Hello all. My wife and I are planning a trip to Vietnam Feb 20-March 7, 2009. We will have 14 days on the ground. I realize that we may be trying to see too much, but we don't mind exhausting ourselves; and we likely will not be returning to Vietnam. So, here is what I have:
Sat: arrive HCMC (doesn't count)
Sun: HCMC
Mon-Tues: Mekong delta w/ Jason of trip advisor fame
Wed: early AM flight to Hoi An
Thurs: Hoi An
Fri: early transfer to Hue
Sat: Hue
Sun: early AM flight to Hanoi
Mon: Hanoi
Tues: Hanoi and then overnight train to Sapa
Wed: Sapa
Thurs: Sapa and overnight train to Hanoi--transfer to Halong Bay and overnight on junk
Fri: transfer back to Hanoi
Sat: Hanoi and late flight out to US

Two issues:
1. I am having a horrible time with the thought of missing one of our destinations, but obviously afraid that we're trying to see too much.
2. It looks like we may have one extra day. Would you add a day to HCMC (currently have only 1 full day), add a day to Hoi An and relax on the beach, or add a day to Sapa?
Decisions, decisions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I agree that you are trying to do too much.

By my count, you have one day to see HCMC, two days in the delta, one day in Hoi An, one in Hue, two full days and parts of two days in Hanoi., 2 in Sapa, and an overnight on Halong Bay. Travel always take more time than you anticipate, and many of your days you are going from one place to another. You might get half a day in Hoi An the day you fly in to DaNang - or less.

Pause and consider what are the most important things you want to do/see/experience in VN. Let that guide you as you cut a destination.

I'm in the process of trying to come up with a 12 day Vietnam itinerary myself and have a similar post here. I understand your frustration.

Yes, I think you are moving around a lot. You are going to spend a lot of time getting from place to place.

Do you really want to spend two nights on a train just to spend 1.5 days in Sapa? And then return to Hanoi and go right to Halong Bay? You might consider one or the other but not both and then add an extra day to Hanoi or HCMC.

Also, what about staying in between Hoi An and Hue around Danang and seeing both places from there? This is what I am considering.

Finally, can you tell me about the Mekong Delta trip you have planned and why you are choosing this over more time in HCMC? I haven't really investigated those delta trips yet, so I'm interested in what they involve.

Thanks for the quick responses. Kathie, have you been to Vietnam? I ask because pausing and considering is only making things worse. I have no idea what is important as I have never been to Asia--and I want to see everything. That said, I think Sapa is a reach and it is now on the chopping block. Have you (or anyone else) been? And do you think there is a better choice in the itinerary to cut out?
Kristina, I think you are right about Sapa--the overnight train sounded very romantic to my wife, but squeezing it in was a struggle from the start.
Regarding Hoi An, we have our hearts set on a particular hotel on the beach in Hoi An, and I have read that the drive from Hoi An to Hue is stunning.
Lastly, I read about the Mekong delta tour over on trip advisor. The guy's website is vietnamtourjason.com (we are doing tour #6) If you search the forums over there, his name comes up a lot.

Yes, I've been to VN. I opted not to go to Sapa. People either love it or hate it. It has been voted one of the places with the most annoying touts. Young women shout obscenities at yo if you don't buy... of course, young men shout obscenities at you if you don't buy in Hanoi... a really odd idea of how to increase sales - lol. Still, we really enjoyed Hanoi and spent a week there.

Asia lends itself best to slow travel. If you move too fast, you miss it all. IMO, you are much better off doing "too few" locations than too many.

I agree. You are doing way too much.

Hanoi has so much to see and do and although I understand you wish to see as much of Vietnam as you can, you are definitely stretching it.