Vietnam was my favourite country I travelled, and it should definitely not be missed. This is my extensive itinerary, travel guide, must-visit destinations and how to travel on a budget. This country has it all, with such diverse landscapes from white sand beaches to the most breathtaking hills. Being so affordable, it is the perfect place for a backpacker on a budget.
Best Time To Visit Vietnam
Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, which means it has distinct wet and dry seasons, but the weather can vary significantly across the country due to its long north-south stretch. While the South of Vietnam has just wet and dry season like a lot of South East Asia, the centre and North has seasons more similar to the UK. It is important to make sure you time your trip depending on what you want to do. If you want to do the Ha Giang loop and hike Sa Pa, make sure to avoid winter or if you want to visit the white sandy beaches in the south, head there in dry season.
South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc)
Dry season: December to April
Rainy season: May to November
Temperatures are around 24°C to 35°C, being cooler in wet season. Dry season is peak time to visit due to the pleasant, warm, sunny weather.
Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Da Nang, Phong Nha)
Winter: December to February
Spring: March to May
Summer: June to August
Autumn: September to November
The winter sees cooler and less humid temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C. The area has mild winters but it can be quite rainy in parts. The spring is warm, dry, and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. This is a fantastic time to visit the central coast. The summer can get incredibly hot and dry, with temperatures often exceeding 35°C. Autumn is the rainy season in Central Vietnam, especially around Hue and Phong Nha, with storms and flooding being common. Temperatures remain warm, but expect heavy rainfall.
North Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay)
Winter: December to February
Spring: March to April
Summer: May to August
Autumn: September to November
The winter in the North of Vietnam is cold and dry, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. In the mountains (like Sapa), it can drop below freezing, and sometimes there’s even snow! The spring is a pleasant time to visit the area with mild temperatures, usually between 18°C and 25°C. This is one of the most pleasant times to visit the north. In the summer there are hot and humid temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. It’s also the rainy season, with frequent afternoon showers. Finally, the Autumn is also a great time to visit as it is warm and dry, with fewer rain and temperatures ranging from 22°C to 30°C.
Vietnam Backpacking Itinerary: How to Plan Your Trip
Below is my backpacking Vietnam travel route. People either typically do North to South or South to North or just focus on one area if you are limited on time (I would recommend the North over the South). A lot of people I met did North to South, however, I did South to North which I would recommend as people typically prefer the North with the Ha Giang loop being a highlight. This means you leave Vietnam on a high! But also, you learn a lot about the history of the countyr in Vietnam so you can carry this information with you for your trip.
One Month Itinerary
1. Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon
I actually really loved Ho Chi Minh. It is a big, busy city that gave me London / Western vibes in some places. I think it is so important to learn about the history of the country here, visiting the Chu Chi tunnels and war museum. You will learn about the Vietnam war and what the people of Vietnam had to endure and fight against. It is definitely a hard day, but shouldn’t be skipped.
Recommended length of stay: x2 – x3 nights
2. Mui Ne
We didn’t have much time here as we only wanted to do the sand dunes and then move on. We got an early bus, went straight onto the dunes trip and left the next day. They were a lot of fun, there was also a nice night market for food and I would definitely recommend staying in the iHome hostel. It is was very social, organised the dunes trip and had a nice pool to chill by.
Recommended stay: x1 – x2 nights
3. Da Lat
Da Lat is a really nice, chilled place up in the hills. There are lots of fun things to do here from the Alpine Coaster, the crazy house and the maze bar. It also is quite a fun night out. I believe there is now a Mario Kart-esque Go Kart track which looks so fun. I recommend staying at Da Lat family hostel – dorms ar £1!!! And they do family style dinners every night that everyone goes to, it is cheap and basically all you can eat. I ate so much one night I was sick – oops! They do drinks and cocktails after also.
Recommended stay: x2 – x4 nights
4. Hội An
The way I love Hội An! One of my favourite places I visited on my travels. There is so much to do here and it is also the sort of place that is so nice to just walk around the Old Town and chill. I could spend so long here honestly – I will 100% be going back. Make sure you get tailor made clothes here. My tip would be to go with screenshots and ideas of what you want to get – think of things you’ve always wanted but can’t find anywhere or don’t usually suit your body. Have a good look on Pinterest! There are also books for inspiration at the tailors to help, but this can be overwhelming if you don’t already have an idea. I would also recommend doing a cooking class here, as well as a bicycle tour and the coconut boats. I stayed at the Mad Monkey which offer both these options and do a deal if you book both. I really enjoyed both and you even get to make your own lantern on the bicycle tour. Explore the history of the ancient town, and see the lanterns on the river at night. You can visit the beautiful beaches here as well as in nearby Da Nang. The “Golden Bridge” in Ba Na Hills is also accessible from here – I didn’t do it as it was surprisingly expensive for a backpacker and the weather was cloudy. We did do a day trip to the Marble Mountains instead which was really cool to see. The Mad Monkey does lots of different events which were really fun, a highlight being a foam pool party.
