CALLING VIETNAM EXPERTS: ITINERARY ADVICE PLEASE!

Hi TTers,

I was on this thread about a year ago looking to gather information about a 10-day trip to Vietnam. Unfortunately those plans didn’t eventuate due to travel mates being unable to get time off work, but I have now locked in a couple of weeks for September this year. With arrival and departure days factored in, we’ll have 12 full days and most of a 13th day. Price wise, it’s by far most economical for us to fly into HCMC, travel north to Hanoi, then fly back to HCMC.

From your helpful advice last year - and from the research I’ve been doing on this thread since - we have on our list of must-sees: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, the Can Cau and Bac Ha markets, Mai Chau, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Hue, DMZ, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Sai Gon, Mekong Delta, HCMC and the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Obviously we can't fit all of this in, so for those who have spent time in Vietnam, what would you recommend for a first trip?

We are both aged 34 and are interested in: Beautiful scenery, good food, local markets, time on the water, nature/animals - and a nice beach thrown into the mix would be great. Obviously the less tourists the better, but we are well aware that’s almost impossible these days. An opportunity to scuba dive would also be great. Chilled out “hippy” towns, beach bars and huts are right up our alley. Saying that, we're still interested in some of the historical side - such as the Cu Chi Tunnels. We are less interested in museums and palaces (unless they are an absolute must-see, such as Hue) and definitely not interested in spending too much time in big cities or shopping malls.

We are more than happy to take overnight trains and buses, day buses/trains or cheap internal flights and we're trying to keep it as inexpensive as possible.

There is a slight possibility we’ll get another week to play with so ideas on where to stay longer if we have time would also be helpful.

If anyone could help me with a rough itinerary for these 12-13 days, I'd be most appreciative.

Tips on clean, budget (under $20 a night would be amazing) or even unique accommodation (hostels and hotels both fine), as well as top spots to eat or visit, would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance!