Vietnam in 14 Days: A Women's Solo Signature Itinerary from Sydney
When I planned this Travey Club route, I wanted Vietnam to feel full without becoming exhausting. The trip begins with the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, settles into a gentler rhythm in Hoi An and then moves north for Hanoi's old neighbourhoods, Ninh Binh's limestone scenery and a night among the islands of Ha Long Bay.
It works particularly well for a woman travelling solo because the longer transfers are straightforward, the hotels are in convenient areas and several guided activities create easy opportunities to meet other travellers. There is also enough space for a pool break, a quiet coffee or an early night when it is needed.
The route begins in Sydney and includes three nights in Ho Chi Minh City, four nights in Hoi An with a day trip to Da Nang, two nights in Hanoi, one night in Ninh Binh, another night in Hanoi and one night aboard a Ha Long Bay cruise before returning to Sydney.
The Best Areas to Stay
In Ho Chi Minh City, I would stay near Ben Thanh in District 1. It is central, busy and convenient for first-time visitors, with restaurants, markets and many of the main sights close by. Silverland Ben Thanh is my hotel choice because it sits beside Ben Thanh Market and gives a solo traveller a staffed, comfortable base in the centre.
For Hoi An, the best balance is the quieter northern edge of the Ancient Town. . Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa gives you a pool and space to rest while keeping the heritage streets within easy reach. I would use Hoi An as the base for all four nights and visit Da Nang by private car rather than changing hotels for one day.
In Hanoi, stay in the Old Quarter close to Hoan Kiem Lake. La Siesta Classic Ma May is well placed for food tours, restaurants and evening walks. It also works neatly as a luggage-storage base while you visit Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay.
In Ninh Binh, choose Tam Coc village instead of Ninh Binh city. Le Clos du Fil is close to local restaurants and well positioned for Trang An and Mua Cave. On Ha Long Bay, the cruise becomes your hotel; I would choose a balcony cabin aboard Paradise Elegance.
Flights and Transport from Sydney
For the outbound trip, look first for a nonstop Vietnam Airlines flight from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City. VN772 is the usual flight number on this route, although the exact schedule should be checked before booking. The direct flight takes roughly nine hours and usually leaves Sydney during the day, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.
The domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang and from Da Nang to Hanoi each take around an hour and a half. Morning flights fit the route best because they leave part of the arrival day free. I would book checked luggage with the ticket rather than add it later.
For the return, Vietnam Airlines operates a nonstop Hanoi to Sydney service on selected days. Search for VN787 first, but confirm that it operates on your exact date because this is not a dependable daily flight. If it is unavailable, choose a protected connection to Sydney through Ho Chi Minh City on one booking.
Within Vietnam, use pre-booked airport cars, verified Grab Cars and shared limousine minivans for the longer road transfers. The cruise-company limousine is the easiest way to travel between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay because the pickup and embarkation are coordinated.
Day 1 – Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City
The trip begins with a pre-booked car from Sydney CBD to the international terminal. Allow three hours for check-in, security and a simple breakfast before boarding the nonstop flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Keep the visa, passport, medication and arrival transfer details in your cabin bag.
After landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet a named driver for the trip into District 1 and check in at Silverland Ben Thanh. I would keep the first evening uncomplicated with dinner at Bep Me In. Order bánh xèo, fresh rice-paper rolls and a clay-pot or vegetable dish before returning to the hotel for an early night.
Day 2 – Historic Saigon
Start with breakfast at the hotel and walk to Independence Palace, then continue to the Central Post Office and Cathedral Square. These landmarks sit naturally together and make an easy introduction to the centre of the city.
Have lunch at Propaganda Vietnamese Bistro, where fresh rolls, noodle bowls and lemongrass dishes are reliable choices. Continue by Grab Car to the War Remnants Museum and allow yourself to move through the galleries at your own pace, as some sections are emotionally demanding.
Return to Silverland Ben Thanh for a pool or tea break. For dinner, take a short verified car to Secret Garden and order clay-pot fish or tofu, morning glory and rice. Stay another night at Silverland Ben Thanh.
Day 3 – Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon Street Food
Join a small-group minivan tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels after an early breakfast. A guided visit gives the tunnel system much-needed historical context and removes the difficulty of arranging the long transfer independently. This is one of the activities I would reserve before leaving Sydney.
