Steal our 10-day Vietnam itinerary
For my 30th birthday, my fiance and I travelled through Vietnam on a slow, rich, luxury-at-a-reasonable-price-point adventure.
I admittedly did not know anything about Vietnam before this and this trip was decided on just before Christmas, leaving me about 3 weeks to learn everything I could about Vietnam and plan the entire trip.
Somehow, I pulled it off.
But I don’t recommend you do it the way I did. So to make your life easier, I’m sharing the exact ten day itinerary that we followed and details on how and why we picked each destination.
The goal wasn’t to see everything. The goal was to celebrate, to eat endlessly, to move slowly, and to experience Vietnam the way locals do — lingering in cafés, riding motorbikes, and letting the country unfold instead of trying to control it.
And the best part? We experienced luxury at a fraction of what it would cost in Europe. For under $3,000 CAD for ten days of hotels, excursions, food, and internal flights, we stayed in high-end properties, did a luxury cruise, and ate some of the best meals of our lives.
Here’s exactly how we did it.
Days 1–3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
We began in the south at Le Méridien Saigon, which I would absolutely stay at again. It’s perfectly positioned — close enough to walk to most things but tucked just far enough away from the loudest chaos. And if you’re a Marriott loyalist like me, the points don’t hurt. The lobby bar alone is worth mentioning — they’ve won multiple “best bar in Asia” awards throughout the years. It was genuinely one of the best hotel bars I’ve experienced anywhere in the world.
Now, stepping out of the hotel and into the chaos of Saigon…was another story.
I’ll be honest: the first day in Saigon almost broke me.
The city hits you all at once. The motorbikes. The humidity. The smells. The noise. It felt like all five of my senses were in overdrive. I remember sitting there thinking, “What have I done?”, while every alarm bell in my body was screaming. I was uncomfortable in a way I hadn’t been while traveling in years.
Instead of bolting back to the hotel like I wanted to, I forced myself to sit in the discomfort. To push my way through the city streets and just keep moving. After five minutes I started to feel a bit better. Another five minutes, a little more calm. By the end of the day, I was feeling much more confident in my ability to take on the city.
And once I got there, Saigon became electric instead of overwhelming.
The best decision we made in the city was booking a night motorbike food tour. It ended up being the highlight of the entire trip. Riding through traffic on the back of a scooter sounds terrifying until you realize how fluid and intuitive the traffic system actually is. It felt chaotic, but never unsafe. The guides were knowledgeable and deeply proud of their food culture, and tasting everything from seafood to grilled meats to late-night snacks while weaving through the city was unforgettable. It was one of those “I can’t believe this is my life” moments.
Food in Saigon is bold. We learned that the south of Vietnam is famous for their intricate flavours, central Vietnam is known for spice, and Northern Vietnam is known for its tame, more approachable flavor.
So basically, if Hanoi whispers, Saigon shouts. The flavors of the food here are insane; layered, vibrant, and seriously unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted. We had phenomenal bún chả here — ironically a dish that originates in the north — and one of the most impressive fine dining experiences of the trip at Quince Saigon for my birthday. The restaurant blends traditional Vietnamese ingredients with modern technique, and it felt thoughtful and refined without losing cultural grounding.
We also spent an entire day at Sparadise spa, which quite literally ruined future spa experiences for me. We were there for four hours. The massages were exceptional. The treatments were detailed and indulgent. And the cost was a fraction of what you’d pay back home.
Then there was the coffee. 🤤
If Vietnam is a love letter to food, it is a hot and heated spicy novel to coffee.
Vietnamese coffee culture is in a league of its own. I had multiple salt coffees a day and regret nothing. The best egg coffee of the trip came from Little Hanoi Egg Coffee. This also became our favourite breakfast spot — we came back multiple times!
One of the best things that you can do while in Vietnam is cafe hop. We loved spending slow mornings café hopping, trying different iterations of salt, coconut, and egg coffee while watching the chaos of Saigon pass us by. You’ll easily find dozens of cafes serving great coffee, but some favourites of ours were Leelai Café and Café Linh.
Days 4–6: Hoi An
From the southern chaos, we flew north to Da Nang and drove into Hoi An, staying at Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa for a change of pace.
And a change of pace it was. We went from big city chaos to charming, quiet beachside resort.
We chose the Renaissance partly because of my Marriott loyalty and partly because of its proximity to Old Town Hoi An. The property is only about a 15-minute drive into town and offers free regular shuttles daily.
Staying outside of Old Town was absolutely the right choice for us. Old Town is charming but dense and tourist-heavy. To be honest, it reminded us a little bit of Clifton Hill back home, which was…not the vibe.
Being beachfront gave us balance. Quiet mornings. Pool afternoons. Easy Grab rides into town for dinner and shopping. We could easily dip into the energy without being consumed by it. And we dipped in frequently for two things: clothes and of course, food.
