Capital
Ho Chi Minh City
Language
Vietnamese
Flight time
14 hours
Backpacking Vietnam
Compared to other backpacking destinations like Thailand, Vietnam is still underrated. But Vietnam is also becoming increasingly popular. In this blog post, I'll tell you about the diverse culture, delicious food, and impressive nature of this Asian country. Discover why Vietnam is a place that will always surprise you, whether you enjoy urban vibrancy, nature, or culture.
How many weeks do you need for your tour?
During this three-week journey through Vietnam, you'll encounter a wonderful combination of city, culture, and nature. You'll begin in bustling Ho Chi Minh City , then travel to the mountain resort of Da Lat . Then on to colorful Hoi An and the beach paradise of Da Nang . Next, you'll travel to Ninh Binh , then magical Ha Long Bay (via Cat Ba Island ). Finally, you'll head to Hanoi and finally to magnificent Ha Giang .
If you have more time in Vietnam, I recommend adding Mui Ne in the south and Sa Pa in the north. For more beaches, you can also include Nha Trang .
Fun fact: The idea for the Legpack , the backpack with wheels, originated in Vietnam!
Ho Chi Minh City
If your journey begins in the south, you'll start in Ho Chi Minh City, a city with much to offer. It's the city where you'll likely land (unless it's Hanoi). The city is bustling with (night)life and has a rich history, including the Vietnam War, which you can learn about in various ways.
If you're interested in learning more about the Vietnam War, I recommend visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels near this city. These tunnels were used by the North Vietnamese army. These were communist guerrilla groups fighting American soldiers. Besides the more than 200 kilometers of tunnels, you can also find several traps and even try your hand at shooting with real weapons. Highly recommended!
A tunnel within the Cu Chi tunnel complex
Shoot yourself with real weapons!
If you'd like to learn more about the Vietnam War itself, check out the War Remnants Museum . This museum provides context for the war and displays various vehicles and weapons used in the war. There are also several paintings that depict the war in a unique way.
War Remnants Museum helicopter
Painting in the War Remnants Museum
Finally, in Ho Chi Minh City itself, the nightlife is concentrated on Bui Vien Walking Street . There are also several hostels in this area, and I highly recommend The Hideout Hostel if you're looking for some social stimulation.
Da Lat
After Ho Chi Minh City, you'll head to a cooler destination: Da Lat , a charming city nestled in the mountains, with plenty to do. The city is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters. A must-see if you enjoy nature and active travel!
Although the city is mainly popular for nature activities (to follow later), there are also some things to do in the city itself, such as the evening market and the Crazy House.
the night market in Da Lat
Crazy House in Da Lat
The highlight of Da Lat is undoubtedly canyoning . Here, you'll go with a group along several waterfalls and then abseil and cliff jump. You'll also do some ziplining. Great for the adrenaline junkies among us!
Canyoning in Da Lat
At a waterfall in Da Lat
Finally, some active things to do in Da Lat: Trekking , mountain biking , and visiting coffee plantations .
A hostel recommendation is Da Lat Family Hostel !
Hoi An
From Da Lat, you'll depart for Hoi An on the east coast. If you travel to Vietnam and skip Hoi An, you'll be truly missing out. This coastal city in Central Vietnam was a trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries. The city is full of charming historic houses. It's also the best destination in Vietnam for custom-made clothing. Plus, the beach is just around the corner, making it the perfect place to unwind.
Hop on a coconut basket boat at Hoi An Coconut Village
Hoi An is also known for its tailor-made clothing . You can have high-quality, custom-made clothing made here for a very affordable price.
It's also fun to take a cooking class , of which there are many in Hoi An. Here you can make and taste local Vietnamese dishes. Delicious!
Have your clothes tailored in Hoi An
Cooking class in Hoi An
Da Nang
Da Nang , also known as the Miami of Southeast Asia, is located near Hoi An and is the perfect place to visit if you love beach life. Here you'll find everything you'd find in Miami: plenty of surfing opportunities, a beach volleyball court, lots of great cocktail bars and restaurants on the beach, and above all, plenty of other travelers to meet!
