In this blog post, I will tell you about the varied culture, tasty food, and impressive nature of this Asian country. Discover why Vietnam is a place that will always surprise you, whether you love urban vibrancy, nature, or culture.
How many weeks do you need for your tour?
During this three-week trip through Vietnam, you'll encounter a beautiful combination of city, culture, and nature. You'll start in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, then travel to the mountain town of Da Lat. After that, you'll go to colorful Hoi An and the beach paradise of Da Nang. Next, you'll travel to Ninh Binh, then the magical Ha Long Bay (via Cat Ba Island). After that, you'll head to Hanoi and finally the majestic 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 beach time, you can also include Nha Trang.
Fun fact: The idea of the Legpack; the backpack with wheels, originated in Vietnam!
Ho Chi Minh City
If your journey starts in the south, you'll begin in Ho Chi Minh City, a city with much to offer. It's likely where you'll land (if not Hanoi). The city is buzzing with nightlife and boasts a rich history, including the Vietnam War, which you can learn about in various ways.
If you want to know 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 that fought American soldiers. In addition to over 200 kilometers of tunnels, you can also find several traps and even shoot real weapons yourself. Highly recommended!
If you want to know more about the Vietnam War itself, check out the War Remnants Museum. In this museum, you'll get context about the war and see various vehicles and weapons used in the war. There are also several paintings that depict the war in a unique way.
Finally, in Ho Chi Minh City itself: the nightlife is concentrated in Bui Vien Walking Street. In this area, you'll also find several hostels, among which I can recommend The Hideout Hostel if you're looking for a social vibe.
Da Lat
After Ho Chi Minh City, you'll head to a slightly cooler place: Da Lat is a charming city in the mountains, with lots to do. The city is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters. A must-see if you love nature and an active trip!
Although the city is mainly popular for nature activities (more on that later), there are also things to do in the city itself, such as the night market and the Crazy House.
The highlight of Da Lat is undoubtedly Canyoning. Here, you'll go with a group along various waterfalls and then abseil and cliff jump. You'll also do some ziplining here. Great for the adrenaline junkies among us!
Finally, some active things you can do in Da Lat: Trekking, mountain biking, and visiting coffee plantations.
A recommended hostel is Da Lat Family Hostel!
Hoi An
From Da Lat, you'll head to the east coast, Hoi An. If you go to Vietnam and skip Hoi An, you've really missed out. This is a coastal city in Central Vietnam. This city 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 to have custom-made clothing made. Additionally, the beach is just around the corner, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind.
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'll make and taste local Vietnamese dishes. Delicious!
Da Nang
Da Nang, also known as the Miami of Southeast Asia, is located near Hoi An and is the place to visit if you love beach life. Here you'll find everything you can find in Miami; plenty of surfing opportunities, a beach volleyball court, many nice cocktail bars and restaurants on the beach, and especially a lot of other travelers you can meet!
The nicest neighbourhood to stay in is My An; This place right next to the most popular beach My Khe Beach is the place to be. Here you'll find hotels at an affordable price, many delicious local eateries, but also many Western pubs and restaurants; something for everyone. We ourselves stayed at Sofiana My Khe Hotel & Spa, where for 30 euros a night you can enjoy a delightful stay with a rooftop pool.
Also take a trip to Chùa Linh Ứng: This is a Buddhist temple with a very large Buddha statue. Be aware that there are also many monkeys roaming around here that might not have your best interests at heart!
To the west of the Han River, there are also fun activities to undertake. If you're looking for a fake designer Gucci bag, then the Han Market is not to be missed! This market is full of clothes at an affordable price, but also with nice souvenirs and delicious street food! However, it can get very crowded here.
Also, in the evenings, you have a cool light show on the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang. This dragon is built on the bridge and literally breathes fire, at 9:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday evenings! You can enjoy a great view of this bridge with a cocktail from Brilliant Top Bar.
Ninh Binh
After Da Nang, you head north to Ninh Binh. This city is close to Hanoi. It's a perfect place to retreat, especially if you love nature. Although you can definitely find some parties here too.
For a beautiful hike: Ride a scooter to the starting point of Ngoa Long Mountain. A beautiful hike where you'll find a magnificent dragon at the top. This also includes an extremely beautiful view.
For a piece 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. This is a social hostel, where parties are regularly held, but if you're not up for that, you can also easily retreat to a private room.
