Ah… Vietnam. It seems like travelers either love or hate this crazy country.
Vietnam is a lot of things – a country filled with polar opposites. Its loud, polluted, and congested nearly everywhere you go. The cities are giant mazes, traffic never ends, and ultra-savvy scammers target tourists at every turn.
But on the more positive side, Vietnam is colorful, vibrant, and a complete paradise for adventure / nature lovers. The market stalls showcase bright textiles and paper lanterns, the countrysides are filled with dense jungles, breathtaking coastline, and lush rice terraces, and world-class adventure activities can be found around the country in popular destinations like Da Lat, Sapa, and Ha Long Bay.
The people are friendly and the culture is a dynamic and exciting blend of Chinese, French, and American influence which results in a fast-paced lifestyle, interesting architecture, and a unique fusion of foods throughout the country. Our favorite meal was the combination of the French banquette with the Vietnamese pate to make the delicious banh mi sandwich.
Vietnam’s tragic war-torn past also provides an engaging and impactful way to learn more about Vietnam’s culture while gaining a better understanding of its past. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, Cu Chi Tunnels, former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and Hanoi Hilton military prison in addition to the many museums and memorials provided an additional element of understanding and intrigue to topics we thought we already knew a lot about. (However, given the communist government and censorship culture, please be sure to take everything military related with a grain of salt.)
Long story short, Vietnam is robust with food, culture, nature, and history. No two trips to Vietnam could ever be the same in such a dynamic country.
Below we have compiled our complete itinerary for 30 days traveling in Vietnam from north to south. If you have any questions about how we entered the country & obtained our visa, please reach out! We’re happy to share details of our experiences!
Day 1: Travel Day
February 25
- Full Travel Day from Laos to Vietnam – 282 Miles, 19 Hours
- Overnight: Banana Tree Hostel
Day 2: Hanoi
February 26
- Explore Hanoi
- Overnight: Central Backpackers Hostel – Old Quarter
Day 3: Hanoi
February 27
- Hanoi walking tour
- Explore Old Quarter
- Joseph’s Cathedral
- Ly Trieu Quoc Su Pagoda
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ngoc Son Temple
- Café Giang 39 (Original Egg Coffee Café)
- Dong Xuan Market
- Noodle & Roll Restaurant
- Always: Harry Potter Coffee Shop
- Pateta Bahn Mi (our favorite!)
- Travel from Hanoi to Sapa
- 190 miles, 7 hours
- Overnight: Night Bus to Sapa
Day 4: Sapa
February 28
- Arrive in Sapa at 3:00 AM
- Breakfast at local restaurant
- Trekking through Sapa Countryside
- Lao Chai Village
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Textile Shop
- Incense Factory
- Jewelry Shop
- Explore the village & countryside
- Overnight: Homestay in Ta Van Village
Day 5: Sapa
March 1
- Complete Sapa Trekking
- Explore Sapa City
- Vietnamese Coffee with new friends
- Travel from Sapa to Hanoi
- 190 miles, 7 hours
- Overnight: Banana Tree Hostel
Day 6: Cat Ba Island
March 2
- Travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
- 100 miles, 3.5 hours (bus & ferry)
- Hoang Long Bus Company
- 200,000 dong
- Explore Cat Ba
- Lunch at Quan Cat Ba (local recommendation!)
