Gotta love Vietnam.

What’s not to like? Bustling, chaotic and history-rich cities; towering mountains with winding roads; sheer cliffs sticking out of the sea; massive caves; and beaches with clear blue water. Vietnam truly has it all!

This month long itinerary will take you through all the best spots Vietnam has to offer.

Let’s get started.

Do you need a month in Vietnam?

My original plan was to make this itinerary shorter, maybe around three weeks. After all, not everyone has a month to just head to Vietnam.

But it quickly became apparent that it was too difficult to condense every spot I wanted to mention into less than a month.

If you want to see all parts of the country- that is, north, south, and center- you really do need this long. If you don’t have a month (say, two weeks), I’d recommend you stick to the north, which in my opinion is the best part.

However- as you’ll see as we continue- there’s a lot that you’ll be missing out on. The massive caves of Phong Nha, beautiful town of Hoi An, sand dunes of Mui Ne…

So if possible, a month is really ideal.

What else have you got going on anyway? Let’s be honest.

North to South, or South to North?

Most agree that it’s better to start in the south of Vietnam and work your way up.

Why? The logic is that the scenery gets more dramatic as you go: mountains, rice terraces, misty highlands, and all that cinematic glory waiting up top. And it’s true.

But I like to be a contrarian, and there’s a counterpoint that deserves some airtime: the north is also where the hikes get steeper, the buses more chaotic, and the pace less chill.

Meanwhile, the south is where you’ll find riverside lantern strolls in Hoi An, laid-back island vibes, and calming scooter rides.

So really, it depends on you- but for me, if I’m gonna relax I like to earn it first.

This itinerary will start off in the North and work its way south. But of course, nothing’s stopping you from doing it backwards. If you must be the contrarian to my contrarianism.

How to get around in Vietnam

The main mode of transport will be by bus. And if you want to do everything on this itinerary in a month, you’ll have to take a fair amount of overnight buses. I’ll point out the times when you’ll want to take one of these.

There’s a pretty simple strategy that you’ll employ for most of your intercity transport.

First, look for buses on 12Go. This will give you a benchmark for the price.

Then- before you book your tickets- check out what bus companies are offering in whatever area you’re in. There’s always a lot of these companies in touristy areas.

If the prices are similar, take the one with the bus company. Why? Because it’s way more reliable. I had a few instances where I booked on 12Go, only for them to contact me a couple hours before the bus saying that there was actually no space left.

Granted, I had booked these pretty last minute. 12Go is generally fine if you book in advance. But if you’re gonna be more spontaneous, I recommend you do it with the bus companies.

Week 1- Start in Hanoi, head north

Days 1-2- Hanoi

I traveled in Vietnam as part of a four month trip through Southeast Asia, and had already made stops in Thailand and Laos.

I mention this because while both countries were uniquely incredible- scenic, cultural, and just truly amazing- the cities were underwhelming.

Bangkok is the one that jumps to mind. Big, chaotic, hot, smoggy, and just unattractive. The ones in Laos- like the capital, Vientiane- were not nearly on the same scale, but equally unattractive.

Then comes Hanoi. Hanoi is at least as busy as Bangkok, yet it retained its charm. The narrow streets, cafés, the lake, and French-inspired architecture really made me take a liking to the place.

Go colonization, am I right?

That being said, the nature is still where Vietnam shines. So take a couple days here to explore Hanoi, but then it’s time to head north.

Things to Do

• Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. The lake borders the old town, and both form the center of the city. You’ll likely spend a lot of time here.
  
  The lake is simply a charming area to stroll around, sit on the banks, grab an ice cream from a stand on the side. Going back to what I was saying about other cities in Southeast Asia- not many have pedestrianized areas like this.
• Walk through the old town. The old town begins at the the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, and it’s a neighborhood that’s filled with small, winding streets, awesome cafés and local spots, cheap clothes- and a lot of people.
  