Hoi An is where you get clothes made, and if you’re wondering if it’s really worth it, the answer is yes. We used Thanh Thuy Cloth Shop, and within 24 hours we had custom pieces made for a fraction of what similar pieces would cost back home. Bring a half-empty suitcase. You’ll need it.
The best meal we had in Vietnam might have been at Ho Lo Quan in Hoi An. Four large dishes for $25, and some of the best Vietnamese pancakes we tasted. When we clearly had no idea how to assemble and eat them properly, the staff took the time to walk us through it. Everything was so flavourful and delicious, the hospitality was top notch, and the price was unbeatable. My only regret was that we didn’t find this place sooner, because I would’ve eaten here every single day.
We visited Bánh Mì Phượng, the famous Anthony Bourdain spot. Was it worth it? For me, absolutely. Bánh mì was probably the least interesting thing we ate in Vietnam overall, but there’s something meaningful about sitting where someone you admire once sat.
We skipped the lantern boat rides. They looked beautiful (read: Insta-worthy) but felt like a tourist trap. Watching from the shore was enough.
Days 7–8: Hanoi
After Hoi An, we headed to the north to spend some time in Hanoi.
We stayed at MK Premier Boutique Hotel and later at Melia Hanoi. MK is a great option if you want something central and budget-friendly, with an excellent gym. It’s close to the party street, which is great if nightlife is your thing. For us, the Melia more the vibe.
Hanoi was much different from both Saigon and Hoi An. It was a big city, similar to Saigon, with a similar level of chaos, but also somehow felt like there was nothing to do compared to Saigon.
We mostly spent our time wandering the streets and cafe hopping, which admittedly, was not as enjoyable as it was in Ho Chi Minh City because of the dense smog that often smothers Hanoi.
We did visit Train Street, which is 100% a tourist trap but also, oddly fascinating. Sitting inches from a passing train is something you won’t do in many places in the world, so why not?
We ate at Bún Chả Ta more times than I can count. It was 100% my favorite dish of the entire trip. However, the flavour differences are very evident from North to South. If Saigon bursts with flavor, Hanoi leans sweeter and subtler. Neither is better — they’re just different expressions of the same culinary backbone. (Though personally, I prefer flavour and spice, so I think Hanoi was the least interesting food-wise for me.)
I’ll admit: Hanoi wasn’t my favorite city. But if it’s your first time in Vietnam, it’s still worth experiencing.
Days 9–11: Ha Long Bay
We ended the trip on the water with Elite of the Seas, and it was 100% worth the splurge, if you can even call it that. It was definitely expensive for Vietnam, but by North American standards, this was a steal.
There’s a lot of debate about whether or not Ha Long Bay is “worth it” or if it's just a tourist trap. Personally, I think it’s worth it. Yes, a lot of tourists visit Ha Long Bay, but sometimes things are just popular for a reason and it doesn’t necessarily make them a “tourist trap”.
After the density of Vietnamese cities, Ha Long Bay is such a needed break. I’m so happy that we decided to do this at the end of our trip because it was the perfect way to decompress after all of our time in the chaos of Vietnam.
And Ha Long Bay is STUNNING. Limestone cliffs rising dramatically out of emerald water. Gorgeous sun rises and sunsets. No smog or motorbikes in sight.
Our boat had around 30 guests, which made it feel intimate rather than crowded. If you can, do two nights. The longer cruises get away to the quieter areas of the bay that aren’t as crowded, so it makes for a more private, luxurious experience.
There are so many cruise companies operating in Ha Long Bay that choosing one can feel a bit overwhelming. Truthfully, I spent more time researching this part of the trip than almost any other. But if you’re after a premium experience, I can wholeheartedly recommend Elite of the Seas. From the spa and mini golf course to the excellent restaurant and incredibly attentive service, every detail felt thoughtfully done. Great food on board was especially important to us, and this boat absolutely delivered. Each guest is also assigned a personal butler, which makes the experience feel even more seamless and luxurious. And the rooms deserve their own mention: spacious, beautifully designed, outfitted with high-end amenities, and complete with private balconies that make taking in the bay feel extra special.
If you’re debating whether to book the cruise, consider this your sign: Ha Long Bay was absolutely worth it, and ending our trip there felt like a dream.
What This Trip Taught Me
At 25, I would have tried to squeeze in more. More landmarks. More checkboxes. More “proof” that I had been somewhere.
At 30, I wanted long lunches and slow days in cafes. I wanted to move like a local instead of like a tourist.
I was less worried about the Instagram photos and more worries about immersing myself in everything the country had to offer.
Vietnam rewarded that approach.
Would I go back? Without hesitation. I’d return to southern and central Vietnam first. I’d add Hue. I’d explore Phu Quoc. And I’d spend more time on the water.
If you’re planning a couples trip and want culture, luxury, incredible food, and a route that flows beautifully from south to north — this is it.
Just be prepared for that first day to be overwhelming as hell.
But I promise, it’s so worth it.
