Our Vietnam route travelled north to south: Hanoi first, then Da Nang and Hoi An, before finishing in Ho Chi Minh City. With Dhruthi still a toddler, we wanted a mix of experiences rather than a holiday made entirely of sightseeing.
Looking back at our planner, the rhythm matters as much as the places: a busy outing, an easier evening, a transfer day, and a proper pause. This is the route we planned around, with the details gathered into a downloadable itinerary.
22 April–7 May 2023 · 15-day route plus the return journey
Hanoi as a base: city days, boats and a show
We arrived early on 23 April, so the first morning began with rest. The city plan combined Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel and the lake area, with a break before the water puppet show.
Keeping Hanoi as our base also made room for two very different day trips: Trang An / Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. These were full-day outings, so the evenings were kept simple. On 26 April, the plan was a slower Hanoi morning before flying to Da Nang.
Da Nang: leave room for a rest day
Our Da Nang stop included an entire light day before Ba Na Hills. That gap is a useful part of the itinerary: hotel time, a swim or beach time, and no pressure to fit in another attraction.
Ba Na Hills was the main outing on 28 April. The following day was longer, with a Hue city tour and transfer to Hoi An. If you are adapting this route, that is a day to look at carefully rather than treating every stop as compulsory.
Hoi An: lanterns, a show and boating
Hoi An gave the itinerary a different pace. We planned lantern time and the Hoi An Memories show, an outing to Marble Mountains and Lady Buddha, and Coconut Village boating. Staying in one place meant those experiences could sit across several days.
Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
After flying south on 3 May, our city plan focused on the central landmarks and an easy first evening. The next days included the museum and Cu Chi plan, followed by the Mekong Delta. The final day stayed flexible before the late departure.
For families with toddlers, the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi combination deserves particular thought. You can shorten the day or choose fewer stops; the itinerary is a starting point, not a challenge to complete.
Our route at a glance
| Date | Base / travel | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr | Travel | Leave Bangalore for Hanoi |
| 23 Apr | Hanoi | City sights and water puppets |
| 24 Apr | Hanoi base | Trang An / Ninh Binh day trip |
| 25 Apr | Hanoi base | Ha Long Bay cruise |
| 26 Apr | Hanoi → Da Nang | A slower city morning, then fly south |
| 27 Apr | Da Nang | Rest day |
| 28 Apr | Da Nang | Ba Na Hills |
| 29 Apr | Da Nang → Hoi An | Hue excursion and transfer |
| 30 Apr | Hoi An | Lanterns and Hoi An Memories |
| 1 May | Hoi An base | Marble Mountains and Lady Buddha |
| 2 May | Hoi An | Coconut Village and food |
| 3 May | Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City | Fly south and explore the centre |
| 4 May | Ho Chi Minh City | Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels |
| 5 May | Ho Chi Minh City base | Mekong Delta |
| 6 May | Ho Chi Minh City | Easy city time and late departure |
| 7 May | Travel | Return journey |
What I’d keep when adapting it
- Keep a few bases, with day trips from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Protect the quieter Da Nang day rather than filling every gap.
- Choose the length of each outing around your child’s energy.
- Plan food breaks as deliberately as the sightseeing. As a vegetarian family, we included vegetarian and Indian restaurant options in the original planner.
This is a record of a past trip. Attractions, transport and ticket details can change; check the current information before you book.