Vietnam 3 Week Itinerary – North to South Highlights

Nature
The wow factor for nature - does it show nature at its best? Doesn't need to be the wildebeest migration or diving with hundreds of hammerheads. Rather make you pause as you realise just how awesome the natural world can be
8
Culture
How much does this experience showcase some of the better and finer things that us humans can offer? Sure, it can be ancient ruins and renaissance churches, but it can also be festivals or soaking up some of the great modern cities of the world
8
Fun factor/activity
Very simple - was it fun? This is usually linked in with doing some kind of activity - i mean, walking along some cliffs is nice, but paragliding from them, now that is fun. Its a vastly underrated factor in a truly great experience
7
Avoid the crowds
Big tour groups and being surrounded by loud fellow tourists can sap the life out of even the greatest of travel experiences. This score is to reflect just how much you can avoid this. But. . . The score also takes into account if the crowds actually add to the experience, such as with a party town or a bustling local market
5
World famous
How world famous is the experience?
8
unique
How hard is it to have a similar experience in other places round the world?
7
Overall TE Score
The overall travel experiences score:  fun factor + avoid the crowds + (best of nature or culture) + (best of world famous or unique). Then convert into a score out of 100
70 *What the scores mean and where do they come from
RANKING
How this travel experience ranks compared to all the other experiences on this site, based on the travel experience (te) score
157th/454
Top 40%
continent
Asia
country
Vietnam
Length of time
2-4 weeks
Typical daily price
This gives you a rough idea of the daily price based on 2 people travelling where they can split costs like accommodation. It excludes travel there and back, and factors in inflation the numbers in brackets show the price range for the full time of the experience (so not necessarily daily). It is a range to reflect different budget vs higher end
$140 (typically $90 - $180)
Time of year visited
July
Primary Tags
Click on any of the tags to see all travel experiences with the same tag
Adventure Big city Jungle
All Tags
Ancient ruins Beaches Boat trip Buddhist site Bustling restaurants Caves Cliffs Cycling Hilltop towns Islands Kayaking Local villages Mopeds Mountains Mud baths Old town Rice terraces / terraces Sunrise Sunsets Swimming Train journey UNESCO world heritage site Wildlife - Elephants Wonder of the World - Natural
Wow Factor
The wow factor reflects just how much you’re likely to say “wow”. As there’s a lot of experiences in the world, and a lot of wows, i’ve gone with a simple ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ to ⭐️ score, and a separate category for the truly "gash"
⭐⭐⭐

Summary

Vietnam is one of the best countries in the world to travel (see where it ranks – Best countries to visit in the world), with a huge variety of landscapes, cultures and experiences packed into a relatively narrow country that naturally lends itself to a north-to-south journey.  Over the course of a few weeks, you can go from misty mountains and rice terraces in the north, to limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay, to historic towns like Hoi An, and finally down to the tropical Mekong Delta in the south.

What makes Vietnam particularly special is not just the individual highlights, but the overall journey. It’s a country where the experience of travelling through it – the changing scenery, the food, the energy of the cities and the contrast between regions — is as much a part of the trip as the destinations themselves.

The country works best as a 2–3 week itinerary travelling either north to south or the reverse, combining a handful of standout highlights with a few shorter stops along the way. Some places are genuinely world-class, while others are more about adding variety to the route rather than being must-see destinations in their own right.

Is Vietnam worth visiting? Yes – it’s one of the most rewarding countries to travel in, especially if you enjoy varied scenery, great food and trips that feel like a journey rather than a series of isolated stops.

