8 days in Vietnam - should i even bother?
 

I have only 8 days and my husband really wants to go to Vietnam.

So I've come up with this itinerary - he's set on Hoi An and Halong Bay.

i understand I'm missing the mekong portion, Hue, a ton of stuff in between and prolly not enough time in Saigon or Hanoi ....im asking myself what's the point of traveling like this. Or I could always think i can return to Vietnam and explore what I missed and stay longer at the places I really enjoy this time?

Any advice?

arriving 21st December to Saigon in the morning
22 - Saigon - i may or may not do the Cu Chi tunnels. I might just want to soak up Saigon.
23 Saigon to hoi An.
24 Hoi An
25 Hoi An
26 Hoi An to Hanoi
27 over to Halong by by boat - spend night in boat
28 back to Hanoi by 4pm.
29 morning flight out of Vietnam.

I'm originally from india and the traffic, humidity doesn't bother us sooo...yeah i get that saigon/hanoi are horribly crowded :) Apart from that....is there another way to organize this? im leaving 2.5 days in hoi An to soak up Hoi An...not interested in doing Hue right now.

thanks!

If your husband really wants to go to VN, have him choose ONE area and spend the week there. Personally, I'd choose the north - Hanoi and perhaps Sapa (you could even get snow at that time of the year). It will likely be misty and cold at Halong, but you can go if you want to - know that it is a 4-5 hour drive each way.

Or you could choose the HoiAn, Hue, Danang area.

Or you could choose HCMC and the Mekong Delta.

Any of those would be preferable to your current plan which, other than two days in Hoi An is all in transit.

Got it thanks for the input!!

We just spent 9 days in Vietnam and settled on HCMC ( because we flew in there) and Hoi An.
You can see my blog here
http://demansersintheusa.blogspot.co...o-vietnam.html
We loved it and we're already planning to go back next year to see other parts of the country.
8 days are better than none!

Thanks everyone, we ended up doing 9 days and stuck to just Hoi An, Hanoi and Halong and loved it! Instead of Halong we actually did Bai Tu Long Bay - quieter less touristy - and the weather was misty and sunny so perfect! Fell in love with Vietnam, and will be back for Sapa and the rest!

I'm so glad it worked out for you!

Glad you enjoyed it. Before you commit to Sapa do your homework carefully. Like most of these popular destinations there is a cost......in your face noisy and ugly construction work, and incessant hassle being a couple of examples in Sapa.

There are alternatives.

LL, they have returned from their trip.

Kathie - they are talking of Sapa for their next trip "will be back for Sapa and the rest!" so LL's advice is very relevant.

Glad you enjoyed and glad you had good weather! Sounds like a perfect three-stop itin for the time you had. Enjoy the next trip!