Only got seven days to do and see it all in Vietnam? Follow this guide and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime in just one week.

Day one: Exploring Hanoi

The capital city of a country is always a good place to start to get a taste of the region, so begin your trip in bustling Hanoi.

Spend a few hours getting lost in the Old Quarter, one of the most popular places to visit in Hanoi. The area is comprised of over 40 streets selling wares and trinkets in one of the historic areas of the city.

Get a sobering taste of the Vietnam War at the Hoa Lo Prison and finish your day at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre for a lighthearted evening of a puppet stage show set to traditional music.

Day two: Day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

Take a train or bus a few hours from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. The difference between the city and the sea here is striking, with majestic rock formations rising straight out of the water and hundreds of metres into the sky.

Take a boat tour to see these up close, and spend the rest of your time lounging on the beaches.

Day three: Hanoi to Da Nang

Take a short plane ride from Hanoi to Da Nang and get ready for your next adventure. In Da Nang City, Vietnam, you can feel like you’re in an episode of Top Gear by riding petrol scooters along the beautiful Hai Van Pass. This is a famous 21-kilometre-long mountain pass that is incredibly tourist friendly. You can ride on the back of a scooter (or drive your own) and take in the picturesque views the whole way up the mountain.

Be sure to stop for a Vietnamese iced coffee halfway up and enjoy the scenery. If you’re lucky, you may also spot a few monkeys in the trees. There are also plenty of sights to see on foot in Da Nang, like the Marble Mountains or a cable car above Ba Na Hills.

Day four: Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam

Just a one-hour drive from Da Nang is the historic town of Hoi An. This is an ancient town with canals that make you feel like you’re in Venice.

During the day, you can update your wardrobe with gorgeous tailor-made clothes that you design. Or, go on a boat ride along the canals. Be sure to check out the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge in the town centre which dates back to the 16th century.

After a day of exploring, head outside of town to An Bang Beach for a swim followed by sunset dinner at one of the many beachside restaurants. With pink skies and pale blue water, An Bang Beach is one of the dreamiest spots in Vietnam.

Day five: Ho Chi Minh City

Grab a flight to Ho Chi Minh City in the South of Vietnam. Formerly known as Saigon, the city is the second biggest after Hanoi and has plenty more to offer.

For more great shopping try the Ben Thanh Market, get your fill of culture at the Ho Chi Minh Cathedral or visit the stunning Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. Once you’ve built up an appetite, a popular traditional dish that you can try in Ho Chi Minh City is sea snails known as ‘ốc’.

Walking through the War Remnants Museum is a confronting but worthwhile experience if you’re interested in seeing a no-holds-barred account of the Vietnam War.

On a lighter note, there is also an incredibly impressive 3D art museum where you can spend many hours taking photos of yourself inside optical illusions. It’s easy to spend a day wandering the sites of this bustling city, so wear your comfiest shoes!

Day six: Cu Chi Tunnels

Get out of the city again and make way for the Cu Chi Tunnels. No trip to the country is complete without wriggling your way into the tiny holes in the ground that took about 25 years to build some time from the late 1940s.

A guided tour is the best way to see this area as you’ll get the full rundown of how and why they were built, and the fascinating stories surrounding them.

Day seven: Lak Lake or Nha Trang

On your final day, decide between a serene trip to Lak Lake, a short plane ride from Ho Chi Minh, or a relaxing beach day at Nha Trang, a similar distance away on the coast.

The former offers a slow paddle and a chance to meet the elephants, while the latter is a busy and popular travel destination for its picturesque white sand beaches and fantastic nightlife. Both offer the perfect last-day additions to your Vietnam itinerary.

Virgin Money’s Quick Vietnam Travel Guide

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for your trip:

• The local currency is the Vietnam dong (d), but the US dollar is also widely accepted. 
• Try not to exchange lots of money in one go, as you’ll end up with a huge wad of cash.
•  You can only get Vietnam dong from ATMs, which are widespread in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, for major credit cards. 
• While not expected, tipping is greatly appreciated, even if it’s just a few dollars to your taxi driver or $10 after a meal.

Now that you have your Vietnam itinerary sorted, all that’s left is booking your international and internal flights. Our Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card can turbocharge your Velocity Points to take serious dollars off the price of your flights.

You can also have peace of mind with complimentary travel insurance. You know, to protect all the tailor-made clothes you’ll be having made.

Go further with Virgin Money

To work out how many Velocity Points you’ll need to get to Vietnam, check out our handy Velocity Points calculator. You may get to the land of banh mi sooner than you think.

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