In a nutshell:

  • One of the best countries in the world for a multi-week trip
  • Natural north-to-south route with huge variety
  • Ha Long Bay, Mai Chau and Hoi An are standout highlights
  • Nah Trang and Hue are overrated
  • Can be done super cheap from US$1500 using the excellent bus network

 

Cycling the lush green patchwork of rice fields in the valley setting of Mai Chau, as part of a 3 week itinerary for Vietnam

 

Table of Contents

The 3 week Vietnam route

 

This is the full Vietnam route North to South.  There are 3 main clusters:

  • The North – Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Mai Chau and Sapa
  • The Centre – Hoi An, Hue, My Son and Da Nang
  • The South – Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Mui Ne

There isn’t actually that much in between.  So think about the big bus journeys as between these 3 clusters and using Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An as the hubs.

 

Our top 16 highlight moments

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#1 Wandering through the old bridges and lantern spots of the UNESCO-listed historic old town of Hoi An

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#2 Drifting by on a traditional junk boat through one of the Natural Wonders of the World in HaLong Bay

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#3 Cycling between the lush green patchwork of rice fields in the stunning valley setting of Mai Chau

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#4 Catching the views of the nearby mountains when you get a break in the clouds as you zip by on your motorbike through the hills of Sapa

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#5 Pulling up one of those small plastic seats and grabbing one of the fresh Vietnamese beers as you watch the mayhem go by from “Bia Hoi Junction” in the Old Town of Hanoi

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#6 Taking a boat trip through the Mekong Delta to see the way people work, eat, sleep and live all on the river

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#7 Seeing the sunset from Hoi An's An Bang beach with its gorgeous bay setting

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#8 Enjoying the buzz and energy of Ho Chi Minh City, encapsulated perfectly in crossing the street as thousands of motorbikes swerve and swarm impossibly round you

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#9 Kayaking in HaLong Bay to to find some of the slightly hidden bays amongst the giant karst cliffs with passage ways too short for the boats to enter

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#10 Soaking up the whole winding-streets-with-vines-hanging-over-as-motorbikes-go-zipping-past of it all in Hanoi's Old Town

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#11 Watching as locals work the rice fields all across the still traditional Mai Chau valley

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#12 Checking out some of the giant cave grottos dotted all throughout HaLong Bay

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#13 Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient Cham Empire ruins of My Son, within an hours drive of Hoi An

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#14 Chilling out along the 20km / 12miles of palm-fringed beachfront of Mui Ne Beach, one of the standard stops on the north-south route through Vietnam

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#15 Roaming around the old Citadel and UNESCO World Heritage site of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam . . . and maybe spotting one of the local elephants

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#16 Heading down into the Cu Chi Tunnels to see just how claustrophobic it must have been for the Vietcong fighters in the Vietnam War

How to prioritise Vietnam

There is a lot to do in Vietnam and not everyone has a full 3 weeks.  If short on time or just want to hit the best, this is how I would look at the options in terms of wow factor:

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A boat through Ha Long Bay 
One of the most visually spectacular places in the world – towering limestone karsts rising out of calm water – and on the list for Natural Wonders of the world. Can get busy, but if you chose the right boat and stay overnight it can be magical.  An overnight boat trip through HaLong Bay.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cycling through the rice fields of Mai Chau
A peaceful and authentic glimpse of rural Vietnam, cycling between rice paddies, small villages and with towering mountains nearby.  Worth the slight detour from the well trodden path. Cycling through the patchwork rice fields of Mai Chau.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The mountain scenery and hill tribes of Sapa
Dramatic mountain landscapes and terraced rice fields with a strong cultural element. Be sure to ride or jump on the back of a motorbike to properly experience it and get the train from Hanoi. Sapa – taking a motorbike around the mountain scenery and hilltop villages.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hoi An’s lantern-filled old town and An Bang Beach 
Charming and photogenic old town that comes alive at night with its lanterns, and paired with an easy, relaxed beach nearby. Be sure to also take advantage of the high-end tailoring throughout the town. Hoi An’s Old Town, An Bang Beach and the ruins of My Son.

⭐️⭐️ Getting lost in Hanoi’s Old Town 
Chaotic, intense and full of character – more about atmosphere than standout sights. Stick to the old town and grab a fresh beer at Bia Hoi junction. Getting lost in Hanoi Old Town.

⭐️⭐️ Experiencing Ho Chi Minh’s vibrancy  
A fast-moving, modern city with energy and edge, and realistically a key hub for the trip. Be sure to experience the Vietcong tunnels.  HCMC / Saigon, Vietcong tunnels and the Mekong Delta.

⭐️⭐️ Boat life on the Mekong Delta 
An interesting look at river-based living and floating markets, as part of a short trip from Ho Chi Minh.

⭐️ Mui Ne beach
A decent stretch of beach with a few nearby sights and great for kite surfing, but not particularly special compared to other Southeast Asia options. Chilling at Mui Ne Beach.

⭐️ Tam Coc’s cast mountains and lakes
A mini, more accessible version of Ha Long Bay’s scenery on land. Pleasant but not essential if you’ve seen the real thing and a far cry from the beauty of Mai Chau.  Cycling and views around Tam Coc.

GASH – Nah Trang
A built-up beach resort that feels generic and lacks the character or standout features of Vietnam’s better destinations. Avoid. Tacky Nha Trang

GASH – The former Vietnamese capital of Hue
Historically interesting former capital, but I found it so underwhelming in practice, with limited standout sights compared to elsewhere in Vietnam. A day for the former Vietnamese Capital of Hue

Itinerary

Day 1-4 – Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.  You’ll want the first couple of days to settle in, get your first bites of the wonderful Vietnamese food and head out to soak up the energy of the city as the thousands of motorbikes swerve impossibly round you as you cross the street.  Give Day 3 and 4 to head out to spend the night on a boat as you check out the Mekong Delta as people work, eat and sleep on the river.  Give yourself a bit of time as well to check out the Cu Chi Tunnels to see how claustrophobic it must have been for the Vietcong fighters. HCMC / Saigon, Vietcong tunnels and the Mekong Delta for highlights and tips.

Day 5-7 – make your way via the day / night buses up to Hoi An.  On the way, many people stop off at Nah Trang but I’d avoid it – it was no doubt beautiful before the unobstructed development kicked in and  there are a few things to get up to, like the mud baths, the various boat trips and general partying / getting on the lash, but super touristy and below par from the rest of Vietnam.  Instead consider stopping off at Mui Ne beach, with its beautiful long beach and reputation as the premier water sports hub, or in Dalat, the atmospheric old French hill station.

Day 8-10 – Hoi An.  A UNESCO-listed historic old town of lanterns and bridges that miraculously avoided destruction in the war, the world class An Bang beach with its gorgeous bay setting, the 500+ master tailors ready to make anything you want cheap as chips, and the other UNESCO-listed ancient Cham ruins of My Son within an hours drive. Hoi An’s Old Town, An Bang Beach and the ruins of My Son

Day 10-11- take the night bus  up to Hanoi, stopping off for a morning or afternoon for former imperial capital to roam around the relics of the old Citadel and Imperial Enclosure in what is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 12 – Hanoi.  Pull up a small plastic chair on Bia Hoi Junction amongst the maze of lanes in the Old Town and watch the mayhem go by before heading to one of the water puppet shows.  Getting lost in the Hanoi Old Town.

Day 13-14 – HaLong Bay.  With over 2,000 islands of sheer vertical karst limestone peaks bursting from the waters of a huge tropical bay, you can see why HaLong Bay literally means “the bay of the descending dragon”; why it is categorised as a Wonder of the Natural World and why it is consistently seen as one of the highlights of Vietnam.  Take an overnight boat trip (easily arranged from Hanoi), including kayaking, to get a good look at the bays and caves that make this so famous.  An overnight boat trip through HaLong Bay – The Bay of the Descending Dragon.

Day 15-17 – Mai Chau.  Travel back to Hanoi and on to Mai Chau to the west.  Stay one night in this beautiful valley that looks straight from a movie set and spend the day riding a bike around the patchwork of lush green rice fields to see the locals working in the fields and the surrounding  views of the mountains.  Cycling through the patchwork rice fields of Mai Chau.