Recommended stay: x5 night +
5. Phong Nha
This is a very beautiful part of Vietnam and starts to introduce you to the green, picturesque landscapes of central and Northern Vietnam. The famous Duck Stop is here which was a lot of silly fun. I’d also recommend getting bicycles and just cycling around the beautiful scenery.
Recommended stay: x1 – x2 nights
6. Ninh Binh
Most people stay in nearby Tam Coc. Make sure you do the Hang múa viewpoint, it is beautiful views from the top, but be prepared for a very sweaty climb. Get an iconic photo with the Vietnam flag up there! We also visited the very beautiful ancient Bai Dinh pagoda and strolled through beautiful scenery. We were in a bit of a rush in Ninh Binh so didn’t get to spend too much time here, but there is a lot more you can do from Hoa Lu ancient capital, Lily pad lakes, Trang an national park, and hiring a bicycle and cycling around the beautiful scenery.
Recommended stay: x2 – x4 nights
7. Cat Ba / Ha Long Bay
Ha Long bay is a top must do on many people’s Vietnam itinerary. Unpopular opinion but I personally think it is a little overhyped and overpriced. I prefered Khao Sok in Thailand, and found Ha Long bay was full of so much plastic and rubbish :(. However, if you do still want to see it and not spend too much money, you have options! We went to Cat Ba island and stayed at the Buffalo hostel. Here you can book a day boat tour which cost about £20 at the time I went (2023). It was really fun, we had food included, you can also buy drinks on the boat and it is such a vibe. You get to see the sites of the bay on the boat trip as well as the opportunity to jump in and have a swim.
Recommended stay: x1 – x2 nights
8. Sa Pa
I absolutely love Sa Pa – probably one of the highlights of my entire trip. Sa Pa is one of the most stunning places I have ever been, with the kindest people and is a part of Vietnam where you can experience old traditions, cultures and ethnic groups. The main thing to do in Sa Pa is hike the mountains and stay with a local person in their home, in their village. This was such an incredible experience. We arrived in Sa Pa at about 4am so we booked a room in the centre for the first night, the next day we explored Sa Pa, visiting Moana Sa Pa and the town. The next day we went on a 6-hour hike up a mountain with Mama Shu Shu’s daughter to her family home. That night we stayed we stayed with Mama Shu Shu and her family. Her and her family were so incredibly welcoming, they cooked us a really delicious family dinner, some family members even came round, and they kept giving us happy water! The next day we hiked through rice fields with Mama Shu Shu back to town before leaving Sa Pa. You can do more than x1 night with Mama Shu Shu and I wish I had the time to do so.
Recommended stay: x2 – x4 nights
9. Hà Giang Loop
Words can’t describe this experience and how amazing it was. I think it changed my brain chemistry. I booked through Mama Hostel rather than the very popular Jasmine hostel because I had heard a lot of horror stories and them taking groups that were too big. Also Mama’s has cooler tops! I paid about £125 for the x4 day experience. You can do x3 days, but I highly recommend doing the x4. Expect to see the most breathtaking views, meet the most amazing people, sing lots, drink lots of happy water, and have some of the best memories of your life. If you are not confident at riding a motorcycle, please do not ride yourself, get an easy rider. Too many people get seriously injured and the road scan be scary, especially on day three. The easy riders are what make the whole experience so incredible. Having an easy rider also means you can take photos and videos along the way!
Recommended: x3 – x4 nights
10. Hanoi
I finished my time in Vietnam in Hanoi. It is the other key city in the country, Ho Chi Minh city being the other. Hanoi has an old time feel, with lots to do and explore. When I went it was soooo hot and humid which wasn’t ideal, but we still managed to do lots. Train Street is a popular spot, but make sure you look up what times the trains are, and you have to go to a café to access it. Other things to do are the Puppet Show which is a bit of fun culture, the Post-it café, walking around and seeing the street art, looking in shops, the Women’s Museum, Dong Tac secondhand market, and a night out on pub street. There is great shopping if you want some great quality fake trainers and street wear brands.
Recommended time: x2 – x4 nights
If you have less time then a month I would recommend focusing on a particular area or the key cities. Here are some examples:
Two week itinerary
North Vietnam
- Fly into Hanoi, spend x2 nights here.
