The Best Of Vietnam: One Month Itinerary
If you plan to spend one month travelling through Vietnam, I have got the perfect itinerary for you. I have tested this one month itinerary by myself and adapted it to make the best trip to Vietnam possible! Read along for all of the details on destinations, how to get there and what to pack for the trip.
Vietnam was my absolute favorite country to visit on my Southeast Asia backpacking trip. It has everything you could possibly need: the complete chaos and culture chock of Hanoi – ancient temples and fascinating history – stunning nature, ricefields and hill tribes – and even exotic beaches and sand dunes! In this post, you will find:
How To Get Around In Vietnam
The most popular areas of Vietnam are connected by busses, and night busses are the prominent transportation option for budget travellers in the country. During my month of backpacking in Vietnam, I mainly used night busses to get from one place to anothe. This saved me a nights accommodation on each trip, and gave me more time to explore each place.
If your budget allows for it, it is also possible to travel between several destinations by train or flight (although some destinations are only reachable by bus). To make it easy for you, I have added information boxes on transportation between each place in this itinerary below. I hope this helps you out!
What To Pack When Visiting Vietnam
If you haven’t been to a country like Vietnam before, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what to bring for your trip… What are the cultural norms in Vietnam? And how do you pack according to the weather? Based on my experience of backpacking several countries in Southeast Asia, I have made a detailed packing list for you. Check it out if you are looking for inspiration and tips on what to pack for Vietnam!
Vietnam 1 Month Itinerary
- Day 1-4: Hanoi (3 nights)
- Evening Day 4: Nightbus To Sa Pa
- Day 5-6: Sa Pa (1 night)
- Evening Day 6: Nightbus to Hanoi
- Day 7-8: Hanoi (1 night)
- Day 8-9: Halong Bay (1 night)
- Day 9-10: Hanoi (1 night)
- Day 10-13: Ninh Binh (3 nights)
- Evening Day 13: Night Bus/Train To Hue
- Day 14-15: Hué (1 night)
- Day 15-19: Hoi An (4 nights)
- Evening Day 19: Night Bus To Da Lat
- Day 20-23: Da Lat (3 nights)
- Day 23-25: Mui Ne (2 nights)
- Day 25-28: Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights)
- Day 28-30: Mekong Delta (2 nights)
- Day 30-31: Ho Chi Minh City (1 night)
Day 1-4: Hanoi (3 nights)
You will start your grand Vietnamese adventure in the buzzling, cultural city of Hanoi. Considering you might have come from afar, you will want a couple of days to adjust to the new time zone and aaaall of the cultural differences, you will experience. While you are in Hanoi, be sure to check out Hoan Kim Lake, stroll around Hanoi Old Quarters, experience Hanoi Train Street and explore some of the citys many museums and temples.
Note: Hanoi will become your base, as you explore the surrounding areas of Sa Pa and Halong Bay for the next 10 days. For this reason, I suggest getting in contact with the accommodation you are considering, and asking them, if it is possible to stay there on all of your nights in Hanoi, and store your larger bags as you go on tours to Sa Pa and Halong Bay. Most hotels and hostels will be used to this and will gladly offer it to you. And in this way, you don’t have to check in and out a thousand times during your first 10 days in northern Vietnam!
Evening Day 4: Nightbus To Sa Pa
On the evening of day 4, it is time to head towards the beautiful rice fields in Sa Pa. To save a nights accommodation, I suggest taking a nightbus from Hanoi to Sa Pa, where you will arrive in the morning, ready for a day of adventures. You can also choose to take a bus in the morning on day 4 or 5 instead, although this will remove a day from either your Hanoi or Sapa itinerary.
Day 5-6: Sa Pa (1 night)
Sa Pa is famous for its beautiful rice fields and mountain views, as well as being home to hill tribes and rich Vietnamese culture. The best way to experience this beautiful region of Vietnam is by joining a tour with a local guide. Most tours will pick you up from Sa Pa bus station, when you arrive in the morning, and bring you back to the station on the following day. On the tours, you will hike through this stunning nature, visit traditional villages and tribes, and stay with local families on homestays.
Evening Day 6: Nightbus to Hanoi
After returning to Sa Pa town, take a nightbus back to Hanoi, where you will arrive on the morning of day 7. If you want to avoid the night busses, you can also choose to spend another night in Sa Pa town, and return to Hanoi on day 7.
Day 7-8: Hanoi (1 night)
After the night busses to and from Sa Pa (and the amazing experiences in Sa Pa), you will likely be tired and needing a day of rest and comfort. Spend this day in Hanoi recharging your batteries, endulging on delicious Vietnamese cuisine, and perhaps visiting a night market or museum!
Day 8-9: Halong Bay (1 night)
Halong Bay is one of the most famous areas in Vietnam, and a must visit for your trip! You have likely seen many pictures of these beautiful blue waters and rock formations before. Well, it is time to experience them in real life! For this itinerary, I recommend joining an overnight tour departing from Hanoi, as these will bring you to and from Halong Bay easily. There are many to choose from ranging from budget backpacker trips to luxury cruises!
Day 9-10: Hanoi (1 night)
After returning from Halong Bay, you might need a day to relax and prepare for your onwards travels. This is why I have added another day in Hanoi, and you can spend it exactly as you please! This will be your last day in Hanoi, so be sure to grab any souvenirs you might want before leaving.
