Vietnam Itinerary for 1 Month

Contents

Perfect Vietnam Itinerary

If you want to see a beautiful country, learn about a difficult past, eat delicious cuisine and meet welcoming locals, then this Vietnam itinerary for 1 month is for you.

Following is a do-able, realistic Vietnam itinerary for 4 weeks with a recommendation of something to do in each place that will improve your learning of this gorgeous country and feed your travel bug.

Essentials

• I always take the bible: a Lonely Planet edition to help me with travelling!
• Packing is essential including bug repellant, sunscreen, proper layers, toiletries and other handy gadgets. See this Vietnam Packing List Tips for a better idea of what to pack!
• Make sure you have the right visa. Read on for more:

1 month Visa-on-arrival for Vietnam

There are several places to apply for a 1 month visa on arrival. I used www.vietnamsvisa.com and applied about 1 month before my flight to be sure. It cost around £27 / $33.98 paid through Paypal in 2016 but check the website for fees as they may have changed since then.

You must arrive by plane for this type of visa and have a flight booked to confirm which airport you will enter Vietnam through. The visa took around 2 days to come back. On arrival, you wait in a waiting area to be called to the desk where they check your visa and allow you to enter the country. Then you can follow this Vietnam itinerary. Note: All times and prices correct as of June 2016.

Vietnam Route Outline

Vietnam is a long, narrow country on the coast, as seen in this map from google, Your route can go from North to South or South to North. The following Vietnam itinerary is North to South but if you begin in the south, read this post from the bottom to the top!

Hanoi – 4 days

Sapa – 3 days 

Halong Bay – 2 days, 1 night

Hué – 2 days

Da Nang – 2 days

Hoi An – 5 days

Nha Trang – 3 days

Da Lat – 3 days

Ho Chi Minh/Saigon – 6 days

Beginning your Vietnam Journey

Arriving in the North by flying into the capital city, Hanoi, you will immediately be immersed in the culture. The Old Quarter is a popular place to stay and is a clash of Vietnamese traditions and modernisation. 

To learn about Vietnam’s struggle for independence from France, you can visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum and also includes displays about the American War. For cheep and tasty beer, try some Bia Hoi for 30p in Hanoi’s ‘beer corner’ which is basically a long street filled with bars.

 

 

 

 

 

Sapa, close to the Chinese border

You can take an overnight bus from Hanoi to Sapa which takes around 6 hours with stops. In the morning when you arrive in Sapa, some let you stay on the bus to sleep until around 5am or 6am. 

There are multiple ways to book a trek and/or a homestay for an alternative experience in Northern Vietnam. In Sapa town, you can explore the market, try local street food and drink the best coffee in the world. Vietnam Coffee truly is, sensational.

Descending Dragon aka Halong Bay

Returning to Hanoi, you can book a unique trip to Halong Bay, and it is a must for your Vietnam itinerary. A bus takes about 3 hours to the harbour from Hanoi. You can choose day trips or overnight stays to witness the mesmerising scenes.

There are a lot of party boats you can book but if you prefer to enjoy the UNSECO World Heritage Site, go for a private boat tour that stays isolated. I recommend using Ethnic Travel which cost 90 USD but is worth every penny, even for the food alone. You can kayak and swim in the emerald waters and climb rocks to reach breathtaking views. 

The Imperial City of Hué

Most Halong Bay tours will take you back to Hanoi and from there you can book onward overnight travel to the heartbeat of Vietnam, Hué. There are lots of local markets to explore for modernisation in comparison to visiting the Imperial City. There are over ten entrances to the citadel that is surrounded by a huge wall, and for a fee you can observe the monuments and ruins.

You’ll Need This for Your Vietnam 1 Month Travel Guide: Finding Pho

Da Nang

From Hué to Danang takes about 2 hours by bus. Alternatively, an extremely popular way to travel is by motorbike through the Hai Van Pass, offering incredible scenic views. Danang is home to the impressive Dragon bridge and Marble Mountains to keep you busy.

Hoi An: The Vietnam Charm

45 minutes from Da Nang sits the magical town of Hoi An. There is something special about this place, and as you walk through you feel great energy and good vibes. Read my ultimate Hoi An guide!

In the ancient town, you can walk over the famous Japanese bridge by day and gaze at the beautiful lanterns on the river at night all while enjoying the rule of no cars or motorbikes allowed (a rarity in Vietnam). 

Tourist Beach Resort that is Nha Trang

Take a 12 hour overnight bus to Nha Trang and arrive early in the morning where you can catch fresh street food for £1. The only thing I would recommend is catching the longest cable car in the world to Vinpearl. This is a waterpark which is so much fun!

Cold Da Lat

If you are prepared, take the 4 hour bus to Da Lat that is bumpy, windy and all-round scary! As Da Lat is located in the Central Highlands region, it is noticeably colder than the rest of Vietnam. One of the coolest things to do here is go to Crazy House Da Lat containing bizarre but interesting architecture. Afterwards, try the local Da Lat white wine… it’s so good!

Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City

Embark on the last bus journey in Vietnam for 8 hours to Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City. The main thing you’ll notice about this city is the vast amount of motorbikes, it’s quite overwhelming! The best thing about Saigon/HCMC is the delicious food! 

To learn about more of Vietnam’s harrowing history, you should visit the War Remnants Museum for in-depth displays, pictures and a lot of information. Furthermore, you can go to the cu chi tunnels which is a shocking experience to visit the tiny tunnels. If you are claustrophobic, this is not one for you. 

Other Options

There is so much more to explore in Vietnam that you could spend way longer than one month. We will be returning in the future most definitely. Here are some more suggestions for places to add to your Vietnam itinerary.

Mui Ne – Our friends recommended visiting the sand dunes win Mui Ne which is located between Dalat and Saigon/HCMC. This could be visited as a day trip on the way to Saigon or longer to explore in more depth, depending on your time.

Mekong Delta – There are loads of options to visit the Mekong Delta, especially from Saigon/HCMC and here you can find floating markets for tasty food!

Phong Nha Caves – This is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quang Binh. This is located between Hué and Hanoi.

Phu Quoc – Beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand for beach-lovers. 

Is there anywhere else that shouldn’t be missed in Vietnam? Let me know in the comments!