Back in the city, stop at Pho 2000 for beef or chicken phở with herbs and lime, then return to the hotel for a rest or optional spa treatment. In the evening, join a women-led Saigon street-food tour. It is a sociable way to visit neighbourhood stalls and try several dishes without needing to work out every order alone. Stay at Silverland Ben Thanh for the final night in the city.
Day 4 – Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
Check out after breakfast and take a pre-booked car to the domestic terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Fly nonstop to Da Nang, collect your luggage and meet a driver for the transfer to Hoi An. The drive usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on traffic.
Leave your luggage at Almanity Hoi An and walk to Madam Khanh for a mixed or vegetarian bánh mì. Once the room is ready, take a short car to Hoi An Ancient Town. Visit the ticketed heritage houses and assembly halls while they are still open, then continue along the river as the lanterns come on.
For dinner at Morning Glory Original, look for cao lầu, white rose dumplings and local vegetable dishes. Return to Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa for the night.
Day 5 – A Hoi An Cooking Class and Lantern Evening
Spend the morning on a market and countryside cooking class. Choose one that includes hotel pickup, a guided market visit and the lunch you prepare. It combines food, local ingredients and conversation without taking over the entire day.
Return to Almanity for a swim and a quiet break before heading back to the Ancient Town. Wander through the craft lanes, assembly hall area and riverside streets. Have dinner at Vy's Market Restaurant, where you can sample cao lầu, dumplings and crispy pancakes in one place.
Finish with a short lantern boat ride from the official wharf. Agree on the price before boarding, then return to Almanity Hoi An for the night.
Day 6 – My Son Sanctuary and An Bang Beach
Travel by small-group minivan to My Son Sanctuary and join a guided walk through the Cham temple complex. The early departure makes the ruins more comfortable to explore, while the guide helps connect the architecture with the region's history.
Back in Hoi An, have lunch at Nu Eatery and choose a bao, salad or a few small plates. Spend a little time at the resort before taking a Grab Car or hotel-arranged car to An Bang Beach.
Swim only where the conditions are suitable, take an easy walk along the shore and stay for dinner at Soul Kitchen. Grilled seafood, a rice bowl or a vegetarian plate suits the beachfront setting. Return to Almanity Hoi An after dinner.
Day 7 – A Day Trip to Da Nang
Hire a private car for the day and begin at the Marble Mountains, where caves, pagodas and viewpoints are linked by steep paths and stairs. Wear shoes with good grip and take your time on the climb.
Continue to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Its compact collection adds context to the previous day's visit to My Son. For lunch, stop at Mi Quang Ba Mua and order mì Quảng, followed by bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo if you would like to try another Da Nang speciality.
Spend the afternoon at Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, then stop at My Khe Beach for a promenade walk and coffee. Have dinner at Bep Cuon, where bánh xèo, grilled pork rolls and vegetable dishes are good choices, before the drive back to Almanity Hoi An. There is no need to move to a Da Nang hotel for this single day.
Day 8 – Hoi An to Hanoi
Leave Hoi An by pre-booked car and take a morning nonstop flight from Da Nang to Hanoi. At Noi Bai Airport, meet another named driver for the trip to the Old Quarter and check in at La Siesta Classic Ma May.
Have lunch at the hotel's Red Bean restaurant, choosing a Vietnamese set menu, bún chả or a light noodle dish. Later, walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and explore the nearby streets while it is still daylight.
Join a small-group Hanoi food tour in the evening. Look out for bánh cuốn, bún chả, savoury pancakes and egg coffee. The tour also provides a useful introduction to the Old Quarter's lanes and traffic. Stay at La Siesta Classic Ma May.
Day 9 – Hanoi's History and Classic Dishes
Begin at Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan with a bowl of phở tái or tái nạm, then take a short car ride to the Temple of Literature. From there, continue to the Vietnamese Women's Museum, one of the most meaningful stops on this itinerary. Its exhibits explore family life, work, dress and the roles women have held throughout Vietnamese history.
Have lunch at Bun Cha Huong Lien and order the standard bún chả set with grilled pork, noodles, herbs and dipping broth. Spend the afternoon at the Hoa Lo Prison Relic, then take a short car to Cafe Giang for egg coffee.
Book a performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre before dinner. Afterwards, walk to Cha Ca Thang Long for turmeric fish cooked with dill, noodles and herbs. Return to La Siesta Classic Ma May for the night.