The best neighborhood to stay in is My An ; this area, right next to the most popular beach , My Khe Beach, is the place to be. Here you'll find affordable hotels, plenty of delicious local eateries, and plenty of Western bars and restaurants; something for everyone. We stayed at the Sofiana My Khe Hotel & Spa , where you can enjoy a wonderful stay with a rooftop pool for just €30 a night.
Also take a trip to Chùa Linh Ứng : This is a Buddhist temple with a very large Buddha statue. Beware, though, that there are also lots of monkeys around here who might not have your best interests at heart!
Discover the nice bars in the vibrant My An district
Visit the Chùa Linh Ứng temple with beautiful views over the city
West of the Han River, there are also fun activities to enjoy. If you're looking for a fake designer Gucci bag, the Han Market is a must-see! This market is packed with affordable clothing, as well as great souvenirs and delicious street food! It can get very crowded here, though.
You can also enjoy a spectacular light show on the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang in the evening. This dragon is built on the bridge and literally spits fire, at 9:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday evenings! You can enjoy a beautiful view of this bridge while enjoying a cocktail from Brilliant Top Bar .
Organized chaos in Han Market
The fire-breathing Dragon Bridge
Ninh Binh
After Da Nang, you'll head north to Ninh Binh. This city is close to Hanoi. It's a perfect place to retreat, especially if you love nature. You can also definitely party here.
For a beautiful hike: Ride a scooter to the trailhead of Ngoa Long Mountain . It's a beautiful hike where you'll find a beautiful dragon at the summit. It also offers stunning views.
Climbing Ngoa Long Mountain , with a dragon on the top!
A beautiful lake in Ninh Binh
For a bit of history, discover Hoa Lu Ancient Capital ; this is the old capital of Vietnam, located near the city of Ninh Binh.
A highly recommended hostel is the Banana Tree Hostel . It's a social hostel with regular parties, but if you're not into that, you can also retreat to a private room.
Ha Long Bay (Via Cat Ba Island)
Another place you absolutely can't miss: Ha Long Bay. I recommend visiting Ha Long Bay via Cat Ba Island. This is because it's much quieter than from Ha Long itself. Cat Ba also boasts beautiful beaches and an exotic national park.
Then the tour in Ha Long Bay . It's incredibly beautiful! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great when I was there, but I think the pictures say it all...
I recommend booking the Ha Long Bay tour through Cat Ba Ventures . This organization is great because, besides the excellent tour guides, you'll not only be cruising through the bays, but you'll also be kayaking yourself. This puts you right in the heart of the action.
With the tour guide from Cat Ba Ventures
Hanoi
After the fantastic tour of Ha Long Bay, you'll depart for the hub of Hanoi . Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, although you'll immediately notice that it's a somewhat poorer city than Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Hanoi is a historic city, where after your nature trip, you might feel the need to learn about culture and history. If so, you're in luck!
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ; he was the man who defeated the West in the 20th century during his anti-colonial struggle. Inside the mausoleum, the honorable man lies in a wax-clad coffin. It's a truly impressive sight. Please note that you must wear a covered waist when entering; shorts are not permitted.
Another fun thing to do is visit the iconic Train Street . While a bit of a tourist attraction, it's very unique. This is a railway line lined with many cafes and restaurants, and sometimes a train even passes right through it!
It's also worth visiting the Tran Quoc Pagoda , Hanoi's oldest Buddhist temple.
Hanoi is also known for its amazing street food. Don't miss it when you're here!
Locals eating on the street in Hanoi
Ha Giang
Then we come to the absolute highlight of Vietnam: Ha Giang . In other words, the Ha Giang Loop , where you take a scooter tour through various mountain villages in the northernmost tip of Vietnam, near the border with China.
There are several options for the Ha Giang Loop. I recommend going for at least three days. Several organizations and hostels offer this option. You can even go with a larger group, like the Yasmine Hostel . I did this myself. It was fun, but it felt a bit like a mass tourist attraction.
I recommend going through a smaller organization, such as Mama's Homestay or Dragon Team.
You can, of course, go on your own without an organization, but you'll miss out on the locals' knowledge and expertise (such as checking for police checks). If something goes wrong with your scooter, you'll also have a bit more trouble.
Below are the pictures!
The iconic Tham Ma Pass
Viewpoint Meo Vac - Pai Lung
Dong Van - Lung Vin
