Vietnam has quietly become one of the best-value international trips for Indian travellers - direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other metros land you in a country where a steaming bowl of pho costs less than a food-court thali and a limestone bay straight out of a painting is an overnight cruise away. Seven days is tight for a country this long, so the trick is to not try to see all of it.
This itinerary picks one clean line: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north, then a short flight to Da Nang for Hoi An in the centre. No overnight buses, no wasted half-days, and two genuinely different Vietnams - the honking, coffee-scented chaos of the capital and the lantern-lit calm of an ancient trading port.
Before you go: e-visa and the weather split
Indian passport holders can apply for Vietnam's e-visa online - as of 2026 it has been available to Indians for stays of up to 90 days with single or multiple entry, applied through the official government portal for a modest fee (around USD 25 for single entry). Rules and fees do change, so confirm on the official Vietnam immigration site before booking, apply at least a week ahead, and carry a printout of the approval.
One thing Indian travellers often miss: Vietnam does not have one weather. The north (Hanoi, Ha Long) has a cool, sometimes grey winter from roughly December to February and a hot summer, while central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An) is sunniest from about February to August and takes its heaviest rain in October-November. There is no perfect month for both halves - February to April is usually the best compromise for this exact route.
Good to know: Apply for the e-visa only on the official Vietnamese government portal. Agent websites with similar names charge two to three times the official fee for the same document.
Days 1-2: Hanoi's Old Quarter
Base yourself in or beside the Old Quarter - a knot of 36 ancient guild streets where every lane once sold one thing (silk, silver, bamboo) and the pavements now belong to plastic stools and steaming broth. Day one is for walking: Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, the weekend night market if your dates align, and your first crossing of a Hanoi road (walk slowly and steadily; the scooters flow around you).
Day two, go slightly further afield - the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (mornings only, dress modestly), and Train Street if it is open to visitors when you go. Between stops, drink the city: Hanoi is the home of egg coffee (ca phe trung), a hot coffee crowned with whipped egg yolk and condensed milk that tastes like liquid tiramisu - try it at an old-school cafe rather than a tourist chain. Evenings belong to bia hoi corners, where fresh beer costs pocket change and the people-watching is free.
Days 3-4: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Ha Long Bay - thousands of limestone karsts rising out of jade-green water - is the reason most people come north, and the right way to see it is an overnight cruise, not a day trip. Day trips spend more time on the bus than on the water; an overnight boat gets you kayaking, cave visits, sunset on the top deck and sunrise tai chi before the day boats arrive.
Cruises range from budget party boats to genuinely luxurious ships. As of 2026, a good mid-range overnight cruise runs roughly Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 per person including transfers from Hanoi, meals and activities, with luxury boats going well beyond that - check current prices and recent reviews before paying. Many boats now sail Lan Ha Bay, a quieter adjacent area with the same scenery and fewer vessels; it is worth seeking out. You return to Hanoi by mid-afternoon on day four - keep that evening free for a final Old Quarter dinner.
- Book a cruise with hotel pickup included - the highway transfer takes 2.5-3 hours each way
- Lan Ha Bay routes offer the same karst scenery with visibly fewer boats
- Carry seasickness tablets, sunscreen and a jacket for winter sailings
- Cheapest boats save little and cost you in food and cabin quality - mid-range is the sweet spot
Day 5: Fly to Da Nang, settle into Hoi An
The morning of day five, take the short flight (about 80 minutes) from Hanoi to Da Nang - budget carriers fly the route many times daily and fares are low if booked ahead. Hoi An is a 45-minute taxi or shuttle from Da Nang airport; agree the fare or use a ride-hailing app.
Spend the afternoon easing into the Ancient Town: mustard-yellow shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, tailors who can stitch a made-to-measure outfit in a day or two (order early if you want one). As dusk falls the town turns on its silk lanterns and the Thu Bon river fills with candle-lit paper boats - it is touristy and it is still magical. Hoi An is also where you commit to banh mi: the crusty Vietnamese baguette stuffed with pate, meats, pickled vegetables and chilli. The town's famous banh mi shops charge almost nothing and reliably produce one of the best sandwiches you will ever eat; vegetarians can ask for egg or tofu versions.
Days 6-7: Hoi An at leisure, optional Ba Na Hills
Day six is a choose-your-own-pace day. Option one: rent a bicycle and ride through rice paddies to An Bang beach, take a basket-boat ride in the coconut-palm waterways, or join a cooking class that starts with a market tour. Option two: a day trip to Ba Na Hills, the hilltop amusement park above Da Nang reached by one of the world's longest cable car rides, home to the famous Golden Bridge held up by two giant stone hands. It is unabashedly theme-park-like and the bridge gets crowded, so go early on a clear day; as of 2026 entry plus cable car costs roughly Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 per person - verify current rates.
Day seven, fly home from Da Nang (many Indian itineraries connect through Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur - check total journey time when booking). If your flight is late, squeeze in a final morning swim at An Bang or a last banh mi for the road.
Good to know: In Hoi An's Ancient Town, an entry ticket sold at booths funds heritage upkeep and covers a set of old houses and museums - keep it with you while wandering the core streets.
Budget in rupees
Vietnam is kind to the Indian wallet once you land. As of 2026, return flights from Indian metros typically run Rs 18,000 to Rs 35,000 if booked a couple of months out. On the ground, a mid-range traveller spends roughly Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,500 per person per day on hotels, food, local transport and activities - street food meals cost the equivalent of Rs 100-250, and comfortable double rooms in both Hanoi and Hoi An start around Rs 2,000-3,500 a night. Add the Ha Long cruise and the domestic flight as one-time items, and a realistic all-in figure for this 7-day trip is about Rs 55,000 to Rs 90,000 per person travelling as a couple - lower if you go hostel-and-street-food, higher in peak season. Vietnam uses the dong (VND) and the zeroes take getting used to: card acceptance is decent in cities but keep cash for street food and small shops, and count your change calmly.
