Plan the length of your visit to Vietnam and the dates you are interested in traveling. Make a list of each traveler and how many airline seats, hotel rooms and beds will be required.
Decide on your departure airport. For your arrival city in Vietnam, choose from Hanoi in the north or Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Compare airfares, length of flight, number of stops and locations of stops.
Narrow down the flights of choice. Inquire as to whether you can arrive in one city and depart from another.
Decide if the vacation itinerary will have a special theme, such as an adventure holiday, beach holiday, cycling or backpacking tour, or a tour of Vietnam's historic towns, such as Hoi An and Hue. Compare the amenities and accommodations at each overnight destination.
Make a list of the sites each person in the group wishes to see in Vietnam based on the holiday theme and personal interests. Plan the route either in a straight line if you are starting north and heading south, or vice versa. Plan a circular route if you are arriving and departing from the same city. Planning day trips in and out of a single city is a third possible type of itinerary for your visit to Vietnam.
Calculate the distance between the different sites. Allow sufficient time for travel between the sites.
Draft a final itinerary of possible places to visit, based on your arrival and departure cities, the time it takes to travel to each place, and the time required to see each place or carry out each activity.
Compare hotel and room prices and room configurations such as a room versus a suite, or a room with a sofa bed in it, to accommodate your party and get the best deal that suits your travel party and budget.
Ask if your accommodation includes any meals.
Don't forget to calculate the time difference and loss of a day when you are flying west to Vietnam, or the time difference if you travel east, when you are creating your itinerary, and vice versa on the way back.
Factor in all expenses for your trip, including visas, airport taxes, expenses at any stops on the way to or from Vietnam and transfers to and from the airports.
The monsoon season runs from May to September in the north and until October in the south.
Beach areas tend to offer all-inclusive resorts ranging from simple to luxury accommodation.
Calculate the distance between the different sites and the mode of transport. Allow sufficient time for travel between the sites.
Draft a final itinerary of possible places to visit, based on your arrival and departure cities, the time it takes to travel to each place, and the time required to see each place or carry out each activity.