Day 10 – Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Leave the main suitcase with the Hanoi hotel and travel with a small overnight bag. A shared limousine minivan is the easiest way to reach Tam Coc without managing station transfers and luggage.
After leaving your bag at Le Clos du Fil, have a light lunch at Chookie's Beer Garden. Continue by hotel-arranged car to Trang An and join a shared rowboat through the limestone grottoes and temple stops. Take water, sun protection and a light rain layer, as much of the visit is outdoors.
In the evening, try Ninh Binh goat, crispy rice and local greens at a family-run Tam Coc restaurant. Stay at Le Clos du Fil.
Day 11 – Mua Cave and Return to Hanoi
Visit Mua Cave early with a hotel-arranged car. The climb is steep, but the view across the karsts and rice fields makes it one of Ninh Binh's defining stops. Return to the hotel for a shower and check out.
Have an early lunch at Tam Coc Garden Restaurant, choosing grilled chicken, vegetables or a Vietnamese set menu, then travel back to Hanoi by shared limousine. Collect the suitcase stored at La Siesta Classic Ma May and take a gentle walk beside Hoan Kiem Lake.
For dinner, reserve a table at Cau Go Vietnamese Cuisine and choose a fish dish, green papaya salad or regional set menu. Stay at La Siesta Classic Ma May.
Day 12 – Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Pack only an overnight bag and leave the main suitcase securely with the Hanoi hotel. Take the Paradise limousine to Tuan Chau, complete the cruise check-in and board Paradise Elegance by the operator's transfer boat.
Lunch is served as the ship moves into Ha Long Bay. The afternoon programme usually includes Titov Island and a bamboo-boat activity at Luon Cave, although the order can change with weather and port instructions.
Return to the ship for sunset on deck, a cooking demonstration and dinner. Meals and scheduled excursions are generally included in the cruise package, while drinks and spa treatments may cost extra. Spend the night in a Paradise Elegance balcony cabin.
Day 13 – Ha Long Bay to Hanoi and the Flight Home
Begin with optional tai chi on deck, followed by a light breakfast and a guided visit to Sung Sot Cave. Return to the ship for a fuller breakfast before disembarking at Tuan Chau.
The cruise limousine returns to Hanoi in the afternoon. Collect your main suitcase from La Siesta Classic Ma May and arrange a shower or day-use room through the hotel. Have an early farewell dinner at Red Bean Ma May, choosing grilled fish, vegetarian noodles or a gentle Vietnamese set menu before the overnight flight.
Leave the Old Quarter with enough time for Hanoi traffic and arrive at Noi Bai Airport about three hours before departure. Take the nonstop VN787 to Sydney if it operates on your date. Otherwise, use the protected connecting flight through Ho Chi Minh City that was confirmed before the trip.
Day 14 – Arriving Back in Sydney
After landing in Sydney, complete immigration, collect your luggage and follow Australian biosecurity rules. A pre-booked car or rideshare from the official airport pickup area is the easiest way to return to the CBD after the overnight flight.
Travey Club Insights
What I like most about this itinerary is its shape. Ho Chi Minh City brings the early energy, Hoi An creates breathing room and northern Vietnam supplies the strongest scenic finish. I would resist adding another destination. Four nights in Hoi An make the trip more comfortable, while returning to the same Hanoi hotel simplifies luggage storage for Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay.
For solo travel, pre-book the first airport transfer, the Cu Chi and My Son tours, both food tours, the water-puppet ticket, the Hanoi to Tam Coc limousine and the complete Ha Long package. Within the cities, use verified Grab Cars or hotel-arranged transport, check the registration before boarding and keep your phone away from the traffic side of the pavement.
Most importantly, secure the Hanoi to Sydney flight before paying for non-refundable accommodation. Vietnam Airlines currently advertises direct Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Sydney services, but the Hanoi route operates only on selected days. Once that final flight is confirmed, the rest of the itinerary fits together cleanly.
Travey Club is a private travel design studio specializing in bespoke, self-guided journeys tailored to your individual tastes, lifestyle, budget, and schedule. We craft refined, highly personalized travel blueprints that combine curated experiences, seamless routing, insider knowledge, and meticulous day-by-day structure — empowering you to explore independently with confidence and ease. Rather than booking hotels or tours, we design each element of your journey with precision and intention, allowing you to reserve directly while experiencing a thoughtfully orchestrated, self-guided adventure created exclusively around you.
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