Vietnam

Markets, Mountains, & Coastlines

Home Destination Asia Vietnam

Time Spent

45 Days

Currency

Vietnamese Dong

Best Season

Oct - Apr

Budget Level

Very Affordable

My Vietnam Experience

45 days north to south and Vietnam never stopped surprising me. From the jaw-dropping mountain passes of Ha Giang to the turquoise waters of Lan Ha Bay, from the ancient lantern streets of Hoi An to the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. This country packs more diversity into one coastline than most continents.

Below you’ll find everything from motorbike loops and island escapes to budget breakdowns and the food spots I’m still dreaming about.

Featured

Premium Guide

The Ultimate 45-Day Vietnam Itinerary: North to South

My complete route from Hanoi to Phu Quoc. Every motorbike loop, overnight buses, and hidden detour from 45 days on the ground. Transport connections, accomodation picks, and daily budget breakdowns for the full north-to-south journey.

get the full guide

All Posts

Vietnam Blog Posts

Tips

Top 10 Tips for Traveling Vietnam

Everything I wish I knew before arriving.

7 min read

Adventure

The Ha Giang Loop: The Most Epic Motorbike Ride in Vietnam

3-4 days of mountain passes, rice terraces, and remote villages on the edge of the world. Everything you need to plan the ride.

11 Min Read

Budget

Vietnam on a Budget: What I Actually Spent in 45 Days

Full daily breakdown - Exactly what I spent - sleeper buses, street food, motorbike rentals, and accommodation, broken down by region.

11 min read

City Guide

Hanoi: Controlled Chaos and the Best Coffee in the World

Egg coffee, the Old Quarter maze, street food stools, and why Hanoi grows on you the longer you stay.

8 min read

City Guide

Ho Chi Minh City: Saigon's Energy, History, and Nightlife

War museums, rooftop bars, District 1 walking tours, and the best shopping in Vietnam.

9 min read

Guide

Ninh Binh: The Inland Ha Long Bay (and Better for It)

Rice paddles, boat rides through cave systems, and temples carved into cliffs. A perfect 3-day stop from Hanoi.

8 min read

City Guide

Hoi An: Lanterns, Tailors, and the Best Food in Vietnam

The ancient town that steals everyone's heart - what to get made and how to escape the crowds.

8 min read

Island

Phu Quoc: Vietnam's Island Paradise

The best beaches, sunset spots, night markets, and which part of the island to stay on. Get there before the resorts take over.

7 min read

Guide

Vietnam Bucket List

If you only have time for the best of the best, these are the 10 activities that defined my trip.

10 min read

By region

Explore Vietnam

Northern Mountains

Ha Giang, Sapa, Cao Bang

Northern Lowlands

Hanoi, Ninh binh, lan ha bay

Central Coast

Da Nang, Hoi an, mui ne

South & Islands

Ho Chi minh, phu quoc

Before you go

Vietnam Travel Tips

🛵

Motorbike is King

Rent for $5-8/day. The motorbike loops (Ha Giang, Cao Bang) are Vietnam's best experiences, but get an international license.

🚆

Sleeper Buses

Overnight sleeper buses save on accomodation. Make sure to spend the little bit extra to take the VIP buses for extra room to be comfortable.

🍜

Eat Where Locals Eat

The best food is on tiny plastic stools. If the stall is packed with Vietnamese people, sit down. Meals are $1-3 everywhere.

Premium

The Complete Vietnam Guide

45 days of travel compressed into the ultimate north-to-south resource - every motorbike loop, overnight bus, hidden beach, and budget hack.

✓ Day-by-day itineraries
✓ Ha Giang Loop vs Cao Bang Loop
✓ Sleeper bus and train booking walkthrough
✓ Google Maps with 100+ pinned spots
✓ Accomodation picks for every budget
✓ My ultimate travel tips and hacks for Vietnam
✓ My hidden gem spots

Get the Guide