3 Weeks in Vietnam

8 min read

AsiaItineraryOverviewSolo TravelViet Nam

michael

Updated: December 8, 2023

Published: April 8, 2020

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Overview

This post is the main overview for my 2019 trip to Vietnam. You can find my 1 week in Thailand overview here.

There are separate posts for each of the cities I visited, which are linked below, along with bullet lists for the main points of interest I visited.

Quick Facts

Vietnam

Capital: Hanoi
Official Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Main Religion: No religion / Vietnamese folk religion
E-visa info: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Interesting facts about Vietnam

Vietnam is the 15th most populous country in the world, and the 8th most populous country in Asia.

Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of black pepper, the second largest producer of coffee, and one of the world’s largest producers of cashew nuts. Vietnam is the world’s second largest exporter of rice.

While the official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese, the Vietnamese language has many dialects, with the most common being the Hanoi dialect. There are 54 recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam, with the Kinh people making up the majority of the population at 86%. Each ethnic group has their own language, traditions, and subculture.

The Cities I Visited

The links below will take you to the 1st or main post for each of the cities I visited.

Note: the days for the cities are not all listed in chronological order, as I went back to Hanoi and spent a few more days there after visiting Ninh Binh and Hoi An.

Hanoi

Hanoi was my 1st stop in Vietnam, and served as my base for several tours. I spent a total of 6 days in Hanoi, but 1 of which was on an all-day tour of Ninh Binh.

Hanoi, or Ha Noi (Hà Nội), is the capital and second most populous city of Vietnam. It’s located in the Red River Delta in the northern part of Vietnam, and is the cultural, economic, and political centre of Vietnam.

Hanoi’s history dates back to the 3rd century BCE, when it was part of the Vietnamese nation of Âu Lạc.

Hanoi Itinerary

Day 18

Ha Pagoda
- Address: Phố P. Chùa Hà, Dịch Vọng, Cầu Giấy
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
- Official website: vme.org.vn
- Address: Đ. Nguyễn Văn Huyên, Quan Hoa, Cầu Giấy
- Hours: 08:30 - 17:30 Tuesday to Sunday
- Entrance fee: 40,000 VND
Phu Tay Ho
- Address: 52 P. Đặng Thai Mai, Quảng An, Tây Hồ
- Hours: 05:00 - 19:00
Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Address: 46 Đ. Thanh Niên, Trúc Bạch, Tây Hồ
- Hours: 08:00 - 16:00 daily
Quan Thanh Temple
- Address: Đ. Thanh Niên, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình
- Hours: 08:00 - 17:00 daily
- Entrance fee: 10,000 VND
Hanoi Museum
- Official website: baotanghanoi.com.vn
- Address: Phạm Hùng, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm
- Hours: 08:00 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 17:00 Tuesday to Sunday

Ninh Binh Itinerary

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh (Ninh Bình), which was the 2nd city I visited, is a small city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam, and is the capital of Ninh Binh Province.

It’s located 91 km south of Hanoi, and is known for the nearby karst scenery and the village of Tam Coc.

I visited Ninh Binh on a full day tour from Hanoi, and so it was actually part of my Hanoi itinerary, but I’ve included it here separately for clarity.

Day 5

Ninh Binh - Full Day Tour
- Booking link: getyourguide.com
- Hua Lu Ancient Capital
- Mua Cave & Viewpoint
- Biking around Tam Coc
- Tam Coc River Boat Ride
- Price: $66.48 CAD
Drinks at Ta Hien Beer Street

Hue Itinerary

Hue

Hue (Huế), my 3rd stop, is the capital of Thua Thien-Hue province in central Vietnam, and was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. The oldest ruins in Hue actually date back to the 4th century CE.

You’ll find the incredible Imperial City in Hue, which is a walled fortress and palace in the former capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the most visited attraction in Hue. You’ll also find the lavish tombs of several emperors in Hue.

Besides the Imperial City, Hue is also known for its food, and is considered the best place in Vietnam to get authentic Vietnamese food - which is something I can vouch for as it’s where I had what became some of my favourite dishes in all of Vietnam!

Day 7

Making my way to Hue
- Bus from Hostel to Noi Bai Airport
  - Price: 8,000 VND
- Fly from Hanoi to Hue
  - Price: $41.50 CAD
  - Booking link: 12go.asia
- Shuttle from Hue Airport to city center
  - Price: 50,000 VND
Check-in to Bon Ami Hostel
Madam Thu
- Lunch: Stuffed rice pancake and fresh spring rolls
- Price: 105,000 VND
Hue Imperial City
- Price: 150,000 VND
Boardwalk at night
Street stall Banh Mi
- Dinner: BBQ Pork Banh Mi
- Cost: 20,000 VND

Day 8

Hue Tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda private tour
- Day itinerary:
- Booking link: getyourguide.com
- Price: $52.87 CAD

Day 9

Bach Ma National Park all-day hiking trip
- Booking link: getyourguide.com
- Price: $33.00 USD
Madam Thu
- Dinner: Bun Bo Hue & stuffed rice pancake
- Price: 145,000 VND

Day 10

Huyen Tran Cultural Center
- Price: 30,000 VND
- Address: 151 Thiên Thai, An Tây, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế
On the Road Again
- Train from Hue to Da Nang
  - Price: 159,000 VND
  - Booking site: 12go.asia
- Grab bike from Da Nang train station to hostel
  - Price: 25,000 VND

Da Nang Itinerary

Da Nang

Danang, or Da Nang (Đà Nẵng), my 4th stop, is the 5th largest city in Vietnam, and the largest city in central Vietnam. It’s also home to a large number of expats.

