Vietnam – 14-Day Itinerary 2027

Departure PRG

Sun, Apr 25

Arrival Hanoi

Mon, Apr 26

Depart Hanoi

Sun, May 9

Arrival PRG

Mon, May 10

Flight

Etihad · PRG–HAN

⚠️

Weather in May — hot everywhere, humid in the lowlands. Ha Giang's rains start building; ride mornings, expect afternoon showers.

Hanoi

30–34° / 24–26°

~70–80% humidity

Ha Giang

22–30° / 16–19°

~75–85% humidity

Saigon

32–35° / 26–27°

~75–85% humidity

Mekong Delta

31–34° / 25–27°

~80–85% humidity

// Northern Vietnam

Prague

Hanoi

Day 1–2

Ha Giang Loop

Day 3–7

Hanoi

Day 8

// Southern Vietnam

Hanoi

Day 9

Saigon

Day 9–10

Mekong Delta

Day 11–12

Saigon

Day 12

Hanoi

Day 13

Prague

Day 14

// Trip Map

// Day-by-Day Itinerary

── Northern Vietnam ──

Day

North

Hanoi — Arrival 🇻🇳 Mon, Apr 26

🕐 Start: ~6:40 AM (landing)

Arrival from Prague after the overnight flight (depart Sun 25 Apr 11:20, land Mon 26 Apr 06:40). Transfer to the Old Quarter, check in, rest. In the evening: a first wander around town, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Bia Hoi Corner.

Grab taxi from the airport to the centre (~$5, 40 min)
Hoan Kiem Lake — evening stroll
Ta Hien Street — 30-cent beer, the Old Quarter at night

✈️ Etihad · PRG 25 Apr 11:20 → HAN 26 Apr 06:40 (via Abu Dhabi) · 14 h 20 m

🛏️ Old Quarter — mini-hotel for the group · $15–20/person (320–400 Kč/person)

MorningLand at Noi Bai, Grab to the Old Quarter, check in

AfternoonRest and recover from the flight

EveningHoan Kiem Lake, street food, Bia Hoi Corner

Day

North

Hanoi — City Day

🕐 Tue, Apr 27 · Start: ~9:00 AM

A cultural introduction to Vietnam. The historic centre in the morning, an evening on foot through the Old Quarter's food stalls — pho, bun cha, egg coffee, at your own pace.

Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum + Presidential Palace
Evening street food walk in the Old Quarter — pho, bun cha, egg coffee

🛏️ Old Quarter — 2nd night

MorningTemple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

AfternoonHoa Lo Prison, wander the Old Quarter

EveningOld Quarter street food walk

Day

Transit

Hanoi → Ha Giang ~300 km · 5–6 h

🕐 Wed, Apr 28 · Start: ~7:30 AM (early departure)

A morning minivan up to Ha Giang (rent the whole vehicle for the group). In the afternoon, sort out the loop transport — self-drive motorbike, Easy Rider (hired driver), or a booked tour — get a route briefing, and take a short orientation ride around the area.

Minivan for the group: ~$70–90 total for the vehicle
Rental: Cuong's Motorbikes or Mr. Duc's — book ahead
Honda semi-auto 110–125cc, 3 bikes for the group (2 per bike) — or arrange Easy Rider drivers / a tour instead
Photograph each bike before taking it
Ha Giang Loop route: here on Google Maps

🚐 Minivan Hanoi → Ha Giang (~$70–90 / ~1,500–1,900 Kč per vehicle)

🛏️ Ha Giang city — guesthouse · $5–8/person (100–170 Kč/person)

MorningEarly minivan up to Ha Giang (5–6 h)

AfternoonArrive, pick up bikes, route briefing

EveningShort orientation ride, dinner in town

Day

North

Quan Ba → Yen Minh → Dong Van ~120 km · motorbike / Easy Rider / tour

🕐 Thu, Apr 29 · Start: ~8:00 AM

Quan Ba Heaven Gate → Yen Minh → Hmong King's Palace → Dong Van. The first day of the Loop — hairpin bends, mountain passes, stone H'Mong villages. Ride slow, stop often, take photos.

