1

14 days, I have suggestion:

• HCM - your hotel - Cuchi tunnel - life night in HCM

HCM - Mekong Delta (all most of traveler like Mekong Delta cruise tour) - floating market (Cairang floating market, in Cantho province, is most attractive at 4 - 6h am)
You can spent 4 days in HCM and Mekong Delta.

• HCM - Danang (flight)

Bana hill, Son Tra Peninsula, Cu Lao Cham island, city tour in DaNang
Danang - Hoian
Danang - Hue
I think 5days is ok.

• Danang - Hanoi (flight)

Hanoi - Halong (you should book tour Halong cruise to enjoy the view of Halong bay). 2days

Nhatrang, Muine are attractive destination too. You can consider between Nhatrang - Muine and Danang - Hue - Hoian.
If you like learn more history and emperor, you should choose Danang - Hue - Hoian.

Nice holiday!

2

I went south to north but had more time. Hanoi temps in January around 13 - 19°

Saigon - 4 nights
Nha Trang - 2 nights
Hoi An - 2 nights
Hanoi - overnight cruise to Halong Bay. Not much sunshine, you'll need jumpers and a coat. Sapa will be cold, cloudy, foggy and wet.

3

A picture counts for a thousand words... or something like that. Here's a Flickr album I found after looking at some pictures in the Lonely Planet's weekly competition.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/theleapinglemurvietnam/

Highlights for us:
Ha Long Bay
Hoi An - marble mountain
Sa Pa - hiking
Ninh Binh - south of Ha Noi
Phong Nha - Paradise cave
Da Lat
Hue

Sa Pa - issue is getting there and the time you have. It's a long way from Ha Noi - overnight bus is probably the best option. But if you're going there you want to hike, so add another two nights and a night to return. 4 nights gone already.

Easy Riders - we used these in Da Lat and we had an amazing time. I'm busy writing a blog/ post so if you want the rough version - email me? You could use them to do Da Lat and also do some trekking there.

Ha Long Bay - odd the National Geographic doesn't list this in their photograph section because it is amazingly beautiful. Overnight on the boat - or do two nights and spend a day trekking the island there?

Ninh Binh - quite a few people do this as a day trip from Ha Noi. We took a local bus down (though you could get off early on the A1 on your way north). It is the Ha Long Bay of the land. Great for a few days zipping around on a moped.

Tough choices.

If it was me and money was ok then:
HCMC - just a few days. War Rembants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels (day trip) and a few temples.
Fly to Da Nang and taxi straight to Hoi An.
Hoi An - nice beach only a few KM from the town. Marble mountain is amazing. Old city worth a few nights out. And you could use easy riders here. Their prices though are MUCH MORE than two years ago. But still an experience.
Taxi - Da Nang - fly Ha Noi.
Ha Long Bay overnight or two and do the island and trekking.
Sa Pa - need 1 night travel, arrive a local walks, next day trek and overnight, back and bus back to Ha Noi. Sa Pa is always cold, foggy and wet - and the Hmong people are fantastic!
Ninh Binh - day trip or bus down and time around the area (lush!).
Last few days enjoying Ha Noi - museums, gardens, lakes and beer for 4,000d.

Hope that helps. Check out the photographs that have been posted.
Clarky

4

Hi guys,

I just want to thank you all SO MUCH! This is exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for, something to give me a rough idea from which I can derive some kind of a plan.

Clarky, the pictures are stunning! I will email you in a moment.

Thanks again and keep enjoying the beauties of our world ;-)

5

Hanoi/Halong Bay will be colder, but it's typically the more liked region by travelers I know compared to Saigon. I would spend minimal time in Saigon and focus on Nha Trang (3 days), Hoi An (3 days), Hanoi and Halong Bay (5 nights). I think it's too cold for Sapa.

6

Stick to 5 'H's :-
HCMC
Hoi An
Hue
Hanoi
Halong
Works well for most people.

7

^after above take a two week holiday!