ITINERARY - Doug & Cathy Trip

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Doug and Cathy are thirty-something professionals in New York, who have limited vacation time and don’t mind shelling out $100 for a hotel if it’s worth it, but are happy to stay in cheaper places that are better value. They’d have about 14 days, plus two days’ flight to get there. They’ve traveled a fair share – been on beach trips, been on European city trips.

Here’s what I’d recommend to them:

Skip Nha Trang this time. It is Vietnam’s best beach, but there are better beaches in Thailand and Mexico. And you can get a good beach, plus more diversions, from Hoi An. The key questions is whether they’d prefer a Halong Bay cruise to a two-day trek in the mountains and a homestay in the mountains in Sapa. Let’ say the more relaxing Halong Bay.

Here’s what it’d look like:

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi, see Old Quarter, arrange Halong Bay cruise, stay at Church Hotel
Day 2 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, walk around French Quarter
Day 3 Halong Bay cruise (day one)
Day 4 Halong Bay cruise (day two), return to Hanoi
Day 5 Fly to Hue, see Citadel, eat street food, fly kites, stay at La Residence
Day 6 See nearby tombs
Day 7 Taxi to Hoi An, stopping at Bach Ma, Hai Van Pass and Marble Mountains (near Danang), arrive Hoi An, stay at Ha An hotel
Day 8 Walk Hoi An’s center, spend a few hours at the beach
Day 9 Go on a snorkel trip, stay in Hoi An
Day 10 Fly to Saigon, walk around Dong Khoi St in center, visit Reunification Palace, arrange Mekong trip (splurge with Exotissimo’s or go biking with Sinhbalo), go cheap at Pham Ngu Lao area or splurge for Park Hyatt hotel
Day 11 Take half day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels, see War Remnants Museum
Day 12 Mekong Delta trip (day one)
Day 13 Mekong Delta trip (day two), return to Saigon
Day 14 Leave Saigon