One Month in Vietnam: A Complete Itinerary

This complete one month Vietnam itinerary will take you on a journey from one end of the country to the other, showcasing all the highlights and must-sees along the way.

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From magnificent mountains to pristine beaches, buzzing cities to fascinating culture, Vietnam is a country full of contrasts and one that will leave you utterly spellbound. It’s the perfect destination for budget-minded travellers, boasting wonderfully cheap street food, bargain hostels and lots of free activities.

This 1 month Vietnam itinerary will help you map out and plan your adventure. It contains a nice mix of cities, nature, beaches and history, enabling you to really see the best of what Vietnam has to offer. You’ll visit the magnificent Halong Bay, go trekking in the lush mountains at Sa Pa, explore energetic Hanoi, unwind in peaceful Hoi An, enjoy outdoor activities in Da Lat and so much more.

Hanoi: 3 days

I’m going to assume your arrival point into Vietnam will be Hanoi. If you’ve come from the south into Ho Chi Minh City, then you can simply follow this itinerary in reverse order.

I’m usually not the biggest fan of Asian capitals, but I absolutely adored Hanoi. It’s a city that I could see myself living in. 3 days in Hanoi is plenty of time to see all the key highlights.

Things to do in Hanoi

• Explore the markets, shops and restaurants around Hoàn Kiem Lake
• Go to a water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
• Coffee shop hop around Hanoi’s buzzing cafe scene
• Visit the Ngoc Son Temple
• Take a Vietnamese cooking class

Ha Long Bay: 2-3 days

A UNESCO world heritage site featuring limestone karst cliffs bursting out of glistening emerald waters; Ha Long Bay is simply mesmerising. The best way to see Ha Long Bay is by taking a boat tour. Tours usually range from 1 to 5 days, with longer tours taking you out to less-visited parts of the bay.

There are over 200 companies offering tours to Halong Bay, from crazy booze cruises, activity-based cruises, relaxed family cruises and everything in between.

It was a hard choice, but we eventually settled on a 3-day, 2-night adventure cruise.  We were taken kayaking and hiking in the national park and got to enjoy the scenery of the bay from the deck. I can wholeheartedly recommend this tour if you’re looking for more of an activity-based cruise, rather than one that’s centred around alcohol.

Things to do in Ha Long Bay

• Explore the bay by boat
• Go hiking in Cat Ba National Park
• Kayak in the caves and inlets of Cat Ba National Park

Sa Pa: 2-3 days

Imagine lush mountains, terraced rice fields and friendly locals — you’re in Sa Pa. Sa Pa is often used as a base to go trekking in the mountains, which I really recommend you do.

You can hire a tour guide to take you on a multi-day trek, where you’ll get to stay in homestays en route. Homestays are great because you get to learn about the local village and the way of life there. Or, if you’re up for a challenge, opt to climb Mount Fansipan — the tallest mountain in Indochina.

Things to do in Sa Pa

• Go trekking in the mountains
• Explore the countryside and villages by motorbike
• Stay in a homestay in a local village
• Visit waterfalls
• Climb Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina

Tam Coc: 2 days

Often dubbed “the Halong Bay of inland Vietnam,” Tam Coc is an exceptionally beautiful place to be. It’s often skipped by travellers to the country, so it’s not quite as busy as other destinations. However, it’s a true gem of northern Vietnam and one you shouldn’t miss.

A highlight of Tam Coc is taking a boat ride down the Ngo Dong river. Vietnamese ladies wait with their boats at the pier and row you down the river at a peaceful, relaxing pace, passing through striking mountains and deep caves.

Things to do in Tam Coc

• Explore the Ngo Dong river by boat
• Visit the Hoa Lu temples
• Hike to Hang Mui Cave
• Explore the Van Long Nature Reserve by bicycle

Hue: 1 day

I wasn’t a huge fan of Hue — I felt it lacked character and held nothing of particular interest. However, there was one thing in Hue which really stood out to me: the abandoned water park.

Visitors are denied access now, but if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to sneak your way in. If sneaking into an abandoned water park isn’t your thing, there’s also an imperial city in Hue which was beautiful to visit, too.

Things to do in Hue

• Explore the imperial city
• Explore the abandoned water park
• Visit some pagodas
• Visit the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh

Da Nang: 2 days

Da Nang is a modern city known for its sandy beaches and French colonial architecture. Many travellers visit Da Nang only briefly to see the Marble Mountains — a magnificent cluster of 5 mountains, home to temples, caves and stunning views.

While there isn’t a ton to do here as a tourist, I would allow two days to explore the Marble Mountains, relax at the beach and perhaps visit the Bà Nà hills. Bà Nà hills is a mountaintop theme park resort designed like a 19th-century French village. It has a slightly high price tag, but it’s like being transported to an entirely different world.

