Last year, in May and June, I went solo traveling for one month in Vietnam. I started in the north, in Hanoi, and traveled down the country by bus and train. I finished my trip in Ho-Chi-Minh City, in the south of Vietnam. If you are traveling the other way around (from South to North), you can simply reverse this itinerary. Experiencing the whole country like this was truly amazing, and now I can say that Vietnam really has it all, from mountains to beaches, to buzzing cities, to ancient temples. They even have dunes where you can go sandboarding!
One month in Vietnam is a pretty good time, in which you can experience a lot of the things that this beautiful country has to offer, without having to rush through. I will also mention which places you could skip if you have less time, as well as some tips for when you have more time. This itinerary is ideal for backpacking in Vietnam, and can be adjusted to different budgets. So, let me introduce you to my one month Vietnam itinerary, which covers all the most important must-sees.
Overview Vietnam One Month Itinerary
This is my Vietnam travel route from north to south:
Personally, I found the Northern part of Vietnam more beautiful, which is why I would suggest to spend at least half of your time there.
Week 1 & 2: North Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Ha Giang Loop, Ninh Binh)
Week 3: Central Vietnam (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An)
Week 4: Southern Central & South Vietnam (Quy Nhon, Da Lat, Mui Ne, Ho-Chi-Minh-City, Mekong Delta)
Week 1 & 2: North Vietnam
- Hani Day 1-3
Hanoi (Day 1-3)
I arrived in Vietnam at Hanoi airport. Here I experienced the bustling Vietnamese city life with all its scooters, colorful lanterns, and delicious street kitchens for the first time. Hanoi is such a lively city and there are so many things to do, and I immediately fell in love with the vibe of the city. If you are backpacking in Vietnam for four weeks, I would suggest staying in Hanoi for around three days. This will give you time to visit the most important places and get a feel for the city.
You will also have the chance to savor some Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Banh Mi (bread with delicious fillings), and Vietnamese coffee, like egg coffee (it might sound strange, but it’s actually pretty good). If you are a city person, you might want to stay in Hanoi for a bit longer, though, as there are so many things to see, and personally, out of the big cities, I liked Hanoi the most. (Although this might be an unpopular opinion, since many people I spoke to enjoyed Hoi An the most.)
Here are just some of the amazing things to do in Hanoi:
To Do:
-Take a free walking tour
-Try Pho
-Visit the train street
-Savor the local cuisine by doing a food tour
-Visit the Vietnamese women’s museum
-Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake & visit the turtle tower
-Try some Vietnamese specialty coffee
-Visit Ho Tay Lake & the Tran Quoc-Pagoda
-Visit the One Pillar Pagoda
- Ha Long Bay Day 4-6
Ha Long Bay (Day 4-6)
Ha Long Bay is a bay area in the northeast of Vietnam, and is a must on every 4 weeks in Vietnam itinerary. It can be reached quite easily by bus from Hanoi. The drive is around 3 hours. The landscape in Ha Long Bay is very spectacular, with green islands with rocky facades emerging from turquoise water. You will definitely have to take a boat tour and explore the amazing landscapes from the water.
The easiest way to do this is to book an organized, multi-day tour starting from Hanoi. This includes the bus ride and one or two days on a boat with a local guide. I did a three-day tour with one night on a boat and one night on Cat Ba Island with Sunlightcruise. This also involved some kayaking and swimming in Ha Long Bay. Cat Ba Island is definitely worth visiting as well, as it is beautiful and green and is ideal for hiking. There are many different kinds of tours, so be sure to do your research beforehand and find one that fits your interests. There are some tours which are catered mostly to young people, with drinking and partying in the evening. And then there are some tours which are more chill and which are catered to people of different ages.
