Overview
Why Vietnam is the ultimate month-long trip
Few countries reward a long, unhurried trip like Vietnam. From the limestone spires of Ha Giang to the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An, the caves of Phong Nha and the maze of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam packs three distinct climates and countless landscapes into a single, narrow strip of coastline. Add some of the best food in Asia and prices that stretch a UK budget further than almost anywhere else, and you have the perfect country for a first big Asia trip.
Travelling north to south is the easiest route by far — you fly into Hanoi, work with the weather as it warms up, and end in Ho Chi Minh City with cheap onward flights back to the UK or into Cambodia and Thailand. Trains, sleeper buses and short domestic flights link everything together, so you rarely spend more than a night in transit.
Budget anywhere from £700 for a lean backpacking trip to £3,500+ for a luxurious 4–5 star holiday. The best months for the whole country are March–April and October–December, when north, centre and south are all dry at once.
Quick Overview
Duration
30 Days
Country
Vietnam
Best For
Backpackers, couples, solo & digital nomads
Budget
£700 – £3,500+
Transport
Trains, sleeper buses, domestic flights & motorbikes
Highlights
Hanoi · Ha Giang · Sapa · Ninh Binh · Ha Long · Hoi An · HCMC
The Route
Your 30-day Vietnam route, north to south
A single, logical line down the country — no backtracking after Sapa. Fly home from Ho Chi Minh City or push on into Cambodia via the Mekong Delta.
Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop (sleeper bus) → Sapa (overnight train) → Ha Long Bay (shuttle) → Ninh Binh (limousine bus) → Phong Nha (sleeper train) → Hue (train) → Da Nang & Hoi An (Hai Van Pass) → Nha Trang (flight) → Da Lat (bus) → Ho Chi Minh City (bus) → Mekong Delta (day trip).
Day 1–4
Hanoi
Vietnam's chaotic, coffee-obsessed capital is the perfect place to land. Four days lets you shake off jet lag, wander the Old Quarter's tangled streets, tick off the city's history and eat your way through the best food in the country.
How to get there
Fly into Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Grab or a metered taxi into the Old Quarter takes about 45 minutes and costs 350,000–450,000 VND (£11–£14). The airport bus (86) is 45,000 VND (£1.50).
Where to stay
Budget
- Hanoi Buffalo Hostel — sociable dorms, walking tours and free breakfast in the Old Quarter
Mid-Range
- La Siesta Classic Ma May — long-running boutique in a French colonial townhouse
Luxury
- Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi — the grand dame of Indochine, over 120 years old
Best areas to stay: Old Quarter (budget, chaos, walkable), Hoan Kiem (mid-range, next to the lake), French Quarter (luxury, tree-lined, elegant).
Things to do
- Train Street — cafés inches from the tracks (checked timetable required)
- Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple at dawn or dusk
- Old Quarter walking tour — 36 streets each named for a trade
- Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university, founded 1070
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Palace complex
- Thang Long Water Puppet Show — a 1,000-year-old Red River Delta tradition
- Weekend Night Market on Hang Dao Street
- Egg coffee at Café Giang or Café Dinh — Hanoi's caffeinated invention
Food recommendations
- Pho Gia Truyen (49 Bat Dan) — Hanoi's most famous pho, cash-only
- Banh Mi 25 — arguably the best sandwich in the Old Quarter
- Bun Cha Huong Lien — the Obama-Bourdain 'bun cha combo'
- Café Giang — inventor of Hanoi egg coffee since 1946
- Cha Ca Thang Long — turmeric fish with dill, a Hanoi speciality
Day 5–8
Ha Giang Loop
The Ha Giang Loop is Vietnam's most spectacular road trip — four days of switchback mountain passes, terraced rice fields and remote Hmong villages along the Chinese border. It's the trip most travellers say is the highlight of their entire month.
How to get there
Take a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang town (~7 hours, 300,000–450,000 VND / £10–£14). Most Easy Rider companies (QT Motorbikes, Bong Hostel, Jasmine) arrange combined bus + tour packages that pick you up at the terminal.
