Authentic Itinerary to Vietnam in 15 Days

Vietnam is now becoming a fascinating tourist destination for both those looking to see the sights and those who want to not only travel but also live in a different culture. Many travellers are seeking non-touristy destinations. What are things to see and do to have such a trip? Let's discover an off-the-beaten-path itinerary to Vietnam in 15 Days with Izitour.

1. Why discover Vietnam in 15 days?

Since the significant updates to Vietnam's immigration laws, traveling to the "Land of the Ascending Dragon" has never been more convenient. For international travelers planning their 2026 journey, here is what you need to know:

• 45-Day Visa Exemption: Vietnam has extended the visa-free stay from 15 to 45 days for citizens of 13 countries, including: The United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. This means you can now enjoy a month and a half in Vietnam without any paperwork.
• 90-Day E-Visa: For citizens of all other countries and territories, Vietnam now issues E-visas valid for up to 90 days with multiple-entry options. This is a game-changer for those who wish to combine their Vietnam trip with visits to neighboring Cambodia or Laos and return to Vietnam afterward.

With the new 45-day exemption policy, a 15-day itinerary is no longer a race against the clock but a perfect segment of a potentially much longer adventure.

Is 15 days in Vietnam enough?

In 15 days, you can cover the essential highlights from North to South to get a comprehensive look at the country’s soul. However, Vietnam's beauty lies in its diversity. Beyond 15 days, whether you want to add a few days of trekking in the northern highlands or sunbathing on southern islands, the new visa flexibility makes it easier than ever to tailor your journey.

2. Recommended authentic Vietnam itinerary in 15 days 

Details itinerary

• Day 01: Arrival day in Hanoi

Arriving in Hanoi on the first day after many hours of travel, you can get your visa waiver stamp right away at the exit by presenting your valid 6-month passport and a few blank pages. If you travel through a local travel agent, you will be greeted by their staff and supported in exchanging money and buying a SIM card.

If you arrive on a morning flight, you can walk around Hanoi Old Quarter in the afternoon and taste the local street food.

>> See more: Top 10 Hanoi Dishes You Cannot Miss

O Quan Chuong ancient gate, Hanoi

• Day 02: The day to discover the real Hanoi

Early in the morning, get up around 05.00 to see real life in Hanoi when all tourists are still sleeping if you choose a hotel in the centre of Hanoi. There are many people around to do exercises, Taichi. Those classes seem to be open for everyone to join. Then, you can go to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to attend the Flag Raising Ceremony or go to the local market. After this outing, you can continue your day with the must-see sites in Hanoi, such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature.

The afternoon is the ideal time to visit the Old Quarter, during the walk, you may want to stop at Bach Ma temple, Cantonese Assembly Hall at Hang Buom street, ancient house in Ma May, Kim Ngan temple in Hang Bac street to be able to experience the most of Hanoi life.

Bach Ma Temple, Hanoi

• Day 03: A night in Mai Hich, Mai Chau

If you have already read about Vietnam, you can see that Mai Chau is a fascinating destination for all tourists. Mai Hich is right in the Mai Chau area but is further away so it is not touched by mass tourism yet. Here you can take the bamboo raft trip and spend a night at the locals' home. The ethnic Thai cuisine in Mai Chau is really a treasure that we highly recommend.

>> Discover other places in Vietnam with outstanding cuisine: 7 Great places to visit in Vietnam for foodies

Thai dance performance, Mai Chau

• Day 04: Pu Luong Nature Reserve

After stopping in Mai Hich to learn about the lives of ethnic Thai people, you can depart for Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa province. Being a nature reserve, Pu Luong is really a great place to truly escape from bustling urban life. Here, you can see terraced rice fields and meet ethnic groups.

>> See more: Pu Luong Rice Terraces - True nature beauty in Vietnam

Hieu Waterfall, Pu Luong

• Day 05: Is Ninh Binh too touristy? 

Ninh Binh is the first capital of the Vietnamese monarchy so it is certainly famous. The place is also where they filmed the Hollywood movie "Kong: Skull island - 2017" and the famous movie "Indochine - 1992". People know about Ninh Binh mostly through Trang An complex, a UNESCO world heritage site, so it should totally be an unforgettable place for tourists once in Vietnam.

But how about an off-the-beaten-path itinerary? Instead of the busier routes, I recommend Van Long Nature Reserve. A peaceful boat trip here offers breathtaking reflections of limestone mountains on the still water—a true "primordial" Vietnam.