- Sapa Day 7-9
Sapa (Day 7-9)
Sapa is a mountain region in the northwest of Vietnam. I took an organized tour there again, as this is the easiest and most comfortable. The bus ride from Hanoi is around 6 hours, but you will be rewarded with beautiful views of green mountains, rice fields, and buffalo. This area is ideal for hiking, but be warned: the ground was pretty slippery when I was there, and it was definitely not a piece of cake hiking through the mountains there for two days. But then again, I’m also not an experienced hiker.
So, I would say, if you are relatively fit and want to experience the Vietnamese mountains, definitely go for it! The views are really amazing. Some nice local women were helping us during the hike; without them, I probably would have landed in the mud countless times. Just make sure to buy something small from them at the end (a small woven bag, for example), to thank them for their help.
- Ha Giang Loop Day 10-12
Ha Giang Loop (Day 10-12)
And now, my personal favorite thing to do in Vietnam, the Ha Giang Loop. It is kind of crazy that I almost didn’t do it. I was slightly scared of riding on a motorcycle, even if just on the back. However, so many people had told me that this was their absolute favorite thing they did in Vietnam, so in the end, I decided very spontaneously to still do it. If you are a bit better at planning than me then you can go straight from Sapa to Ha Giang Loop. Otherwise, it’s an 8-hour bus ride from Hanoi.
The Ha Giang Loop is a winding road that goes through a mountain range all the way in the North of Vietnam, close to the Chinese border. And hands down, the views were some of the most beautiful views I have seen in my entire life. Hills and rice terraces stretch as far as the eye can see, glittering green and golden in the sun. The Loop can be driven either by car or motorcycle; however, motorcycle is the most common, as the streets are better equipped for motorcycles, and they allow for better views.
You can either drive the motorcycle yourself or ride on the back. But I would definitely recommend driving together with a group and a guide, as the driving conditions can be tricky. I did the tour with Hong Hao Hostel, but there are many different operators. In the evening, we drank some Happy Water (Vietnamese rice wine) and sang karaoke together. An absolute must when backpacking in Vietnam!
- Ninh Binh Day 13-14
Ninh Binh (Day 13-14)
Ninh Binh is a quaint little city, only 2 hours south of Hanoi. You can either take a day trip here from Hanoi, or you can stop here on your way south/north. One day here should be enough to see the most important attractions, like Mua Cave, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and Trang An. However, the attractions are quite far away from each other, so you either rent a scooter or book an organized tour with transport. I booked a tour via GetYourGuide.
To Do:
-Visit Mua Cave
-Explore Bai Dinh Pagoda
-Visit Trang An
- Hue Day 15-16
Week 3 – Central Vietnam
Hue (Day 15-16)
From Ninh Binh, I took a night train to Hue, my first stop in central Vietnam. Some people take a plane for this trajectory. But I think the train ride (while long) was alright, and I shared a sleeping cabin with a lovely Vietnamese family.
For Hue, I would plan a day, maximum two, to visit the historic citadel, and maybe also the abandoned waterpark. However, to visit the waterpark, you will have to rent a scooter and sneak in, since theoretically it’s forbidden to visit. Additionally, the nightlife in Hue is pretty crazy. There are many clubs with very elaborate thematic designs (for example, in prison style, with all the staff dressed in prison clothing). But even if you don’t enter the clubs, there is also a lot going on in the streets in front of the clubs at night, with music, people dancing in costumes, etc.
To Do:
-Visit the historic Citadel
-Visit the abandoned waterpark
-Experience the nightlife
- Da Nang (optional) Day 17
Da Nang (Optional, Day 17)
You can visit Da Nang if you have an extra day during your one month in Vietnam. But if not, you can also skip it without missing out on too much, in my opinion. There is a Dragon Bridge with a fire show in the evening on weekends, and a long beach where you can go for a swim. Or, if you feel like going for a hike, you can visit Son Tra Mountain.
