Vietnam Travel Guide 10 Days on a Budget

09/10/2025

Vietnam Travel Guide 10 Days on a Budget

 

Only 10 days — is it enough to fully feel Vietnam’s beauty? The answer is yes, if you follow the right route. From vibrant Saigon to historic Hanoi, this 10-day travel guide helps you plan in detail, optimize costs, and enjoy your first trip to Vietnam in the most memorable way.

Why travel Vietnam in 10 days?

  • Vietnam is a perfect destination for those who want to combine exploring majestic nature and learning rich cultural history with a low budget.
  • The itinerary avoids rushed transfers - you’ll have enough time to enjoy each place and rest.
  • It includes all major attractions across Vietnam’s three regions: North, Central, and South. You’ll mix adventure, culture, history, and beach time.
  • In 10 days you’ll pack in unique experiences (basket fishing, cable cars, exploring the legendary Củ Chi Tunnels).
  • Even on a limited budget you can have a memorable 10-day trip - from lively Ho Chi Minh City, dreamy Mekong Delta, ancient Hội An, Vietnam’s most liveable coastal city Đà Nẵng, to misty mountains in the north.

 

If this is your first time in Vietnam, don’t worry. This article will help you map out details: how much to spend, where to go, what to eat, and how to save as much as possible. Or simpler: pick the 10-day North - Central - South package tour by Truong Sa Tourist, so you “just pack your bag and go.”

 

>>VIET NAM TOUR PACKAGE 10 Days - From North to South

Estimated budget for 10 days in Vietnam

Category  Cost (USD/person)
Accommodation (mid-range 3–4 star hotels)   300 – 500
Food & drink (local eateries + restaurants)  150 – 250
Domestic transportation (flights, buses, transfers)   250 – 400
Entrance fees & experiences  250 – 350
Miscellaneous (shopping, snacks, tips)   100 – 200
Estimated total   1,000 – 1,700

If you choose Truong Sa Tourist’s 10-day North–South tour, costs will be much lower than travelling independently because transport, entrance fees, hotels, etc. are integrated into the tour price. You only add personal expenses like shopping or extra snacks outside the itinerary.

See tour pricing and full 10-day Vietnam itinerary

 

10-day Vietnam itinerary: Discover Vietnam’s top attractions

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels

Pick up at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels - an underground structure built during wartime to learn how people lived then. Evening free to explore Saigon’s vibrant life.

Day 2: Mekong Delta – Fly to Đà Nẵng

Depart to My Tho – Ben Tre, board a boat to cruise Tien River, visit Thoi Sơn Island, sample orchard fruits, listen to southern chamber music, paddle a small sampan among water coconut channels. Return to Saigon, fly to Đà Nang and check in.

Day 3: Đa Nang – Son Tra Peninsula – Marble Mountains – Hoi An

Morning at Sơn Tra Peninsula. Visit Linh Ung Pagoda with Vietnam’s tallest Lady Buddha statue. Then explore Marble Mountains and Non Nước stone carving village. In the afternoon, move to Hội An – stroll the ancient town, admire lanterns and the Japanese Covered Bridge, and taste local specialties.

Day 4: Ba Na Hills – Golden Bridge

Ride the record-breaking cable car at Ba Na Hills. See the famous Golden Bridge, Le Jardin d’Amour flower gardens, and Fantasy Park.

Day 5: Hue Ancient Capital Tour

Depart Đa Nang for Hue via the scenic Hải Vân Pass and Lang Co Bay. Visit Thiên Mu Pagoda, Khai Đinh Tomb, Imperial Citadel. Return to Đa Nang in the evening to rest.

Day 6: Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Fly to Hanoi

Visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Ride basket boats, watch fishermen perform basket rowing, cast fishing nets. Enjoy central specialties, then fly to Hanoi in the evening.

Day 7: Hanoi – Sapa – Ham Rong Mountain
Depart Hanoi by car to Sapa. In the afternoon visit Ham Rong Mountain, view the town and Fansipan peak in the mist. Evening free to explore Sapa night market.

 

Day 8: Cat Cat Village Trekking

Trek to Cat Cat Village. Learn life of the H’Mông people, see textile weaving, enjoy waterfalls and dramatic rice terraces. Afternoon free to wander the town.

Day 9: Fansipan – Return to Hanoi

Experience the Fansipan Legend cable car, reach the “Roof of Indochina” at 3,143 m. Enjoy panoramic views of Northwest mountains. After lunch, depart back to Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi City Tour – Departure

Morning walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Dong Xuan Market, and enjoyment of street food. End your unforgettable 10-day journey from south to north.

VIETNAM TOUR PACKAGE 10 Days – From North to South: 735 USD
→CONSULT NOW

 

Preparation before the trip

Visas & documentation

 

Currency & payments

  • Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND).
  • Exchange rate reference: ~1 USD = 26,000 VND.
  • Carry cash - many small places do not accept cards.
  • Use ATMs or bank exchange for better rates.

 

Packing & essential gear

  • Light clothing, walking shoes, hat, sunscreen.
  • Rain jacket / umbrella if you travel in the rainy season.
  • Personal medicines, bandages, insect repellent.
  • Travel insurance: strongly recommended, especially for long trips.

 

Shopping tips & souvenirs

  • Hanoi: coffee, Bát Tràng ceramics.
  • Hoi An: lanterns, silk, custom-tailored clothes.
  • Ho Chi Minh City: handicrafts, lacquer paintings, áo dài.
  • Always bargain politely - Vietnamese are friendly when you greet and say “xin chào” in Vietnamese.

With a 10-day cross-Vietnam trip you can visit the country’s most famous spots from South to North while keeping a reasonable budget.

 

If you prefer not to plan it yourself, let Truong Sa Tourist handle everything: flights, hotels, transport, tour guides - you only need to enjoy.

 

For more information & booking online:

  • Website: https://truongsatour.com/en/
  • Hotline: +84 913 645 958
  • Email: info@truongsatourist.net
  • Facebook: Trường Sa Tourist
  • TikTok: truongsatourist
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