Vietnam Itinerary – the best travel route for 3-4 weeks in Vietnam
Green rice fields, long country roads, view of hills and beaches and the taste of delicious food – welcome to Vietnam. A country famous for budget travellers, backpackers and adventure lovers. It is made for a road trip, for long beach days, hikes in nature and long evenings in the streets of the cities. But what is the best itinerary for Vietnam? What route is best to not miss out on any highlight and get the full experience? And how long should you even stay in Vietnam?
This Vietnam route and itinerary is suitable for any kind of traveller. No matter, if you are travelling by bus, bike or even plane – you can easily follow the different stops and adjust the route to your own plans and budget. As Vietnam is an absolute hotspot for budget travellers, this guide is made budget friendly.
How long should you stay in Vietnam?
Let´s begin with the most important question: how much time do you even need to explore Vietnam and follow the best itinerary? This decision should be made before your arrival, as you can enter the country on different visas. You can choose between 15 Day Entry Passes and 30 Day Entry Passes. If you have time, it is highly recommended to go with the 30 days (even if you do not use the full time).
The best length for a Vietnam trip is three weeks. This will allow you to see the highlights of the country and still add a few other adventures. You can stay a bit longer in places you like and get to know the country and its culture even better. This itinerary is therefore adjustable for a 3-week trip or a 4-week trip through Vietnam.
Vietnam is not a destination you can visit in a few days. It must be experienced and lived to a deeper level to understand what it really is about. Only then you will be able to fall in love with the country. You will see!
Day 1-3 start of the itinerary: Experience the capital Hanoi
Your adventure begins in Hanoi, in the North of Vietnam. You can either travel the country from North to South or vice versa. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and known for the millions of bikes. It is also called the city of bikes and you will quickly realize why.
Hanoi is one of those typical Asian cities. A lot of chaos, street foods at every corner and many attractions you need to visit. The most popular attraction is probably the train street. If you want to get the best impression of it, make sure to arrive early in the morning to avoid the tourist crowds of the afternoon.
From temples to museums and even exciting day trips – click here to get a full guide on the stunning city in Vietnam’s North.
Day 3-4: Explore the breathtaking Ha Long Bay
Next on the list is probably the most famous place in Vietnam. For some travellers this is the main reason why they chose to visit Vietnam. The Ha Long Bay is located about 2 hours outside of Hanoi and can easily be reached by bus, car or motorbike.
It is best to book a Ha Long Bay Trip in Hanoi directly. This saves you not only a lot of hassle and organization but ensures as well that you get the best possible experience of the place. You can basically book a tour everywhere. If you are staying in a hostel, make sure to check with them if they can offer you a good price.
You will then get picked up in Hanoi to drive to the Ha Long Bay. Most tours include a 1-night stay on the cruises, which means you will be spending two days on the water. You can explore the caves, go kayaking and enjoy the stunning views.
Click here for a guide to the scenic Ha Long Bay.
Day 4-8: Off for an adventure in the North of Vietnam on the Ha Giang Loop
Are you ready for the absolute highlight of your trip? Most travellers miss this part because it is not as hyped on social media as the rest. But this is probably the reason why it is this impressive.
From Hanoi, you can travel far North. The Ha Giang Loop is a beautiful route leading bikers through the hills and mountains of Vietnam. You can book the tour in Hanoi as well. For 3 days, including the bike rental, the transportation and the food and fee for the nights, expect to pay between 150 and 200 euros. But be assured: it is more than worth it. Plus, you can choose between driving on your own or hiring a driver. The choice is yours! But do not miss out on this because you are afraid of driving yourself.
The trip starts in Nguyen Trai, the official start of the Ha Giang Loop. You will spend the next 2,5 days driving around the nature of Vietnam. You will cross local villages, see farmers at work and sleep in local home stays. This is the closest experience you will get on your trip.
Day 8-10: A relaxing time in Ninh Binh
After returning to Hanoi (you can as well spend one more night in the city to relax), the Vietnam itinerary continues. The next stop is the beautiful area of Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh is known as the Ha Long Bay on land as it is covered in the same limestone mountains. The place is perfect for some quiet time in nature. You can rent a bicycle and explore the area on your own. The best thing to do in Ninh Binh is explore the Tam Coc with the river and its caves. You can book a boat trip and be a typical tourist for a day.
The absolute highlight is the hike up to the Hang Mua (Flying Dragon Mountain) for sunset. The overview of the river and the valley is absolutely breathtaking and a popular photo spot.
While Ninh Binh really is not an exciting city in this Vietnam itinerary, it is a wonderful quiet place which invites you to see even more of the country´s stunning nature.
Some guides would now recommend a stop in the Phong Nha National Park. Yes, it is a beautiful place and yes, if you love caves this is probably the place to be for you in Vietnam. But if this is not your thing, you can skip it without having the fear of missing out on something.
Day 10-11: Explore the city of Huế
Ready for some city life? Next on the Vietnam Itinerary for 3 to 4 weeks is the city of Huế. It once used to be the capital of Vietnam. Today, it is an important tourist attraction, mainly because of the history. You can learn a lot about the past of Vietnam, visit museums and pagodas.
