The perfect 30-day route and plan for travelling Vietnam as a backpacker
Vietnam consistently comes out on top as backpackers’ favourite destination on their South East Asia trips. Most tourist visas for Vietnam are 30 days long (it depends on which country you hold a passport from) so if you have the time I would implore you to maximise your visa allowance and spend the full 30 days exploring the whole country. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Vietnam twice and have compiled a packed-full 30-day itinerary which covers all of the hottest backpacker spots and experiences.
A note on when to visit Vietnam
Whether you’re travelling north-to-south or south-to-north, this itinerary can be reversed to optimise for the best weather conditions. The weather tends to be hotter in the south so if you’re in Vietnam in Spring, work south to north to maximise warmer temperatures in the latter half of your trip. Alternatively, if you’re planning to travel in the Autumn or Winter, I would advise travelling north to south. If you’re in Vietnam in Summer or wet season then it doesn’t matter which direction you head, as there will be a lot of thunderstorms in the evenings regardless.
Days 1 – 4: Hanoi
You’ll be popping in and out of Hanoi for the first part of your trip. Fly into the nation’s capital located in the north of the country. It’s a great jumping off point for your first leg.
Spend a morning on a walking tour of the Old Quarter. Be sure to try egg coffee, their specialty. Visit the best museum in the city – the Women’s Museum, located in the French Quarter. Soak up the hustle and bustle of the packed streets and attempt to cross the road (an activity in itself!) Try authentic Phó at Phó Thin or Phó Suong. Watch a water puppet show at the theatre. Observe the markets in action.
We stayed in Hotel De La Soie, which was reasonably priced and located in the centre of the Old Town beside the lake.
Days 4 – 7: Ha Giang Loop
Made famous on TikTok, the Ha Giang loop is a motorbike tour around the most northern province of Vietnam and is on every backpacker’s bucket list. Because the country is so long and you’ve so much to cover, opt for the three-day over the four-day tour. You can book this tour through a hostel in Hanoi when you arrive. We booked through Nexy Hostel located in the Old Quarter who booked us onto Hong Hao’s Ha Giang tour. I would really recommend booking with them. We opted for Easy Riders, meaning we just sat on the back of the bike while locals drove us around. The tour will set you back around €240 and it is worth every penny. Food, accommodation, night bus transfer to and from Hanoi, driver, bike and petrol are all included in this price.
You will leave Hanoi in the evening, arrive in Ha Giang town around 3 or 4am. A bed will be waiting for you. You’ll catch a few hours of sleep before waking around 8am for breakfast and driver assignment. You’ll leave Ha Giang around 10 or 11 am and begin your drive. Soak every minute up as it is one of the best experiences you will ever have in your life.
A note on Sa Pa
Sa Pa is another region in the north of the country. It is famous for its multi-day hikes. Some people choose to do both Ha Giang Loop and Sa Pa. Most will choose to do one or the other. It depends on what your preferences are. Both offer a window into the lives of the ethnic groups local to these areas. You can book these hikes with tour groups leaving from Hanoi. If you wish to do both I would recommend removing one or two of Phong Nha, Tam Coc, Mui Ne or Da Lat from your itinerary.
Days 7 – 10: Cat Ba Island in Ha Long Bay
A lot of backpackers used to opt for an overnight Ha Long Bay tour. Due to the rising cost, and reduction in quality of the tours offered, they are instead choosing to spend a couple of nights on Cat Ba island located in Ha Long Bay. You can reach Cat Ba by overnight bus and boat from Hanoi.
If you like, you can explore Cat Ba by renting a scooter. It is pure island vibes. The sunsets will melt your heart. Spend a day at the Cat Co beaches. It is well worth renting a lounger and indulging in fresh mango smoothies after your first few hectic days in Vietnam.
Days 10 – 13: Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)
Phew! We’re ten days in and we are STILL in the north of the country. The north of Vietnam has so much to offer. Tam Coc is a small town located in the region of Ninh Binh. It is likely that your overnight bus from Cat Ba will drop you in Tam Coc. I highly recommend that you stay in The Banana Tree hostel. It is a short walk from where the bus leaves you and this will be very handy when it’s 4am and there’s no taxis in this sleepy village.
Also known as the Ha Long Bay on land, Tam Coc is a village surrounded by limestone karst rock formations which tower over the infinite rice paddies. Hire a bicycle and get lost cycling around the village. Visit the cave temples by Bich Dong pagoda and climb to the Hang Mua viewpoint.
Days 13 – 16: Phong Nha
Break up the long journey between Ninh Binh and Hué by making a stop at Phong Nha. Feed Vietnamese ducks at The Duck Stop. Explore the vast caves by boat or on foot. There is a very reputable company called Oxalis Adventures who offer unique treks and tours of the caves with variations in difficulty and length so you can choose how intense of an adventure you want!