  Go grab yourself a banh mi and a Hanoi coffee. Egg coffee and salt coffee are some of the most delicious things I had in Vietnam. Way too addicting, and I’m not much of a coffee guy.
  
  Otherwise, just stroll around until you find things that peak your interest. Of which there should be plenty.

A good place to stay

The best places to stay are in the old town.

The places I mention this list will follow a similar pattern: cheap, and adequate. And usually free breakfast.

Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel checks all of these boxes. It’s located on the northern end of the old town and costs $6-8 a night. With an awesome breakfast, buffet style and one of the best I had in Vietnam.

Book here.

Days 3-6- Sapa

Now we head north. The journey is around six hours, so you’ll either want an overnight bus or a one early in the morning (e.g. 6-7 AM).

If nature is what you prioritize when you travel, Northern Vietnam is the cream of the crop.

It’s so incredible and really deserves more time than we’ll be giving it. That’s one of the reasons I recommend sticking to the North if you don’t have a month.

For those of you that are really adventurous, this 3-week North Vietnam itinerary by my friend Geena from Beyond the Bucketlist is really exceptional.

I say adventurous because it’s 3 weeks by motorbike. If you can ride, I guarantee this would be a highlight-of-your-life kind of trip.

But back to Sapa.

Things to Do

• Hike up Vietnam’s tallest mountains. Fansipan is the tallest and most popular, but my favorite is Ngu Chi Son.
  
  Ngu Chi Son is a full-day hike that is absolutely stunning. If you want more information about it and why it’s so incredible, I’ve got a whole post for you.

• Check out the rice fields. It’s what Sapa is best known for, after all. It’s the picture at the top of this post.
  
  Depending on when you arrive, you’ll find the fields in various stages of magnificence. The best time is from late summer (when the fields are their brightest green) into autumn (when the fields turn golden).
  
  If you’re around during these times, I recommend doing a trek in the fields. If not, it’s probably not worth it- go hiking instead.
• Go waterfall hunting. There are a ton of waterfalls in the Sapa region. Two of the best are Love and Tac Tinh Waterfalls.
  
  Tac Tinh is a long drive out of Sapa Town (1.5 hours), but it’s amazing and there are almost no tourists.

• Don’t forget to explore town! With all the incredible nature in the region, it’s easy to forget to explore Sapa’s beautiful town.
  
  That’s a mistake. Sapa Town itself is perhaps the most beautiful town I’ve come across in Southeast Asia. Between the lake, rustic wooden buildings and alpine air, I was somehow reminded of Switzerland in North Vietnam. Not something on my bingo card.

I have an article that elaborates on the best things to do in Sapa, so go check it out!

A good place to stay

If you have a motorbike, I’d recommend the Pea Hostel.

You’ll probably want the motorbike as it would otherwise be a bit of a walk from the center of town (30 minutes or so).

The hostel has a great vibe. The owner is awesome and will give you great tips (and maybe even let you borrow his jacket). There’s a piano, fantastic showers, and heated beds.

All for $5.

Week 2- Ha Giang Loop, head to the coast

Days 7-10- Ha Giang Loop

Ideally, take a late evening bus that gets you into Ha Giang around midnight or a little later- that way, you can get a good night’s sleep before beginning the loop the next day.

Before I even got to Southeast Asia, I had people tell me that the Ha Giang Loop was the best travel experience they’d ever had.

Once I got to Southeast Asia, it was practically every other person’s answer.

And it really lives up to it. Four days of winding through incredible mountain roads on a motorbike, with sharp, unique green mountains and turquoise rivers.

You can drive the loop by yourself, but most opt to do it with a tour. There are big groups filled with rowdy Brits like Jasmine. I’d avoid that one like the plague. Mama’s Homestay is another big one, but I’ve heard better things.

If you prefer a smaller group, I’d recommend Bull Motorbikes. I had a group of six with them and it was an awesome vibe.