- Cat Co 1 Beach
- Cat Co 2 Beach
- Lan Ha Port Explore Cat Ba
- Overnight: Cat Ba Central Hostel
Day 7: Cat Ba Island
March 3
- Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Boat Tour with Cat Ba Ventures
- Sightseeing
- Sea Kayaking
- Seafood Lunch
- Snorkeling
- Dinner at Quan Cat Ba with new friends from tour
- Overnight: Cat Ba Central Hostel
Day 8: Cat Ba Island
March 4
- Explore Cat Ba Island via Motorbike
- Cat Ba National Park
- Hiking
- Cat Ba Languar
- Stilt Bridge & Temples
- Cannon Fort & Viewpoint
- Cat Co 3 Beach (coffee & beer)
- Dinner at Mr. Pineapple Restaurant
- Drinking with Young @ Oasis Beach Bar
- Cat Ba National Park
- Overnight: Cat Ba Central Hostel
Day 9: Hanoi
March 5
- Travel from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi
- 100 miles, 3.5 hours (bus & ferry)
- Hoang Long Bus Company
- 200,000 dong
- Central Backpackers Hostel Bar Crawl
- Balloons, Babies, & Bia Hoi
- Overnight: Central Backpackers Hostel – Old Quarter
Day 10: Hanoi
March 6
- Explore Hanoi
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ngoc Son Temple
- Thap Rua (Tortoise Pagoda)
- Dong Xuan Market
- The famous giant soft shell turtle (Rafetus Swinhoei)
- Turtle Tower
- Ate a lot of food & enjoyed hanging out with our new friends.. Young, Allen, Brittany
- Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- 60 miles, 2 hours
- Overnight: Go Ninh Binh Hostel
Day 11: Ninh Binh
March 7
- Explore Ninh Binh countryside via motorbike
- Chua Bai Dinh Complex
- Tom Coc – just looked around.. too foggy!
- Small villages & parks
- Motorbike mechanic – broken bike!
- Arrive at Cuc Phuong
- Overnight: Cuc Phuong Bong Park Centre (Bong Sub Station)
Day 12: Cuc Phuong National Park
March 8
- Explore Cuc Phuong National Park
- Hike to the Thousand-Year-Old Tree
- Palace Cave
- Mac Lake
- Cave of Prehistoric Man
- Endangered Primate Rescue Center
- Turtle Conservation Center
- Botanical Gardens
- Drive back to Ninh Binh
- Overnight: Go Ninh Binh Hoste
Day 13: Phuong Nga
March 9
- Take super early bus from Ninh Binh to Phuong Nga
- 250 miles, 8 hours
- Arrive at 3:00 AM & sleep in guesthouse until morning
- Explore Phuong Nga Ke Bang National Park via motorbike
- Drive along the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the Victory Road (Highway 20)
- Thien Duong “Paradise Cave”
- Hang Toi “Dark Cave” / “Mud Cave”
- Zip Lining
- Water Park
- Dinner: Paradise Pizza
- The BEST pizza in all of Southeast Asia
- Overnight: Gecko Guesthouse & Bar
Day 14: Hai Van Pass
March 10
- Early morning bus from Phuong Nga to Hue
- 130 miles, 4 hours
- Drive the Hi Van Pass: Hue to Hoi An via motorbike
- 75 Miles, 7 Hours
- Explore Hoi An
- Old Town Lanterns
- Festival
- Street Food
- Overnight: Hoa Binh Hostel
Day 15: Hoi An
March 11
- Explore Hoi An
- Old Town Sightseeing & Touring
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Tan Ky House
- Temples
- Tailor Shops
- Street Food
- Cooking Class at Hoa Binh Hotel
- Spring Rolls
- Egg Crepes
- Hoi An Lantern Festival
- Row-Boat Ride
- Paper Lanterns
- Overnight: Hoa Binh Hostel
Day 16: Hoi An
March 12
- Travel planning day at hostel
- Rent bicycles & explore Hoi An
- Lunch at Bahn Mi Phuong (Anthony Bourdain’s “Best Bahn Mi” LINK
- Cua Dai and An Bang Beaches
- “Lost Key” Issue
- Sing Karaoke
- Meet up & go out with friends we made in Thailand
- Overnight: Hoa Binh Hostel
Day 17: Hoi An/My Son
March 13
- FREE Bicycle Tour of Cam Kim Island
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village
- Ship Yard
- Huynh Ri Carpentry
- Huynh Family Temple
- Duy Vinh Mat Weaving Village
- Rice Paper & Noodle Making Factory
- Rice Paddies & Fruit Farms
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village
- Rent motorbike & explore Hoi An countryside
- My Son Ruins
- Rice Paddies
- Villages & roadside coffee shops
- Overnight: Hoa Binh Hostel
Day 18: Travel Day
March 14
- Full Travel Day from Hoi An to Da Lat
- 440 miles, 15 hours
Day 19: Da Lat
March 15
- Explore Da Lat
- Hang Nga Crazy House
- Xuan Huong Lake & Park (Valley of Love)
- Maze Bar
- Overnight: Mr. Peace Guesthouse
Day 20: Da Lat
March 16
- Canyoning with Highland Sport Travel Adventure Tours
- HIGHLY recommend – reviews here!
