Vietnam Itinerary From USA: 2 Weeks in 2026

Vietnam is one of the best Asia trips an American can do in 2026, direct flights from SFO and LAX, easy e-visa, and the USD goes incredibly far.

## Total cost (per person, 14 days, USD)

| Item | USD | INR equiv | |---|---|---| | Flight SFO/LAX → HAN, SGN → SFO/LAX | $900 – $1,250 | Rs 75k – 1.05L | | Flight JFK/EWR → HAN, SGN → JFK | $1,050 – $1,400 | Rs 88k – 1.18L | | E-visa | $25 | Rs 2,100 | | Hotels 13 nights mid-range | $390 | Rs 33k | | Internal flights x 2 | $90 | Rs 7,600 | | Food avg $20/day | $280 | Rs 23,500 | | Tours + entries | $180 | Rs 15,000 | | Total | $1,865 – $2,225 | Rs 1.6 – 1.9L |

Live: USD to INR, VND to INR.

## Direct routes 2026

- SFO → HAN: Vietnam Airlines, 14h direct, $900-1,100 RT - LAX → SGN: Vietnam Airlines + Bamboo, 14h, $920-1,150 RT - JFK → HAN: 1-stop via ICN or TPE, $1,100-1,350 - Open-jaw (in HAN, out SGN) saves $80-150 vs return

## The route (north to south)

Days 1-3: Hanoi. Old Quarter base. Train Street (7 PM passes), bun cha at Huong Lien, egg coffee at Cafe Giang. Day trip to Ninh Binh (Trang An boat tour, Hang Mua viewpoint), $35.

Days 4-5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise. Mid-tier boat (Indochina Sails, Paradise Elegance): $180-220 pp all-in, includes 2 meals, kayaking, cave visit.

Day 6: Fly Hanoi → Da Nang (Vietjet, $35), transfer to Hoi An ($12 Grab, 40 min).

Days 7-9 Hoi An. Tailor-made shirt/dress (24-hour turnaround, $40-80), An Bang beach, Marble Mountains day trip, cooking class ($30).

Day 10: Fly Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City ($45).

Days 11-12 HCMC. War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels half-day ($25), Bui Vien walking street, Banh Mi Huynh Hoa.

Days 13-14: Mekong Delta overnight homestay ($75 all-in), Cai Be floating market, coconut candy workshop. Return to HCMC for flight home.

## E-visa for US citizens

Vietnam's 90-day multiple-entry e-visa for Americans: $25, 3-5 business days, fully online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Avoid clone sites, the .gov.vn domain is the only legit one. Sites charging $50-90 are middlemen.

## Money

- Vietnam is cash-heavy outside hotels and chain restaurants - Bring $200-300 cash to exchange; $100 bills get best rates (small denominations get marked down 1-2%) - ATMs: use Vietcombank or Techcombank. VND 50k fee (~$2) - Most US cards work but charge 3% foreign transaction fee. Use Charles Schwab debit (refunds all ATM fees) or Chase Sapphire (0% FX)

## Connectivity

eSIM: Airalo Vietnam 7-day 5GB $9.50, or Nomad Vietnam 7-day 5GB $7.50. Both run on Viettel. Skip airport SIM stalls, they overcharge.

## Vegetarian / dietary

Vietnamese cuisine has strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition. Look for "com chay" restaurants, every city has 2-3. Hoi An is easiest, Hanoi and HCMC have dedicated veg districts.

## Scam warnings

- Hanoi taxi scam: only Mai Linh (green) or G7 (yellow-green) branded taxis, or Grab. Other meters are rigged. - Cyclo rickshaw overcharge: agree price in writing on your phone before boarding. - "Free" lantern in Hoi An turns into a $5 forced sale, politely refuse, buy from a stall. - HCMC motorbike snatching, keep phone in your inside pocket on Bui Vien. - Halong "discount cruises" advertised at $40-60: floating equivalent of motel-grade. Spend $180+ or skip Halong and do Cat Ba island.

## Best season

- March-April: best overall, Hanoi 25°C, HCMC 32°C, low rain - October-November: similar, post-monsoon - June-August: hot in north, monsoon in central; cheaper hotels

## From other US cities

If you're in Chicago, Boston, Miami, Seattle, or Texas, the cheapest route is usually via Tokyo (NRT) with United/ANA or via Seoul (ICN) with Korean Air. Add 4-6 hours but save $200-400.

Plan your Vietnam trip with our architect.

Source: Skyscanner pricing May 2026; Vietnam Immigration e-visa portal; personal Vietnam trip 2022 + 2024 partner update.