Days 11-13- Cát Bà

Most opt for the popular Ha Long Bay, which you’ve probably come across in your research. With its gorgeous cliffs sticking out of the water and endless activities, it’s hard to blame them.

But I can. Because Cát Bà is an island right off of Ha Long Bay that offers the exact same incredible scenery. Just minus the tourists, and more wild and adventurous.

Take a night bus from Ha Giang.

Things to Do

• Go kayaking. I have a whole post on this, but basically you go to the dock, ask some guy if he can take you out into Lan Ha Bay, and rent a kayak and explore.
  
  Kayaking through those infinite sea cliffs is so much more appealing to me than the big tour boats.

• Go deep water solo climbing. More expensive, but really awesome. Basically, you take a boat out to the cliffs and you climb as high as you can. No ropes, no harness.
  
  Once you get to the top you can simply jump and hurl into the turquoise waters below. If you make it up there, that is.
  
  But again, expensive. I think around $50 USD. Book here.

A good place to stay

There are a bunch of good places to stay, but you really just want to make sure you’re in Cát Bà center. Unfortunately it’s not very nice now due to construction, but it’s still optimal for location purposes.

One good choice is The One Hostel. Dorms from $4.

Week 3- Head South: Ninh Binh, Phong Nha & Hoi An

Days 14-16- Ninh Binh

Now we transition to Ninh Binh, which is located an hour south of Hanoi.

The typography of this place is pretty unique- it’s almost completely flat, save for the hundreds of solitary cliffs sticking up. It’s kind of like Ha Long/ Cát Bà on land.

I’ve never seen anything like it aside from in Laos (Vang Vieng & the Thakhek Loop). Even then, it’s different.

Things to Do

• Rent a bicycle. Motorbike too, I’ll always say that’s a good idea. But there’s something about Ninh Binh that makes it perfect for riding around on a bicycle.
  
  When travelers talk about Ninh Binh, they rarely mean the actual city of Ninh Binh, but the towns of Tam Coc and Trang An. Tam Coc is the more touristy center and Trang An more isolated. The two are separated by about 20 minutes.
  
  If you’re gonna rent a bicycle, I would advise doing it in Trang An. Of course, you can do both- The center of Tam Coc is touristy, but there are some pretty awesome areas to explore just outside of it.

• Go for a boat ride. Probably the most popular thing to do in Ninh Binh. You can take a ride in both Trang An and Tam Coc. Here’s a detailed comparison of both.
• Go hiking. The Hang Mua Viewpoint is very popular, but the view up top is still worth it.

• Check out some temples. There’s a ton of little temples to check out. There’s also the not-so-little Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is actually the largest Buddhist complex in the country.

A good place to stay

Days 16-18- Phong Nha

Many travelers skip Phong Nha, and I’m really not sure why.

First off, it forms the perfect halfway point between the north and central/south of Vietnam.

Second- and more importantly- it’s just incredible and not to be missed.

Things to Do

• Check out the caves. No doubt the most popular thing to do in Phong Nha is exploring its massive caves.
  
  Phong Nha Cave is the most popular of these, a cave close to town that you explore by boat.
  
  Paradise Cave is further away with no boat, but the rock formations inside are probably the craziest I’ve ever seen.
  
  Then there’s Dark Cave, more geared towards adrenaline seekers.

• Explore the Bong Lai Valley. The Bong Lai Valley is located about a ten minute’s drive from central Phong Nha.
  
  Things to do in the valley include swimming in the Ô Ô Lake, visiting and feeding ducks at The Duck Spot, and falling spectacularly while attempting to bike across a narrow bridge over water at the Monkey Bridge Farm.

I go into a whole lot more detail about the caves and other activities in this post about the best things to do in Phong Nha. I also have a separate post catered to those of you looking for strictly budget activities. Be sure to give it a look!

A good place to stay

There are several options here, depending on what you’re looking for.

