Planning a 12-day Vietnam trip (Apr 15–26) – HCMC → Hanoi route from India. Need itinerary suggestions!

Hi everyone! I’ve been reading a lot of posts here and learning a ton, so I wanted to ask for advice for our upcoming trip from India.

We’re a group of ~10 friends traveling to Vietnam for the first time and trying to build the best possible itinerary.

TRIP DETAILS

• Dates: Apr 15 – Apr 26 (11 full days)

• Arrival: Ho Chi Minh City

• Departure: Hanoi

• Flights already booked (~₹30k / ~$360 per person roundtrip from India)

• Travel style: comfortable but value-conscious (not luxury, not backpacker)

GENERAL PLAN

We want to move **south → north** to avoid backtracking.

Cities we’re considering:

• Ho Chi Minh City

• Da Nang

• Hoi An

• Hanoi

• Ninh Binh

• Lan Ha Bay (cruise)

Possible additions we’re debating:

• Nha Trang (for scuba diving)

• Da Lat (for canyoning / adventure)

• Sapa (trekking / rice terraces)

From what I’ve read here, too many destinations can make the trip exhausting, so we’re trying to prioritize the best experiences.

EXPERIENCES WE REALLY WANT

• Ba Na Hills (possibly staying at the hotel there)

• Lantern streets + boat ride in Hoi An

• Cam Thanh coconut basket boats

• Hanoi Train Street

• Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise (instead of Ha Long)

• Ninh Binh boat ride + Hang Mua viewpoint

• Good street food

• Clothes shopping (Hoi An tailoring + markets)

ADVENTURE OPTIONS WE’RE INTERESTED IN

• Scuba diving (Nha Trang?)

• Canyoning (Da Lat?)

• Trekking viewpoints

• Caves

SHOPPING PLAN

A lot of us are planning to **pack light and buy luggage there**, then fill it with clothes and souvenirs.

Based on what we’ve read, markets in HCMC, Da Nang, and Hanoi seem good for that.

OTHER THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM RESEARCH

• Vietnam is very long (~1600 km), so minimizing travel time is important.

• Lan Ha Bay seems less crowded than Ha Long Bay.

• Hoi An looks amazing even without the lantern festival.

• Sleeper buses can be hit-or-miss, so flights may be better for long distances.

• Ninh Binh might be doable as a day trip from Hanoi.

QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAVELED HERE

1. With 11 days, which cities would you prioritize?

2. Is Sapa worth adding or is it too far for this trip?

3. Is Nha Trang worth it purely for scuba diving?

4. Is Da Lat worth adding for canyoning/adventure?

5. Is staying overnight in Ba Na Hills worth the cost?

6. Would you recommend a 1-night or 2-night Lan Ha Bay cruise?

7. Any major tourist traps we should avoid?

We’re trying to balance **nature, adventure, culture, food, and shopping** without spending half the trip in transit.

Would love to hear your suggestions or how you’d structure this route.

Thanks in advance!