What are the best Vietnam highlight tours in 2026?
Our Vietnam highlight tours are 5- to 7-day private packages that cover the best of each region: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sapa and Halong Bay in the north; Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang in the centre; and Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, Da Lat and Nha Trang in the south. Each runs any day with your own guide and driver, and two or three can be linked into a 2- to 3-week trip. They suit first-time visitors, couples and families.
- Durations: 5 to 7 days each
- Destinations: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, Mekong Delta
- Best for: first-time visitors, couples, families
- Best months: February to April and October to November
Compare our eight highlight tours below.
Good to know (2026)
- Each region has its own wet season: storms can suspend Halong Bay cruises from June to October, Central Vietnam sees floods mainly in October and November, and the south has short afternoon downpours from May to November.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is closed for restoration from 4 September to 2 November 2026 (reopening 3 November) and every Monday and Friday.
- Tet (Lunar New Year) falls on 6 February 2027. Book flights and hotels early for late January to mid-February, and expect some closures.
- Vietnam’s e-visa allows stays of up to 90 days; apply only through the official government portal.
What is a Vietnam highlight tour?
A highlight tour focuses on the places most travellers come to Vietnam for, without spending days on the road between them. Vietnam is about 1,650 km long, so the smartest plan is to explore one region at a time and fly between them. Our eight highlight tours each cover one region in five to seven days, and they are designed to fit together.
Every tour is private, with your own English-speaking guide and driver in each region, so the pace, hotel level and order of visits can change to suit you.
Splitting the country this way also lets you match each region to the season. If the north is cool and grey in January, the south is at its sunniest; if Central Vietnam is in flood season in October, the north is at its best. We plan the order around your travel dates.
Our Vietnam highlight tours at a glance
| Tour |
Days |
Region and route |
| Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay Tour 5 Days |
5 |
North: Hanoi, Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, overnight cruise |
| Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay Tour 6 Days |
6 |
North: Hanoi, Sapa, overnight cruise |
| Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Halong Bay Tour 7 Days |
7 |
North: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sapa, cruise |
| Da Nang – Hoi An Tour 5 Days |
5 |
Centre: Hai Van Pass, Hue, Hoi An, My Son |
| Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An Tour 7 Days |
7 |
Centre: Hue, Hoi An, My Son, Ba Na Hills |
| Ho Chi Minh Tour 5 Days |
5 |
South: Saigon, Cu Chi, Cao Dai, Mekong |
| Ho Chi Minh – Mui Ne – Da Lat Tour 6 Days |
6 |
South: Saigon, Mui Ne, Da Lat |
| Ho Chi Minh – Mui Ne – Da Lat – Nha Trang Tour 7 Days |
7 |
South: Saigon, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang |
All eight are private tours, from US$197 per person (Da Nang – Hoi An Tour 5 Days) to US$598 (Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Halong Bay Tour 7 Days); the price per person falls as your group grows and depends on hotel level and season.
How to choose and combine highlight tours
1. One week
Choose one region. Most first-timers pick the north for Halong Bay and Ninh Binh: the Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay Tour 5 Days leaves time for a beach or extra city day.
2. Ten to twelve days
Pair the north with the centre: a 5-day northern tour plus the Da Nang – Hoi An Tour 5 Days, linked by a short flight from Hanoi to Da Nang. This covers Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An.
3. Two weeks: north to south
Add the Ho Chi Minh Tour 5 Days to the pair above for a classic 15-day route from Hanoi to Saigon, including the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
4. Three weeks
Use the 7-day versions: the Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Halong Bay Tour 7 Days, the 7-day central tour and the southern tour via Mui Ne and Da Lat, ending in Nha Trang for a few days on the beach.
5. Families and slower travellers
Choose two regions rather than three, and pick tours that keep the same hotel for several nights, such as the Ho Chi Minh Tour 5 Days.
Best time for a Vietnam highlight tour
There is no single perfect month for the whole country, but some periods work well everywhere:
- February to April: usually the best all-round window, dry in the centre and south and mild in the north.
- October to November: excellent in the north, but the centre is in flood season, so keep Hue and Hoi An flexible.
- December to January: dry and sunny in the south, cool and sometimes grey in the north.
- May to September: hot nearly everywhere; good for Central Vietnam beaches, with storm risk for Halong Bay.
See our Hanoi travel tips and Hoi An travel tips for regional details.
What’s usually included: private or small group?
Highlight tours are private: your own English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle with driver in each region, hotels and an overnight cruise cabin where listed, and the meals and sightseeing shown in each itinerary. International flights, visas, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included, and flights between regions are quoted separately unless listed. For small-group options, see our small group Vietnam tours.
Tips from our local team (Jimmy)
These notes come from years of arranging Vietnam highlight tours for international travellers.
- Travel north to south from October to December and south to north from February to April to follow the better weather.
- Fly between regions; the train is atmospheric but takes most of a day or night.
- Do not schedule a Halong Bay cruise on the day before your international flight.
- Leave one free day per week; it makes a long trip far more enjoyable.
- Pack for three climates: a light jacket for the north and Da Lat, sun protection for the south.
Plan your Vietnam highlight tour
Tell us how many days you have and what you love, and we will combine the right tours into one smooth itinerary. Message Jimmy’s team on WhatsApp +84 88 626 1368 or use our contact form. You can also browse Vietnam tour itineraries by duration.