How to ride the loop
You have three options. Easy Rider tour — the safest and most popular: you ride pillion behind an experienced local driver (~$180–$220 for 3 nights, all-inclusive). Self-drive — only if you legally hold a Vietnamese-valid licence with a proper IDP (1968 Vienna Convention). Insurance is void otherwise. Private group tour — 4x4 jeep tours run through operators like Ha Giang Adventure if you'd rather not be on a bike.
Accommodation: Reputable Easy Rider tours include homestays in Yen Minh, Dong Van and Du Gia. If travelling independently, book Auberge de Meo Vac (mid-range), H'Mong Village (boutique) or any of the family-run homestays for around £8–£20 a night.
Things to do
- Ma Pi Leng Pass — Vietnam's most jaw-dropping mountain road above the Nho Que River
- Lung Cu Flag Tower — Vietnam's northernmost point, overlooking China
- Dong Van Old Quarter — 100-year-old stone houses and Sunday market
- Meo Vac Sunday market — one of the most authentic ethnic markets in Vietnam
- The Sky Walk (Cliff Walk) above Ma Pi Leng
- Boat trip through the Tu San Canyon on the Nho Que River
- Overnight homestays with H'mong and Tay families
- Fairy Bosom viewpoint at Quan Ba Twin Mountains
Day 9–11
Sapa
After the wild north, Sapa is a slower, softer take on Vietnam's mountains — rice terraces cascading down deep valleys, home to Black Hmong, Red Dao and Giay minority villages you can trek between.
How to get there
Return to Hanoi from Ha Giang, then take an overnight train to Lao Cai (Chapa Express or Sapaly, ~8 hours, £25–£45 in a soft-sleeper cabin) and a 45-minute minibus to Sapa. Sleeper buses direct from Hanoi (~5.5 hours, £13–£18) are faster but bumpier.
Where to stay
Budget
- Go Sapa Hostel — best-value dorms with valley views
Mid-Range
- Pao's Sapa Leisure Hotel — reliable four-star, walking distance to the town centre
Luxury
- Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery — Bill Bensley-designed, next to the Fansipan cable car
Best areas to stay: Sapa Town (nightlife and views), Ta Van (rice-paddy homestays, quieter, 30 minutes out of town).
Things to do
- Two-day rice terrace trek via Lao Chai and Ta Van villages
- Fansipan Cable Car — Southeast Asia's highest peak at 3,143m
- Cat Cat Village — accessible half-day introduction to Hmong culture
- Muong Hoa Valley — the classic Sapa view
- Bac Ha Sunday market — ethnic minority market, 90 minutes out of Sapa
- Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall day hike
Food recommendations
- Good Morning Vietnam Restaurant — homely Vietnamese classics in the town centre
- Little Sapa — cheap and cheerful hotpot
- Viet Emotion — cosy fireplace and grilled specialities
- Local homestay dinners — often the best food you'll eat in Sapa
Day 12–13
Ha Long Bay
No trip to Vietnam is complete without a night among the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay. Skip the crowded day trips — a 2-day, 1-night cruise on a smaller boat is the way to see it.
How to get there
Most cruises include a door-to-door shuttle from your Hanoi hotel (~2.5 hours on the new expressway). If coming from Sapa, take the sleeper train back to Hanoi and pre-arrange the shuttle for the morning.
Best cruises: Halong Sails, Orchid Cruises and Indochine Sails offer great mid-range 2D/1N cruises around Lan Ha Bay (quieter than Ha Long Bay itself) from £100–£180pp all-inclusive. Aim for a boat with 20 cabins or fewer.
