Vietnam holiday itinerary

Hello. We’re joining our daughter in Ho Chi Minh City for Christmas—she’s studying there. There’ll be five of us adults, and we couldn’t choose our travel dates, so some flights are fixed. I’ve sketched out the following route, but I’m not sure if it all makes sense. This is our fourth trip to Asia (Thailand twice, Lombok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore). We often travel on a budget, love authentic spots, and enjoy meeting locals (we’ve done volunteer work and homestays).

18/12: Two of us arrive in HCMC 20/12: Head to Hanoi, where the boys land 20/12 to 23 or 24: Hanoi and day trips around—still deciding 23 or 24 to 26: Phu Quoc, so we can head south and spend Christmas by the beach (one son is crazy about the sea and fishing) 27 to 30: Mekong Delta, stopping in Ha Tien, Chau Doc, and another spot to get back to Ho Chi Minh City 1/1: Return flight to France.

What do you think of this plan—is it doable or totally unrealistic? Any recommendations for a one- or two-day trip from Hanoi (Phu Long, Mai Chau), or is it better to stick around the city? Thanks in advance for your insights.

Good evening, You're telling us you're planning 7 stops in a 14-night trip... With, on top of that, a yo-yo from south to north and back south...

That averages out to 0.857 full days per stop. My calculator is crying.

No, not quite: we take advantage of one of the flights to Hanoi to explore the city, then we head south via Phu Quoc Airport where we stay for 2 days before leaving at a leisurely pace via the Mekong Delta. But maybe that’s still too much. Since the weather might be bad in the North for sightseeing, we’d head back south quickly. Otherwise, we’ll stick to Hanoi and its region and just do the Delta.

Otherwise, we’re sticking to Hanoi and the surrounding area and only doing the Delta.

Hanoi?

Hello again! We’ve reworked the itinerary and decided to skip Phu Quoc. Here’s what it looks like now: Day 1-2: Hanoi – leave in the late afternoon for Tam Coc Day 3: Tam Coc for the terrestrial Halong Bay Day 4-6: Cinnamon Ecolodge (toward Lao Cai) to enjoy the countryside, a short trek, local life, and spend Christmas with family Day 6: Return to Hanoi Day 7: Depart for Can Tho and the Mekong Delta Day 7-10: Mekong Delta: Coco Riverside Lodge (Vung Liem area) and Chau Doc? Then back to Ho Chi Minh City, where one of our kids is living for a year.

Two questions: Is it worth trying the mountains around Cinnamon Ecolodge AND Tam Coc in the north? And for the Delta, I’m not sure if two regions are too much—should I stick around Vung Liem and move on to Ben Tre or Tra Vinh instead? I know the timing isn’t ideal for the north at all, but we don’t have a choice, and we still want to spend a little time there, if only because that’s where we land.

Thanks in advance for your advice! :)

Hello again, The itinerary has changed, but the number of stops has increased, so the average number of full days per stop is now down to 0.75.

I’ve heard whispers that to boost your chances of finding a kindred spirit to finally "validate" your itinerary, you also posted it the day before yesterday on the other forum out of desperation—though, unfortunately, still no luck so far. Whether here or there, don’t lose hope!

Thanks for your highly constructive replies and your kindness. First, I’m aware that this is packed, and we always adjust as we go. We’re actually staying two nights in several places, so it’s not all rushing around. Also, my post was precisely to ask for advice on choosing stops better and cutting some if needed. Finally, since I didn’t get a reply here, I did ask on the other forum with the updated itinerary, which I posted here out of politeness to respond to your message. I was looking for advice and constructive criticism, not contempt. Too bad.

In your opinion, why hasn't anyone else replied to you in the last 8 days, even though there are usually much more experienced Vietnam regulars here who are always quick to help out with this country?

Hi Cegaco, Your latest version still has too many stops for about twelve nights. Two useful clarifications: Mai Chau and Pu Luong aren’t day trips from Hanoi (3.5 to 4.5 hours’ drive each), whereas Ninh Binh / Tam Coc nearly is. And in late December, the North is cool and often misty: near Lao Cai, nights can drop below 10 °C, which matters for a mountain ecolodge. The Mekong Delta, on the other hand, is in the middle of the dry season, its best time. A five-base itinerary:

Hanoi 2 nights (20 → 22) Tam Coc 2 nights (biking, boat rides, villages) Mai Chau or Pu Luong 2 nights, Christmas in an ecolodge (24 → 26) Flight Hanoi–Saigon, then just one spot in the delta (Vinh Long / Vung Liem, possibly Can Tho) 4 nights Saigon 2 nights with your daughter

Focusing on just one area of the delta leaves time for cycling along the canals, homestays, and volunteering. Book now: late December is peak season. Tristan, based in Hanoi

Hi VietNomads, and thanks for your reply—it confirms our latest itinerary: we’ve dropped Chau Doc and the northern mountains and replaced them with Pu Luong (or would Long Coc work too?). We’re now looking for places to stay in Hanoi, HCMC, and Pu Luong (we’ve got some leads, but do you have any recommendations?) while the rest is locked in: Chez Loan in Tam Coc, Coco Riverside in Vung Liem, plus one more night in the Delta, though we’ll decide that when we’re there. Have a great day

Hi, in Pu Luong, I went twice to "The Palm Pu Luong" (yes, it sounds very Vietnamese). Really nice, comfortable, and the view is stunning.

Thanks, I'm checking it out.

Your itinerary can work if you think of it as a north-to-south loop: Hanoi, then a flight to Phu Quoc, followed by a boat to Ha Tien and a journey down the delta (Chau Doc, then an overnight in Can Tho for the floating markets) all the way to Ho Chi Minh City. This way, you avoid an unnecessary backtrack.

From Hanoi, Ninh Binh (Tam Coc or Trang An) is doable as a day trip. Mai Chau is better with an overnight stay. Pack warm clothes—it gets chilly in Hanoi in December.

Book domestic flights and Phu Quoc soon—it’s a peak-demand period.

I’m here to share my experiences, swap tips, and discover stories from other travel enthusiasts!

No, you’re a professional here to make a living—so cut the hypocrisy.

Hi,

First VietNomads, then Surmesure31: you’ve now become a potential target for the “friendly” tourism pros. I suggest reading the chapters “The silent infiltration of forums” and “The rise of paid Travel Planners” here: https://voyageforum.com/forum/ere-conseils-voyage-entre-ia-forums-gratuits-expertise-locale-d10788202/

Good evening, I’ll be closing this discussion for now and will come back after the trip to share my experiences. I came here to find a few tips and relevant information because, due to external constraints, we have less freedom than usual. I’m also in touch with locals on the ground to organize things and get information. I don’t consider myself a sucker—I’m just gathering info, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t judge before knowing what we’ll decide to do. This is just information-gathering that I’m cross-referencing. We’re used to traveling, whether it’s to far-flung destinations, off the beaten path, or closer to home in a van or backpacker mode. Wishing you a great end to the day, and I hope you’ll find a little more kindness.

Hello, Maybe the Red River Delta? Eric