For a deeper connection with nature, spend your afternoon at Cuc Phuong National Park, Asia’s leading national park.

• Day 06: Lan Ha Bay

Halong Bay is a not-to-be-missed destination in Vietnam because it is too famous to be recognized 2 times as a world heritage site. You certainly cannot wish that it is not touristy. In this case, a perfect alternative is Lan Ha Bay with beautiful scenery and a big island where Cat Ba National Park is located.

The best way to visit this bay is by cruise. You can choose a cruise of 1 to 3 days, but in our assessment, 2 days are enough. Use the first day for the bay and the other for the national park.

>> See more about Lan Ha Bay - The forgotten gem in Vietnam.

• Day 07: Lan Ha Bay - Hanoi - Train to Hue

After a full 7 days in North Vietnam, it's time to leave for the Central. From Lan Ha Bay you have 2 choices.

- Take the flight from Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong to Phu Bai Airport in Hue.

- Return to Hanoi from Lan Ha Bay and sample the most delicious foods in Hanoi before taking the overnight train to Hue at around 7 p.m. Despite feedback about the noisy Vietnamese train, it is Vietnam's first railway connecting from the North to South of the country. Arriving in Hue at around 08:30 AM the next morning, somehow, this experience will be a combination of a hotel and a transfer. The railway offers you many cabin options with bunks and chairs.

>> See more: Vietnam Sleeper Train: Things to know before your journey

• Day 08: Discovering the real Hue Imperial City

Hue remains a soulful destination that bridges the past and present. By 2026, many major restoration projects within the Imperial City (The Citadel) have been completed, most notably the Thai Hoa Palace (the Palace of Supreme Harmony). You can now admire the royal architecture in its full, original splendor with intricate gold-leaf carvings and vibrant lacquerware.

Beyond the famous Citadel, Tu Duc Mausoleum and Thien Mu Pagoda, immerse yourself in the living traditions of local artisans: 

• Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village: Witness how delicate lotus flowers are crafted from paper, a tradition preserved for over 300 years.
• Xuan Thuy Incense Village: While popular on social media, we take you deeper into the workshops to meet the elders who still hand-roll incense with natural scents.
• Royal Gastronomy: Don't miss the chance to try "Bun Bo Hue" at a local stall or enjoy a sophisticated royal-style tea ceremony in a traditional garden house.

Thanh Tien villages - paper flower making, Hue

• Day 09: Cross the Hai Van pass to Hoi An Ancient Town

Today, we journey to Hoi An. To truly experience the majesty of Central Vietnam, we take the winding road over the Hai Van Pass (The Ocean Cloud Pass). Normally, grouped or public buses transfer through mountain tunnels to save time, however to enjoy the beauty of an outstanding pass in Vietnam, you should travel on the pass’s road. The panoramic view of the coastline from the summit is a highlight of any Vietnam trip.

On the way to Hoi An, you can also take a trip to Marble Mountain - which is listed among natural wonders of Vietnam by Lonely Planet.

Hoi An is no longer just an ancient town; it is becoming a pioneer in sustainable and plastic-free tourism in Vietnam. In the afternoon, you can take these experiences:

- The Old Quarter: In the afternoon, wander through the yellow-walled alleys. Many local cafes and shops now use eco-friendly materials, offering a refreshing "Green" shopping experience.

- Memories Show: In the evening, we highly recommend the "Hoi An Memories" show—a world-class outdoor visual arts performance that tells the 400-year history of this port town on a massive scale.

- Local Flavors: Aside from the famous Cao Lau, try the "Banh Mi" from hidden stalls known only to locals, which we’ve carefully scouted for our travelers.

• Day 10: The artisan villages in Hoi An - Departure for Ho Chi Minh City

In Hoi An, you cannot miss a chance to visit the artisan villages as well. The historic town of Hoi An is certainly very famous but a visit to the artisan villages helps you to live in real Hoi An and meet friendly people. The rural and artisan life makes everyone feel special.

End of the day, prepare your luggage for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City for other adventures. The South of Vietnam is highly recommended to make the most of your time in Vietnam.

Thanh Ha pottery village, Hoi An

• Day 11: Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City

Being the Pearl of the East, Ho Chi Minh City used to be the most important city in the Indochinese Federation during the Colonisation of the French. The city has its distinct beauty, with many monuments related to the Vietnam War in the 20th century. That's why, despite the flow of tourists, you can't miss the Cu Chi tunnel, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, the post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Reunification Palace.