Quan Ba Heaven Gate — viewpoint over the Twin Mountains
Yen Minh — bamboo forests, roadside lunch
Hmong King's Palace (Sa Phin) — Vuong family mansion, ~15 km before Dong Van
Dong Van — ancient quarter, UNESCO Geopark

🏍️ Motorbike / Easy Rider / tour · max 40–50 km/h · daylight only

🛏️ Dong Van — homestay or guesthouse · $5–10/person (100–210 Kč/person)

MorningRide out — Quan Ba Heaven Gate

AfternoonYen Minh, Hmong King's Palace, on to Dong Van

EveningDong Van old quarter, homestay

Day

North

Lung Cu → Ma Pi Leng → Meo Vac ~90 km · motorbike / Easy Rider / tour

🕐 Fri, Apr 30 · Start: ~8:00 AM

The highlight of the whole trip. Lung Cu — the northernmost point of Vietnam. The Ma Pi Leng Pass — a dramatic canyon 1,600 m below. Meo Vac market.

Lung Cu Flag Tower — views into China
Ma Pi Leng Pass — the Sky Road, Nho Que canyon
Meo Vac — Flower H'Mong people in traditional dress
Canyon boat trip (~$5, optional)

🏍️ Motorbike / Easy Rider / tour · short distance but slow going

🛏️ Meo Vac — guesthouse · $6–10/person (130–210 Kč/person)

MorningLung Cu Flag Tower

AfternoonMa Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que canyon

EveningMeo Vac market, guesthouse

Day

North

Meo Vac → Khau Vai → Mau Due → Du Gia ~110 km · motorbike / Easy Rider / tour

🕐 Sat, May 1 · Start: ~7:30 AM

Khau Vai sits on a dead-end spur road southeast of Meo Vac, in the opposite direction from Du Gia, so there's no direct road through from one to the other. Ride out early to Khau Vai and back to Meo Vac (~45 km round trip), then take the standard QL4C road south through Mau Due to Du Gia. Slower village, no rush after the detour.

Khau Vai village — quiet morning stop, terraced fields
Mau Due — standard loop road south, roadside lunch stop
Arrive Du Gia by late afternoon — time to swim or rest

🏍️ Motorbike / Easy Rider / tour · longer day, standard road for the Du Gia leg

🛏️ Du Gia — homestay · $5–8/person (100–170 Kč/person)

MorningMeo Vac → Khau Vai and back

AfternoonMeo Vac → Mau Due → Du Gia, swim, rest

EveningHomestay dinner, early night

Day

North

Du Gia → Ha Giang city ~70 km · motorbike / Easy Rider / tour

🕐 Sun, May 2 · Start: ~9:00 AM

A relaxed final ride straight back to Ha Giang city, retracing the road from Du Gia. No new stops — you've already covered the Quan Ba area on the way out. Drop the bikes back in the afternoon, then take an overnight sleeper bus straight to Hanoi — arriving in the morning.

Easy ride back — rice terraces, no rush
Return the bikes — check for damage, top up the fuel
Free afternoon in Ha Giang city — shower, last local meal
Sleeper bus Ha Giang → Hanoi (~6 h) — arrives in the morning

🚌 Sleeper bus Ha Giang → Hanoi (~$8–12/person, ~170–250 Kč) · overnight

🛏️ On the sleeper bus — overnight journey

MorningDu Gia → Ha Giang city, easy ride

AfternoonReturn the bikes, free time in town

EveningOvernight sleeper bus to Hanoi

Day

North

Hanoi — Rest Day

🕐 Mon, May 3 · Start: ~7:00 AM (off the bus)

Arrive in Hanoi by sleeper bus early in the morning, running on little sleep after four days of riding. Keep this day genuinely light: sleep in properly, then nothing more strenuous than a slow walk around West Lake. Everything else is optional, only for anyone with energy to spare.

Arrive around 6-7 AM off the sleeper bus, check in, sleep until you actually wake up
West Lake (Ho Tay) — an easy walk, coffee by the water, Tran Quoc Pagoda if you feel like it
Optional, low-key: a massage/spa session instead of sightseeing
Optional, only if there's energy left: Bat Trang ceramic village or the water puppet show

🛏️ Old Quarter — 3rd night

MorningOff the bus, check in, sleep in properly

AfternoonFree — West Lake walk, spa, or just resting

EveningRelaxed dinner, early night before flying south

── Southern Vietnam ──

Day

Flight

Hanoi → ✈️ → Saigon

🕐 Tue, May 4 · Start: ~9:00 AM

A relaxed morning in Hanoi, then a Grab to Noi Bai airport. Domestic flight straight to Saigon. Evening: a first walk around Pham Ngu Lao.