Things to do in Da Nang

• Relax at the beach
• Hike up the Marble Mountains
• Visit the Dragon Bridge at night
• Visit Bà Nà hills

Hoi An: 3-4 days

I’ve not met anyone who didn’t love Hoi An. Imagine cobbled streets draped in lanterns, a languidly flowing river and countless quaint market stalls — it’s simply dazzling. So dazzling, in fact, that its old quarter has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. I could have spent so much longer in Hoi An but time wasn’t on my side.

Hoi An used to be a famous port city, and its architecture reflects the melting pot of cultures that came here to trade: Chinese, French, Vietnamese and Japanese influences can be seen all over. It’s also famous for its tailors — people come from all over the world to have clothes handmade in Hoi An.

Things to do in Hoi An

• Visit the My Son temples
• Relax by An Bang beach
• Wander around the ancient town
• Visit the Japanese covered bridge
• Take a street food tour
• Visit the town at night to see the lanterns lit up
• Chill out. The pace of life is slow and relaxed here.

Da Lat: 3-4 days

Modern with a local twist, Da Lat was my favourite place in all of Vietnam. There’s so much to see here: a thriving cafe scene, beautiful countryside, stunning temples and adrenaline activities. Da Lat has everything I could wish for in a location, and I could even see myself living here.

Things to do in Da Lat

• Go canyoning
• Visit a coffee plantation
• Wander around the lake
• Explore the waterfalls
• Have a drink at the maze bar
• Visit Linh An Tu Pagoda and Happy Buddha
• Stroll through Da Lat Flower Park

Tip: I recommend that you stay at Mr Peace Backpacker’s House while in Da Lat. This was such a lovely hostel, and the owner was incredibly friendly, greeting me like an old friend as I walked through the door for the first time. A “family dinner” is arranged every night — a brilliant way to get to know other backpackers.

Ho Chi Minh City: 2-3 days

Ho Chi Minh City is a huge hive of activity. It’s a collision of old and modern, where rich history has merged with swanky rooftop bars and towering skyscrapers. Motorbikes rule here and you’ll be shocked at the sheer number of bikes everywhere.

There are many day trips that are worth taking from Ho Chi Minh City. You can opt to visit the Chu Chi tunnels, where the Vietnamese managed to hide from American soldiers, or take a boat trip to The Mekong Delta to explore the vast maze of rivers spawning across Southern Vietnam.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

• Visit the War Remnants Museum  
• Have drinks at a sky bar
• Stroll through Tao Dan Park
• Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels
• Take a day trip to The Mekong Delta
• Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral

Additions and alternations to your Vietnam itinerary

Got longer than a month to spend? Or perhaps some of the destinations above aren’t right for you? Here are some other ideas to include in your Vietnam itinerary.

Ha Giang Loop

The Ha Giang Loop is a 4-day motorbike route around northern Vietnam. It’s renowned for its dramatic scenery, characterised by towering mountains, glorious rivers, and rice terraces. You’ll need to be competent and confident on a motorbike to complete the ride — if that’s you, the Ha Giang Loop is not one to be missed.

Mui Ne

As you travel down Vietnam, Mui Ne is the last coastal outpost before reaching Ho Chi Minh City. This ocean town is famous for its impressive sand dunes — yep, there are sand dunes in Vietnam — which are best explored on a jeep tour. You’ll only need a day or two in Mui Ne, but it’s worth the visit if you’re keen on exploring the dunes.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang’s beautiful bays, golden beaches and turquoise waters have seen it blossom into a fun tourist destination. It’s a great place to island-hop and go snorkelling, or simply relax on the sandy beaches. If you love beaches and island hopping, Nha Trang might be for you.

Phu Quoc

As Phu Quoc is an island, it’s rather expensive compared to the rest of Vietnam. However, it’s a great place to relax by the beach for a few days. Many of the beaches are very touristy, but if you hire a motorbike and drive away from the town, you can find your own beautiful beach quite easily. You can take a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc.

Planning your trip to Vietnam

I hope my 30-day Vietnam itinerary has given you some ideas on how you might like to spend your time in the country. Keep reading for my travel tips on what it’s like to travel in Vietnam, including budgets, cuisine, visas, getting around, and more.

Do you need a visa for Vietnam?

Many European nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France and Denmark, as well as South Korea and Japan, can enter Vietnam visa-free for 15 days. Read the full list of countries that can enter visa-free here.

For visits of up to 30 days, or nationalities who cannot enter visa-free, you’ll need to purchase an e-visa online before your arrival. I recommend you apply for this e-visa at least 3 days in advance.

Some nationalities, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, can enter visa-free for up to 30 days.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

You can visit Vietnam year-round as it has pretty sporadic weather. You’re bound to experience both rain and sunshine no matter when you visit. However, March and April are thought to have the lowest rainfall across the country, and temperatures are not too hot.

Costs of travelling in Vietnam

Vietnam is a very cheap country to travel in, especially if you stay in hostels and eat local food. Here are the typical costs of backpacking in Vietnam.