Things to do
- Overnight cruise with sunset on the sundeck
- Kayaking through the Luon Cave floating fishing village
- Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) — the biggest cave in the bay
- Ti Top Island climb for the postcard viewpoint
- Squid fishing after dark from the boat
- Sunrise tai chi on deck
Day 14–16
Ninh Binh
Often called 'Ha Long Bay on land', Ninh Binh's limestone valleys and rice paddies are Vietnam's most photogenic countryside — and cheaper, quieter and easier to explore than the bay itself.
How to get there
Limousine minibus from Hanoi (~2 hours, £8–£12) via Grab-style operators (Skyline, Xuan Truong). The train from Hanoi is also easy (~2.5 hours, £5–£8).
Where to stay
Budget
- Tam Coc Rice Field Homestay — bicycles, rice-field views and family dinners
Mid-Range
- Tam Coc Garden Resort — bungalows in a lotus pond, spa on site
Luxury
- Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh — traditional stilted villas with pool
Best areas to stay: Tam Coc (the classic base, walking distance to the boat pier).
Things to do
- Trang An Boat Tour — three-hour rowboat route through caves and hidden valleys
- Mua Cave viewpoint — the famous dragon steps overlooking Tam Coc
- Bich Dong Pagoda — three-tier temple cut into the karst
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital — Vietnam's 10th-century royal city
- Cycling the rice fields between Tam Coc and Van Long
- Kong: Skull Island filming set (Trang An)
Food recommendations
- Chookie's Beer Garden — traveller favourite with cold beer and pizza
- Tam Coc Lantern Restaurant — Vietnamese classics on the riverfront
- Local speciality: com chay (crispy rice) with goat meat
Day 17–18
Phong Nha
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is home to the largest caves on the planet. You don't need to book Son Doong (that's a £2,500 four-day expedition) to see the best of it — half a dozen huge, accessible caves are open to day-trippers.
How to get there
Overnight sleeper train from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi (~9 hours, £18–£30 in a soft sleeper). From Dong Hoi station a shuttle bus (~1 hour) runs to Phong Nha town. The overland alternative is a Queen Cafe sleeper bus (~10 hours).
Things to do
- Paradise Cave — a 1km walkway through cathedral-sized limestone halls
- Phong Nha Cave boat trip — enter by rowing through the mouth
- Dark Cave — zipline, mud bath and kayak combo
- The Duck Stop — countryside farmstay with buffalo, duck feeding and dinner
- Countryside cycling through rice paddies and Bong Lai valley
- Hang En Cave overnight trek (multi-day option with Oxalis)
Day 19–20
Hue
Vietnam's imperial capital from 1802 to 1945 — a slow, refined city of moated citadels, riverside pagodas and hidden royal tombs. Two days is the sweet spot.
How to get there
Train from Dong Hoi to Hue (~3 hours, £6–£10) — a beautiful stretch along the coast. Buses also run in ~4 hours.
Things to do
- The Imperial City — the Nguyen dynasty's walled citadel and Purple Forbidden City
- Thien Mu Pagoda — Hue's seven-storey riverside icon
- Perfume River dragon-boat cruise
- Royal Tombs of Tu Duc, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh
- Abandoned Ho Thuy Tien water park
- Dong Ba Market for local snacks and produce
Food recommendations
- Madam Thu — bun bo Hue, banh khoai and the imperial tasting menu
- Hanh Restaurant — the classic Hue small-plates spot
- Nook Cafe & Bar — brunch and traveller favourites
Day 21–24
Da Nang & Hoi An
Four days to split between beachy, modern Da Nang and lantern-lit, UNESCO-listed Hoi An — arguably the loveliest town in Vietnam. Between them lies the Hai Van Pass, one of Asia's great road journeys.
How to get there
Take the train from Hue to Da Nang (~2.5 hours, £4–£8) along the coastal Hai Van Pass — one of the world's most scenic rail journeys. Alternatively, hire a private car with an English-speaking driver to stop at the pass viewpoints (~£40).
How to split your time: 1–2 nights Da Nang, 2–3 nights Hoi An. Hoi An is 30 minutes south of Da Nang by Grab — it's easy to hop between them.
