7 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.

Old Quarter and Vietnamese Women's Museum are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Popular historic sites such as Temple of Literature & National University and Hoa Lo Prison are in your itinerary. Spend the 10th (Sun) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. And it doesn't end there: contemplate the long history of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, look for gifts at Le Chalet Cafe, and contemplate the waterfront views at Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake).

To find reviews, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Hanoi trip planner.

Warsaw, Poland to Hanoi is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Indochina Time (ICT), which is usually a 6 hour difference. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Mon) to allow 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 12th (Tue): don't miss a visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, pause for some serene contemplation at Nha tho Da Minh, then get a sense of history and politics at Central Post Office, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, and finally look for gifts at KaT Jewelry. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 13th (Wed): identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas.

To see maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Ho Chi Minh City road trip tool.

Traveling by flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In February, daily temperatures in Ho Chi Minh City can reach 39°C, while at night they dip to 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 14th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel back home.