Best time to visit Vietnam
The weather in Vietnam varies from North to South. The best time to visit Vietnam, specifically Northern and Central Vietnam is between February -June. If you plan on hiking in Vietnam’s northern highlands, the best time runs from October to April, when it’s dryer. We went to Northern Vietnam in May (the off season), and while the weather was perfect in Hanoi and Ninh Binh, it was a little wetter in Sapa up north. If you go in May, you’re also likely to avoid the crowds. The wettest months are June, July and August when monsoons are frequent.
- Visa Info: Effective August 23, 2023-Vietnam grants e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories with 90-day stay duration and valid for multiple entry. Also, citizens of 27 countries enjoying unilateral visa exemption can stay in Vietnam up to 45 days
How to travel around Vietnam
There are many ways to get around in Vietnam including buses, trains and even renting your own scooter (which we highly recommend). No matter which route you choose, you are sure to have an interesting experience.
- We used 12go.asia to book our bus and train routes.
- If taking a train (we took one from Ninh Binh to Hue ) try to book a first class ticket to be more comfortable.
- Download the Grab app. It’s Vietnams version of Uber. We recommend using the app rather than hailing one directly off the street because they will most likely over charge you.
- If you plan on taking a taxi-make sure the meter is turned on before the taxi starts moving so they don’t overcharge you later.
- If you’re interested in renting your own scooter to travel around, you can usually just ask your hotel and they will hook you up with one. It’s pretty cheap usually around $5/day.
- Scootering around the main cities can be a daunting task, so make sure you get a helmet.
- Crossing the street in Vietnam is an exhilarating activity in itself, maybe watch a few Youtube videos to prepare. You’ll need to slowly walk out into the street without stopping and let the motorbikes avoid you.
Currency info
Vietnam uses the Dong and you’ll need cash with you for most of the trip.
- Tip: Bring multiple debit cards with you-it’s not guaranteed that they’ll all work. Also, in Vietnam, it’s better to use an atm at a bank when it’s open because if you go to an atm on the street they are more likely to be hacked. Some ATMs can swallow your card and if you don’t do it at a bank you won’t be able to get it back right away.
Vietnam 2 Week Itinerary
- Hanoi—>Sapa —>Hanoi
- Hanoi—>Ha Long Bay—>Ninh Binh
- Ninh Binh—> Hue
- Hue—> Ba Na Hills
- Ba Na Hills—>Hoi An
- Hoi An—>Da Nang
Day 1-3: Hanoi, Vietnam
Where we stayed: Solaria Hotel Hanoi
Our first 3 days in Vietnam we stayed in Hanoi. This is a perfect place to begin your journey because not only is there so much to do in the city, but there are a lot of day trips you can take from there with many different bus routes. The hotel is right next to Hoan Kiem Lake which is a great place to walk around, the street surrounding it is closed to traffic on the weekends.
Top things to see/do in Hanoi:
- Walk around the Old Town
- Check out St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- The oldest church in Hanoi
- Take a tour of Hoa Lo Prison
- Prison John McCain was at
- Walk around the beautiful Temple of Literature
- Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius
- Take a ride through the city on a rickshaw
- Book a food tour-
- We booked this tour through Viator on our first full day in Hanoi and it was a great introduction into the unbelievably amazing food scene.-We cannot recommend this enough.
- At night, head to Ta Hien Beer Street-sit on a balcony and enjoy the nightlife.
- Feeling tired? Head to the Railroad Street for a coffee
- The cafe’s along the tracks are run by really nice people and will strike up a conversation with you while you wait for the train to pass. We sat outside at The Railway Cafe, the train comes at a specific time each day.
- If you are looking to buy a bag of Vietnamese coffee, we were told to make sure you purchase a bag of whole coffee beans instead of ground because a lot of times the will mix the grounds with other things to add volume.
- Visit Phu Quac Temple
- Tran Quac Pagoda
- Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake-So beautiful
- Need a dinner idea? Visit Bun Cha Huong Lien– Not only is it a delicious family run restaurant but it is where Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate. You’ll know you’re at the right place when you see pictures of Obama all over the walls including exactly what he ordered.
Day 4-6: Sapa
Day 4 we traveled North to Sapa by booking the Sapa Express bus using 12go.Asia which was $15/per person/per way and took about 5 1/2 hours.
Where we stayed: Phuong Nom Hotel
- We highly recommend staying here, not only is it walking distance from the bus station, but the views from the hotel are incredible, and only $20/night.-Book the panorama room if possible.
