My Vietnam Backpacking Route: 1-Month Itinerary + Travel Tips

Introduction

Vietnam is one of my favourite countries I’ve ever been to, from bustling cities to incredible nature, they have something for everyone. It’s incredibly affordable making it perfect for budget travellers. I spent one month in this spectacular country exploring Northern and Central Vietnam during my 4 month South East Asia trip. Vietnam was easy to get around, with incredibly convenient and comfortable transportation. In this post I’ll outline my backpacking route through Vietnam, with key things to do in each place, things I wish I knew before and how I got around.

My Route through Vietnam

• Hanoi → Sapa
• Sapa → Ha Giang
• Ha Giang → Hanoi → Ninh Binh
• Ninh Binh → Cat Ba Island
• Cat Ba → Da Nang
• Da Nang → Hoi An

General Vietnam Travel Tips

-If you are from a country that needs a visa to travel to Vietnam, apply for it at least two weeks in advance! I did mine too late hoping I would get it back within 2-3 days but ended up waiting 10 days. Learn from my mistakes and be prepared.

-Vietnam, especially the north, can be chilly depending on the time of year. I went in late January and February and the North was quite cool while Central Vietnam was really warm. Be sure to pack correctly with extra layers for the cooler parts and appropriate clothing for the warm weather.

-February celebrates Tet, the Chinese New Year. During Tet most businesses shut down for a few days to two weeks. While the businesses that are open charge extra Tet fees, even up to two weeks after Tet. I would recommend avoiding travelling to Vietnam during Tet.

-English isn’t spoken frequently so be prepared to use google translate and hand signals to communicate.

-The buses are so nice in Vietnam! Most have beds which make it so comfortable and perfect for night buses. Going by bus is the best way to get around the country.

-The currency in Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong. It’s good to have cash with you but most places accept credit or debit cards with a small percent fee which usually is better than the cost of atm fees.

–Grab is the best ridesharing app to use to get around. You can also order food through this app which is super convenient.

-Try local dishes like Banh Mi, Pho, Banh Xeo (my favourite), Spring rolls (fresh and fried), Bun cha, Coconut Coffee and Egg Coffee

1. Hanoi

Time Spent: 3 days

Transportation: Flew from Chiang Mai→Hong Kong→Hanoi

Where I Stayed: Tabalo Hostel

I did not enjoy my stay at this hostel, it was one of the cheapest on Hostelworld and it showed. There was no staff when I arrived so I couldn’t check in for 30 minutes and the hallways stunk of sewage. There are many other hostels in Hanoi so I would avoid this one!

What I Did:

Explored Old Quarter- Basically the central area of Hanoi. This is where my hostel was and I loved the location. You are right in the middle of the busy neighbourhood and lots of tourist attractions are within walking distance.

Try Egg Coffee and Coconut Coffee- Vietnam has some of the richest and best coffee in the world. A popular cafe we went to was Note Cafe. Its many floors are covered in handwritten notes from past patrons and it has a cool view of the city.

Water Puppet Show- It’s a really unique show that tells Vietnam’s history and is incredibly beautiful. Be sure to secure tickets in advance or get them online.

Ngoc Son Temple- This temple is in the centre of a lake and you take a gorgeous red bridge to get to it. Right in the middle of the city it’s a great way to start your trip in Vietnam.

Train street- This is a popular tourist spot with restaurants and cafes right beside an active railway line. Due to its popularity and safety concerns some areas of it are shut down. You can still enter but you need to be brought in by a local working at one of the cafes/restaurants . My friend and I were told we couldn’t enter but one of the cafe owners came and brought us right in.

Night market- Hanoi has a few different night markets that sell clothes, souvenirs, food and lots more. Some happen nightly and others are daily so be sure to check the hours they run before making plans.

Tran Quoc Pagoda- The oldest temple in the city with unique architecture located on a small island within the city.

Temple of Literature- Really beautiful and historically significant temple in Hanoi.

Katze Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant- Even if you aren’t veggie I really recommend this place. The food is fresh, local and very authentically Vietnamese. The owner has an inspiring story from being a street kid to an entrepreneur. The portions are generous and the service is fantastic. 

Tips & Recommendations:

• Be prepared for crazy streets and traffic that doesn’t stop. Be confident when passing the streets and walk at a moderate pace so bikes can go around you.
• Stay in the Old Quarter
• Try Banh Mi at Banh Mi 25

2. Sa Pa

Time Spent: 3 days

Transportation: Bus from Hanoi (6-7 hours)

Where I Stayed: Mega View Homestay (Hostel) & Local Homestays with the Trekking Company

I stayed in the hostel 1 night before my trekking tour. It was fine for the night but, hard to find on google maps and was freezing at night (it was February when I was there). I stayed in 2 local homestays with the tour which were incredible. I had a private room the first night and a shared room on the second night.

