15 days in Hanoi & 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.

Get a sense of the local culture at Old Quarter and Temple of Literature & National University. Get in touch with nature at Nature & Wildlife Tours and Kayaking & Canoeing. And it doesn't end there: see the interesting displays at Vietnamese Women's Museum, stop by Cerender Ceramic Shop, contemplate the waterfront views at Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake), and steep yourself in history at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

To find maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Hanoi trip itinerary website.

New York City, USA to Hanoi is an approximately 22-hour flight. You'll lose 12 hours traveling from New York City to Hanoi due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Sun) so you can 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.

War Remnants Museum and Ba Thien Hau Temple are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Speed Boats Tours and Saigon Boat Company. Go for a jaunt from Ho Chi Minh City to Di An to see Song Be Golf Resort about 40 minutes away. Spend the 11th (Tue) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. On the 14th (Fri), spend an adventurous day with Countryside Adventures. And it doesn't end there: examine the collection at FITO Museum, relax and rejuvenate at some of the top local wellness centers, don't miss a visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, and take a stroll through Saigon.

To see maps, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our Ho Chi Minh City attractions planner.

You can fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. June in Ho Chi Minh City sees daily highs of 91°F and lows of 77°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 18th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel back home.