Korea and Vietnam in One Trip: A 12-Day Private Route from Seoul to Halong Bay

Korea and Vietnam are a pairing more travelers are discovering. Korea brings palaces, mountain temples and some of Asia’s most exciting cities and food; Vietnam adds lantern-lit Hoi An, the street life of Hanoi and a night among the limestone islands of Halong Bay. The flights between them are short and direct, and the contrast between the two halves is the point: busy and modern first, warm and unhurried second. Here is the route we recommend and how to time it.

The 12-day Korea and Vietnam route

This is our Korea and Vietnam private tour: Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Hoi An, Hanoi and Halong Bay.

The Korea half: palaces, Silla heritage and the sea

Three nights in Seoul give you the essentials at an easy pace: Gyeongbokgung, the main Joseon palace built in 1395, with its changing of the guard; the tiled lanes of Bukchon; the UNESCO-listed Secret Garden of Changdeokgung on a guided walk; and lunch at Gwangjang Market, one of the city’s oldest. The KTX high-speed train reaches Gyeongju in about two hours. Here, the capital of the Silla kingdom for almost a thousand years, you walk among grassy royal tombs and visit Bulguksa temple and Seokguram Grotto, where a granite Buddha has looked toward the sea for more than 1,200 years. Busan, an hour’s drive away, ends the Korea half with a temple on the rocks above the waves, the pastel hillside of Gamcheon and a seafood lunch at Jagalchi, Korea’s largest fish market.

The Vietnam half: Hoi An, Hanoi and Halong Bay

The direct flight lands in Da Nang, 45 minutes from Hoi An along the coast. Hoi An’s Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a joy on foot: the 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, merchant houses and lanterns along the river at night. The next day is for the countryside, cycling through rice fields to Tra Que, where families grow herbs in neat raised beds, then a basket boat ride in the Cam Thanh water coconut forest and an afternoon at the beach. A short flight north brings you to Hanoi for the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070, and the Old Quarter, before a final night on a cruise boat on Halong Bay.

Best time to combine Korea and Vietnam

March to May is the best compromise for this route. In October and early November, Korea’s foliage and northern Vietnam are at their best, but Hoi An can be wet, so we often reshape the Vietnam half around Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay or the south. For Vietnam month by month, see the best time to visit Vietnam; for Korea’s autumn, see our Korea autumn foliage guide.

Which order works best?

We usually start in Korea, which involves more walking and train travel, and finish with the slower pace of Vietnam. Reversing the route works just as well, for example to end an October trip with the autumn colors in Korea. Either way, the flight between the two countries is not included, and we help you choose a time that fits the itinerary.

Practical tips

• Flights and trains: international flights, including Busan–Da Nang, are not included; the KTX from Seoul to Gyeongju and the Da Nang–Hanoi domestic flight are quoted separately.
• Entry rules: you need to meet each country’s rules separately. Check current visa rules for your passport for both South Korea and Vietnam before booking.
• Money: Korean won and Vietnamese dong; cards are widely accepted in Korea and in Vietnamese hotels and restaurants, but carry cash for markets.
• Packing: layers for Korea in spring or autumn, light clothes and sun protection for Hoi An.
• Pace: expect two to four hours of walking on most days. The route suits families with children over 10 and older travelers.

Other versions of the trip

With more time in Korea, follow our 10-day Classic Korea tour with Jeju Island, described in our South Korea private tour itinerary guide, and then add Vietnam. With more time in Vietnam, continue to the Mekong Delta and Angkor, as on The Best of Vietnam and Cambodia in 14 days, or spend longer in the north with Hanoi and Halong Bay. More Korea routes are on our South Korea destination page.

FAQ

How do we get from Korea to Vietnam?

Direct flights from Busan to Da Nang take about four and a half hours, and there are also direct flights from Seoul to Da Nang and Hanoi. The ticket is quoted separately.

How many days do we need for Korea and Vietnam?

Twelve days covers Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Hoi An, Hanoi and Halong Bay comfortably. Fifteen to seventeen days lets you add Jeju Island or southern Vietnam.

Can we start in Vietnam and finish in Korea?

Yes. Reversing the route works well, for example to catch Korea’s autumn colors at the end of an October trip.

Is this trip suitable for older travelers?

Yes. Walking is moderate, a private car meets you everywhere outside central Seoul, and the Vietnam half is especially relaxed.

How much does a Korea and Vietnam tour cost?

It depends on season, hotel class and group size. See the tour page for the current from-price, confirmed in your tailor-made quote.

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Photo: Christian Bolz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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