Private 14-day route, north to south · map not to scale
At a glance
- Nights
- 13
- Hotel changes
- 5
- Travel
- Private car; 2 domestic flights quoted separately
- Best for
- A first long trip at an easy pace
- Budget
- From 1,960 USD per person (14 days × 140, 2 travellers, 4★)
The short answer
Two weeks is enough for Vietnam from north to south if you keep to six bases: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, one night on Lan Ha Bay, Hue, four nights in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta. A private 14-day tour is from 140 USD per person per day, so from 1,960 USD per person for two at 4★, confirmed in your written quote.
This route is for travellers who have two weeks, want to see Vietnam from north to south, and would rather not spend half of it in transit. It suits couples over 55 and families with older children who like their own guide, a 4–5★ bed every night and a free afternoon now and then.
My rule for a 14-day Vietnam tour is six bases and never more than one long transfer every two or three days. That means something has to stay out, and below I explain what I leave out and why.
Vietnam tour in 2 weeks: my sample 14-day route
Thirteen nights: two in Hanoi, one in Ninh Binh, one on the bay, two in Hue, four in Hoi An and three in Ho Chi Minh City. You fly twice, Hanoi to Hue and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City; everything else is by private car.
| Day | Where | What we do | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi | Arrive and rest; late-afternoon walk in the Old Quarter, water puppet show | Hanoi |
| 2 | Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake; cyclo ride in the evening | Hanoi |
| 3 | Ninh Binh | Drive of about 95 km; Phat Quang Pagoda, then a rowing boat through the Trang An grottoes | Ninh Binh |
| 4 | Lan Ha Bay | Private car to Tuan Chau; board around midday, lunch on deck, caves and kayaking | Cruise |
| 5 | Bay to Hue | Tai chi on deck, brunch, car from the pier to Hanoi airport, afternoon flight to Hue | Hue |
| 6 | Hue | Citadel and Imperial Museum in the cool of the morning; Perfume River boat to Thien Mu Pagoda | Hue |
| 7 | Hue to Hoi An | Drive over the Hai Van Pass; Cham Museum in Da Nang, craft villages at Marble Mountains | Hoi An |
| 8 | Hoi An | Early walk before the day visitors: Chinese Assembly Halls, Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House | Hoi An |
| 9 | Hoi An | Half day at the My Son sanctuary with your guide; afternoon free | Hoi An |
| 10 | Hoi An | Free day: cooking class, a bicycle ride through the rice fields, or the beach | Hoi An |
| 11 | Ho Chi Minh City | Flight from Da Nang; Reunification Palace, Opera House, Central Post Office | Ho Chi Minh City |
| 12 | Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning, or a slow day if you prefer | Ho Chi Minh City |
| 13 | Mekong Delta | Day trip: rowing boat along small canals, orchards, lunch in an old house | Ho Chi Minh City |
| 14 | Departure | Free morning; transfer to the airport | — |
Compare it with Metta Voyage’s published 14-day north-to-south itinerary, which goes up to Sapa by night train and adds Can Tho. I swap Sapa for Ninh Binh on a first fortnight because the round trip to the mountains costs three days; my reasoning on pace is in my pacing rules for two weeks.
Price from
A 14-day private Vietnam tour is from 140 USD per person per day for two travellers sharing at 4★, which is from 1,960 USD per person, confirmed in your written quote.
| Trip | Per person per day | Per person, whole trip |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days, 2 travellers | from 140 USD | from 1,960 USD |
| 14 days, group of 4 (−5%) | from 133 USD | from 1,862 USD |
| 14 days, group of 6 (−8%) | from 128.80 USD | from 1,803.20 USD |
The rate covers the private guide and driver, hotels and the cruise at 4★ level. Choosing 5★ resorts and the boutique ships moves the trip into the top tier, from 350 USD per person per day, quoted individually.
Domestic flights are not included; we quote them separately once your dates are fixed. Payment is a 30% deposit, with the balance due 45 days before arrival, plus a non-refundable 100 USD per traveller holding fee (kept even if you cancel early), separate from the 30% deposit; your quote shows how it is applied to the final invoice. Card payments carry a 3.5% fee.
Where I’d stay
- Hanoi. Fairmont Hanoi, open since February 2026 near Hoan Kiem Lake, with a 3,500 m² wellness floor and a 20-metre lap pool. Ideal for the first two nights after a long flight.
- Ninh Binh. Pullman Ninh Binh, or another 4–5★ hotel named in your quote.
- Lan Ha Bay. On a single night I like Heritage Line Ginger: twelve suites with balconies and a program built for 24 hours. Indochine Grand, launched in 2025 with 32 balcony cabins and a rooftop bar, is the newer, larger choice. More in what I check before booking a cabin.
- Hue. A central 4–5★ hotel named in your quote.
- Hoi An. Four Seasons The Nam Hai, an all-villa resort on a kilometre of Ha My beach, or Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery on the Thu Bon River, a short walk from the old town.
- Ho Chi Minh City. A central 4–5★ hotel named in your quote.
Why private, and how I’d adjust it
In our experience, two weeks is exactly where a private trip pays off: our guides can move the Hue Citadel to 8 a.m., push lunch back after a long morning, or drop a sight when you are tired, without upsetting a group.
- The luxury train option. The SJourney sleeper train has run from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City since December 2024, with guided stops including Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An and Nha Trang. Departures are on scheduled Wednesdays with limited dates, so we book it before your flights. It replaces the middle of the trip and is quoted individually; see the published 13-day SJourney itinerary.
- A shorter train. The Vietage is a private 12-seat carriage from Da Nang to Quy Nhon, about six hours, with a meal at your seat. It suits a beach extension south of Hoi An.
- Mountains instead of Ninh Binh. If Sapa matters to you, we recommend the four-hour drive in daylight rather than the night train, and we drop one Hoi An night.
- Older travellers. Keep all four Hoi An nights; they are the rest in the middle of the trip.
- Season. If your dates fall in the centre’s wet months, we can shorten Hoi An and add a night in the south.
Mistakes I see most often
- Trying to fit Sapa, Ninh Binh, the bay and the Mekong into fourteen days. Something always gives, usually your sleep.
- Two nights in Hoi An. It is the one town in Vietnam that rewards slow days most; I explain why in why Hoi An gets four nights.
- Night trains and early flights on consecutive days.
- Planning the route before checking the regional weather for your month.
If you have three weeks instead, my 21-day route adds the rest days this one leaves out.
Sources
Vietnam National Authority of Tourism – Weather and climate · SJourney train (sjourney.asia)
Checked and updated 11 November 2026. — David, for The Metta Voyage team.
Questions about this trip
How much is a 14-day private Vietnam tour?
From 140 USD per person per day for two travellers at 4★, so from 1,960 USD per person, confirmed in your written quote. A group of four pays from 133 USD per day and a group of six from 128.80; domestic flights are quoted separately.
Is two weeks enough for Vietnam?
Yes, for one route from north to south with six bases. It is not enough to add Sapa, Ninh Binh, a beach and the Mekong as well without rushing.
What is the best month for a two-week trip from north to south?
Each region has its own weather in the same month, so we check your dates against the north, centre and south and sometimes run the route in reverse. Our team confirms the order before you book flights.
How many domestic flights are there?
Two on this route: Hanoi to Hue and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. They are not included in the per-day rate and are quoted separately.
Can I take the luxury train instead of flying?
Yes. The SJourney train can replace the middle of the trip between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on its scheduled Wednesday departures, and The Vietage can replace a flight south of Da Nang. Both are quoted individually.