Late checkout, breakfast, last-minute Old Quarter shopping
Grab to the airport (~40 min)
Flight HAN → SGN: VietJet/Bamboo (~2 h, ~$40–65)
Pham Ngu Lao — an evening kick-off

✈️ Hanoi → Saigon · VietJet ~$40–65 (~850–1,350 Kč) · book ahead

🛏️ Saigon — Pham Ngu Lao district · $15–25/person (320–500 Kč/person)

MorningRelaxed morning in Hanoi, last shopping

AfternoonFly Hanoi → Saigon

EveningCheck in, Pham Ngu Lao nightlife

Day

South

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

🕐 Wed, May 5 · Start: ~9:00 AM

Vietnam's biggest city. War history and colonial architecture in the morning, then a genuinely free afternoon before an easy evening out — the only real downtime of the southern leg.

War Remnants Museum — the most powerful museum of the trip (~$2)
Reunification Palace — where the war ended in 1975
Free afternoon — nap, pool, spa, or wander at your own pace (Ben Thanh Market if you want it)
Bui Vien Walking Street — evening nightlife, low-key or not, your call

🛺 Grab taxi or xe om around the city

🛏️ Saigon — 2nd night

MorningWar Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace

AfternoonFree — rest, spa, or optional Ben Thanh Market

EveningBui Vien Walking Street

Day

South

Mekong Delta — Ben Tre / Can Tho ~135–170 km from Saigon

🕐 Thu, May 6 · Start: ~9:00 AM

A relaxed morning departure from Saigon down into the Mekong. Coconut country around Ben Tre, then on to Can Tho for the night — close to the floating market for an early start tomorrow.

Ben Tre — coconut orchards, candy and rice-paper workshops by boat
Cycling or small sampan through narrow canals, away from the big tour barges
Local riverside lunch
Overnight homestay or riverside guesthouse near Can Tho

🚐 Private car/van from Saigon (~$30–50/person, ~600–1,050 Kč incl. transport + boat)

🛏️ Mekong Delta — homestay/guesthouse, 1 night

MorningDrive south, Ben Tre coconut country

AfternoonCanals by sampan, workshops, on to Can Tho

EveningRiverside dinner, early night before the market

Day

South

Cai Rang Floating Market → Saigon ~170 km back to Saigon

🕐 Fri, May 7 · Start: ~6:00 AM (right at the market)

An early sampan out to Cai Rang around 7-9 AM, when boats are actually trading, not after the morning rush has thinned out. Optional stop at the smaller, quieter Phong Dien market. Drive back to Saigon in the afternoon.

Cai Rang Floating Market — during the actual morning trading, not a rushed day-trip arrival
Optional: Phong Dien market — smaller, far less touristy
Fresh Mekong river fish for breakfast/lunch
Afternoon drive back to Saigon

🚐 Sampan at market, then private car/van back to Saigon (~$25–40/person, ~500–800 Kč)

🛏️ Saigon — 3rd night

MorningCai Rang floating market, during actual trading hours

AfternoonDrive back to Saigon

EveningBack in Saigon — free time, spa or shopping

Day

Flight

Saigon → ✈️ → Hanoi Domestic flight ~2 h

🕐 Sat, May 8 · Start: ~9:00 AM

A last morning in Saigon. A flight back to Hanoi, and an evening in the Old Quarter — a final pho, an egg coffee, and Hoan Kiem at dusk.

Last-minute shopping at Ben Thanh — Vietnamese coffee, silk
Flight SGN → HAN: VietJet/Bamboo (~2 h, ~$35–60)
Cafe Giang — the birthplace of egg coffee, a farewell visit

✈️ Saigon (SGN) → Hanoi (HAN) · VietJet · ~$35–60/person (~700–1,300 Kč)

🛏️ Hanoi — 1 night near the airport or in the Old Quarter · $15–20/person (320–400 Kč/person)

MorningLast shopping at Ben Thanh

AfternoonFly Saigon → Hanoi

EveningOld Quarter, farewell egg coffee

Day

Departure

Hanoi → Prague Sun, May 9 evening · Noi Bai (HAN)

🕐 Sun, May 9 · Start: free morning, evening flight

A free morning in Hanoi. Departure from Noi Bai Airport at 20:40 on Etihad, via Abu Dhabi — arriving in Prague Monday, May 10 at 07:05.

