Vietnam Tour Review: 15 Days North to South By Air

So, you are thinking of seeing Vietnam, huh? Fifteen days, that seems like the goldilocks duration, not too short, but then again, not too long, either! Seeing the country from the North all the way down to the South in just over two weeks, and doing it by air to save time, actually, that really sounds like a pretty great plan. This review, basically, is going to take a look at what a tour like that involves, what you could possibly expect, and, well, maybe even provide you some helpful insights, at the end of the day. Right, let’s start!

Hanoi: The Northern Charm

Right, kicking things off up in Hanoi, now, the capital. Usually, tours kind of, sort of, spend a couple of days here. Visiting Hoan Kiem Lake is always a must, of course, to see the Ngoc Son Temple. It really is like a postcard picture come to life. And, so, you might wander around the Old Quarter. Getting lost in the narrow streets, well, that is the fun, kind of. Apparently, you get to sample some amazing street food too! By the way, Pho, Banh Mi, definitely, just dive in. Water Puppet show, oh yeah, so, it seems really touristy, that is true. Although, it is definitely something you will have to experience once, you know?

As I was saying, a day trip to Halong Bay is often included from Hanoi. So, that could be pretty unforgettable. Imagine cruising along the emerald waters, the limestone karsts all around, kind of, just rising from the sea, right? Now, it really is a UNESCO World Heritage site for a reason, anyway. You’ll, like, probably get to kayak, maybe explore some caves, so, just soak it all in. Just in case you’re a little weary, then a junk boat cruise with an overnight stay is possibly worthwhile. Basically, picture this: sun sets, gentle waves rocking you to sleep…you get me, huh?

Central Vietnam: History and Beaches

Right, next up, Central Vietnam, then. Now, flying from Hanoi to Da Nang is what normally happens. Making this the hub to see a couple of great places. You know, Hoi An is usually next. This little ancient town, basically, is very picturesque, you know, with its old architecture and tons of tailor shops. At night, so, all those colorful lanterns lighting the streets really adds like a touch of pure, just wonderful, magic, okay? Getting clothes tailormade really is like a pretty popular thing to do there, so, maybe bring some designs if you like something specific. Just letting you know. Honestly, it is hard to resist those offers!

Okay, anyway, from Da Nang, so, Hue is really accessible too. Visiting the Imperial City is a pretty amazing experience for history buffs. Just imagine what once transpired within those ancient walls, huh? So, tours, well, they often include a boat trip on the Perfume River. You will visit some pagodas and tombs, just enjoying some of those quieter scenes. Getting around Central Vietnam is not usually that hard. Flights and trains, you see, so, they connect the main cities quite efficiently. But you can always get private cars, of course.

Ho Chi Minh City: Southern Exposure

Landing in Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, as I was saying, really does feel like landing in a different nation altogether from the North. Getting around the city, I think, will need to have a good sense of adventure, you know? Visiting places such as the Reunification Palace is nice, of course. But then there’s the War Remnants Museum, although, admittedly, that can be kind of an emotional experience, right?

Tours might also have trips to the Cu Chi Tunnels, so, just prepare to get like a tiny bit claustrophobic if you’re going to crawl in those spaces, then. So, in the evenings, what usually happens is everybody flocks to Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs, you see. And those street food stalls all over again, oh boy, do you want to dive right in. Now, personally, I always feel like that part of the world is really about its fantastic food.

Mekong Delta: Waterways and Markets

Okay, the Mekong Delta, I think, will just offer like a great change of scenery after all those cities. Lots of tours provide a day trip, basically, from Ho Chi Minh City. The Cai Be Floating Market can be seen, if you want to picture tons of boats loaded with all sorts of goods selling stuff. It truly is very chaotic, too it’s almost wonderful!

Boating through the narrow canals, what that allows is watching local life along the waterways. Sampling some local fruits, perhaps trying coconut candy being made, all of those are pretty great experiences, I find. Something a bit different. What you may also get the chance to do is just visit some local workshops, that produce rice paper, that sort of thing. Tours often involve stopping at local restaurants for like, some, really, authentic Southern Vietnamese cuisine, okay?

What to Expect from the Tour

Alright, here are some notes, or something, that will help you just know about the common structure of the tour you are getting. When you think about 15 days from North to South, so, domestic flights, obviously, just save a lot of time traveling in between places. Accommodations vary by the accommodation choices, you see. These will often go from reasonable 3-star options to more, somewhat, luxurious places.

So, transport when you’re touring, by the way, typically includes private cars for airport transfers and longer trips, though, right? Getting about locally you can always rely upon taxis and those motorbike taxis are really rather prevalent, you see? Local guides really can enhance, somewhat, the whole experience so, just try and chat with them. Meals wise, though, just know breakfasts are normally included in your hotel, however, other meals might just be left to your own planning, almost.

Also, weather patterns? So, it differs from north and south, anyway. When you want to get like that nice sweet spot weather wise, probably during the spring or autumn might work well. So, always check that though, anyway. Ultimately, a 15 day tour really can pack some memorable places, and experiences, in, even if there could be so much that’s just unseen as well, obviously.