Top things to do in Sapa:
- Take the Sun World Fansipan Gondola
- This takes you up to the top of Fansipan Mountain-the highest peak in Indochina. We had a few clouds hide the view for a lot of the ride up, but still think it was well worth it.
- Don’t forget to check out the Buddhist temple at the top. Being so high up in the temple in the clouds was such a surreal experience.
- This is also the world’s longest, highest, and most modern three-rope cable car system so it’s best to avoid if you are afraid of heights.
- Walk down to Cat Cat Village
- This is the home of the H’mong ethnic group, who have lived here for generations.
- You’ll need to buy a ticket to get into the village
- You’ll walk down a lot of steps to get to the bottom of a deep valley with a river running through it. It was beautiful.
- Be prepared for people to follow you as you’re walking around to get you to buy things, they’ll be very nice but persistent and it may get annoying after awhile.
- Take a walk through the rice paddy fields
- When we went it had just rained and the fields were still wet so we just walked down to admire the views.
- Go on a hike-There are many day hikes you can do from Sapa just double check with the weather conditions because it can get muddy and difficult to hike.
- Rent a scooter from your hotel-about $5/day. Drive around the countryside-stop at Sapana Cafe and Bistro for an amazing view!
- Stop at the Diem Check-in viewpoint for some excellent views of the valley.
Places to eat:
- We decided to try some *authentic* Vietnamese pizza at Chicago Pizza. Pretty good if you’re looking to change it up.
- Good Morning Vietnam-Good breakfast place where you can sit outside and the Bahn Xeo was amazing.
- Fansipan Terrace Cafe-Another great breakfast spot, this one had an excellent view.
- Moment Romantic-cool spot in town.
- If you rent a scooter you can check out Best View Sapa Restaurant-we didn’t go here but the view looks amazing.
Day 6: Bus back to Hanoi
We spent most of this day in Sapa and took a late bus back to Hanoi. After our breakfast at Fansipan Terrace Cafe, we spent the day scootering around the countryside.
Where we stayed: Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel and Spa
This was just for the night as we were leaving for Ha Long Bay the next morning. The manager of the hotel here was so nice and gave us some local fruit to take with us in the morning as we waited for our transportation.
Day 7-8: Ha Long Bay
Where we stayed: On a boat!
We spent 2 days and 1 night on a cruise through the Ha Long Bay. After spending the beginning of the trip moving non-stop, this was a perfect time to relax and take in the beautiful scenery. It was $ 320 total-not including the round trip transfer from Old Quarters, Hanoi to Ha Long Bay-$30/per person.
The company picked us up from our hotel which was great, however, they had the bus make us stop at Legend Pearl to get us to buy pearls before we got to the boat which we did not appreciate since it was just wasting time.
Cruise Itinerary:
- Day 1: Cruise out to the ocean:
- From 3-4 pm-You get to Dark and Lights Cave-where you can either kayak yourself or go in a bamboo rowboat rowed by a guide. After returning to the boat, they gave us time to swim by the boat and there’s also time for going in the jacuzzi. There were also great happy hour specials to have a drink and watch the sunset, and a cooking class at 6 if interested. Also there’s massage services. Dinner was great.
- Day 2: Wake up early-they offer a Tai Chi class if interested or you can just watch the sunrise. Light breakfast is served at 7am-
- 8-9 am you can explore Lan Ha Bay on kayak-brunch is served-then back to port.
- This itinerary seemed like a relatively short amount of time for us; we think having 1 more day on the water would have been nice. There are other longer options available just make sure the tour provider is reliable.
Day 8-10: Ninh Binh
Where we stayed: An’s Eco Garden Ninh Binh
After getting back from Ha Long Bay we went straight to the Central Circus Bus Terminal to catch our bus to Ninh Binh. -Booked through 12.goAsia. Ninh Binh is a beautiful area with mountains and villages tucked away in the rice paddies. While the accommodations we stayed at were very natural and low cost (we had our own hut with a lot of space), we’d suggest booking different accommodation’s due to the fact that there were a lot of animals and critters running around at night, a lot of mosquitos, and the other guests were very loud.
Top things to do in Ninh Binh:
- Definitely rent a scooter (can ask your hotel for one) best way to get around this area and enjoy the views.
- Tam Coc-Bich Dong Pagoda-If you’re in the area, this pagoda is cool to see (but not a must) and there’s a pretty neat bat cave at the end of the complex.
- Locals will try to get you to park by them to *watch* your scooter, just refuse, park where you want and take your keys with you. If you’re worried you can always stop at a nearby restaurant, buy something, and ask to leave your scooter there. *No entrance fee
- Tam Coc-Bich Dong boat ride through the Van Long Nature Reserve– Definitely a cool experience-you can just walk up to the boats and pay, they will row you (with their feet) down the river through a cave. The views are amazing, and if you’re lucky you might see some wildlife.
