8 days in Hanoi, Sapa & Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has bounded back from the effects of war, and today serves as a bustling commercial and cultural hub bursting at the seams.

Popular historic sites such as Old Quarter and Hoa Lo Prison are in your itinerary. There's still lots to do: explore the activities along Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake), admire the artistry at Authentic Bat Trang, stop by Tired City Dinh Tien Hoang, and don't miss a visit to Temple of Literature & National University.

For traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Hanoi trip planner.

Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Tue) so you can drive to Sapa.

A hub of tourism in the country's northwestern mountainous region, Sapa represents home for a large number of ethnic minorities from the hill tribes of the region, and acts as a base for explorations of the surrounding area's wealth of natural sights.

Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Wed): look for gifts at Indigo Cat and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Fansipan Mountain. Keep things going the next day: trek along Si Trekking Sa Pa.

To find more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read Sapa driving holiday tool.

Traveling by car from Hanoi to Sapa takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 4th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Ho Chi Minh City.

Formerly known in the West as Saigon and affectionately referred to as the "Pearl of the Far East," Ho Chi Minh City is a study of old and new, woven and piled together in a fast-paced urban hub.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Fri): take an in-depth tour of War Remnants Museum, hunt for treasures at Ben Thanh Market, and then look for gifts at The House of Saigon. Keep things going the next day: add some adventure to your tour with a kayaking and canoeing tour.

To find other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Ho Chi Minh City online travel route planner.

Do a combination of bus and flight from Sapa to Ho Chi Minh City in 10 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. In November, daytime highs in Ho Chi Minh City are 38°C, while nighttime lows are 28°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Sat) early enough to travel back home.