What I Did:

Trekking with a local guide- I went with the company Trekking Tour Sapa and they were great. We spent 3 days and 2 nights trekking through mountains, rice fields, remote villages and bamboo jungles.

One of my favourite places in all of Vietnam because the scenery was phenomenal. The homestays were lovely and we were fed such amazing local dishes (with vegan and vegetarian food options as well). I did this leg of the trip solo and met other travellers so I would recommend this tour if you are a solo backpacker!

Tips & Recommendations

• Pack layers (cooler climate in the North)
• Go with a local trekking company
• Book your bus ahead—overnight buses fill up
• Don’t plan to spend much time in the actual town because it can be packed with tourists and SaPa really is just about the incredible hiking
• While trekking local ladies will help you and expect you to buy something from them so have cash with you

3. Ha Giang 

Time Spent: 5 days (4 days and 3 night loop)

Transportation: Bus from Sa Pa (6-7 hours)

Where I Stayed: Ha Giang hostel (first night) and local homestays for my loop tour

We stayed in a private room in the hostel which was good and included free breakfast. We stayed at 2 local homestays and 1 motel on the last night of the Loop tour. The home stays were great and the motel was fine but nothing to rave about.

What I Did:

Ha Giang Loop- This was my favourite thing I did on my entire trip and recommend this to anybody going to Vietnam! It’s a popular motorcycle loop that goes along the border of China. The views are unreal through mountains, rice fields, and small villages. 

You can choose to ride a bike on your own or do the easy rider option, where you sit on the back and don’t drive. I chose the easy rider option and I felt really safe because I had an amazing driver. The roads can be quite narrow and busy so I wouldn’t recommend driving the bike on your own unless you’re very comfortable driving already!

The Ha Giang Loop is extremely popular and most people’s experience is radically different to mine. The Loop is known for its busy roads, big tour groups and a huge party scene at the homestays. I went with the tour group Real Ha Giang and there were just 4 of us in a group, this allowed the drivers to pass huge groups and we were never in a super crowded road for too long. They also took us off the beaten path so we avoided the big tour groups. Our homestays were pretty relaxed versus a huge drinking scene. As a sober traveller this was great and made my experience way more enjoyable. I recommend this tour if you’re looking for a more authentic Ha Giang experience that is more relaxed.

Tips & Recommendations:

• If you choose to do the easy rider option get a strap for your phone so you can take photos and videos throughout the journey
• Be sure to do it with good weather! It is miserable in the rain and you can’t see any of the views if it’s foggy
• Pack layers because the temperature can vary day to day
• Bring extra snacks to have throughout the day 
• This was a top highlight—don’t skip it!

4. Ninh Binh

Time Spent: 3 days

Transportation: Bus from Ha Giang to Hanoi(6-7 hours), Bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (2-3 hours)

Where I Stayed: Hoang Long Riverside Homestay

I loved this hotel even though it was a little bit outside of the city. They had bikes we could use to get around or we could book a taxi from the hotel. It had stunning views on the river and had a pool but it was too cold at that time of year to use it. Super kind staff, a restaurant on site and breakfast was included.

What I Did:

Tam Coc Boat Ride- You can soak up the serene beauty of the limestone mountains and float on the waterway for around 2 hours. We went through caves and enjoyed the amazing scenery. There are a few routes to choose from and we did Route 3. One of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen.

Rented Bikes- This is so embarrassing to admit but I was seriously terrified of riding a bike. I’m not confident on the road in general but this was a perfect place to get comfortable because it isn’t busy and the landscape is incredible. Some of my best memories are riding on bikes around Ninh Binh.

Bich Dong Pagoda- Incredible pagoda and temples in the caves which are really cool. Really interesting place and we even saw (wild?) goats walking around!

Mua Caves and Lying Dragon Mountain- Mua Caves are beautifully scenic and are home to the Lying Dragon hike which is around 500 steps up. It takes around 15-20 minutes to complete and the viewpoint is stunning. Try to do it early or right before it closes because midday can be really hot!

Tips & Recommendations:

• Stay outside the main town for nature
• Rent a bike or scooter
• Visit early morning to avoid crowds

5. Cat Ba Island

Time Spent: 3 days

Transportation: Bus and Ferry from Ninh Binh (4.5 hours)

Where I Stayed: Rustic House

I enjoyed this hotel. We stayed in a private room but they also have dorms. This was a nice location, they served food and the staff were super friendly!