- There will be other boats selling refreshments-it’s customary to purchase a drink/ snack for your rower.
- Mua Caves-hike up to the viewpoint-worth the many stairs up to the top. Iconic photo spot. When we went it was so hot and humid so plan ahead and bring water.
- Trang An Grottos– boat tour- You can book tickets at the boat dock or online-best to book tickets ahead if possible. This nature reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with limestone cliffs.
- Look up the routes ahead of time to see which one you prefer. There are 3 different routes you can take.
- We did route 3 that went through 3 caves and 4 temples. It was pretty fun having to duck down to fit through some of the caves that were shallow.
Day 10: Train to Hue
Day 10 we arrived at the Ninh Binh Railway Station for our overnight train to Hue-you can book through Vietnam Railways. The train took 11 hours and we booked our own sleeper car (we bought all 4 berths in the soft berth car). While this wasn’t the most comfortable mode of transportation, it was an experience we’ll remember forever.
Day 11-12: Hue
Where we stayed: Hue Lovely Homestay
Hue used to be the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, and it houses the Imperial City which we loved exploring and wish we spent more time at.
Top things to do:
- Grab a traditional breakfast at Ba Gai-the Bun Bo Hue was amazing.
- Spend an afternoon walking around the Hue Imperial City. It was impressively beautiful.
- Madam Thu Restaurant-Really good food but very touristy. Seems like a lot of hotels recommend people go here.
- Grab a late night snack here.
- DMZ Bar & Restaurant good for drinks.
Day 12-13: Ba Na Hills
Where we stayed: Mercure Danang French Village Ba Na Hills
Ever wanted to stay in a theme park at night when all the other guests have to go home? Then head to Sun World Ba Na Hills! Here you’ll be immersed in a fake French village on top of the Ba Na Hills in which you need to take a 30 min cable-car ride to get to. (Also the longest non-stop cable car in the world). This is also home to the famed Golden Bridge. Honestly, this was such a random and unique experience that we still laugh about today, you definitely need to experience it for yourself. The admission fee for the bridge is $30/pp
Day 13-16: Hoi An
Where we stayed: EMM Hotel Hoi An
Hoi An is a super charming and culturally rich town to explore for a few days. The ancient town is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely a must-see on your visit to Vietnam. Take some time to walk/bike around the beautiful city streets, try some street food, and take in the lively atmosphere.
Top things to do in Hoi An:
-See the Japanese Covered Bridge-Built by Japanese merchants in the 16th century!
-Visit the Museum of Folk Culture
-Grab a banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong-probably the best banh mi we’ve ever had.
-Visit one of the many shops where you can get custom tailor-made suits/clothing. Not only is it extremely affordable but also super fast. Plus, what a cool souvenir to take home with you.
-Take a romantic night-time boat ride and light a lantern to put in the water
-Stop to experience Bai Choi– a singing/ traditional card game that starts after dark.
-Shop for some handmade lanterns
-Stop for coffee/tea at Faifo Coffee-head up to the rooftop for some amazing views
-Take a day trip out to My Son-Hindu temple ruins (see details below)
My Son-Temple Ruins
On day 15 we took a day trip out to the My Son ruins which is about an hour away from Hoi An. This was one of our favorite things we got to see during our trip to Vietnam and cannot recommend it enough, especially if you are into archeology. The ruins date back to the 4th to the 13th centuries CE, and was home to the Champa Kingdom. This place is pretty secluded so it’s not overrun by tourists, in fact, we were alone most of the time here. You’re able to wander freely into some of the ruins and imagine what life must have been like here so long ago.
Day 16-18: Da Nang
Where we stayed: Furama Resort Danang
Da Nang was our last stop on the trip and after so much traveling, we were excited to relax on the beach for 2 days. (We also flew home from the Danang airport). Make sure you visit the postcard- worthy My Khe beach.
- We had an amazing time here, however, the day before we were supposed to leave one of us had severe food poisoning and had to make a quick visit to the local hospital after eating a salad from one of the restaurants in town. This reminds us of another great *tip*: bring a lot of Imodium with you as it can be rough getting used to the local food.
Conclusion
After traveling throughout many countries in Asia, Vietnam stands out as one of the most unique, adventurous, and budget friendly places to explore. The food is amazing, people are kind and everyday was an eye-opening experience. Vietnam offers a chance to get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a completely different culture for awhile.