Grab to the airport ~$5, 40 min from the centre
Terminal 2 for international departures
Arrive 3 hours before departure

✈️ Etihad · HAN 9 May 20:40 → PRG 10 May 07:05 (via Abu Dhabi) · 15 h 25 m

🛏️ On the plane :)

MorningFree morning in Hanoi

AfternoonPack up, Grab to the airport

EveningEvening flight home to Prague

// Estimated Budget per Person (USD)

🟢 14 days · full journey

✈️ Return flight Prague↔Hanoi (Etihad, direct)$68914,475 Kč

✈️ Domestic flights (HAN→SGN→HAN)$70–1251,500–2,600 Kč

🛏️ Accommodation (11 nights — excludes sleeper-bus night and Mekong homestay, budgeted separately)$126–1912,650–4,000 Kč

🍜 Food (14 days)$140–2802,900–5,900 Kč

🏍️ Self-drive motorbike + permit + fuel (shared) — if self-driving; Easy Rider or guided tour runs $120–200+/person instead, often including meals/homestays$30–55600–1,200 Kč

🚐 Ground transport (minivan/bus/sleeper)$40–70800–1,500 Kč

⛵ Mekong Delta overnight (transport, boats, homestay)$55–901,100–1,850 Kč

🎟️ Entrance fees & activities$60–1201,300–2,500 Kč

🛡️ Travel insurance (14 days)$40–70800–1,500 Kč

💉 Vaccinations$65–1751,400–3,700 Kč

💸 Spending money / SIM / shopping$50–1101,000–2,300 Kč

Total / person$1,365–1,975≈ 28,650–41,500 Kč

Estimates assume a budget-to-mid-range style (guesthouses, dorms, a mix of street food and restaurants) and self-drive motorbiking for the Loop — choosing Easy Rider or a guided tour instead adds roughly $90–150/person to the total. International flight price is Etihad's own direct fare via Abu Dhabi (14,475 Kč) — third-party agents (Gotogate, Booking.com, eDreams) showed fares within about ±1,000 Kč of this at the time of checking, so shop around before booking. Vaccinations are a one-off cost only if you don't already have them. Other CZK figures converted at ~21 Kč/$1 (spot rate, June 2026) — the rate will drift before the trip.

// Flight Summary — All 4 Flights

✈️ International + Domestic

Day 1 · PRG → HAN · Etihad, via Abu DhabiSun 25 Apr 11:20 → Mon 26 Apr 06:4014 h 20 m14,475 Kč (~$689) round-trip, booked direct with Etihad

Day 9 · HAN → SGN · VietJet / BambooExact time TBC · book ahead~2 h~$40–65 (~850–1,350 Kč)

Day 13 · SGN → HAN · VietJet / BambooExact time TBC · book ahead~2 h~$35–60 (~700–1,300 Kč)

Day 14 · HAN → PRG · Etihad, via Abu DhabiSun 9 May 20:40 → Mon 10 May 07:0515 h 25 mincluded in the Day 1 round-trip fare above

The 2 domestic legs (Days 9 and 13) are separate one-way tickets — book both together, ~2–3 months ahead, see the Preparation timeline below. The international fare is a single round-trip cost already counted once in the budget above, not twice.

// Preparation — What to Do Before You Go

~4 months before departure (January 2027)

💉 Vaccinations — visit a travel clinic Don't delay

Some vaccines need 2–3 doses spread over weeks, so start early. Essential: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus (check your booster is current). Consider: Rabies if you're spending time in rural areas or near animals — the Ha Giang villages qualify. Malaria prophylaxis is generally not needed for this itinerary (no deep jungle), but confirm with your doctor. Budget $65–175/person (~1,400–3,700 Kč) depending on which you already have.

