What to Cut First on a Vietnam Route
Your wish list is longer than your leave: drop stops by value for the hours they cost.
Cut the stop that costs the most travel hours for the least extra you get. For most first-timers, the far mountain and cave stops go first, and the big cities and the central coast stay. Trim the list on a rule, not a mood, and keep a small taste of anything you drop.
How do you rank stops by value per travel hour?
Ask two questions of each stop. How much time does it need in transit, beyond the flights you already take? And what does it give that another stop does not?
A stop with a long road leg and a one-day payoff scores low. A stop that is close to a big city and has things to do scores high.
Which stops cost the most travel?
Some stops need a long leg on top of the flights.
- Sa Pa lies about 300 km north-west of Hanoi1.
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang is about 40 km north-west of Dong Hoi3, a long way from the usual city bases.
- Da Nang is the nearest international airport to Hue, 80 km south of Phu Bai2.
- Ba Na Hills is 42 km from Da Nang4, so it is a half-day outing, not a stop.
What is a sensible cutting order?
| Order to cut | Stop | Why it goes | A smaller version to keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Phong Nha caves | Far from the usual bases | A coast day near Da Nang |
| Second | Sapa | A full travel day each way | A cool-hill break near Hanoi |
| Third | Hue overnight | One extra night and a transfer | Hue as a day trip, if strong walkers |
| Fourth | Mekong overnight | A night away from the city | A Mekong day trip from HCMC |
| Last | Hanoi, Hoi An and HCMC | They anchor the trip | Keep them |
What should you keep at any length?
Keep one northern city, one central base and one southern city. They give you three different Vietnams for a small number of moves. If you have to cut further, drop the north or the south in whole, not a day from each.
What should you check after cutting?
- That you have a slow morning in every base.
- That no day starts with a flight and ends with a long road leg.
- That your last day is in the departure city.
- That the plan still has one flexible day.
What is the next step?
- Count your days with the travel-day checker, then compare against Vietnam 10 days north to south and Vietnam 14 days.
- To start from your real flight times, read Build Your Vietnam Route Around Actual Travel Days.
- For the Hue question specifically, see Hue as a day trip or overnight.
- If you are unsure of the region, try the route chooser.
Send us your wish list and your days of leave, and we can rank the stops by value per travel hour and show you what to cut first.
Common questions
Which stop should I cut first on a long north-to-south route?
Cut the stop that costs the most travel for the least extra you get. For most first-timers that is a far-off mountain or cave stop, such as Sapa or Phong Nha, because each needs a long road leg on top of the flights. Keep the cities and the coast.
How many stops fit in ten days?
Three or four bases is comfortable, with day trips from each. Five starts to feel like a moving show. Count the days lost to transfers before you count the places, and use the travel-day checker for the sum.
Can I keep a taste of a stop I cut?
You can, with a smaller version. Swap Sapa for a hill escape closer to Hanoi, or Phong Nha for a cave-free day on the coast. A smaller version of a place usually beats a rushed version of the real thing.
Is it better to rush everything or see less?
See less. A rushed trip leaves you tired, and you may remember the road more than the places. Fewer stops with a slow morning in each give better memories, and they leave space when weather or illness changes the plan.
Sources
- Sa Pa is approximately 300 km northwest of Hanoi in Lao Cai province. Wikipedia
- Da Nang, the nearest international airport to Hue, is 80 km south of Phu Bai. Wikipedia
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang is about 40 km northwest of Dong Hoi, capital of Quang Binh. Wikipedia
- Ba Na Hills is at an elevation of 1,500 m, 42 km from Da Nang. Wikipedia
Keep planning
Send us your wish list and your days of leave, and we can rank the stops by value per travel hour and show you what to cut first.