- Family dinner at hostel
- Maze Bar
- Overnight: Mr. Peace Guesthouse
Day 21: Da Lat
March 17
- Explore Da Lat countryside via motorbike
- Pongour Waterfall
- Elephant Waterfall
- Chuong Hoan Silk Factory
- Me Linh Coffee Garden
- Weasel Coffee
- Da Lat Flower Farms
- La Viet Coffee Tour
- Overnight: Mr. Peace Guesthouse
Day 22: Da Lat/Mui Ne
March 18
- Travel from Da Lat to Mui Ne
- 100 Miles, 4 Hours
- Eat Dinner Pho Viet 24
- Overnight: Blue Sky Guesthouse
Day 23: Mui Ne
March 19
- Sunrise Jeep Tour
- White Sand Dunes
- Red Sand Dunes
- Mui Ne Fishing Bay
- Fairy Trail
- Explore Mui Ne
- Mui Ne Beaches
- Pho Viet 24
- Overnight: Blue Sky Guesthouse
Day 24: Ho Chi Minh City
March 20
- Travel from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City
- 135 miles, 4.5 hours
- Explore Ho Chi Minh
- Ben Thanh Market
- Trung Ngyun Coffee
- Street Food Dinner
- Bui Vien Backpacker Street
- See King Kong in Theaters (filmed in Vietnam!)
- Overnight: Ho Chi Minh Vietnam Backpacker Hostel Saigon
Day 25: Ho Chi Minh City
March 21
- Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
- War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City Hall
- Explore Art District
- Hostel Bar Crawl on Bui Vien Street
- Overnight: Ho Chi Minh Vietnam Backpacker Hostel Saigon
Day 26: Mekong Delta
March 22
- Travel from HCMC to Vinh Long to the island of An Binh (Mekong Delta)
- 83 miles,3 hours
- Travel via local bus, motorbike, & ferry ride
- Explore Anh Binh Island via bicycle
- Dinner at Mekong Delta Homestay
- The BEST meal we had in Vietnam!
- Overnight: Ngoc Sang Homestay
Day 27: Mekong Delta
March 23
- Homestay provided tour of the Mekong Delta
- Cai Be Floating Market Tour
- Bee Farm
- Canal Boat Ride
- Pop Rice Factory
- Snake Wine Distillery
- Coconut Processing Facility (coconut milk, cream, candies, etc.)
- Fruit Plantation & Garden
- Explore & bike around An Binh island
- Overnight: Ngoc Sang Homestay
Day 28: Can Tho / Mekong Delta
March 24
- Travel From Ahn Binh to Can Tho via private car
- 42 miles, 1.5 hours
- Explore Can Tho
- River Walk
- Coffee Shops
- Night Market
- Overnight: Quang Sang Hotel
Day 29: Mekong Delta
March 25
- Floating Market Tour
- Cai Rang Floating Market
- Phong Dien Floating Market
- Canals
- Fruit Garden
- Travel from Can Tho to Ha Tien via bus
- 110 miles, 4 hours
- Encounter bus scams!
- Oasis Bar to arrange border crossing into Cambodia
- Explore Ha Tien Night Market
- Overnight: Local Guesthouse
Day 30: Ha Tien/Kep
March 26
- Travel from Ha Tien, Vietnam to Kep, Cambodia
- Prek Chak International Border Crossing
- 20 miles, 2 hours (with border crossing)
- Crossing via hired motorbike guides
- Overnight: Kepmandou Hostel
What a beautiful country! It’s on my list and I can’t wait to get there. I’m definitely coming to you and this post when I start planning a trip there.
Thanks for reading Lauren! Definitely hit us up before you head to Vietnam – we’ve got loads of tips & suggestions! 🙂