Bến Thành Market, a bustling hub of food vendors selling Vietnamese street food. Some popular dishes to try include bánh mi, phở, gỏi cuốn, and bún bò huế. In the evening, experience the city's street food scene on a motorbike food tour, stopping at various eateries to try local dishes.
Take a break from street food and book a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Vietnamese dishes like bánh xèo, nước chấm, and chả giò. In the afternoon, visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda to learn about the history and religious significance of this beautiful Buddhist temple.
Travel to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta region. Start your day with a visit to Cai Rang Floating Market, where vendors sell everything from fresh produce to phở. In the afternoon, take a boat tour of the city's canals and try local delicacies like cá lóc kho tộ and giò kho tộ.
Head to Hoi An, a charming town known for its beautiful old town and unique fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese cultures. In the evening, take a food tour to sample some of the town's specialties like bánh bao vac, bánh mì, and bánh đập.
Spend the day exploring the old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, and the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture. In the evening, return to the old town for a sunset boat ride and a bowl of cao lầu, Hoi An's signature noodle dish.
Travel to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Visit the Imperial City to explore the palaces and temples of the Nguyen Dynasty. In the evening, try some of Hue's famous street food like bánh bèo and bánh khoái.
Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story temple overlooking the Perfume River. Take a boat ride on the river to enjoy the scenery and stop at numerous food vendors to try local delicacies. End the day with a visit to the Tomb of Tu Duc, one of Hue's most impressive royal tombs.
Take a flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex to learn about the life of the Vietnamese leader. In the evening, try some of Hanoi's street food like phở cuốn and bánh gối on a food tour of the Old Quarter.
Spend the day exploring Hanoi's museums and temples, including the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and the Hoa Lo Prison Museum. In the evening, watch a water puppet performance and try some of Hanoi's famous egg coffee.
Take a trip to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning limestone cliffs and emerald waters. Take a boat tour of the bay, stopping at various points to swim and explore the caves. In the evening, enjoy a seafood dinner on board the boat while watching the sunset over the bay.
Travel to Sapa, a mountain town known for its stunning rice terraces and diverse ethnic cultures. Take a trek through the hills and interact with locals to learn about their traditional way of life. Try some of Sapa's local delicacies like thang co and chả rươi.
Return to Hanoi to catch your flight back home. Spend the morning shopping for souvenirs in the street markets of the Old Quarter. Before you depart, make sure to try some of Hanoi's famous bún chả and egg coffee.
Transportation between cities will be via private car or bus, depending on the size of the group. A flight from Hanoi to Hue is also included in the itinerary. Estimated total travel time is 25 hours, and estimated total cost for transportation is $$.
If you have more time, consider adding a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City or a trip to the Mekong Delta region. If you have fewer days, consider skipping Sapa or reducing the number of destinations you visit. When trying street food, make sure to choose vendors with high traffic to ensure freshness and safety.
The main airport in Vietnam is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), located in Ho Chi Minh City. Another major airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), located in Hanoi. Both airports are approximately 30-45 minutes from their respective city centers by car or taxi.