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BlackTop Travel · Your Itinerary ← New Trip

BlackTop Travel · Sample Itinerary ← Back to Home

7 Days in
Vietnam

✈ FROM Kochi, India ROUTE Hanoi → Ha Long → Hoi An → HCMC DURATION 7 days · 6 nights STYLE Moderate BUDGET ₹83,000 – ₹1,30,000

Route Overview

A classic north-to-south journey through Vietnam's most iconic destinations — starting in the ancient capital of Hanoi, cruising the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, wandering the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An, and ending in the buzzing metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Getting There: Kochi (COK) → Hanoi (HAN) via Chennai or Colombo on Air India, IndiGo, or SriLankan Air. Book 2–3 months in advance for fares of approximately ₹25,000–₹40,000 return.

  • Visa: Vietnam e-visa for Indian passport holders — apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (~$25 USD, valid 90 days, multiple entry). Apply at least 1 week before travel.
  • SIM Card: Buy a Vietnamobile or Viettel SIM at the airport — ~$5 USD for 7 days of unlimited data.
  • Payment: Carry cash in Vietnamese Dong (VND). ATMs are widely available. Most street vendors don't accept cards.
  • Transport: Always use Grab (Vietnam's Uber) for taxis — avoids overcharging.
  • Best Time: March–May or September–November for the most pleasant weather across all three cities.

Where to Stay

Hanoi — Nights 1 & 2

01
JM Marvel Hotel & Spa ⭐ 4.8
📍 16 Hang Da, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem

Top pick for Hanoi. Quiet street in the heart of the Old Quarter with exceptional, highly personal service — staff communicate via WhatsApp for anything you need. Spotless rooms, great breakfast, 10-minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake.

₹4,500 – 6,500 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps
02
Hanoi Fiesta Grand Hotel & Spa ⭐ 4.9
📍 65 Hang Be, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem

Excellent alternative with extraordinary staff warmth. 2-min walk to Night Market. Pho at breakfast is a highlight.

₹4,000 – 6,000 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps

Ha Long Bay — Night 3

Overnight Cruise — Ambassador or Orchid Classic
📍 Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province

Sleep aboard a traditional junk boat with a private en-suite cabin. All meals included, kayaking, and cave tours. Book at least 2–3 weeks in advance.

₹8,000 – 13,000 / person all meals included
View on Google Maps

Hoi An — Nights 4 & 5

01
Laluna Hoi An Riverside Hotel & Spa ⭐ 4.6
📍 12 Nguyen Du, Minh An, Hoi An

Top pick for Hoi An. Right on the Thu Bon River, a 2-minute walk to the Ancient Town. Charming Victorian-style building with a pool, spa, and stunning riverside views. Staff go above and beyond — known to surprise guests for birthdays with cakes and river lanterns.

₹5,000 – 7,500 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps
02
Shining Riverside Hoi An Boutique & Spa ⭐ 4.8
📍 191 Tran Nhan Tong, Hoi An

More resort-like alternative with views of rice paddies and the river. Slightly further from Old Town but peaceful and beautifully maintained.

₹5,500 – 8,000 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps

Ho Chi Minh City — Nights 6 & 7

01
Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh ⭐ 4.1
📍 7A Ngo Van Nam, District 1

Top pick for HCMC. Rooftop pool with panoramic Saigon River views, in the heart of District 1. Floor-to-ceiling city views from rooms, excellent location within walking distance of all major sights.

₹5,500 – 8,000 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps
02
Cochin Zen Hotel ⭐ 4.2
📍 46 Thu Khoa Huan, Ben Thanh, District 1

Great central alternative steps from Ben Thanh Market. Beautiful interiors, top-rated breakfast with freshly cooked eggs and dumplings, spa credit included on some booking platforms.

₹4,500 – 7,000 / night breakfast included
View on Google Maps

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Hanoi — Old Quarter Exploration

3:00 PM — Airport Arrival

Take Grab to Old Quarter hotel (~₹350–500, 45 mins). Check in, freshen up.

5:00 PM — Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

10-min walk from hotel. Stroll around the lake as the city comes alive. Cross the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Island (~₹100 entry).

7:00 PM — Ta Hien Beer Street (Bia Hoi Corner)

Vietnam's famous street corner for fresh draught beer — just ₹30 per glass! Try Bun Cha or Banh Mi from surrounding stalls. ~₹100–150 for dinner.

9:00 PM — Old Quarter Night Walk

Wander the lit-up streets, explore the maze of lanes, pop into a rooftop bar for a nightcap.