For budget options, Central Backpackers Hostel and Village House are good options. Central Backpackers is- as you may have surmised- more central, and has a nightly buffet dinner.

Village House is further out of town but is quaint, located on the Son River with an area where you can lounge on the grass or swim. Both hostels are generally around $5 USD.

For a more luxurious option, Phong Nha Farmstay is shockingly beautiful. It’s located a good 20 minutes away from the center on the edge of vast rice fields.

There’s likely no better spot in the whole of Phong Nha for sunset. Even if you don’t want to pay the $30 USD+ to stay here, you should come here for a drink during golden hour.

Days 19-22- Hoi An

For those of you somewhat familiar with Vietnam, you’ll notice that I skipped over two of the more popular cities: Hue and Da Nang.

My reason for doing this is that neither of them really spoke to me. But they may speak to you: for instance, Hue houses the old imperial city- a massive, walled complex. If you’re more the history type, a day in Hue might not be a bad idea (you can also then drive the Hai Van Pass to Da Nang or Hoi An- note that the post I linked does it in reverse).

Da Nang is a more scaled-up city on the water just north of Hoi An.

There’s a few things to do here- for instance, the Son Tra Peninsula with its massive Lady Buddha and stunning coastal road, as well as the Marble Mountains.

But there’s nothing wrong with heading straight to Hoi An. It’s an awesome place, one where you can really just unwind for a couple of days.

Either way, take an overnight or early morning bus from Phong Nha (early morning if going to Hue, too short for overnight).

Things to Do

• Stroll around town (especially at night). Hoi An (literally) lights up at night. The town itself is stunning, with its Chinese and Japanese inspired architecture as well as its quaint pedestrian roads.
  
  Then there’s the lanterns that steal the show. They’re everywhere in Hoi An, and the effect they produce is mesmerizing. Stroll along a narrow street or the riverbanks, watching the procession of lantern boats gliding past.
• Take a lantern boat ride. It’s touristy, sure- but a must. There will be infinite locals approaching you and offering a ride. Do your haggling and get that price down.

• Do some pottery in the Thanh Ha Pottery Village. If you’re an art person (or not), it’s a fun experience. You can book online, but I’d recommend you just show up in the village.
  
  I’m sure someone will accommodate you, and for a lower price than you’ll find online.
  
• Check out the nearby rice fields. Drive inland about 15-20 minutes from town and you’ll find some truly incredible rice fields.
  
  Come at sunset.

A good place to stay

Harmony Old Town Hostel is pretty good, under $5 USD a night with a buffet breakfast. Eat well, and you’ve just gotten yourself a free night’s accommodation.

Day 23- Cham Island

Cham Island is located off the coast of Hoi An.

Many tourists come to Cham Island as part of a day-trip tour from Hoi An, but you can easily do it on your own- I have a whole post detailing how.

To get here, book your ticket beforehand- especially in peak season. I booked through this number (+84 982221846) for 400k Dong round trip ($16).

If that number isn’t working, it may be worth it to pay a visit to the port (map below) the day before and walk into the offices. If nobody’s there, reach out to the numbers you see on their doors/buildings.

Hostels organize trips to Cham Island, but they are more expensive and they are just day trips. Trust me, it’s nice to spend a day on the island.

Things to Do

• Go beach hopping. It’s an island, don’t know what else you expected. Rent a scooter and tour around. The beaches are all located on the western side of the island.
  
  Also rent a snorkel. There’s some nice reefs around the island.
• Scooter around. The eastern side of the island is more mountainous and scenic, but be aware that the roads can be treacherous. There are fallen rocks that you’ll have to navigate around, and as of May 2025 the road gets to a point where it is impassable.

A good place to stay

There are two areas you can stay in on Cham Island.

The first is near where the boat drops you off, called Bãi Làng.

The second is 10-15 minutes south of the port. I believe it’s called Bãi Hương.