Ha Long Bay (via Cat Ba Island)
Another place you absolutely cannot miss: Ha Long Bay. I recommend visiting Ha Long Bay via Cat Ba Island. The reason for this is that it is much quieter than from Ha Long itself. Additionally, Cat Ba also has beautiful beaches and an exotic national park.
Then the tour in Ha Long Bay. It's incredibly beautiful! When I was there the weather unfortunately wasn't great, but I think the pictures speak for themselves...
I recommend booking the Ha Long Bay tour through Cat Ba Ventures. This organization is great because, apart from the excellent tour guides, it's not just sailing through the bays, but you also get to kayak yourself. This really puts you in the middle of the action.
Book your tour in advance. Cat Ba Ventures tours are popular and fill up quickly, especially during high season (November–April).
Hanoi
After the wonderful tour of Ha Long Bay, you'll head to the hub of Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, although you'll immediately notice that it's a somewhat poorer city than the southern Ho Chi Minh City.
Hanoi is a historic city, where after your nature trip, you might feel the need to learn about culture and history. Then you've come to the right place!
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 good man lies in a coffin, preserved in wax. This is very impressive to see. Be aware that you must enter covered; shorts are not allowed.
Another fun thing to do is to visit the iconic Train Street. Although a bit of a tourist attraction, it is very unique. This is a railway surrounded by many cafes and restaurants, where a train sometimes drives right through!
Furthermore, it is worth visiting the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi.
Hanoi is also known for the amazing street food you can buy. You can't miss this when you're here!
Ha Giang
Then we arrive at the absolute highlight of Vietnam: Ha Giang. Or rather, the Ha Giang Loop, where you take a scooter tour through various mountain villages in the northernmost part of Vietnam, close to the Chinese border.
There are several options for the Ha Giang Loop. I recommend going for at least 3 days. There are various organizations and hostels that offer this. For example, you can go with a larger group like 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, also go by yourself without an organization, but then you'll miss the knowledge and expertise of the locals (such as tips for police checkpoints). Also, if something happens to your scooter, you'll have more struggles with that.
Here are the snapshots!
For a more personal experience than the large group tours, go with a smaller organization, such as Mama's Homestay or Dragon Team. You can also go by yourself without an organization, but then you'll miss out on local knowledge and if your scooter breaks down, you'll have a much harder time.
Frequently asked questions about backpacking through Vietnam
In three weeks, you can cover a lot with Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, and Ha Giang, where you can leisurely take your time at each location. Have less time? Then skip Ninh Binh or Da Lat. After all, it's a holiday ;)
With an average of €50 per day, you can travel comfortably through Vietnam. The flight is your biggest expense; food and local transport are often very affordable. A local street meal can cost as little as a few euros, and with the sleeper buses between cities, you can travel from north to south for a steal. Just like in many other Asian countries, tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam, so you can keep those extra pennies in your pocket ;)
In the major tourist cities and hostels, you'll get by perfectly fine with English, especially with the younger generation. Outside of tourist areas and in the countryside, fewer people speak English. However, with Google Translate, a little patience, and a friendly smile, you'll always manage!
Vietnam has good public transport to get from point A to B. If you want to travel between North, Central and South Vietnam, take a luxury night bus that you can book via 12GoAsia, where for a small fee you'll arrive at your next destination the following morning, saving you money on accommodation. For cheap taxis, use Grab, or rent a scooter yourself to experience true freedom ;)
Bring light, airy clothing due to the high humidity, and sturdy shoes or sandals for scooter rides and hikes like the Ha Giang Loop. Also make sure your debit card is internationally activated, although you can also pay cash almost everywhere. A sleep mask and an inflatable neck pillow for the sleeper buses and the long flight. And of course the Legpack: the backpack that works as both a backpack and a suitcase; ideal for strapping onto a scooter during the Ha Giang Loop and rolling through the narrow streets of Hoi An!
For Vietnam, the same basic vaccinations are usually recommended as for other countries in Southeast Asia, such as hepatitis A and possibly hepatitis B, typhoid, and rabies, depending on your travel style and the duration of your trip. Which vaccinations are specifically necessary or advisable for you depends on where you are going and what you will be doing. Therefore, always check the GGD Travel Vaccinations page about Vietnam well before departure, so you have enough time for any injections.
The perfect bag for Vietnam
50 liters, usable as both a suitcase and a backpack. Perfect for sleeper buses, scooter trips, and the narrow streets of Hoi An.
View the Leg Pack →