Day 2
Hanoi Sightseeing — History, Culture & Water Puppets

7:30 AM — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Go early — closes at 11:30 AM. Closed Mon & Fri. Dress modestly. Free entry. One Pillar Pagoda is right next door.

10:00 AM — Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Budget 1.5–2 hours. The Cold War underground bunker is the highlight. Entry: 100k VND (~₹350).

12:30 PM — Lunch

Bun Bo Nam Bo on Hang Dieu Street — a Hanoi classic dry vermicelli with beef. ~₹150.

2:30 PM — Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton)

Get the audio guide (100k VND) — it's worth every rupee. Entry: 50k VND (~₹175).

5:00 PM — Egg Coffee

Ca Phe Giang (the original egg coffee shop) or Dinh Cafe in the Old Quarter. Rich, custard-topped Vietnamese coffee. ~₹80.

7:00 PM — Dinner

Cha Ca La Vong for turmeric fish or a classic pho restaurant on Bat Dan Street. ~₹250–350.

8:30 PM — Water Puppet Show

Thang Long Theatre, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang. A uniquely Vietnamese 1,000-year-old art form performed on water — unmissable. 100k VND (~₹350).

Day 3
Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise — Limestone Karsts, Kayaking & Sunset

6:30 AM — Breakfast & Checkout

Light breakfast at hotel. Cruise bus picks up from a central Old Quarter meeting point ~7:30–8:00 AM.

12:00 PM — Board Cruise at Ha Long Bay Port

~4.5-hour bus transfer. Sail into the bay and settle into your private cabin.

2:00 PM — Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)

The largest and most impressive cave in Ha Long Bay — dramatic formations and lighting.

3:30 PM — Kayaking

Paddle through hidden lagoons and beside floating fishing villages. One of the highlights of the trip.

5:30 PM — Sunset on Deck

Cold beer, snacks, and 360-degree views of the karsts in golden light.

7:00 PM — Seafood Dinner on Board

Fresh squid, prawns, clams, and fish — all caught that day. Meals included in cruise price.

9:00 PM — Squid Fishing

Drop a line off the back deck with the crew. Catch of the night gets cooked for you.

Day 4
Cruise Return → Fly to Hoi An

6:30 AM — Tai Chi on Deck (Optional)

Sunrise over the bay. Then a leisurely breakfast cruise.

10:00 AM — Final Stop

Usually Titov Island (hiking to viewpoint) or a pearl farm demonstration.

4:00 PM — Evening Flight to Da Nang

VietJet or Bamboo Airways, ~$25–45 USD, 1 hour 20 mins.

6:00 PM — Arrive Da Nang

Grab to Hoi An (~35 mins, ~₹450). Check into Laluna Riverside Hotel. 2-minute walk to the riverside — the Ancient Town glows with hundreds of lanterns after dark.

Day 5
Hoi An — My Son Ruins, Ancient Town & An Bang Beach

8:00 AM — My Son Sanctuary

UNESCO Hindu-Cham temple ruins dating to the 4th century, set in a jungle valley. Hire a local guide (~200k VND). Entry: 150k VND. Budget 2.5 hours.

12:00 PM — Lunch in Hoi An

Morning Glory Restaurant or a Cao Lau noodle shop in the covered market — Hoi An's signature dish, only made authentically here. ~₹150.

1:30 PM — Hoi An Ancient Town

Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Halls, yellow-walled lanes. Ancient Town Ticket: 120k VND. Tip: Visit a tailor — custom-made suit or dress in 24 hrs from ~₹5,000.

3:30 PM — An Bang Beach

Rent a bicycle (~50k VND) and cycle 5 km to this beautiful beach. Sun lounger: 75k VND. Stay for the sunset.

7:00 PM — Hoi An Night Market

Hundreds of silk lanterns, boat lanterns on the river, street food stalls. Get a Banh Mi from Banh Mi Phuong — the banh mi shop that put Hoi An on the map.

Day 6
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City — War History & Saigon Nights

Morning — Peaceful Old Town Walk

Last stroll through the lantern-hung alleys before checkout.

Afternoon — Fly to HCMC

Grab to Da Nang Airport (~₹450). VietJet/Bamboo (~$25–40 USD, 1 hr). Grab to Bay Hotel, District 1 (~₹350).

3:00 PM — War Remnants Museum

Allow 2 full hours. One of the most powerful museums in Southeast Asia. Entry: 40k VND.