Beyond that, there are other attractions that are not yet well known, such as "Cafe Do Phu - Com Tam Han" at 113A Dang Dung, the Vietnam Traditional Dress Museum in Long Phuoc district, or simply "Cafe Apartments" in Nguyen Hue Street or ride to Tao Dan park in the morning.

Cafe Do Phu - Com Tam Han, Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 12: Can Tho - Coconut Kingdom

On this day, you may want to go toward Ben Tre - coconut kingdom. You can easily see a little village in the middle of the coconut forest and zig-zag canals. 

>> See more photos of Ben Tre in this link: The Peaceful Ben Tre coconut in Mekong Delta

In the afternoon, however, you may want to move to Can Tho to see this town lit up in the evening. From a boat on the river, you can see the Can Tho Bridge, Ninh Kieu Pier and the pedestrian bridge all shining. Can Tho is proudly titled "the capital of the Mekong Delta."

• Day 13: Can Tho - Chau Doc

Although it is the fourth largest city in Vietnam, Can Tho retains well the floating markets that are attractive particularities for every traveller. There are 2 beautiful markets: Cai Rang, the most famous in Vietnam and Phong Dien, which is also beautiful but to visit this market, you have to get up at around 04:00 AM.

If you can't get up early, Cai Rang market is also fine because it is a very interesting cultural stretch. In the late morning, you may want to go to Chau Doc, the very remote area located on the border with Cambodia. You can visit the Cajuput forest and Hang Pagoda.

This night will be perfect if you stay overnight at the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel at Mt. Sam, which will give you a great view of the vast region at sunrise.

Floating market, Can Tho

• Day 14: Chau Doc - Long Xuyen - Ho Chi Minh city

This morning, we return to Ho Chi Minh City. On the way, you can make a stop at Ong Ho Island in Long Xuyen. A trip by “xe loi” - the local tuk tuk will be a new experience for you.

>> See moreTop Things to Do in the Mekong Delta

Xe Loi experience, Ben Tre

• Day 15: Sai Gon departure

Finish your Vietnam vacation with your flight back home or to the next destination.

Abbreviated of Vietnam 15-day itinerary

Day 01: Hanoi arrival
Day 02: Hanoi sightseeing
Day 03: Hanoi - Mai Chau
Day 04: Mai Chau - Pu Luong
Day 05: Pu Luong - Ninh Binh
Day 06: Ninh Binh - Lan Ha Bay
Day 07: Lan Ha Bay - Hanoi - Train to Hue
Day 08: Hue visit
Day 09: Hue - Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An - Sai Gon
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City arrival
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Tre- Can tho
Day 13: Can Tho - Chau Doc
Day 14: Chau Doc - Long Xuyen - Ho Chi Minh city
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City departure

Vietnam 15-day itinerary map

3. FAQs

Is a Vietnam 15-day itinerary expensive?

This itinerary is not as expensive as other authentic itineraries in the world. But if you still want to experience the things that other people don't normally do and such beautiful itineraries, the expenses for transfers definitely increase. To our opinion, this itinerary is beautiful in so many aspects: 

• It includes the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam and discovers them in a special way: national parks, nature reserves, world heritages.
• The rich and diverse activities: bamboo rafting in Mai Hich, overnight at stilt house, cruise, boat trip, xe loi, cycling, etc.

Bamboo rafting

Compared to the destinations mentioned in the article, where can we visit more in case we can extend the trip?

If you have the flexibility to extend your stay beyond 15 days, Vietnam offers several breathtaking regions that are well worth the extra time. You might consider adding a 3-day stop in Phong Nha, Quang Binh to explore some of the world’s most magnificent caves, or venturing into the Northwest for an additional 2 to 9 days to witness epic mountain landscapes. Alternatively, the Northeast offers various routes ranging from 2 to 10 days, perfect for those wanting to immerse themselves in the rugged beauty of the frontier provinces.

What if we want an extension to the sea?

For travelers looking to extend their journey with a coastal escape, Vietnam boasts an expansive coastline dotted with numerous stunning islands. Depending on your departure schedule and the season, you can select a beach itinerary that perfectly suits your preferences, whether you seek relaxation or adventure.

See more: Top 10 Most Stunning Beaches in Southern Vietnam

Above we suggest a Vietnam itinerary in 15 Days to discover the authenticity of the country. However, every traveller has a different travel taste. In case you need a tailor-made itinerary, please do not hesitate to contact us, we offer totally free consultation and 24/7 support via email: [email protected]