Discover the best locations to explore with this detailed Vietnam itinerary by guest contributor Kat Smith.
After living in Vietnam for 3 years, I can confidently say I love the country. The fresh food, the smiling locals, the low cost of living, and, of course, the incredibly diverse landscape. While you’re most likely not planning to spend years in the country, you will want to take advantage of the time you have planned.
To really have an unforgettable trip to this Southeast Asian hotspot, you’ll want to go in with an open mind. Vietnam might feel a little rough around the edges when you get your first good look at the country from the back of a Grab taxi. It’s all part of the charm, though. Enjoy the crumbling French architecture, the haphazard street dining at every corner, and the hordes of motorbikes that make you feel as though your ride will crash at any minute.
If you let it, Vietnam will become a part of you. You’ll slowly sink into the way of life and realise there’s real beauty behind the không sao (no problem) mindset.
Before you book your flight, let’s cover the basics of planning a great trip to Vietnam.
Deciding when to go
Here’s the deal: Vietnam is hot. So hot that some days the air is so thick with humidity it feels like you’re breathing in water. That being said, the weather isn’t hot year-round all throughout the country, the different regions do get more variety.
South Vietnam
The south of the country, think of places like Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, only gets 2 seasons: rainy and dry. In the rainy season, May-September, you can expect incredible monsoons that flood the streets in mere minutes. Remember that scene in Forest Gump when he talks about the rain? That’s pretty spot on.
That being said, the rain works almost like clockwork. In general, the monsoon starts around 4 pm and ends around 7 pm. There’s some variety to this, but most days, this timing holds true. If you end up traveling to the south during the rainy season, I’d plan to be indoors during this time or in shoes you don’t care about.
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam, that’s areas like Da Nang and Hoi An, get a little bit more diversity in their weather. They still mainly get two seasons, rainy and dry, but the rainy season in the area brings significantly cooler temperatures. The rainy season lasts from about October to February. During this time, the rain is heavy like a monsoon, with typhoons common on the coast.
The rainy season feels different in Central Vietnam not just for the lower temperatures but because it tends to rain for entire days and then bless you with days of sunny weather and low temperatures. The more north or south you get, the more extreme the temperatures will be.
North Vietnam
The north of Vietnam gets closer to 4 seasons than only 2. That’s mainly because the temperatures change far more drastically than they do in the central or southern regions. The rainy season acts much like the south’s rainy season, coming in May through September and bringing in hot weather and heavy rains only for a few hours each day.
Spring and fall are both pleasant with warm to cool temperatures. The winter in the north gets shockingly cold, especially if you go up into the mountains. If you plan to be in the north of the country from October to March, you’ll want to pack more pants than shorts, thick socks, and a few good sweaters.
5 Best Places to Include in your Vietnam Itinerary
As I mentioned, Vietnam is a super diverse country. The landscape in the north looks nothing like the south. So, the activities you can enjoy and the things you can do will not only depend on when you choose to visit but also where. While this list is not exhaustive, these are certainly a few of the most well-loved places in Vietnam.
To keep it simple, I’ll start from the north and work my way to the south.
Ha Giang
Simply my favourite place in Vietnam, Ha Giang is an adventure enthusiast’s dream destination. The Ha Giang Loop has become famous for its curvy narrow roads through intense terrain of limestone mountains, deep canyons, winding rivers, and tiny, small towns. It’s really just epic.
If you can confidently drive a motorbike, or will happily trust a local driver, this loop is for you. It takes 3-5 days to complete. At night, you’ll stay in a variety of small towns near the Chinese borders. It’s really a trip of a lifetime if you’re looking for something completely different.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Most people coming to Vietnam have heard of Ha Long Bay but have you heard of its sister, Bai Tu Long Bay? This bay is in the same area as Ha Long Bay, sharing the same limestone and sea landscape, but it’s just a little bit farther north, so isn’t nearly as popular with tourists.
To get to Bai Tu Long, you’d catch your boat cruise the same place you would for Ha Long Bay, you’d just sail for an extra hour or two. That extra 90ish minutes makes the world of difference. Much of the time we were here, we didn’t see another boat. Having this view to ourselves really made it that much more special.
