Routes · Asia

Berlin to Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City

Berlin → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam north to south Best season (general guide): Feb–Apr

Vietnam stretches more than a thousand kilometres from north to south, and this route covers the whole length in under two weeks. From Berlin it starts in the north, where most flights from Europe connect, and works its way down the coast so that each stop is a little warmer than the last. The itinerary spends three nights in Hanoi, one night on Ha Long Bay, three nights in Hoi An and three nights in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi rewards wandering: the Old Quarter's guild streets, Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn, and plenty of places to try pho or bun cha. From the capital it's a road trip east to Ha Long Bay, where a night aboard a boat among the limestone islands lets you see the bay at sunset and again in the early morning. Back in Hanoi, a domestic flight takes you to Da Nang, the nearest airport to Hoi An. The old trading port is now a lantern-lit pedestrian town with tailors, riverside cafés and nearby beaches. The final flight lands in Ho Chi Minh City, a fast-moving southern metropolis and the gateway to the Mekong Delta.

The season shown here is chosen for the central coast. In Hoi An, February to April is the drier, less humid part of the year, while October and November bring the heaviest rain and frequent river flooding to the old town. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have their own different climates, so check the forecast for each city as your dates get close. Tet, the lunar New Year, often falls in February, and some businesses close for several days around it.

Choosing domestic flights over the long overland journey between regions saves days, but the train between Hue and Da Nang, over the Hai Van Pass, is a scenic alternative if you have time. Each city has its own food: northern pho is clear and simple, Hoi An has cao lau noodles, and the south is known for broken rice and its fresh herbs.

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