Hello, My return flight changed and I have an extra day in Vietnam. Not sure if it should be Hanoi or Saigon. Not going to the Central part because of the rain. Itinerary now:
Day 1- Land Hanoi morning
day 2- Hanoi
day 3-4- 1 night cruise at Lan Ha Bay
Day 5- Hanoi
day 6- travel day to Saigon
day 7- Saigon
day 8- trip to Mekong Delta
day 9- Saigon
day 10- fly home
WHERE SHOULD I PUT THE EXTRA DAY. HANOI OR SAIGON??? Thanks!

Hello, My return flight changed and I have an extra day in Vietnam. Not sure if it should be Hanoi or Saigon. Not going to the Central part because of the rain. Itinerary now:
Day 1- Land Hanoi morning
day 2- Hanoi
day 3-4- 1 night cruise at Lan Ha Bay
Day 5- Hanoi
day 6- travel day to Saigon
day 7- Saigon
day 8- trip to Mekong Delta
day 9- Saigon
day 10- fly home
WHERE SHOULD I PUT THE EXTRA DAY. HANOI OR SAIGON??? Thanks!

I'm a huge fan of Hanoi & you have so little time there, that's where I'd add an additional day.

Hanoi, for sure, although if you visited Halong Bay (instead of Lan Ha Bay) as a daytrip, you could allocate the 2 days for Ninh Binh.

Please see the response to your other thread:
Vietnam- Where to add an extra day

And ask the moderators to merge the two threads. You can do that by clicking on the orange triangle to the left of any of your posts; type your request in the screen that then appears.

Thsnks

I would spend the extra day in Hanoi where the sights are more spread out and it takes longer to get around. You can see the main sights of central Saigon in one very full day - some like the Reunification Palace and the War remnants can take a couple of hours apiece.

Unless you are travelling by overnight train, you should get in a half day sightseeing on Day 6 . Perhaps use that to check out Cholon markets in District 7. Alternatively, rather than a day trip to the delta, which involves a quite a lot of travel to and from Saigon, I would consider and overnight stay. Depending upon your interests and what you want to see, perhaps Ben Tre or Can Tho - just a thought

I would do Hanoi too. I really liked Hanoi. Much more than Saigon

Merged your duplicate threads

Thanks everyone for your input. I have made all the changes to add an extra day in Hanoi.

Based on your current itinerary, I recommend adding the extra day to Saigon rather than Hanoi. Here's why:

Why Choose Saigon for Your Extra Day:

1. Less Travel Stress

• You already have 3 full days in Hanoi (days 1, 2, 5) - sufficient to explore the city
• Adding the extra day at the end in Saigon allows you to relax before your departure flight

2. Better Flight Flexibility

• Extra buffer time before your international flight
• No worries about delays or traffic getting to the airport
• Most international flights depart from Ho Chi Minh City anyway

3. Deeper Southern Vietnam Experience

• After your Mekong Delta trip, you could visit Cu Chi Tunnels
• More time for shopping at Ben Thanh Market or Saigon Square
• Experience Saigon's famous street food scene and nightlife

4. Better Itinerary Balance

• Hanoi: 3 days (+ 2 days Lan Ha Bay cruise)
• Saigon: 4 days (including Mekong Delta)
• More balanced time allocation between North and South

Suggested Adjusted Itinerary:

• Days 1-2, 5: Hanoi
• Days 3-4: Lan Ha Bay cruise
• Days 6-9: Saigon (including Mekong Delta)
• Day 10: Extra day in Saigon
• Day 11: Fly home

This choice will make your trip more balanced and less stressful overall. Plus, you'll have more time to truly appreciate the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City before heading home!

Thanks! I should have been clearer. I am not flying home from Saigon. I am going to Singapore for three nights. I think that changes your idea of the extra day in Saigon.

I think you should spend an extra day in Hanoi. In November, this city enters autumn and is at its most beautiful. You should stroll around the old quarter, Phan Dinh Phung Street (don't forget to take pictures here!), and smell the scent of flowers (this month, there are so many flowers, people sell them along the streets).