- Ha Giang loop x3 nights
- Sa Pa x2 – x3 nights
- Cat Ba / Ha Long x2 nights
- Fly to Hoi An x3 nights OR Ninh Binh x2 – x3 nights
Key areas
- Fly into Ho Chi Minh, spend x3 nights
- Fly to Hoi An, x4 nights
- Fly to Hanoi x1 night
- Ha Giang loop, x3 nights
- Hanoi x2 nights
South Vietnan
- Fly into Ho Chi Minh, x3 nights
- Mui Ne, x2 night
- Da Lat, x2 nights
- Hoi An, x5 nights
Three Week Itinerary
North Vietnam
- Fly into Hanoi, spend x3 nights here.
- Ha Giang loop x3 nights
- Sa Pa x3 nights
- Cat Ba / Ha Long x2 nights
- Ninh Binh x3 nights
- Phong Nha, x2 nights
- Fly to Hoi An x5 nights
Key areas
- Fly into Ho Chi Minh, spend x3 nights
- Da Lat, x2 nights
- Hoi An, x5 nights
- Cat Ba, x2 nights
- Sa Pa, x3 nights
- Ha Giang loop, x3 nights
- Hanoi x3 nights
Budgeting for Backpacking in Vietnam
Vietnam is definitely a place that can be done on a budget, with meals costing as low as £1 and hostels being super affordable, even luxury hotels with appealing prices if you want to treat yourself. This makes it a really popular destination for backpackers to visit. Here are some average prices to expect:
| Food | £1 – £5 per meal |
| Accommodation | £1 – £10 for hostel or budget room |
| Transport | £3 – £20 roughly for buses |
| Activities | £5 – £30 + |
Tips for saving money:
- Use buses and sleeper buses rather than flying or hiring private transport. A lot of the sleeper buses in Vietnam are VIP ones and are actually quite nice.
- Don’t be afraid to try the street food or eat at local restaurants. Obviously use common sense and look at reviews to see where is good. You will probably eat some of the tastiest food at these places and for a much lower price.
- Stay in hostels rather than hotels – but don’t be afraid to treat yourself occasionally as hotels are very affordable!
- Barter with people in markets and selling souvenirs. They will put prices up for westerners and are accustomed to people bartering, just don’t be offensive with the price you offer!
- Grab is also a great app to have for when you need to get a taxi. It is a safer option but also means you get a set fee and aren’t ripped off.
Safety Tips for Backpackers
Vietnam is very safe for backpackers, however, as most places, you do still have to be vigilant and take steps to be more safe. Here are my Vietnam travel safety tips:
- There are lots of scams in Asia, and Vietnam is no different. Always make sure to buy tickets from official websites or partners. Book taxis through apps like Grab, and buses through official bus companies. Some people pose as tour guides when they are not, I personally didn’t reallyy use tour guides, but if you do make sure to go with official ones.
- In Hoi An, there is the mafia which picks tourists up on motorbikes pretending to be taxi drivers. They will then drive you to the middle of nowhere and rob you or demand more money. Always make sure to use Grab when booking a taxi or bike here.
- The roads in Vietnam are pretty crazy, so only drive a moped if you are very confident, and always wear a helmet. This applies to the Ha Giang loop also.
- To keep your belongings safe, keep them on you and don’t leave them unattended. Also try and use a bag such as the Uniqlo one which is crossbody. It can also be worth getting a padlock for your belongings when leaving them in the hostel. Don’t carry too much cash or valuables on you at once.
- Make sure you stay hydrated, have got the up to date vaccines and avoid food from places like rest stops (I know quite a few people that got food poisioning from these), and anywhere where the meat/fish has been left out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I often get asked the same questions or there were similar questions I wanted to know the answers to when I was planning. Here are some of them:
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
At the time of posting this blog, if you are from the UK you no longer need a visa to enter Vietnam if you are staying for 45 days or less for the purpose of tourism or business. Always check your governments website for information, requirements and updates.
Should I bring cash?
If it is your first country then I would bring a bit to get you started. Then when you are out there it is very easy to get cash out from ATMs.
Where was your favourite place?
The Ha Giang loop will forever be one of my most treasured memories. I also absolutely loved Sa Pa and Hoi An. I can’t wait to go back to all three places!
Should I learn some Vietnamese?
It is definitely polite and recommended to learn some Vietnamese. I would learn hello, thank you and goodbye as a minimum, and other phrases such as ‘how much does this cost?’ will come in handy.
I hope this blogs helps you plan your trip and answers any questions you may have! Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries, with the kindest people and so much to do. From the white sand beaches to the beautiful greenery of the mountains and rice fields. Vietnam is definitely a place to add to the top of your bucket list.
Check out my other travel blogs to help you plan your trip. This blog shares all my top travel tips!