Accommodation: Hostels in Vietnam start at about 100,000 VND (4 USD) per night. Most hostels offer free WiFi and free breakfast, and some even give you a free beer upon arrival! If you want to stay in a budget hotel, rather than a hostel, you should expect to pay about 225,000 VND (10 USD) per night.

Food: Food is incredibly cheap in Vietnam. For example, you can get a large bowl of pho for 20,000 VND (just under 1 USD). I ate pho nearly every day. If you stick to street food, it will be easier and cheaper to eat out, rather than cook for yourself.

Transport: Vietnam’s bus network is extensive, and travelling by bus is cheaper than the train. You can get an Open Tour Bus Pass for about 50 USD, whereby you’ll be able to get on and off at any major city along the way. Standalone bus journeys between cities will usually set you back by about 15 USD. Public city buses are very inexpensive, with buses in Ho Chi Minh City costing about 4,000 VND (17 cents) per ride.

Activities: Vietnam is home to a ton of amazing, free activities. However, it’s likely that you’ll want to do some activities which cost. Halong Bay tours start at around 60 USD, going up to 130 USD for more luxury options. Trekking with guides can set you back 40-170 USD, depending on how many days of trekking you choose to do. Most museums, temples and site entrances will cost between 1-10 USD.

Vietnam daily budget breakdown

I would recommend allowing about 680,000 – 900,000 VND (25-35 USD) a day for backpacking in Vietnam. This is assuming that you’ll be staying in hostels, eating street food, taking local transport, and not drinking tons of alcohol.

If you’re planning on spending a lot of time on the island Phu Quoc, you’ll probably need to add another 231,900 – 463,900 VND (10-20 USD) or so a day to your budget for the duration of your time on the island, as it’s incredibly expensive. I found it difficult to track down good street food and accommodation on the island was quite pricey.

Also, if you’re going to be indulging in lots of expensive activities, such as trekking with guides, you’ll need to add a significant amount more to your budget.

Food & drink in Vietnam

Vietnam is home to some of the best food in Asia. Luckily, eating in Vietnam is incredibly cheap! Here are some local dishes you simply must try:

Pho: Probably Vietnam’s most famous dish, pho is a noodle soup consisting of rice noodles, spring onions, and a broth flavoured with ginger and coriander.

Goi cuon: These transparent spring rolls are packed with delicious vegetables and coriander.

Banh mi: Banh mi is a baguette-style sandwich, filled with green vegetables and a fresh omelette.

Nom hua chuoi: A banana-flower salad comprising lime and chilli flavours.

Western food: Knowing that their target market is primarily Western tourists, restaurants selling Western food, such as pizza or pasta, will be very pricey in comparison to local Vietnamese food. That being said, there is plenty of Western food available in the cities and tourist towns if that’s what you’re looking for.

Water: You can’t drink from the tap in Vietnam, so always be sure to drink bottled water. A litre of bottled water should cost about 5,000 VND (25 cents) from shops.

Alcohol: Alcohol in Vietnam is pretty cheap, particularly if you stick to local brews. Local Vietnamese beers include Bia Hoi, Saigon and Hanoi, which you can pick up for as little as 20,000 VND (86 cents).

Getting around in Vietnam

Vietnam is a large country, so travel between cities can be time-consuming. Luckily, the public transport network is very extensive, making travel within Vietnam surprisingly easy.

Open bus: If you’re planning to follow my Vietnam itinerary above, or something similar, I recommend getting an Open Tour Bus Pass. This costs about 50 USD, stopping at all the major destinations between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where you can simply hop on and off. It will be more cost-effective than buying lots of separate, standalone bus tickets.

Public bus: If you choose not to buy an Open Tour Bus Pass, standalone bus journeys between destinations will usually set you back by about 15 USD. Bus tickets are easy to purchase – I’m pretty sure every hostel I stayed in sold them, and there are always travel agents in towns who sell tickets. Public city buses are very inexpensive, with buses in Ho Chi Minh City costing about 4,000 VND (17 cents) per ride.

By train: Train travel in Vietnam is often slow and unreliable. However, the journey can be quite scenic and I can’t express how much more comfortable overnight trains are compared to overnight buses. Trains are usually a little more expensive than buses, but I think it’s worth it for the extra comfort. For example; Hanoi to Hue by train is 462,000 VND (20 USD) and Hue to Ho Chi Minh City by train is 666,000 VND (29 USD).

By taxi: For travel within cities, I recommend using Grab. It’s an app similar to Uber, so the price is locked and you can’t be ripped off. It always works out cheaper than a taxi and is hands down the best way to travel within a city. If Grab isn’t available, as it likely won’t be outside of cities, then always try to get a metered taxi. Drivers are usually friendly, but can sniff out a tourist from a mile off, and may attempt to over-charge you.

By plane: Particularly if your time in Vietnam is limited, there may be occasions when you’ll want to take a flight to save time. A train journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City would take over 30 hours, for example, whereas a flight would only take 2 hours. AirAsia is low-cost and good for internal flights.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support — Lauren.

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