November is the start of the driest time of the year in the Vietnam. In two weeks you can pack in a mix of experiences and get a good feel for the country. Begin in cosmopolitan Hanoi then head down to Hoi An and enjoy the beaches along the coast before exploring the rural Mekong Delta and finishing in Ho Chi Minh City.
GETTING THERE
Vietnam is in south Asia. Hanoi is the capital and is served by Noi Bai international airport 45 km (27 miles) from the city centre. Ho Chi Minh City is served by Tan Son Nhat airport, 7 km (5 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City. Both airports are well connected by bus and taxi
GETTING AROUND
Cyclos, xe om (motorbikes) and metered taxis get you around towns; buses, trains and planes cover longer distances.
WEATHER
November is one of the cooler months (25-30°C), with lower rainfall; humidity is high.
EATING OUT
Vietnamese cuisine is a travel highlight. Try Hương Lại, Ho Chi Minh City for excellent Vietnamese food in a lovely setting with a set menu and Hong Phuc Restaurant, Hoi An which is famous for its fish cooked in a banana leaf.
Two Weeks in Vietnam
Fly into Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, and spend a couple of days taking in the sights- the colonial architecture in the French Quarter, the beautiful Buddhist Temple of Literature and the Hoan Kiem Lake.
Make your way to Hoi An which delights with its old wooden houses, Japanese Covered Bridge and tranquil waterfront setting. Meander through the Old Town, watch craftspeople at work and join a half-day Vietnamese cookery course.
Head to Danang, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture and relax on China Beach (My Khe). Alternatively, visit the caves and sanctuaries at Thuy Son. 
Next, visit Nha Trang, Vietnam’s beach party capital, to eat seafood, visit the Long Son Pagoda, Cham towers at Po Nagar, and take boat trips to the idyllic islands.
Go on a minibus tour (cheap and easy to organise) to the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is the main city. A boat ride through the canals and an early moming visit to a floating market are the must-dos. 
Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a section of the vast, and legendary, underground network created by Viet Cong guerrillas. Most tours also include a visit to the colourful Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh.
Finish in Ho Chi Minh City. In the Saigon district, visit museums, markets and memorials, pagodas and parks; fill up on pho (noodle soup). Shop in Dong Khoi Street and try the bars in Pham Ngu Lau. Explore the Chinese temples and herbal medicine shops in Cholon.
Dos and Don’ts
Take care of your possessions. Bag-snatching and scams are on the increase, especially in big cities and resorts.
Don’t leave your chopsticks in a V-shape in the bowl -it symbolizes death
Pack ear plugs, Vietnam can be noisy.
Wear shoes if you are swimming in the sea , stonefish, stingrays, and scorpion fish lurk in shallows