Day 10: Travel From Hanoi To Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is only 95km away from Hanoi and easily connected by both train and bus, which will get you there in just 2 hours. Once you arrive in Ninh Binh, you will either need to take a taxi or private transfer to your accommodation.
Day 10-13: Ninh Binh (3 nights)
The next destination on this one month itinerary for Vietnam is the breathtaking natural wonders of Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh is known as ‘Halong Bay on Land’, since the same rock formations cover the lands amongst beautiful rivers, ricefields and ancient temples. The town itself is nothing impressive, so I highly recommend staying at a hostel or homestay in the country-side, where you can rent bikes or hike around to explore all that Ninh Binh has to offer.
Evening Day 13: Night Bus/Train To Hue
The transport from Ninh Binh to Hué is very long (11-12 hours), which is why I recommed taking a night bus or night train. In this way, the transportation won’t take out an entire day of your itinerary, and you will be ready to explore Hué the next morning! However, it is also possible to fly between them in just 1 hour 15 minutes, if your budget allows it.
Day 14-15: Hué (1 night)
Hué is a destination in Vietnam that most people miss – but I would argue that it is worth a one night visit! It was once the capital of Vietnam, and therefore has a large, impressive imperial city, which you can easily explore for hours! If you are feeling adventurous, Hué is also known for a large, abandoned amuzement park. It has a really spooky and interesting atmosphere to it!
Day 15: Travel From Hué to Hoi An
A travel day from Hué to Hoi An is easy, and will only take you 2-3 hours. It can be done by both bus, train and private transfer depending on your budget and preferences!
Day 15-19: Hoi An (4 nights)
Next on your one month itinerary for Vietnam is the city of lanterns: Hoi An. Hoi An was one of my favourite destinations in Vietnam, which is why I have allowed 4 whole nights for it in this itinerary. Also, it is the perfect place to take a few days to vacation and relax on beaches and in quaint cafés, after having explored this amazing and overwhelming country for weeks. While you are there, be sure to explore the beaches, bike around the surrounding nature, go to a tailor for some cheap, tailored clothes and see the city lit up by lanterns at night!
Evening Day 19: Night Bus To Da Lat
It is time to cover a large distance again, as you travel from Hoi An to Da Lat in the south of Vietnam. The most convenient transportation option is a 3 hours flight, although this will not be in everyones budget. For this reason, I also recommend taking a night bus from Hoi And to Da Lat, which will take you a minimum of 12 hours – so come prepared with snacks, water and all things comforting for the ride!
Day 20-23: Da Lat (3 nights)
You cannot go to Vietnam without experiencing all of the culture and beauty Da Lat has to offer. I absolutely loved how less crowded Da Lat was compared to other areas in Vietnam. It is the perfect place to get a true feeling for the local culture and communities, and I highly recommed staying at a homestay while you are there. In Da Lat, you can experience waterfalls, mountains, coffee farms, temples, wild horses and more!
Day 13: Travel From Da Lat To Mui Ne
Travelling from Da Lat to Mui Ne will take you between 2-4 hours depending on your choice of transportation. A private transfer is by far the quickest, while busses are the cheapest.
Day 23-25: Mui Ne (2 nights)
Next on this one month itinerary for Vietnam is the coastal town of Mui Ne, which is most famous for its red and white sand dunes! The fact that this type of landscape even exists in Vietnam was a total surprise to me. It still kind of blows my mind. While you are in Mui Ne, I recommend joining a jeep tour, which will take you around the natural wonders of this area!
Day 25: Travel From Mui Ne To Ho Chi Minh City
Travelling from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City can be done by either train or bus in just 3-4 hours.
Day 25-28: Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights)
By day 25 of this one month itinerary for Vietnam, you have now made it all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Spend the next couple of days exploring the citys many temples, historic sights and interesting museums. And if you haven’t already, be sure to go on a hunt for some delicious local cuisines! While you are there, I also recommend a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which will give you a brutal and fascinating insight into Vietnams recent history.
Day 28-30: Mekong Delta (2 nights)
From Ho Chi Minh City, you can join a multiday-tour to the Mekong Delta, which is a true bucketlist experience in Vietnam. Mekong Delta is a region in the south of Vietnam most famous for the Mekong River, which has centered a culture of floating villages and markets around it. It is such an interesting way of life and something you definitely want to experience with a local guide!
Day 30-31: Ho Chi Minh City (1 night)
As you return from the Mekong Delta, you have now reached the end of your one month in Vietnam. Spend your last day in the city collecting souvenirs and pictures, and getting a last taste of Vietnams amazing culture and cuisine, before heading home (or onwards).
Only 3 Weeks In Vietnam?
If you have 3 weeks to see the best of Vietnam, you can pretty much follow this itinerary and take out a thing or two! To get the best of everything, I recommend spending the first 12 days as this itinerary suggests, exploring Hanoi, Sa Pa, Halong Bay and Ninh Binh. After this, take a flight to Hoi An to experience the beautiful lantern city, and then take another flight to Ho Chi Minh City for historical museums and a trip to Mekong Delta!
Only 2 Weeks In Vietnam?
If you only have 2 weeks to explore Vietnam, that does not have to mean you cannot see the best of it! I would recommend centering your trip around either the north or south of Vietnam.
You can either spend 2 amazing weeks exploring Hanoi, Sa Pa, Halong Bay and Ninh Binh – or choose to focus your trip on Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, Da Lat and Hoi An! As you can see, both of these options will give you the best of both nature experiences and the buzzling cities of Vietnam. You won’t be sorry you visited, even if it is just for two weeks!
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