But that´s not the main reason why Huế is on the list. The actual highlight is hidden a little outside of the city: the Abandoned Waterpark. You might have heard from it and if you are a lover of Lost Places, this will be an absolute highlight. The waterpark was left abandoned after they ran out of money and can now be visited during the day. You might have to pay a small entrance fee at the parking lot, but after that you are free to walk around and explore.
The empty slides, the swimming pools and the giant dragon – it all has mysterious atmosphere. You can either book a taxi to reach the waterpark or you hire a motorbike for the day and drive yourself. This will allow you to see more of the city and the area as well. Go check it out and put it on your list for Huế.
Day 11: Drive over the Hai Van Pass for scenic views
Your next destination is Hội An. BUT this is not a regular trip. A part of the road between the two cities is known as the Hoi An Pass, a scenic route leading through the mountains and coastal lines. You will cross beaches, hills and the city of Da Nang. Why take the bus when you can take such a scenic route?
The Hai Van Pass is a 20-kilometre strip of road that joins the city of Da Nang and Lang Co in Huế Province. You can stop on the way to take pictures, enjoy the view and have a coffee.
You can rent a motorbike in Hue and return it in Hội An. As this is a popular tourist attraction, it is common to drive one-way. You can as well stop in Da Nang, if you feel like it and arrive to Hoi An the next day. Some describe the pass as the most scenic route in South East Asia. While this might be a bit overrated, it is still a beautiful pass to drive on and enjoy the views.
Day 11-13: Experience the most beautiful city of Vietnam: Hội An
Are you ready for the most beautiful city on the Vietnam Itinerary?
Hội An is a famous destination for many tourists and mainly known for the many lanterns turning the city into a colorful place. During night and day, you can wander around and explore the streets of Hội An.
Visit a lantern course, go on a boat trip, do some shopping and spend the afternoon in the cute little cafés. Hội An is as well famous for the cooking classes, where you can get a better insight into the Vietnamese cuisine. And you cannot really leave Vietnam without having made your own spring rolls. As soon as it gets dark, the lanterns light up the city and the river. It is an absolute highlight to just stroll around and watch the lights.
Hội An is also made for food. Eat out as many times as possible and taste as much streetfood as you can. On the other side of the river, across the Old Town you will find a food market which opens every evening. If you are longing for some beach days, you can visit the nearby beach of Hoi An to get some sun and a good tan.
Check out these best things in Hội An you cannot miss during your trip.
Day 13-15: Get lost in the dessert of Mũi Né
A dessert in Vietnam? Yes, that´s right. The country has some unexpected surprises for travellers. After Hội An, you continue the itinerary to Mũi Né, a small fishing village by the sea.
While it is beautiful to spend some time by the water, the actual highlight are the desserts. The “red sand dunes” and the “white sand dunes” are the number 1 tourist attraction of the area. The best way to explore is to rent a motorbike at your accommodation. This will allow you to do your own thing and spend as many time in the dunes as you wish. Especially during the sunset, it is incredibly beautiful. Another option is to simply book a driver to take you to the dunes, as the white sand dunes are a little outside of Mũi Né.
It is absolutely magical to see a different landscape. Unexpected and yet beautiful – an experience which will definitely be remembered from your trip to Vietnam.
Day 15-17: Enjoy the city life Saigon/ Hoi Chi Minh City
Ready to dive right into the chaos of the cities again? The last city on the Vietnam Itinerary is Ho Chi Minh City, or also known as Saigon. It is the biggest city of the country and the economic center. You will quickly notice this as you arrive.
But what are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City? It is the best place to educate yourself on the history of Vietnam. You can visit the History Museum or the War Museum and get more insights into the dark times of the Vietnam war. Stroll over the central market to do some shopping, eat street food and drink as much of the Saigon Beer as you can. Some would say this is one of the best beers for travellers in South East Asia. But make up your own mind!
Day 17-21: Discover the Vietnamese Paradise on Phú Quốc Island
If you have still time and would like to spend some days under the palm trees, this last destination of the Vietnam Itinerary is for you! Phú Quốc Island is the biggest Vietnamese island and the number 1 destination for a tropical paradise. You can easily reach it from Ho Chi Minh city and spend the rest of your days on the beach.
If you plan to continue your South East Asia trip afterwards, take the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia. The connection is quite good and you can get a good price for the ticket.
More options to spend 4 weeks in Vietnam
You can’t get enough of the country and plan to spend even more after the 3-weeks itinerary? No problem. One option is to simply take it a bit slower. You do not have to “rush” through each stop, but spend more days in the different places. Especially as you need to drive for a few hours in between the different destinations, it can be quite exhausting. It is therefore best to simply plan more time, for example stay a bit longer in Hoi An or the North or stay a day longer in Hanoi. What travellers love is to have one more day in the Ha Long Bay. This will allow you to not only experience the extraordinary place from a cruise, but to stay for a night on one of the islands. How does that sound?
If you want to see even more of the country, you can add the Phuong Na National Park or visit Đà Lạt, which is located in the mountains of Vietnam.
It’s up to you!
Click here for some secret tips on travelling Vietnam and what you can easily skip and what to do instead.