Where to stay
Budget
- Sunflower Hotel & Spa (Hoi An) — pool, cycles, walking distance to the Old Town
Mid-Range
- Little Riverside Hoi An — pool suites overlooking rice paddies
Luxury
- Sala Danang Beach Hotel (Da Nang) — beachfront five-star; Four Seasons Nam Hai (Hoi An) — one of Asia's most iconic resorts
Things to do
- Hoi An Ancient Town — Japanese Covered Bridge, tailor shops and lantern boats after dark
- An Bang Beach — palm-fringed and much quieter than Da Nang's
- Cooking class at Red Bridge or Morning Glory
- Custom-made suits and dresses at Yaly Couture or Bebe Tailor
- Da Nang: My Khe Beach, the Dragon Bridge fire show (weekends), and Marble Mountains
- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Hand Bridge (day trip)
- Son Tra Peninsula for lookouts and the Lady Buddha statue
- Cycle from Hoi An to An Bang Beach through the rice paddies
Food recommendations
- Banh Mi Phuong — the sandwich Anthony Bourdain called the best in the world
- Morning Glory (Hoi An) — Ms Vy's celebrated modern Vietnamese
- Madame Khanh 'The Banh Mi Queen' — a Hoi An institution
- Cao Lau — the noodle dish only Hoi An can legally serve (well water)
- Da Nang seafood at My Khe Beach for grilled clams and beer
Day 25–26
Nha Trang
Vietnam's most developed beach city — a Riviera-style curve of high-rise hotels, calm water and easy island day trips. Two nights is enough to reset before the last stretch south.
How to get there
A 1-hour internal flight from Da Nang (Vietnam Airlines / Vietjet / Bamboo, £25–£60) saves a 12-hour overland journey. The SE-line sleeper train (~12 hours, £25–£40 in a soft sleeper) is the atmospheric alternative.
Things to do
- Beach club day at Sailing Club or Louisiane Brewhouse
- Vinpearl / Hon Tam island cable car and waterpark
- Four-island snorkelling boat tour
- Thap Ba mud baths — a Nha Trang tradition
- Po Nagar Cham Towers (8th–11th century)
- Sunset drinks on the Skylight rooftop
Day 27–28
Da Lat
High in the Central Highlands at 1,500m, Da Lat is Vietnam's cool-climate escape — pine forests, waterfalls, coffee plantations and a surprisingly quirky architectural streak.
How to get there
A 4-hour sleeper bus from Nha Trang (£8–£12) climbs 1,500m up spectacular switchbacks into the highlands.
Things to do
- Hang Nga Guesthouse (Crazy House) — architect Dang Viet Nga's fairytale creation
- Elephant, Datanla and Pongour Waterfalls
- Robusta coffee farm tour at Me Linh Coffee Garden
- Alpine Coaster down to Datanla Falls
- Da Lat Night Market — grilled skewers and hot soy milk
- Canyoning day tour (abseiling, cliff jumping and waterfall slides)
Day 29–30
Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
Finish in the buzzy south. Base in District 1 for two nights and use one day for the city, one day for a Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels excursion — Vietnam's most poignant war-history site.
How to get there
An 8-hour sleeper bus from Da Lat (~£10) or a 45-minute flight (~£25) drops you in Ho Chi Minh City. Fly home from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) or push on to Cambodia by bus (Giant Ibis to Phnom Penh, ~6 hours).
Where to stay
Budget
- The Hideout Hostel — sociable rooftop bar, District 1
Mid-Range
- Silverland Yen Hotel — boutique with rooftop pool, walking distance to Ben Thanh
Luxury
- The Reverie Saigon — glamorous Times Square building, top-floor cocktails
Best area to stay: District 1 — walking distance to Ben Thanh Market, the Notre Dame Cathedral and most restaurants.
