7 Days In Vietnam Without Rushing: The Only Itinerary You’ll Ever Need

If you are planning to visit Vietnam, just go for it!

Vietnam is a truly amazing country. You can ride a cable car high above the clouds, drink coffee right next to real train tracks, eat tasty street food, and see a huge dragon bridge shoot real fire and water.

Here is my day-by-day travel story with simple, easy tips to help you plan your own trip.

Part 1: Sapa (The Mountain Town)

We landed at Hanoi airport and took a sleeper bus directly to Sapa at night.

Hotel Tip: Book a hotel near Sapa Station or Sapa Center. This makes it very easy to walk to shops, cafes, and main spots without getting tired.

Day 1: High Up in the Mountains

First thing in the morning, we went to Fansipan Legend.

• Buy your tickets online on Klook before you go.
• Make sure you take the cable car + peak train ticket.
• The cable car moves high above the white clouds. It feels like you are floating in the sky!

For lunch, we found an Indian Gujarati restaurant in town. After lunch, we took a nice, quiet walk around Sapa Lake to see the mountain views.

Where to buy things at normal prices?

Avoid buying at the night market because prices are high. Instead, buy snacks and daily items at Xuan Truong Supermarket or Hải Yến Mart.

Day 2: Villages and Beautiful Views

We booked a half-day tour on Klook to see:

• Cat Cat Village (a traditional mountain village with cute wooden water wheels and fields)
• Moana Cafe (great for photos)
• Alpine Coaster (a fun, fast slide ride)

In the late afternoon, go to Viettrekking Cafe. You can drink a warm cup of coffee while watching a little train pass through the green mountains. At night, take a walk around Sapa Center to see the lively streets.

Part 2: Hanoi (The Busy Capital)

We took a morning sleeper bus back to Hanoi (we used HK Buslines, and the seats were very comfortable). We stayed in the Old Quarter area.

Day 1: Markets and the Famous Train Street

In the daytime, we walked through Dong Xuan Market. The prices for clothes, tea, and gifts here were much cheaper than in other cities.

At night, we went to Hanoi Train Street:

• Check the train times online before you visit.
• Don't enter from the very first gate because shop owners will push you to buy things. Walk to the next entrance instead.
• You can sit at a small cafe, drink something cold, and watch a real train pass right next to you!

Later, we visited Beer Street (Ta Hien) to see the loud, fun night crowd.

Day 2: Ha Long Bay Boat Tour

We booked a full-day tour to Ha Long Bay on Klook.

• You sit on a big boat and float between thousands of giant green rocks standing in the green sea water. It looks like a painting!
• We came back to Hanoi around 9:00 PM.

Must-Try Food & Cafes in Hanoi:

• Banh Mi: A crispy Vietnamese bread sandwich filled with fresh fillings.
• King Roti: A warm, sweet, soft bun.
• The Note Coffee: A cafe covered from top to bottom in small paper notes left by visitors. Go up to the 2nd or 3rd floor to look out the window at the busy street.
• (If you miss Indian food, you can eat dinner at AMY Restaurant nearby).

Part 3: Da Nang (Beaches and Big Bridges)

We took a quick morning flight from Hanoi to the beach city of Da Nang.

Day 1: The Beach and Greece Vibes

In the evening, we visited Son Tra Marina. It has white and blue buildings that look just like Greece. After watching the sunset, we took a long, relaxing walk on the sand by the ocean.

Day 2: Ba Na Hills (The Giant Hands Bridge)

This is where the famous golden bridge held by two huge stone hands is located.

• Go very early: Leave your hotel by 6:30 AM so you reach by 7:00 AM. Big tour buses start arriving after 9:00 AM, so going early means fewer crowds and better photos.
• Booking a taxi: Download the Grab app or Xanh SM app on your phone. Xanh SM has electric cars and is usually cheaper.

In the evening, you can buy gifts at fixed prices inside Lotte Mart, and eat dinner at NAZARA, an Indian restaurant by the beach.

Day 3: Fire Show at Dragon Bridge

We relaxed on the beach in the morning and chilled at Forest 98 Cafe in the afternoon.

At night (on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), you must go to Dragon Bridge at 9:00 PM:

1. The giant dragon blows real fire 3 times!
2. Run back immediately after the fire stops! The dragon will spray a huge jet of water next, and you will get completely wet if you stand close.
3. After the show, you can drive small toy cars (Mini cart rides/Little go carts) with neon lights near the bridge. That is so much fun. Also, check out the Son Tra Night Market. (Walking distance)

Body Care Tip: Get a foot massage the day before you fly home. You will walk many kilometers on this trip, and your feet will feel so much better!

Very Important Travel Tips to Remember

• SIM Card: Buy only one SIM card at the airport (Viettel company is good) so one person has an internet connection right away. Buy the other SIM cards inside the city because they are much cheaper there. Carry your passport to buy them. Also, sharing hotspot from your phone often does not work well on these tourist SIMs.
• Money: Vietnam money (Dong) has many zeros. A 20,000 note and a 200,000 note look very similar. Always count the zeros carefully before giving cash to a seller.
• Flights: Keep a 4-hour gap between your flights. Budget domestic flights often get delayed.
• VietJet Flight Delay Hack: If you booked a flight with VietJet and it gets delayed, you do not have to wait around for hours! You can get your ticket changed to an earlier flight to the same destination completely free of cost. Just call their helpline number or walk directly up to the VietJet airport counter and ask the staff to put you on an earlier flight. They are very helpful with this!
• Language: Many people do not speak English. Download the Google Translate app and download the "Vietnamese" pack offline so it works without the internet. You can easily point and show your screen to people. Also download Google Maps offline.
• Airport Fast Track (For India): Before leaving India, you can sign up for the FFTP (Fast Track Immigration) service. Complete your fingerprint scan while leaving India. When you return home, you will not have to stand in long lines; you can just scan your passport at the fast gate and walk right through.
• Shoes & Clothes: Bring your most comfortable walking shoes. For Sapa, bring a light jacket or shawl because the mountains get cold.

Vietnam is safe, friendly, and very easy to visit if you follow these basic steps.