What I Did:

We skipped Ha Long Bay and chose to go to Cat Ba instead because I had heard that if you aren’t doing the overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay it isn’t worth it. Cat Ba was a lovely alternative. However it was Tet (Chinese New Year) so many businesses were closed so it’s hard to judge what this island is usually like because while I was there it was really quiet and didn’t have much going on.

Lan Ha Bay Boat Tour- This tour has such incredible views and was the main reason we came to Cat Ba. We got to go swimming in the ocean, kayaking, soak in the views and were fed lunch. We also took a trip to monkey island which I DON’T recommend! It’s cool to see all the monkeys from a distance but I witnessed 3 people get bit. 

Cat Co2 Beach- This beach was gorgeous and I had a lot of fun doing yoga, journaling and reading here. But, it was February and too cold to go in the ocean.

Cat Ba National Park- The hike to the viewpoint was great but was pretty busy at the top. Still enjoyed it though and on the walk up we saw hundreds of butterflies which was amazing!

Tips & Recommendations:

• Skip Ha Long Bay, go for quieter Cat Ba
• Easy to book tours once you arrive
• Bring cash—ATMs can be limited

6. Da Nang

Time Spent: 3 days

Transportation: Bus from Cat Ba to Hanoi (3 hours), Flight from Hanoi to Da Nang (1 hour)

Where I Stayed: Martin Ho Hotel

This hotel was great and had the perfect location, within walking distance to the beach.

What I Did:

Beach Days- I spent most of my time in Da Nang on My Khe Beach. A super long beach is great for relaxing and long walks. Lots of sun beds that are usually very inexpensive to use and can but food and drinks. 

Ba Na Hills Sun World- This is a popular amusement park is about 20 km from the city centre. It has a long cable car, rides, restaurants and the famous GoldenBridge (the bridge with the hands). It was a fun way to spend a day. We bought tickets in advance and got to and from with a taxi driver.

Tips & Recommendations:

• Great cafes and coworking spots
• Don’t miss sunset by My Khe Beach
• Pack snacks for Sun World because most of the food can be expensive

7. Hoi An

Time Spent: 4 days

Where I Stayed: Ngan Phu Villa (Air BnB)

I loved this spot! The staff were super friendly and helpful. Our breakfast was included and they had free bikes that we used everyday to get around.

What I Did:

An Bang Beach- This is one of the popular beaches in Hoi An. There are many restaurants along the beach that rent out sun beds or are free if you purchase food or beverages. My favourite was The Fisherman’s restaurant and I went back 3 times. If you are coming with a bike there will be locals forcing you to pay to park your bike. But, you can park your bike for free at any of the restaurants you go to.

Yoga Class at Naia- This studio was gorgeous and right on thee beach. I definitely recommend taking a class here. They also have a cafe which is nice as well.

Coconut Boats- This is the main touristy thing people do in Hoi An and I didn’t really enjoy it. They play gangnam style LOUDLY on repeat at all times. You can be spun in the boat but you have to pay extra. There are huge speakers everywhere and it was just not that enjoyable to be honest.

Look at the Lanterns at Night- Every single night they have lanterns in the Old Town in the river and the whole place is transformed by the lights and colour. You can pay to set a lantern on the river but I just enjoyed watching it. A must see in Hoi An!

Bike Rides through the Rice Fields- The Airbnb I stayed at had bikes that were free to use but there are many places to rent a bike in Hoi An. The rice fields are stunning, especially at sunset. The roads aren’t too busy so it’s great.

Tips & Recommendations:

• Visit the night market but be prepared for it to be super busy
• Rent a bike to An Bang Beach
• Avoid the coconut boats
• Explore the Old Town at Night

Getting Around Vietnam

I found getting around Vietnam super easy and convenient. I mostly travelled by bus but did fly once to Da Nang. All my buses were booked by 12GoAsia and highly recommend you doing the same. But, be aware some buses fill up quickly or can be cancelled. I planned to end my time in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh but both the bus and train tickets I booked got cancelled because they were both overbooked! Try to book transportation at least a week in advance so this doesn’t happen to you.

Conclusion

Vietnam was such a unique country and I loved backpacking through it. The route I took was very enjoyable especially with the comfortable buses that made travelling easy. The mix of nature, beaches, busy cities and adventure was an incredible way to spend a month. The only thing I would have changed is getting my visa further in advance because it took way longer than expected and to book buses further in advance! Vietnam is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason, be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your time. I hope this post has given you an idea for your backpacking route through Vietnam and if you have any questions just leave me a comment.