5:30 PM — Independence Palace

Preserved 1970s interiors and underground war bunker. Entry: 80k VND.

7:30 PM — Dinner

Com Tam (broken rice with grilled pork) at a local shop for ~₹120. Or a rooftop restaurant on Nguyen Hue Boulevard.

9:00 PM — Evening Options

Bui Vien Walking Street for a lively night out, or the AO Show (bamboo circus) at the Opera House — stunning performance (~$30–40 USD, book ahead).

Day 7
Cu Chi Tunnels + Departure

7:30 AM — Cu Chi Tunnels Morning Tour

Book through your hotel (~$15–20 USD including transport). Explore the 250 km tunnel network used during the Vietnam War. Entry: 110k VND.

12:30 PM — Return to HCMC + Lunch

Eat near Ben Thanh Market. Try Banh Xeo (sizzling crispy crepe) or a fresh fruit smoothie. ~₹150.

2:00 PM — Last-Minute Shopping

Ben Thanh Market. Best buys: Vietnamese drip coffee, Pho spice kits, lacquerware, silk scarves, hand-painted ceramics.

4:00 PM+ — Head to Airport

Tan Son Nhat Airport. Leave at least 2.5–3 hours before departure. Grab recommended over taxis.

Full Budget Estimate

CategoryEstimated Total
Hotels — 6 nights (mid-range, incl. breakfast)₹30,000 – ₹45,000
Ha Long Bay Cruise — 1 night (all meals incl.)₹8,000 – ₹13,000
Internal Flights (Hanoi→Da Nang, Da Nang→HCMC)₹5,000 – ₹8,000
Food — 7 days (local eateries + occasional café)₹7,000 – ₹12,000
Entry Fees & Activities (museums, shows, tours)₹5,000 – ₹7,000
Local Transport (Grab, bicycle, taxis)₹3,000 – ₹5,000
Total In-Vietnam Spend₹58,000 – ₹90,000
International Flights (Kochi ↔ Hanoi return)₹25,000 – ₹40,000
Grand Total Estimated₹83,000 – ₹1,30,000

Maps & Key Links

Hanoi — Old Quarter Ha Long Bay Hoi An Ancient Town Ho Chi Minh City — District 1 Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN) HCMC Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)

Solo Travel Tips for Indians in Vietnam

  • Safety: Vietnam is extremely safe for solo travellers. Petty theft in tourist areas is the main concern — keep your phone in a front pocket on motorbike-heavy streets.
  • Food: As someone from Kerala, you'll love Vietnamese cuisine — the freshness, coconut notes in central Vietnam, and spice levels are surprisingly familiar. Vegetarians can ask 'khong thit' (no meat).
  • Language: Very little English outside hotels. Google Translate's camera mode works brilliantly for menus and signs — download the Vietnamese pack offline before you fly.
  • Bargaining: Expected at markets. Start at 40–50% of the quoted price and work up. Keep it friendly and fun.
  • Tipping: Not mandatory but appreciated. ₹50–150 at restaurants, ₹200–300 for tour guides.
  • Apps to Download: Grab (transport), Google Maps (offline), Google Translate, Agoda / Booking.com, Klook (tours at discounted rates).

Must-Try Foods by City

Hanoi

  • Pho Bo — the original beef noodle soup, lighter and more elegant than southern versions
  • Bun Cha — grilled pork patties with rice noodles (the dish Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain)
  • Ca Phe Trung — egg coffee, a uniquely Hanoi creation. Rich and custard-like.
  • Banh Cuon — steamed rice rolls with minced pork and mushroom filling

Hoi An

  • Cao Lau — thick noodles, pork, greens, and crispy croutons. Only authentic in Hoi An.
  • White Rose Dumplings (Banh Bao Vac) — shrimp dumplings shaped like white roses
  • Banh Mi Phuong — considered the best Banh Mi in Vietnam
  • Com Ga — Hoi An-style chicken rice, fragrant and simple

Ho Chi Minh City

  • Com Tam — broken rice with grilled pork chop, egg, and pickles. The quintessential Saigon meal.
  • Banh Xeo — sizzling crispy crepe filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts
  • Hu Tieu — HCMC's own noodle soup, lighter and sweeter than Pho
  • Sinh To (Fruit Smoothies) — incredibly fresh, cheap and delicious at Ben Thanh Market

Chúc một chuyến đi tuyệt vời! 🇻🇳 (Have a wonderful trip!)

Prepared for a solo Vietnam adventure from Kochi, Kerala