Days 16 – 17: Hué
Spend at least one night in the nation’s ancient capital. Book a walking tour of the citadel and learn about the past royal families of Vietnam. Hué has a completely different feel to the rest of the country. It is more affluent. You can take an evening walk or jog around the river. The food in Hué is superb. You cannot leave this town without trying their local specialties. I had the best Bun Bo Hué of my life in Ba Gai Hue Beef Noodle Soup restaurant. We stayed at Hue Sweethouse 1 Homestay and it was a pleasure – beautiful accommodation and gentle hosts.
Days 17 – 21: Hoi An
Journey from Hué to Hoi An on a tour which brings you between the cities and includes a stop at the Marble Mountains, the Hai Van Pass and the Lap An Lagoon. Your accommodation in Hoi An or Hué can organise this for you. It is the same price as a basic transfer between the cities.
Hoi An is a magical town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At night the town becomes alive with lanterns floating down the river. We stayed at Fireworks Homestay which was amazing for the price point. Take a bicycle and cycle out to An Bang beach. This area has undergone a lot of development in recent years. You can park up at a beach club for the day. Be careful where you park your bike as people will try to charge you for leaving it at designated parking spots. They are just making this up. There are plenty of places to leave it free of charge if you cycle slightly further down the coast and at the beach.
Hoi An is also a popular location to attend a Vietnamese cooking class. Also, if you’re looking for a good spot to meet fellow backpackers then head to Tiger Tiger for the night. Just be wary that the prices are inflated.
Days 21 – 24: Da Lat
Da Lat has a very French feel to it. That’s because it was occupied by them when the French colonised Vietnam in the 19th century. Ride the Alpine Coaster. I’d advise you to rent a scooter here in Da Lat to reach where the coaster starts. You can ride it down to Dalanta Waterfall and then hitch another ride back to where you parked.
I’d also highly recommend a visit to the Crazy House. It’s a collection of buildings which houses a guesthouse but is also free to visit. The architecture is as the name suggests – crazy! You’ll snap some fantastic shots here. At night go to the Maze Bar. It will be buzzing with fellow travellers once 10pm comes around. Go a little earlier to explore the various mazes which connect the numerous rooms. Try and find the ginger cat on the roof.
Days 24 – 26: Mui Ne
Mui Ne is a town set around sand dunes, the only dunes found in Vietnam. The town itself is not very appealing, nor are the food options for tourists, but the sunrise dune tour makes Mui Ne worth a visit.
You can book the tour through your accommodation. You will be picked up in a brightly coloured jeep around 4 or 4:30am. They drive you to the white dunes, many miles outside of town. Here you will be transferred to a quad bike (note there’s hidden costs in this tour, such as the quad bike). Remove any hats and hold on for dear life as you’re ferried at pace over and around the dunes. You’ll be set down at the highest dune where you and the other tourists will watch the sun rise. On one side you can see the moon descend below the horizon and on the other the sun begins to poke its head out. As it begins to get brighter, locals bring out sheets of plastic for you to sit on and they push you off the top of the sand dune making you slide down the 200m sandy mound. A true thrill, now barely 5am. The tour continues as you explore the red dunes and the local fishing village.
As you finish around 9am, exhilarated and exhausted, I’d advise you to walk to Pineapple beach bar and plonk yourself there for the day before taking the nightbus to your next destination.
Days 26 – 29/30: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
The second largest city in Vietnam feels very different to Hanoi. There is a wealth of history here from the Vietnam War. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels located outside the city. Book a tour through your accommodation. Check out the War Remnants museum. These two activities will inform you of the atrocities which went on during the war against the Americans.
Do not visit Ho Chi Minh City without spending a night on Bui Vien Street. It is the best party street you will find in South East Asia. It is a feast for the senses – the loudest music you will ever hear, thousands of people shuffling down a metre-wide street, clashing with bikes and carts, fire breathers and antsy bar salesmen grafting for their attention. Expect to be overwhelmed. Once you find a spot to park yourself you can watch everyone else struggle to navigate the chaos. Popcorn worthy.
A note on Phu Quoc Island
I visited Phu Quoc instead of Cat Ba on my second visit to Vietnam. I absolutely loved it. It is less frequented by backpackers so doesn’t tend to appear on itineraries. The world’s longest sea-crossing cable car is on Phu Quoc. Travelling to the theme park on the cable car was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I would not advise it for those who are afraid of heights. The entire crossing is at least 30 minutes in length. The boats appear like small dots bobbing up and down in the sea below. The waterpark was the best I have ever been to and made the anxiety-inducing crossing worth it. There is also a wooden rollercoaster at the theme park too and I believe they are constantly developing new rides there.