It’s located on the coast of the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Han River, and is where you’ll find the famous My Khe Beach and awesome fire-breathing Dragon bridge.

Day 10 (continuation)

Check-in to Gilda Hostel
- Address: 89 Cao Bá Quát, An Hải Trung, Sơn Trà

Day 11

Jeremy’s Kitchen
- Breakfast: Fried eggs, sausage, bacon, hash brown, and French toast
- Price: 90,000 VND
- Website: jeremyskitchenvn.com
Phap Lam Pagoda
- Address: 574 Ông Ích Khiêm, Nam Dương, Hải Châu
- Hours: Daily 05:00 - 11:30 & 13:00 - 21:30
Con Market
- Address: 290 Hùng Vương, Vĩnh Trung, Hải Châu
Da Nang Museum
- Address: 24 Đường Trần Phú, Thạch Thang, Hải Châu
- Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 07:30 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 16:30
- Entrance fee: 20,000 VND
Dragon Bridge show
- Address: Cầu Rồng, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà
- Hours: Saturday & Sunday 21:00 - 21:15
Son Tra Night Market
- Address: Mai Hắc Đế, An Hải Trung, Sơn Trà
- Hours: Daily 18:00 - 24:00

Day 12

Marble Mountains
- Address: 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn
- Hours: Daily 07:00 - 17:30
- Price: 40,000 VND
Stroll along My Khe beach

Day 13

Ba Na Hills
- Official site: sunworld.vn
- Address: An Sơn, Hoà Ninh, Hòa Vang
- Hours: Daily 07:00 - 22:00
- Price: 600,000 VND per adult

Hoi An Itinerary

Hoi An

Hoi An (Hội An), my 5th stop, is a city in Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s located on the coast of the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Thu Bon River.

While it might be a bit of a tourist trap, it’s still a beautiful city, and is known for its well-preserved Ancient Town. It’s also known for its tailors, and is a popular place to get custom-made clothing.

Day 14

Drive to Hoi An from Da Nang
Check-in to Hoi An Town Resort
Walk around Hoi An Old Town
Banh My Phuong
- Address: 2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu
Tan Ky Old House
- Entrance fee: 1 ticket (see below for info)

Day 15

Explore Hoi An Ancient Town
- Day Market
- Fujian Assembly Hall
  - Address: 46 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
  - Hours: 08:00 - 17:00 daily
- Japanese Covered Bridge
  - Fee to cross the bridge: 1 ticket (see below for info)
- Old Town at Night

Day 16

Saigon Itinerary

Saigon

Saigon, Sai Gon (Sài Gòn), or Ho Chi Minh City (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh), my 6th and final stop in Vietnam, is the largest city in Vietnam, and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

It’s located in southeastern Vietnam, and is the economic centre of Vietnam. It’s also the most visited city in Vietnam, and is known for its French colonial landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, made entirely of materials imported from France, and the 19th-century Central Post Office.

Day 19

Fly from Hanoi to Saigon
- City bus to Noi Bai Airport
  - Price: 8,000 VND
- Fly from Hanoi to Saigon
  - Base price: 900,000 VND
  - Overweight baggage fee: 500,000 VND
- Grab bike to hostel
  - Price: 40,000 VND
Check into 9 Hostel and Rooftop

Day 20

Phuoc Hai Pagoda
- Address: 165 Đ. 3 Tháng 2, Phường 11, Quận 10
Le Van Tam Park
- Address: 2 Hồ Bá Kiện, Phường 15, Quận 10
Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Address: 73 Đ. Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, Quận 1
McDonalds
- Address: 2-6Bis Đ. Điện Biên Phủ, Đa Kao, Quận 1
- Lunch: Double Cheeseburger, Fries, Matcha latté
- Price: 134,000 VND
History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
- Address: 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 08:00 - 11:30 & 13:00 - 17:00
- Entrance fee: 30,000 VND
- Official website: baotanglichsutphcm.com.vn

Day 21

Betsu Milk Ice Cream
- Address: Saigon Center Mall, 65 Đ. Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart Ice Cream
- Address: Saigon Center Mall, 65 Đ. Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
War Remnants Museum
- Address: Phường 6, District 3
- Hours: Daily 07:30 - 17:30
- Entrance fee: 40,000 VND
- Official website: baotangchungtichchientranh.vn