Day 18-20 – Sapa.  You’ll most likely need to head back into Hanoi to take an overnight train up to the hill town of Sapa.  Spend one night in this town perched high in the mountains with it’s stunning vistas, hill tribes and fast-flowing rivers all around .  Make sure to rent a motorbike (with driver if needed) and let the scenery zip you by in true Vietnamese style.  Sapa – taking a motorbike around the mountain scenery and hilltop villages

Day 21 – Fly out from Hanoi

 

If shorter on time, I’d suggest focusing on the north.  Not because North Vietnam is any more attractive than the South or the Centre, its just that it has 3 superb experiences all within a short bus ride / overnight train from Hanoi, whereas South and Central have less concentration.

Travel Tips

The food

Vietnamese food is one of the highlights of travelling in the country, with a huge variety of fresh, flavourful dishes that change noticeably from north to south. You’ll find everything from simple street food like pho, banh mi and bun cha to more regional specialities, with lots of herbs, noodles, broths and grilled meats forming the base of many meals. The food tends to be lighter and fresher than in many other parts of Asia, with a strong focus on balance rather than heavy sauces or spice. It’s also very easy and inexpensive to eat well almost everywhere, especially if you’re happy to sit on a small plastic stool and eat where the locals do.

 

The Buses

Unless flying, you’ll be using the long-distance buses as you main way of getting from each of the main sites.  They are super easy to arrange – it makes sense to go with one of the major firms so you can effectively hop on and off on your way up the country.  Mai Linh Express is good, surprisingly comfortable and I would recommend.

I did a few sleeper buses and was impressed by them for the long journeys.  Just a couple of things to bear in mind: 1. Because of the sheer number of motorbikes and often animals on the roads, nothing moves that fast in Vietnam, so expect the progress to be slower than the highways you may be used to.  2. The bus companies seem to think that high end luxury equals TVs with the volume on full and blaring 24/7, so bring ear plugs and an eye mask.

 

The people

Mass generalisation, but they can get a little fiery.  If you’re Caucasian, many will still see you simply as “American” and the associations that come with it.  99% of your interactions will no doubt be neutral / positive, but just something to be aware of and you will find it mentioned a few times likely by fellow travellers.  As with all things, starting off with a smile and overdoing on politeness will go a long way to avoiding any issues.

 

Vietnam Context

You will get a hell of a lot more out of the trip if you do a bit of reading on the history and context of Vietnam, especially considering its very modern history.  A quick scan through wikipedia should give you background and its worth it if not familiar, but par for the course is to read one of the classic Vietnam books that you’ll see being sold in all of the main tourist sites – often as copies.  The key ones worth reading:

The Girl in the Photo – the true story of Kim Phuc who was severely burned by napalm in the war and her running along the streets screaming became an iconic image.  The book tells the story of how she became an well respected figure within the communist countries as she was sent throughout the likes of Cuba and Russia to tell her story.

The Quiet American – depicts the breakdown of French colonialism in Vietnam and early American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Saigon (my main recommendation)– a historical fiction book that follows the lives of three families, one American, one French, and the other Vietnamese, from the French colonial era in the early 1920s until the last helicopter left Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

For details specifically on the Vietnam War, its very difficult to look beyond The Vietnam War miniseries on Netflix.  Superb, if a bit long.

 

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Score Detail

The scores above are the real point of this site.

Over 20+ years and 100+ countries, I’ve tried to rank the world’s best travel experiences — from genuinely mind-blowing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to the properly gash.

Every one of the 500+ places on this site has both a Wow Factor rating and a more analytical Travel Experience (TE) score based on the things that actually make travel memorable.

If you're curious about the thinking behind it, head to the About page.

Otherwise, explore the map above or on the Home page and see which places truly deliver maximum wow.

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