Vietnam packs a full country’s worth of variety into a week, and it is easy to reach from India. Direct flights reach Hanoi (HAN) in about 4 hours and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in about 5, the e-visa is quick, and your rupee stretches a long way once you land. This Vietnam 7 day Itinerary plan runs the classic north-to-south sweep: the old-world charm of Hanoi, a night afloat in Halong Bay. The beaches and heritage around Da Nang, and the buzz of Ho Chi Minh City.

To skip backtracking, fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City, with two short domestic hops in between. Below is the day-by-day plan, then how to bend the same route for honeymooners, families and young kids, plus the food, costs and timing an Indian traveler needs.

Why This Route Works

Vietnam is long and narrow, so a good week is about picking highlights and flying between them rather than driving. This route hands you four different Vietnams in seven days: culture in Hanoi, nature in Halong, beach and old-town romance around Da Nang, and big-city energy in Saigon. The internal legs are short and cheap, since Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City each take about 1 hour 25 minutes and run many times a day on VietJet and Vietnam Airlines.

The tricky part is combing the itineary, a Halong cruise, two domestic flights, airport transfers and timed check-ins across four bases. This is where a planner like Trekhops earns its place, booking the cruise, internal flights and transfers as one chain so a delay in one city does not unravel the next.

Before You Go: Flights, Visa, Money and Timing

Getting There and Around

Fly into Hanoi (HAN) and out of Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Most Indian metros reach both, with Delhi (DEL) holding the shortest nonstops and other cities connecting through a Southeast Asian hub. Book the two internal flights early for the best fares.

Vietnam Airlines includes checked bags and meals, while VietJet is cheaper but charges for both. Tan Son Nhat (SGN) is only about 7 km from central Saigon, so your final transfer is quick.

The Visa

Indian passport holders need a visa, and the e-visa is the simplest route. Apply at the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, pay about USD 25 (roughly ₹2,100) for a single-entry visa valid up to 90 days, and allow 3 to

5 working days. Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months, and confirm the current fee on the official site, since rules change. For a detailed step-by-step process, requirements and fees, see our Vietnam Visa Guide for Indians.

Money and Quick Conversions

Money and Quick ConversionsVietnam uses the dong (VND). As of 2026, ₹1 is worth about 275 VND, so 100,000 VND is close to ₹365. Drop three zeros from a dong price and multiply by about 3.6 for a fast rupee estimate. Carry cash for street food and markets, and use Grab in every city for fair, upfront fares.

Best Time to Travel This Route

Because the trip spans the country, no month is perfect everywhere, but February to April is the best all-round window, dry and pleasant in the north and centre and comfortable in the south. Avoid October and November, when typhoons hit central Vietnam and can disrupt Halong cruises and Da Nang beaches. Pack layers for cooler Hanoi and light clothes for the tropical south.

For a month-by-month breakdown and regional weather guide, see our Best Time to Visit Vietnam guide.

The 7-Day Itinerary, Day by Day

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi 

Land at Noi Bai (HAN) and head into the Old Quarter, the tangled, thousand-year-old heart of the capital. Shake off the flight with a slow walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and your first Hanoi egg coffee, a sweet, custardy local invention. Keep the evening easy with a bowl of pho and an early night before the days ahead. 

Day 2: Hanoi’s History and Street Life 

Give the capital a full day. See the solemn Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the One Pillar Pagoda in the morning, then the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070. Wander the Old Quarter’s trade streets in the afternoon, and end at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, a 1,000-year-old art form that charms every age. 

Day 3: Cruise into Halong Bay 

Transfer about 2.5 hours to Halong Bay and board an overnight cruise among thousands of limestone islands rising from jade water, a UNESCO seascape and the scenic peak of the trip. Spend the afternoon kayaking, swimming and exploring a cave, then watch the sun set from the deck. Dinner and a night aboard the boat are part of the magic. 

Day 4: Halong Sunrise, Then South to Da Nang 

Catch the calm of a Halong sunrise, join a tai chi session or an early swim, and enjoy brunch as the boat cruises back to port. Transfer to Hanoi and fly to Da Nang (HAN to DAD, about 1 hour 25 minutes), trading northern cool for central warmth. Settle in by My Khe Beach and stroll the Han River, where the Dragon Bridge breathes fire on weekend nights. 