Include Hoi An in your Vietnam Itinerary
What kind of Vietnam itinerary would this be if I didn’t include Hoi An? Honestly, this small, picturesque town deserves all the hype it gets. The narrow yellow alleys, French-colonial architecture, and surrounding rice fields really make it an idyllic place to spend a few days.
Although Hoi An is a photographer’s dream, it’s also that of a fashionista. Here, you can get tailor-made clothing that fits exactly to your frame. All you need to do is show up and present the tailor with a picture of an outfit you like. Together, you can draw and redesign the fit to your liking. You’ll then pick from far too many options of fabric and all you have to do is come back in a day or two for a fitting. Usually, you’ll need 2-3 fittings for the garment to fit just right. Most of my wardrobe is from Hoi An and after years of wear, the pieces still hold up.
Da Lat
If you need a reprise from the hot weather, a quick trip from Saigon will take you to the mountains. The mountain town of Da Lat is where most southerners head for at least a long weekend in the heart of summer when they just can’t take anymore.
Although the fresh mountain air might be enough to lure you in, it’s also a cute town with plenty to do. They have great food and coffee shops, but the real perk of Da Lat is the outdoor adventures. You can choose from hiking, biking, chasing waterfalls, or ziplining when here.
Con Dao
This lesser-known island will certainly make you work for her, but it’ll be worth it. Off the southern coast, it sits farther away than more popular island getaways, like Phuc Quoc. Once a French prison, a majority of the island is now a national park. The island is a mix of lush jungles and clear, turquoise water.
If you’re on the hunt for the best beaches in Vietnam, this island is for you. You can get a flight or a boat here but there aren’t as many available as there are to other places. If you have the flexibility and time built into your schedule, Con Dao should make it to your list though.
Must-Try Food
Food is an important piece of the travel puzzle to me, and Vietnam did not disappoint. It took me a little longer than usual to find my favourites, but once I did, I craved them all the time. In Vietnam, you can expect the food to be fresh, relatively healthy, and cheap. All in all, that’s a win in my book.
Personally, I think the best food here is found on the street. If you’re a well-seasoned traveller, your stomach might be able to swing it. If you’re not, you might have more luck eating at restaurants or being quite picky about which street food stands you frequent.
While in Vietnam, you need to try:
- Mì Quảng: A noodle soup most common in Central Vietnam.
- Xôi Gà: Sticky rice with chicken, most common for breakfast.
- Bánh xèo: Vietnam’s version of a savory crepe.
- Bánh Mì ốp La: The best egg sandwich you’ll ever have.
- Vietnamese grilled oysters: This is the go-to way for oysters to be served and will come with peanuts, fish sauce, and lime.
A Few Tips for First Timers
Before I send you on your way to the wonderful world of Vietnam, there are some tips for first timers that you’ll want to be aware of.
- Traffic is insane but there is a method to the madness, just don’t expect people to follow most traffic rules.
- Don’t drive a bike until you’re ready. If you want to drive in Vietnam, get used to the flow of traffic before driving, even if you’re used to driving in other countries.
- Vietnamese is a tonal language, which personally was really hard to mimic. The accents also range greatly from north to south. A lot of people speak English, though.
- You’ll be more than comfortable here. There’s good internet, great accommodation for a low price, fresh food, friendly people, and a lot of amenities to spoil yourself with.
- The country is bigger than you think, and travel time will take a while, especially if you’re traveling by bus or train. If you’re only in the country for a few days or weeks, I recommend flying when possible or limiting your trip to one region.
With this Vietnam itinerary guide, you’re more than ready for an unforgettable trip to this little slice of Asian paradise. Enjoy!
Author Bio:
Kat Smith, the founder of A Way Abroad, is sometimes a nomad, sometimes an expat. She’s been living around the world since 2013. After 3 years living in Vietnam, she’s currently working online from Montenegro but who knows where she’ll end up next.
Kat can also be found on Instagram at – A Way Abroad
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