Things to do
- War Remnants Museum — moving, essential and confronting
- Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Central Post Office
- Ben Thanh Market for street food and souvenirs
- Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck for the skyline
- Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour — the Viet Cong's underground network
- Mekong Delta day trip — floating markets and coconut candy factories at My Tho or Ben Tre
- Sunset drinks on the Chill Skybar or Social Club rooftop
- Vespa street food tour at night
Food recommendations
- Pizza 4P's — Vietnam's cult Japanese-Italian, book ahead
- Bep Me In — homestyle Vietnamese in a beautiful courtyard
- Secret Garden — rooftop restaurant hidden above an apartment block
- Banh Mi Huynh Hoa — the city's most famous banh mi
- Pho Hoa Pasteur — the traditional Southern pho reference
Getting Around
Vietnam Transport Guide
Domestic flights
Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways connect every major city. Worth it for Da Nang/Hue → Nha Trang and Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City — a 1-hour flight replaces a 12–24-hour bus for £25–£60. Book on Skyscanner or 12Go 2–3 weeks ahead.
Sleeper trains
The Reunification Express runs the length of the country. The dreamy sections are Hanoi–Lao Cai (Sapa) and Hue–Da Nang (Hai Van Pass). Book a 4-berth soft sleeper for £15–£45 depending on distance. Chapa Express and Sapaly are the private premium carriages worth paying for.
Sleeper buses
Futa Bus, Queen Cafe, The Sinh Tourist and Hanh Cafe are the reliable operators. Best value on 6–10 hour overnight routes where trains don't run: Ha Giang, Phong Nha, Da Lat, Nha Trang. £8–£18 for a fully-reclining bed. Book on 12Go 1–2 days ahead.
Grab & Xanh SM
Grab is the ride-hailing app in every city — cars, motorbike taxis and food delivery. Xanh SM (Vinfast's electric fleet) is a slightly cheaper alternative in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Both are cashless in-app.
Motorbike rental
Legally, you need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Without one your travel insurance is void and police fines are steep. Rental is £4–£8 per day for a 110cc semi-automatic. Style Motorbikes and Tigit Motorbikes offer well-maintained, one-way rentals (drop off in another city) for longer trips.
Apps to download
Grab, Xanh SM, 12Go (buses/trains/ferries), Vietnam Railways (official train app), Google Maps (with offline maps saved) and Klook for tours and cave passes.
The Numbers
Vietnam Budget Breakdown
All-in estimates per person for 30 days — accommodation, food, transport (including 1–2 internal flights and a Ha Long cruise) and activities. International flights excluded.
| Budget Style | Cost For 30 Days | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | £700 – £1,000 | Hostel dorms, street food, sleeper buses and trains, occasional group tour. |
| Mid-Range | £1,400 – £2,200 | 3-star hotels, restaurants, a couple of internal flights, overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay. |
| Luxury | £3,500+ | 4–5 star hotels and beach resorts, private transfers, domestic flights and private tours. |
Accommodation
- Backpacker£6–£12/night
- Mid-Range£25–£55/night
- Luxury£120+/night
Food
- Backpacker£8/day
- Mid-Range£18/day
- Luxury£45+/day
Transport
- Backpacker£90 total
- Mid-Range£220 total
- Luxury£600+ total
Activities
- Backpacker£180
- Mid-Range£350
- Luxury£800+
Add roughly £600–£900 for return flights from the UK depending on season.
FAQ
Common questions about 1 month in Vietnam
Keep planning
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Cities, regions, costs, visas and FAQs.
Best time to visit Vietnam
Season by season across north, centre and south.
Vietnam travel costs
Per-day breakdowns for every travel style.
Hanoi travel guide
Old Quarter, street food and coffee culture.
Ha Giang Loop guide
Easy Rider tours, routes and where to stay.
Sapa travel guide
Rice terrace treks and minority villages.
Hoi An travel guide
Ancient town, tailors and An Bang Beach.
Ho Chi Minh City guide
District 1, war history and Mekong Delta.
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More day-by-day itineraries across the region.
Vietnam travel tips
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