I’d recommend booking in advance on Airbnb or Booking.com in high season. I didn’t and there was literally nothing left- had to go door asking if anyone had space.

Either way works.

Week 4- Head to Ho Chi Minh

Days 24-25- Da Lat

Take a night bus over to Da Lat, which is a town that reminded me somewhat of the north.

The town/city itself is bustling, but nature is the star here. Waterfalls, viewpoints and the like.

Though to be completely honest, Da Lat doesn’t really compare to towns like Sapa. It’s still beautiful, but ever so slightly underwhelming after having been to the North. I’d still definitely spend a day or two here though.

Things to Do

• Go visit the many waterfalls in the area. This can be a full day activity- you can read more about the specific waterfalls here.
• Check out the night market in the center of town. It’s massive, and really cheap. Lots of great street food.
• Head up to a viewpoint for sunset. Head outside of town for 20-30 minutes and you’ll reach hilly areas that have places where you can get a drink and watch the sun setting over the Da Lat landscape. I’ll attach a good spot below.

A good place to stay

I stayed in a couple of places in Da Lat, and I’d say that the best was Dalat Alley Backpackers Hostel.

There’s also a bunch of $1 hostels here, which is so awesome. I didn’t stay in any (not my choice, to be clear), but the reviews aren’t too bad. Check them out on Hostelworld.

Day 26- The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne

Mui Ne will be a short one-day stop.

It’s a couple of hours from Da Lat- a morning bus will suffice.

Things to Do

• Go for a swim. Stay at a hostel by the water and go jump in the ocean. The water won’t be as clear as, say, Cham Island- but for whatever reason, it’s a lot warmer.
  
  Sure, you’re a few hours further south- but the difference is still quite startling and a nice surprise.
• Head to the sand dunes. The dunes are the reason you’re in Mui Ne, and a truly unique piece of geography in Southeast Asia.
  
  You have two options for how to see them.
  
  First, you can take a tour. You book them at the hostel and they generally go at sunrise and sunset. The price isn’t bad, at around 200k Dong per person. However, you’ll have to pay a lot more for extras (like ATVs on the dunes).
  
  Another option is to go by yourself. Rent a scooter, drive outside of town for 15-20 minutes and you’ll reach the red sand dunes. Simply park and walk on up, free of charge.
  
  Mui Ne also has white sand dunes further down the road. You can drive there, but know that police hang out here and often stop tourists. So I’d only drive yourself to the white dunes if you have an international license.

A good place to stay

Anywhere on the water is pretty good. iHome is lively and cheap.

Days 27-28- Ho Chi Minh City

Finally, we end our trip in Ho Chi Minh City- otherwise known as Saigon.

There’s a good amount to do in the city, and you’ll want a day to venture out of the city to the Mekong Delta or to cool war tunnels and stuff.

Things to Do

• Explore the city. Chaotic markets like Bến Thành, street food everywhere. The War Remnants Museum, for a sobering look at the Vietnam War. The commies know how to make you feel guilty, that’s for sure.

• Check out the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels were used by the Viet Cong to surprise attack the Southern and American forces.
  
  You can crawl through narrow, hidden passageways, and have someone film as you awkwardly drop into a hole and cover your head with a leaf-covered sewer grate. Fun stuff.
• Go to the Mekong Delta. A Mekong Delta day trip is a great way to experience the region’s unique river and rural life.
  
  You’ll cruise through peaceful canals, visit local workshops, sample fresh tropical fruits, and see traditional villages up close. A nice break from the city.
  
  Do the Cu Chi Tunnels on one day and the Mekong Delta another. Spend the remainder of those days exploring the city.

A good place to stay

I really don’t have a specific recommendation for Ho Chi Minh (and, to be honest, I kinda want to go to sleep).

Here’s a Hostelworld link. As always, find a place with a high quality and quantity of reviews.

And so, your month in Vietnam has come to an end. But if you’ve followed this guide, no doubt you’ve made the most of it!