Day 5: Da Nang and the Golden Bridge 

Ride the record-setting cable car up to Sun World Ba Na Hills, where the Golden Bridge, held by two giant stone hands, floats above the clouds. The adult ticket, about 1,000,000 VND (roughly ₹3,650), covers the cable car and the French Village, and stays valid up to 3 days in 2026. Go early to beat the crowds and the midday fog, and keep the evening free for the beach. 

Day 6: Hoi An, Then Fly to Saigon 

Drive south to Hoi An, a lantern-hung UNESCO old town of tailor shops, riverside cafes and yellow walls, pausing at the Marble Mountains on the way. It is lovely by day and magical after dark, so linger as long as your flight allows. In the evening, fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (DAD to SGN, about 1 hour 25 minutes) and dip into the night buzz around Ben Thanh Market and Nguyen Hue walking street. 

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City and Departure 

Spend your last day in Saigon’s fast-moving south. The War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace tell the country’s modern story, while the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market sit within an easy walk. If your flight is late, swap in a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, then head to Tan Son Nhat (SGN), minutes away, for your flight home.

Tailoring the Trip: Three Ways to Travel It 

The same seven days flex easily. The table shows how to shape each leg for three kinds of travelers, and the notes below add the tweaks that matter most.

A planner like Trekhops can build any of these versions on the same backbone, swapping a luxury cruise for a family cabin or adding a Hoi An night, and setting the pace around who is travelling. 

For Honeymooners

Lean into romance and slow down. Choose a smaller luxury Halong cruise with a private balcony, add a night in lantern-lit Hoi An, and pick a beachfront resort in Da Nang for sunset dinners. Trade one busy city morning for a couples’ spa, and you still see every highlight without the rush. 

For Families

Keep it shared and steady. Ba Na Hills works like a theme park for every age, water puppets and boat rides please grandparents and children alike, and Indian food is easy to find in all four cities. Book a mid-size cruise with a family cabin, and plan one main sight a day rather than three. 

With Young Kids

Cut the pace and the heavy history. Choose a one-night cruise over anything longer, check ride height limits at Ba Na Hills before queuing, and skip the war museums in Saigon in favour of a market and a park. Build in afternoon naps, pick hotels with pools, and let Grab cars spare little legs. 

Food Along the Way

Vietnam’s food changes as you travel. In Hanoi, try pho and bun cha; in Da Nang, the turmeric noodles of mi quang and fresh seafood; in Saigon, banh mi and a sweeter southern style. Indian food is easy at every stop, with restaurants clustered near the tourist centres and most offering large vegetarian menus, plus Jain meals with a day’s notice. For local vegetarian, look for the word ‘chay’ on signs, and say ‘Toi an chay’, which means ‘I eat vegetarian’, when you order.

What This Vitetnam 7 Days Trip Costs

A week in Vietnam from India is strong value. Return international flights run roughly ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 per person, the two domestic hops add about ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 together, and the e-visa is about ₹2,100. On the ground, mid-range hotels, food, transport and sightseeing are affordable.,

A comfortable 7-day trip lands around ₹80,000 to ₹1,30,000 per person, with the Halong cruise and flights the biggest swings. Treat these as planning figures and confirm live rates before booking. 

Practical Tips for Your Vietnam Trip

A few practical details can make a Vietnam trip from India much easier, when you’re moving between cities. Keep these tips in mind when planning your flights, packing, connectivity, and daily expenses.

• Fly into Hanoi and out of Saigon to avoid backtracking across the country. 
• Book the Halong cruise and both domestic flights well ahead in peak season. 
• Pack layers for Hanoi’s cool evenings and light clothes for the south. 
• Keep hand baggage light, since budget carriers charge for check-in bags. 
• Get a local SIM or eSIM at the airport for Grab and maps. 
• Carry the equivalent of about USD 30 to 50 a day in cash for stalls and markets. 
• Leave a comfortable buffer before your international flight home on Day 7. 

Frequently Asked Questions