Vietnam in the spring
 

Our work schedule requires that we vacation from mid April to mid May.
I have read a lot about the climate in Vietnam and it certainly seems to differ greatly from north to south.
Can someone recommend a general trip plan to take advantage of the best weather for 3 weeks starting around April 18th.
Thanks for any advice

From March to May is good time to visit whole Vietnam. It is spring and it is not hot yet. Humidity is tolerable. Rainy season only starts from June but expect some short showers. Your plan can cover north to south Vietnam: Hanoi - Sapa - Halong - Hue - Hoi An - Nha Trang (or Phu Quoc for beach) - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City. With 3 weeks I think you dont have to rush.

Your research is right. Vietnam’s climate is really different from North to South. However if your vacation is from mid April to mid May, the different climate isn’t a problem. Both the North and the South have a little bit hot and rainy weather at that time. If your trip lasts for 3 weeks, you can choose such kind of itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City - Dalat - Nhatrang - Danang - Hoian - Hue - Hanoi - Sapa – Halong. You will not only enjoy the biggest cities of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi) but also have chance to swim in the most beautiful beach Nhatrang as well as visit the beauty of river-city Danang. After experiencing the rainy season of the South, you can enjoy the beginning summer of the North by visiting Sapa – the place of cool atmosphere all year round and going to Halong- the World Heritage with lots of islands, caves and beaches. Have a great vacation!

Hi,
I have contacted with Miss Moon at Hanoi Dylan Hotel for the similar program, and she give me this suggestion that I found good, I have booked with her.
Trip in Vietnam

Mar 06 Pickup from the airport to our hotel, stay at Hanoi Dylan Hotel
Mar 07 Visit Hanoi city by yourself, stay at Hanoi Dylan Hotel
Get the Water Puppet show at 21.15
Mar 08 Have a free day in Hanoi, stay at Hanoi Dylan Hotel
Mar 09 Be pickup for Halong bay trip at 8.00 – overnight on Boat
Mar 10 Halong bay and get back Hanoi at 16.30
Have a rest and shower in Hotel then the hotel staff will takes you to the train station to take the night train to Sapa
Mar 11 5.00 Arrive Lao Cai station be pickup to Sapa town, have breakfast, then the tour guide will take you do the trek around 12km to visit Y Ling Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van villages, overninght at home stay.
Mar 12 After breakfast, do more trek to visit Giang Ta Chai, Supan villages and get back Sapa town, overnight at hotel (Fansipan View Hotel).
Mar 13 Have a free morning to visit Local market, then do a short trek to visit Cat Cat, Shin Chai vllages,
Take the night train back to Hanoi after dinner.
Mar 14 Arrive Hanoi train station be pickup to hotel, have a full day in Hanoi then take the night train to Hue (the tourist Express train)
Mar 15 Arrive Hue at 8.00, be pickup to the Holiday Hotel
Add: 8/14 Nguyen Cong Tru st, Tel: +84 054 3819845
Mar 16 Take the bus to Hoian at 14.00 from the hotel, the staff at hotel will give you this ticket, stay at Thanh Binh III Hotel
Add: 98 Ba Trieu, Hoian Tel: +84 510 3916777
Mar 17 Hoian visiting, stay at Thanh Binh III hotel
Mar 18 Check out hotel then have full day in Hoian, take the train to Saigon at 19.25
The staff from hotel will arrange the transfer for you to the airport
Mar 18 Arrive Saigon at 20.40 take a taxi to Saigon Hotel
Mar 19 Tour company will pickup you at hotel around 7.30AM for Mekong Detal trip, overnight at home stay.
Mar 20 Mekong trip and get back hotel at 19.00 and stay at Saigon Hotel
Mar 21 Visit Saigon city by yourself, stay at Saigon Hotel
Mar 22 Take the taxi transfer to the airprot to take the flight to Phu Quoc at 9.50
Be pickup at Phu Quoc airpor to Thanh Kieu Resort
Add: 100C/14 Tran Hung Dao St; Tel +84 77 3848394
Mar 23 Phu Quoc
Mar 24 Phu Quoc
Mar 25 Phu Quoc
Mar 26 Phu Quoc – Saigon, stay at Saigon Hotel
Mar 27 Transfer to the airprot at to go home.

We paid $1.050USD per person, very reasonable price.
I think in 3 weeks, you can do for all these places

The suggested itinerary above sounds a bit.... The hotels chosen are so so in quality. Can you make something that is more special for a first time visitor.