Backpacking Vietnam North To South: 10 Bucketlist Places To Visit
Are you looking for the best places to visit on your 2-, 3- or 4 week itinerary for backpacking Vietnam? I have gathered all of my favourite places and experiences in one post, so you can start planning your backpacking trip to this wonderful destination in South East Asia!
Vietnam was by far my favorite backpacking destination in South East Asia. I found it fascinating how the country had SO many different things to offer. In this post alone, you will get a glimpse at Vietnams:
- Sand dunes
- Crystal blue bays
- Ricefields
- Mountains
- Floating villages
- Ancient temples
- And more!
Without further ado, let’s look at 10 places you should definitely visit on your backpacking trip to Vietnam.
10 Bucketlist Places To Visit Backpacking Vietnam
Hanoi Old Town: where chaos, culture and charm meets
Hanoi Old Town is an experience I will never forget. It was my first encounter with the busy streets of Southeast Asia – and it definitely took me a couple of days to cross the streets without being scared for my life. But this is all part of the charm!
The Old Town Quarter of Hanoi is such a charming area to explore, with tons of small streets, markets, street food, Banh Mi’s and temples around every corner! It is also famous for Hanoi Train Street, where a train passes along this tiny street filled with restaurants and shops.
Sapa: Hike in Vietnams Ricefields
In Northern Vietnam you will find Sapa – a small town surrounded by mountains of rice fields and traditional villages. It is one of the best places to visit when backpacking Vietnam, if you want to learn about the culture and lives of hill tribes. Also, it is one of the most convenient places to immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture, gaze upon the famous ricefields and hike along stunning scenaries.
How To Visit Sapa
If you want to visit Sapa, one of the easiest ways to do it is through a multi-day tour departing from Hanoi. By joining this tour, you will get transport to and from Sapa, and a local guide waiting to pick you up from the bus station. On the other hand, you can also travel to Sapa yourself by bus, which takes 5-6 hours overnight. From there, I still recommend getting a guide to explore the region, if you plan on doing multiday-treks.
Halong Bay: Kayak In Crystal Blue Water Among Floating Villages
Another bucketlist destination in Vietnam is Halong Bay. These crystal blue waters have become a famous symbol of Vietnam, with limestone rocks rising above floating villages in a mezmerizing scene. Because of this, it is one of the best and most popular places to visit when backpacking Vietnam and should not be missed on your itinerary!
How To Visit Halong Bay
Most visit Halong Bay via day- or multiday tours starting from Hanoi. Again, this is the easiest way to do it, as all transportation, meals and activities are planned for you. There are a ton of different types of tours to choose from, from budget backpacking trips to Halong Bay to luxury cruises, waterplanes and more. There are even tours where you stay overnight on small islands in the middle of the bay and kayak as the sun is rising! Doesn’t that sound like a bucketlist experience?
Ninh Binh: Bike Around old temples, Ancient Capitals and the most beautiful nature
Ninh Binh is another place in Vietnam you should definitely visit during your backpacking trip. It has been called the Halong Bay on land, as the same limestone rocks rise above the ricefields and rivers in the area. Although this is an impressive sight in itself, you should also come to Ninh Binh to experience the ancient capital – Hoa Lu -, explore temples and caves and have an adventure on its famous rivers!
Hoi An: Visit The City Of Lanterns
If you are backpacking Vietnam, make sure to stop by Hoi An about halfway between the North and the South! The city is famous for the thousands of lanterns lighting up the streets and the river at night. Because of its white beaches and many cute cafés, it has a very holiday-like feeling to it. This makes it the perfect place to take a break on your backpacking trip! Also, many come here to get clothes tailored or made, so if you can afford some space in your backpack, this is your chance!
Da Lat: Explore Coffee Farms, Waterfalls And Mountaintop Temples
The value of visiting Da Lat was such a surprise to me, and it quickly became one of my favourite places to visit in Vietnam! Da Lat is located in the highlands of Vietnam and filled with beautiful waterfalls, mountaintop temples, coffee farms, silk farms, wild horses and more! Also, it is a great place to do a home stay, immerse yourself in the Vietnamese culture and enjoy family dinners with fellow backpackers.
Pro Tip: One of the best things you can do in Da Lat is to go on a guided tour of the different farms and temples in the area. We did a lot of driving between places and were happy to have a local help us out!
Mui Ne: Explore Vietnams Sand Dunes
One of the most unusual places to visit on your backpacking trip to Vietnam is the red and white sand dunes of Mui Ne. Once you have experienced the rest of Vietnams natural surroundings, you will be suprised to find that this scenarie even exists. At least I couldn’t believe it – it looked nothing like I had experienced in Vietnam so far!
Fun fact: At the sand dunes in Mui Ne, you can partake in a lot of fun activities such as sandboarding and jeep ride tours.
Cu Chi Tunnels: Learn About The History Of The Vietnam War
The Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most historically significant places to visit in Vietnam. Although the picture below does not look like much, it is an impressive experience to see the mazes of tunnels used during the Vietnam War. This is an important glimpse into history and definitely something you should do, if you want a better understanding of Vietnam as a country today.
Mekong Delta: Experience Floating Villages and Markets
One of the most famous places to visit when backpacking Vietnam is Mekong Delta. This region in the south of Vietnam is filled with floating villages and markets among rice fields. Large parts of the area is made up of smaller rivers coming from the Mekong River. Many locals live on the smaller rivers and use the water as their main transportation, which makes this region so special to visit.
How To Visit The Mekong Delta
You can visit the Mekong Delta region either by a day- or multiday trip from Ho Chi Minh City. In this way, you get to cruise along the Mekong River, experience the floating markets with a guide, visit local families on the river and learn about the history of the place.
Try a traditional vietnamese cooking class
Lastly, you cannot end your backpacking trip to Vietnam without trying a traditional vietnamese cooking class! You can find these in most bigger cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is such a fun and different experience, and a great way to know what you have actually been eating during your backpacking trip!
I hope these 10 bucketlist places to visit in Vietnam has inspired your backpacking itinerary! If you are in doubt about what to bring for your backpacking trip to Vietnam, I have made a full packing list for you!
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