Hanoi and Saigon: Two Cities, One Flight
Two very different cities, one internal flight, and enough time to taste both properly.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City suit travellers who want streets, markets and meals more than beaches or mountains. Seven days gives each city three nights of its own pace, with a flight in the middle. This page shows how to space them so the move does not eat a whole day.
Who is this route for?
It suits first-timers who want to understand why people say the north and south feel like different countries. It is also a good fit for friends and couples who enjoy shopping, cafes and long dinners.
Both cities are served from Kuala Lumpur. Hanoi Noi Bai is listed with AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air1. Ho Chi Minh City is listed with Malaysia Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and AirAsia2.
The route at a glance
- Day 1: arrive in Hanoi and walk the Old Quarter gently.
- Day 2: heritage and museums, with a long lunch.
- Day 3: a food morning, then a free afternoon for shopping.
- Day 4: fly to Ho Chi Minh City and settle in.
- Day 5: the colonial centre, markets and a river evening.
- Day 6: a half-day outing or a shopping day.
- Day 7: a slow morning and your flight home.
Day by day
Day 1: arrive in Hanoi
Noi Bai is about 35 km northeast of downtown Hanoi3, so allow time for the road in. Check in, eat something light and walk a few Old Quarter streets before dark. Keep it short after a flight.
Day 2: heritage and a slow lunch
Go early to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, whose central sector was inscribed in 20104. Spend the morning there, then rest through the midday heat. Hanoi’s hottest month is July, with a mean of 29.2 C5, so pace yourself if you travel in summer.
In the late afternoon, walk around the lake and sit down for a coffee. The Old Quarter is better in the evening, when the streets cool.
Day 3: eat, then shop
Spend the morning on food: a noodle breakfast, a market walk and a tasting lunch. Leave the afternoon open for silk, lacquerware and small gifts, and pack your bags that evening for the next day’s flight.
Day 4: the flight south
Book a morning flight and travel light. The flight is short, but airport time on both ends makes this your main travel day. Do not plan a sight on arrival. Check in, eat, and let the humid air settle in.
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate, with a rainy season roughly May to November and a dry season from December to April6. Carry a light rain layer in the wet months.
Day 5: the colonial centre and river
Walk the central streets in the morning, when it is cooler. Visit the markets for a first round of shopping, then take a long lunch indoors. In the late afternoon, ride a taxi or Grab to the river for the evening lights.
Day 6: choose your outing
Pick one. Cu Chi is a half-day outing, and Ben Dinh is the site closer to the city with reconstructed tunnels widened for visitors7. Or keep the day for shopping, cafes and a spa. If the weather turns, the second option is easier.
Day 7: fly home
Keep the morning free. Pack the night before and leave for the airport with time to spare.
What does the flight between the cities involve?
It is a short domestic flight, but treat it as a half-day cost. Allow time to reach the airport, check in and collect bags. Then book hotels in both cities so you are not hunting for rooms on arrival. Our guide on open-jaw Vietnam trips shows how to fly into one city and home from the other, so you never double back.
Where should you base yourself?
Choose areas, not hotel names.
- Hanoi: the Old Quarter for walking and food, or near the lake for quiet.
- Ho Chi Minh City: the central district for sights and shopping, close to taxis.
Compare rates yourself in the week you travel. Prices move with the season.
How can you adjust it?
For five days, give each city two nights and drop the day outing. For ten days, add Ha Long or Ninh Binh from Hanoi, or a Mekong day from Saigon. See Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: which trip suits you if you are still choosing between them.
What should you book ahead?
- Both flights from Malaysia and the flight between the cities.
- Your first and last hotel nights, since they anchor your airport runs.
- Halal meals, checked in advance with a certificate and an issuing body you can name. Al-Noor Mosque in Hanoi8 and Saigon Central Mosque9 are useful anchors for prayer and nearby meals.
What will it cost?
Price it in lines: flights, the internal flight, two bases, meals, tickets and shopping. Prices change by season, so put current quotes into the trip budget builder. For ideas on a longer trip, compare Vietnam 10 days north to south. To see each city in detail, open Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or browse all itineraries.
If you tell us your leave dates and which city your flight from Malaysia lands in, we can suggest which city to do first and how to space the flight between them.
Common questions
Is seven days enough for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes, if you accept three full days in each city and one travel day between them. You will see the main sights and eat well in both. If you only have five days, give each city two nights and drop the day trips.
Should I fly or take the train between the two cities?
Fly. The railway between them is a very long ride, and your leave is better spent on the ground. Book a morning flight so the afternoon in the second city is not lost, and keep your bags light.
Which city should I visit first?
Start where your Malaysia flight is easiest, then finish in the other. Hanoi first works well, because its older streets set the scene, and you can end in Saigon for shopping and a relaxed last evening. Our open-jaw guide explains how to book one-way pairs.
Is this route suitable for Muslim travellers?
Both cities have a mosque to anchor your meal planning, but halal choices still need checking each time. Ask for a displayed certificate, name the issuing body, and note whether a place is Muslim-owned, certified or only pork-free. Plan prayer stops in advance.
Can I add a beach or a day trip?
You can add a short day trip from each city, but not a beach without cutting something. If you want sand, trade one city night for a coastal stop, or look at the Da Nang combinations in our itinerary section.
Sources
- Kuala Lumpur International to Hanoi Noi Bai is listed as served by AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air. Wikipedia. Wikipedia destination table; check airline sites for current schedules.
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat to Kuala Lumpur is listed as served by Malaysia Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and AirAsia. Wikipedia
- Noi Bai is about 35 km northeast of downtown Hanoi. Wikipedia
- The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi, was inscribed in 2010 (31 July 2010). Wikipedia
- Hanoi's hottest month is July (mean 29.2 C) and coolest is January (mean 16.4 C). Wikipedia
- Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate (Koppen Aw), with a rainy season roughly May to November and dry season December to April. Wikipedia
- Ben Dinh is closer to Ho Chi Minh City than Ben Duoc and has reconstructed tunnels enlarged for visitors. Wikipedia
- Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street, Hanoi, was built between 1885 and 1890 with contributions from the local Indian community and holds about 200 people. Wikipedia. Described as the only mosque in Hanoi; confirm prayer times with the mosque.
- Saigon Central Mosque (originally the India Jamia Muslim Mosque) was completed in 1935; construction began 21 December 1934. Wikipedia
Keep planning
If you tell us your leave dates and which city your flight from Malaysia lands in, we can suggest which city to do first and how to space the flight between them.