To Do:
-See the Dragon Bridge (on weekends, in the evening)
-Go for a walk at Son Tra Mountain
-Go for a swim
- Hoi An Day 18-21
Hoi An (Day 18-21)
Hoi An is a bustling, quaint city in Central Vietnam, with loads of things to do. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in Vietnam in 4 weeks. Some of the people I met on my trip said they got stuck there for a week or longer, because they simply loved it so much. Nowadays, it might be a little bit touristy, but no reason not to love it. The old town is very beautiful, especially at night, when it gets lit up with hundreds of colorful lanterns.
There is a delicious night market by the river, and you will also find many good bars and vegetarian restaurants (to my delight). You can even prepare your own Vietnamese Coffee at Unicorn Bowl & Coffee or do a Vietnamese cooking class with GetYourGuide. From Hoi An, you can also go on various day trips to amazing locations, such as the Marble Mountains or My Son temple. I also did a SeaWalk to explore the corals and fish, which was a truly breathtaking experience.
To Do:
-Explore the old town
-Walk by the river at night
-Eat delicious food in the night market
-Try the vegetarian restaurants
-Make your own Vietnamese Coffee at
-Learn to cook Vietnamese food in a cooking class
-Enjoy a basket boat ride
-Discover the My Son temple
-Join a lantern-making class
-Explore the marble mountain
-Explore the corals and fish by doing a SeaWalk
- Quy Nhon (optional) Day 22-23
Week 4 – Southern Central Vietnam & South Vietnam
Quy Nhon (Optional, Day 22-23)
Quy Nhon is a little beach town in Southern Central Vietnam. It is somewhat of an inside tip, since it is not very touristy. Quy Nhon was one of the very few places where the fact that I did not speak Vietnamese turned out to be a bit of an issue. I managed to still make myself understood with the help of Google Translate, though. Quy Nhon is an optional stop if you want to relax a bit on the beach and go for a swim in a place a little bit off the beaten track. If you don’t have much time, you can also skip it, though.
To Do:
-Go for a swim
-Relax in a beach bar
-Do kayaking/stand-up paddling
- (Nha Trang) (probably skip)
(Nha Trang, probably skip)
Nha Trang is another city by the beach, not too far from Quy Nhon, but it is a bit bigger and more touristy. I did not visit Nha Trang, because some people advised me against it. They mentioned that it is not the prettiest city in the area, and a bit dirty. But since I haven’t been there, I can’t make a judgment for myself. So, if you have a bit more time, you could check it out and see for yourself.
- Da Lat Day 24-25
Da Lat (Day 24-25)
Da Lat was my favorite city in the southern half of the country. It is located on a little hill, which makes it always a little bit cooler there than in the surrounding cities. And believe me, after traveling in 30+ degree weather for 3 weeks, you will enjoy this little cooldown. So definitely take a stop here during your one month in Vietnam. Especially the countryside surrounding the city is beautiful, and either renting a scooter or booking a tour where you travel on the back of a motorbike (like I did) is definitely worth it. Another mandatory stop is the crazy house, designed by architect Đặng Việt Nga, and the maze bar (but be careful not to get lost, especially after a few drinks 😉).
To Do:
-Visit the crazy house
-Take a motorbike tour around the countryside
-Try weasel coffee
-Take a ride on Datanla New Alpine Coaster
-Visit the maze bar
- Mui Ne Day 26-27
Mui Ne (Day 26-27)
A bit further south of Da Lat is Mui Ne, a little town by the coast with sand dunes where you can go sandboarding. But be prepared to get sandy! Another place to visit is the fairy stream, a little stream that you can walk through. You can do a tour (I booked it with the hostel I stayed in), or rent a scooter if you prefer to go by yourself.
To Do:
-Go Sandboarding in the white dunes
-Have an amazing meal in the food court
-Walk along the fairy stream
- Ho-Chi-Minh City Day 28-29
Ho-Chi-Minh City (Day 28-29)
Ho-Chi-Minh City is considered Vietnam’s economic capital, and gives off Western big city vibes. It is definitely worth visiting for the War Museum, telling the story of the Vietnam War, and for a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels, a bit outside the city, which were used in the war. The coffee building also looks quite nice, and it is a good place to drink a coffee with a view. However, apart from that, I personally think that it is more interesting to spend time in other places during your Vietnam trip.
