Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
A two-city walking tour itinerary
Combining Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City makes for one of the best multi-city trips you can take. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both in Vietnam, making them easy to combine by train or short flight.
Hanoi
Vietnam
Hanoi's Old Quarter is a thousand-year-old labyrinth of narrow streets, each named for the trade it once housed, and walking through it immerses you in a sensory world of street vendors, temples, and the aroma of pho.
Highlights
- •Old Quarter and its 36 Streets — a thousand-year-old trading quarter where each narrow street specialized in one craft, from silk to tin to herbal medicine
- •Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple — a legendary lake in downtown Hanoi with an 18th-century temple on a small island, reached by a red wooden bridge
- •Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, with five courtyards, stone turtle stelae, and a lotus pond honoring Confucian scholars
- •Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex — a granite mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh's preserved body lies, surrounded by the One Pillar Pagoda and presidential gardens
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's electric southern metropolis, where French colonial landmarks, Chinese pagodas, and soaring skyscrapers create an exhilarating urban energy best absorbed on foot through its distinct districts.
Highlights
- •Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica — a twin-spired red-brick cathedral built with materials shipped from France in 1880, standing in the heart of District 1
- •War Remnants Museum — a sobering museum documenting the Vietnam War through photographs, military hardware, and recreated tiger cages from Con Dao prison
- •Ben Thanh Market — Saigon's iconic 1914 covered market with over 1,500 stalls selling pho ingredients, Vietnamese coffee, lacquerware, and custom-tailored ao dai
- •Reunification Palace — the former South Vietnamese presidential palace where a tank crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975, ending the Vietnam War
Travel Tip
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both in Vietnam, making them easy to combine by train or short flight.
FAQ
How many days for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?+
We recommend 2-3 days in each city for a thorough walking tour experience. A week-long trip lets you explore both cities at a relaxed pace with time for day trips.
How to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City?+
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both in Vietnam, making them easy to combine by train or short flight.
Is it worth visiting both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?+
Absolutely. Hanoi offers food, history, culture while Ho Chi Minh City is known for food, history, nightlife — they complement each other perfectly.
Can I get walking tours for both cities?+
Yes — Roamee Pro offers walking tours for both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with audio narration, hidden gems, and local tips. No booking required.