~2–3 months before departure (February–March 2027)

🏍️ Decide: motorbike / Easy Rider / tour for the Loop Book ahead

Decide how each person will do the Loop — self-drive motorbike, Easy Rider (a local driver takes you as a passenger), or a booked multi-day tour — then email Ha Giang providers directly. Cuong's Motorbikes and Mr. Duc's are the most well-known for self-drive rental. For a group of 6 self-driving, you need 3 bikes. Ask about semi-automatic Honda 110–125cc models. Expect ~$10–15/bike/day (~210–320 Kč) + $10 (~210 Kč) loop permit per person, whichever option you choose. Confirm the insurance policy and what happens if you break down.

✈️ Book domestic flights in Vietnam Book ahead

Two domestic flights: HAN→SGN (Day 9) and SGN→HAN (Day 13). Book on VietJet or Bamboo Airways — prices are ~$35–65 each if booked in advance, but they can more than double for last-minute seats. Book both together.

🛡️ Travel insurance — read the small print Critical

Standard travel insurance often excludes motorbikes entirely, or only covers scooters under 50cc. If you're self-driving, you need a policy that explicitly covers riding a motorbike with a valid licence; if you're going Easy Rider or tour as a passenger, check that riding pillion is covered too. Check AXA Assistance, ERV, or Allianz. Make sure you have at least $1M in medical evacuation cover — hospitals in rural northern Vietnam are basic, and medical evacuation to Bangkok or back to Europe is expensive. Cost: ~$40–70 (~800–1,500 Kč) for 14 days.

~1 month before departure (April 2027)

🏨 Book key accommodation Book ahead

For a group of 5–6, you want to lock in Hanoi (nights 1–2, plus the rest-day night 8) and Saigon (nights 9, 10, and 12) at minimum, plus the Mekong homestay/guesthouse for night 11. Ha Giang, Dong Van, Meo Vac, and Du Gia guesthouses are easier to book last-minute or on arrival. Look for places that can accommodate the full group — a private apartment or whole guesthouse is often cheaper and more fun than individual dorms.

💰 Sort out money — USD and VND Practical

Vietnam is largely cash-based, especially in rural areas. Bring a mix: USD for large payments (some guesthouses and tours quote in USD and prefer it), and Vietnamese Dong (VND) for everything else — street food, local buses, market stalls. Get VND from ATMs on arrival (Vietcombank and Techcombank have the lowest fees). Revolut or Wise works well for ATM withdrawals. Don't rely on cards in Ha Giang — take enough cash for the full 4-day loop before you leave Hanoi.

📱 Apps to install before you go Practical

Grab (taxi and food across all cities), Maps.me with Vietnam downloaded offline (critical for Ha Giang where there's no signal), Google Translate with Vietnamese downloaded offline, Zello (push-to-talk walkie-talkie app — useful when riding in a group), XE Currency, and Splitwise or Settle Up for splitting group costs.

1–2 weeks before departure

🎒 Pack light — seriously Practical

Whether you're self-driving or riding pillion with an Easy Rider or tour, you'll have your luggage with you on the bike. A large backpack strapped to your back for 4 days of mountain riding is brutal — a small 20–30 L daypack is the right size. Everything else can go in a locker or left at a guesthouse. Key items: rain poncho (buy one in Vietnam for $2, but have one ready), quick-dry clothes, flip-flops, long trousers and sleeves for temple visits, reef-safe sunscreen, DEET repellent, and a basic first-aid kit.

📄 Documents — make copies of everything Practical

Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, with at least 2 blank pages), international driving permit (issued on top of your Czech licence — get it from AutoKlub, takes a few days), travel insurance documents with the emergency number saved in your phone. Upload digital copies to Google Drive or iCloud so they're accessible even if your phone is stolen or lost.

On arrival in Hanoi

📡 Buy a local SIM card Immediate

Available at Noi Bai Airport arrivals. Viettel is the best network for rural coverage in northern Vietnam — important for Ha Giang. A 30-day SIM with 20–30 GB of data costs around $3–5 (~60–100 Kč). Everyone in the group should get one. Note: there will be patchy to no signal on parts of the Ha Giang Loop — download offline maps before you leave Hanoi.

💵 Withdraw VND at the airport ATM Immediate

Use a Vietcombank ATM inside the terminal — lowest fees, most reliable. Withdraw enough for the first few days plus the full Ha Giang Loop (budget ~$200–250 (~4,200–5,200 Kč) in VND per person for the 4-day loop including food and accommodation). The exchange rate at airport ATMs is fair; avoid cash exchange desks at the airport.