To Do:
-Visit the War Museum
-Take a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels
-Get a coffee in the coffee building
- Mekong River Delta (if still time) Day 30-31
Mekong River Delta (if still time, Day 30-31)
From Ho-Chi-Minh City, you can take a trip to the Mekong Delta, a bit further south-west. This is the place where most of the food of Vietnam is grown. Taking a boat trip here is mandatory, as well as visiting the floating market, a market entirely on the water. The sellers are selling their goods on boats, and place samples of their products on a long bamboo pole mounted on the boat to show what they are selling. That could be pineapples, pumpkins, onions, etc., and the transaction happens directly over the water between vessels.
To Do:
-Visit the floating market
-Take a boat trip
-Explore Can Tho
Optional Add-Ons for your Vietnam Travel Guide
If you have more than 4 weeks in Vietnam (lucky you), you could consider adding some of the following places/activities. In fact, there are so many things to see in Vietnam that you could probably spend three years there without seeing everything.
-Nha Trang: Even though there might be more interesting places to visit in Vietnam, this beach town might still be worth a visit.
-More time in Hoi An: There are so many things to do in Hoi An that the three days planned here simply won’t be enough, especially if you want to do day trips as well. Spending a few more days in Hoi An will give you the possibility to enjoy the city’s charm more fully.
-More time in Hanoi: The same goes for Hanoi. Especially if you enjoy the hustle and bustle of big cities, you won’t regret spending some extra time in Vietnam’s lively capital.
-Golden Bridge or “Hand Bridge” in Ba Na Hills: You might have seen the iconic picture of the Golden Bridge in Vietnam, featuring two gigantic stone hands holding the bridge. While I have personally not been there because I heard mixed things about it being worth it, it might be worth checking it out for some nice views and pictures. The bridge is located close to Da Nang.
-Son Doong Cave: Son Doong Cave is the largest natural cave on Earth, and might be well worth exploring if you are an adventure and nature lover, and have extra time and budget left.
-Relax: This itinerary does not leave much time for relaxation, but of course, sometimes you need a day off where you are just relaxing and sipping egg coffee in a nice café. Especially if you are traveling longer, don’t forget to take breaks as well.
Transportation in Vietnam
Bus
Traveling between cities is easiest and cheapest by bus. The buses are comfortable, and even during the day, many times you will probably drive in a night bus, so you can lie down and stretch your legs. Some of the longer trajectories you might actually want to travel at night, though, to save time. However, be prepared not to get too much sleep. Especially if you are tall and have long legs, sleeping in a comfortable position might be difficult.
Train
The train is slightly more comfortable, especially for traveling long distances at night. However, it is more expensive, and you also need to book it a bit in advance, while a bus you can book spontaneously. Additionally, not all places are reachable by train. You can book buses and trains on 12Go.
Plane
I did not take a plane within Vietnam, because I did not find it necessary. However, if you have less time, and/or dread taking the night buses and trains, you might consider taking a plane for the longer trajectories. However, you need to book a little bit in advance, and it is also more expensive than the bus or train.
Wrap-up
Traveling through Vietnam for a month was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had so far. From the buzzing energy of Hanoi, to the stunning landscapes of Ha Giang, and the slow and peaceful atmosphere in Da Lat – every place has its own charm.
If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, I hope this Vietnam itinerary for first timers helps you to make the most out of your time in this beautiful country. Don’t be afraid to skip a place or stay longer where it feels right – you don’t need to plan everything meticulously beforehand. Just enjoy the moment!
What were your favorite spots in Vietnam? Or do you have any questions about planning your trip? Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below – I’d love to hear from you! Also, check out my post about female solo travel in Vietnam for more information (many of the tips also apply to guys solo traveling 😊). Also, feel free to save or share this post with fellow travelers.