Hanoi to HCMC or HCMC to Hanoi? which direction?
 

Hi everyone. Just about to get frequent flyer tickets to vietnam for end of June and trying to figure this out. Had assumed that we would start in the north with about 8 nights total in Hanoi/Hulang bay cruise/SaPa, then fly to Hue for 2 nights, Hoi An for 3 nights, then fly to HCMC and either explore the city and environs or take 2-day Mekong delta trip, ending with flight out of HCMC. Total time in the country about 15-16 nights.
But now it occurred to me maybe we should start in HCMC since it interests me less and we could be jet-lagged there?
any pros or cons either way?
i had thought having Hoi An closer to the end of the trip made sense as it may be relaxing and we may shop there, although shopping isn't a big interest.
Any other reasons to start at one end or the other?
I have to get my FF tickets - so all comments welcome.
thanks.
p.s we are well traveled, middle aged couple going "comfort class" if that makes a difference.

Either way is fine, but sounds like in your case HCMC may be more convenient. You'll definitely need to rest a bit when you get in. Plus Halong Bay will be relaxing :)

We did pretty much the same trip you outlined in July, starting in HCMC, ending in Hanoi. The only downside was that we would have liked the beach at Hoi An later in the trip, as you propose,which makes more sense going north to south. On the other hand we enjoyed the north, Hue, Hanoi and Sapa more than Hoi An (except for the beach) and HCMC. So we saved the best for last, which worked for us.

Talb, could you be a bit more specific about your itinerary, especially about Hoi An. We've planned three days there, but maybe that's too much.
i'd also like to hear about July there - just how hot and humid and rainy and did it spoil anything? we had been very concerned about traveling end of june/first part of july. Also interested in any details about Sapa, side trips, where you stayed, if you did mekong delta, etc. thanks so much!

I was doing a 750km cruise along the Mekong from the delta to Siem Reap, so I arrived in HCMC, and from Siem Reap flew to Hanoi and worked my way back to HCMC. Worked perfectly for me as I'm in Australia so it is virtually straight up and jet lag is no problem. I don't really think it matters. I agree that Hanoi is far more interesting and pleasant than HCMC.

Knowing what I know now, and I was just doing Vietnam, I'd start in Hanoi and finish in HCMC - only because I can get a direct flight out of HCMC back to Australia.

Alison- happy to give you our opinions, but be sure to read others on this forum and on Trip Advisor. We spent about 15 days, arriving in HCMC. We stayed at the Majestic which was very nice. Our first full day we took a city tour thru Sinh Cafe. Very good guide and small group in morning, very inexpensive. Did a one day Mekong tour which was not very good-the guide was disinterested and we saw nothing that we hadn't seen before in SE Asia. Glad we didn't do 2 days. However, I imagine that if you've never been before it would have been more interesting. There's a lot to see in HCMC but the tour showed most of it. We wished we had one less day there and one more in Hanoi.
We flew to Hoi An, stayed at both the Palm Garden and Victoria due to booking mixup. Both hotels nice, but expensive for VN. We found Hoi An very touristy-a lot of beautiful old buildings filled with tourist shops. Nice beach vacation.
We hired a car between Hoi An and Hue-beautiful drive over the pass in very nice weather.
Hue was a great place, wish we had more time. Stayed at the Morin-well located altho not as nice as Majestic. As we were 4, it didn't cost much more to arrange private tours than to use the bus ones. Used the Mandarin Cafe which was recommended on TripAdvisor. Hired a boat and car for the Royal tombs and Citadel, guide and car for the DMZ. Very good guide, saw a lot more than the bus tour. I would have liked another day in Hue, and would go back.
Stayed at the Elegance 2 in Hanoi-nice enough rooms which included internet and very helpful staff. Unlike Hoi An, Hanoi's old town is still a functioning neighborhood, so great to stay there. Ho Chi Minh tomb and Ethnography Museum were especially worthwhile.
Did one night in Sapa bracketed by King Express. would take a different train next time because it arrives back in Hanoi at 4:30am, very inconvenient. Sapa was beautiful, but unless you plan treks 2 full days is enough. We walked down to Cat Cat village which was worth the hike.
Except for a little bit of drizzle in Sapa, I don't remember it raining at all in VN. Due to school schedule, we've traveled several times to the tropics in the rainy season and its never been a problem. In fact, its better when it rains because its cooler.
Hope this was some help.

thanks, Talb, for the response. Am thinking of regrettably cutting Sapa as it just seems like a lot of packing and re-packing - 1 night train, next night hotel, next night back on train. there seem to be other countrysides to enjoy and one can't do everything in two weeks! Still have a long way until June. glad to hear the rainy season wasn't a problem. We've struggled with the idea of being there in so much heat and rain. (and SaPa may be the coolest part -- so maybe we're crazy to consider dropping it.)
thanks for your info.
hope others will add their two cents!