One Month Vietnam Itinerary: Travel Guide For Your First Time In Vietnam

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia that has gained a lot of popularity lately. Known for stunning natural landscapes, a rich cultural history, delicious cuisine, safety, and hospitality, it’s a top pick among travelers looking for adventure and intensity on a budget. So, here’s how to spend one month in Vietnam as a first-time visitor.

Which City Should You Start Your Vietnam Adventure In?

Vietnam is a long and skinny country so it’s best to travel in one direction from north to south or south to north. It makes no sense to jump around from city to city and is more economical and sustainable to just work with the geography.

Most international flights come through Vietnam’s three main airports: Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang Airport in central Vietnam, or Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City. For someone spending one month in Vietnam, I would recommend either flying into Hanoi (north) and traveling south or flying into Ho Chi Minh City (south) and traveling north.

Ben, the travel guide that took me from Hue to Hoi An, mentioned that most people travel from north to south and that there may be more transport options going in that direction. With that in mind, I’ve organized this one month Vietnam travel guide from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. If that doesn’t work with your specific itinerary, feel free to reverse this guide and work from south to north.

An Overview of How To Spend One Month In Vietnam

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Day 1: Fly in to Hanoi, spend the day exploring old quarter, take overnight bus to Ha Giang

Start your journey off by flying into Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Noi Bai International Airport is the country’s second largest and busiest international airport and your best bet for finding a nonstop flight that will land you in the north.

But don’t get too settled in! We’re actually only using Hanoi as a temporary stop-over before we travel a little further north to Ha Giang. So for your first day in Vietnam, you’ll drop your luggage off at temporary storage and spend the day exploring the old quarter.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the name commonly given to the historical civic urban core of Hanoi, located outside the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long. Some things to do include wandering the charming streets and adjusting to Vietnamese traffic, enjoying some pho and egg coffee, shopping traditional crafts and knick-knacks, enjoying your time by Hoan Kiem Lake, and visiting Bach Ma temple, the oldest temple in Hanoi.

In the evening, you’ll pick up your luggage and get ready for your first overnight sleeper bus of the trip. We’re going to Ha Giang!

Days 2 - 5: Ha Giang

Vietnam is a great country for young travelers who are thirsty for adventure and that’s exactly what the famous Ha Giang Loop offers.

The Ha Giang Loop is a (potentially dangerous) 420 km road that takes you through some of the most majestic mountainous landscapes of northern Vietnam. I first heard about it from a Vietnamese-American friend who said that this was the best part of their trip. Basically, you’ll spend four days and three nights riding a scooter through stunning limestone pinnacles and deep valleys, exploring more of the northern countryside and local villages in a slow and connected way.

However, unless you’re an experienced motorcycle rider with an international license, you’ll have to sign up with a group tour and ride pillion. An experienced local driver will take you around and you’ll get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the views (though in my opinion, it wasn’t really that relaxing 😂). Book your adventure directly with your hostel or a tour group and they’ll help you arrange transportation and free luggage storage.

I booked my experience though Buffalo Hostel in Hanoi.

Tips for Ha Giang:

You get to take a day pack that they strap to the back of the bike for four days. Leave the rest of your luggage at the hostel.

Make sure you bring enough layers (here’s a full packing list). Sure, Vietnam is in South East Asia but the northern part is basically right in line with China and it gets pretty frosty in the mountains. If you have a waterproof and windproof layer, definitely bring that.
Don’t forget to tip your drivers! It’s hard work to drive for 8+ hours through rocky and mountainous roads!

The tour will end in the afternoon on the fourth day. Most people will take a bus back to Hanoi but you can ask your hostel or tour group to arrange a bus directly to Sapa.

Days 6 - 7: Sapa

Staying within the northern mountains of Vietnam, Sapa, the home to five different ethnic groups, is known for picturesque rice terraces, hot herbal baths, trekking through nature, and the tallest mountain in Vietnam.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Sapa:

Rent a scooter to explore the local ethnic villages
Take a picturesque train and cable car ride up Fansipan mountain, the tallest mountain in Vietnam
Trek through the mountainous terrain with a local guide
Warm up with a Red Dao Herbal Bath
Enjoy specialty indigenous dishes

On your last day, take an overnight bus to Cat Ba.

Days 8 - 10: Cat Ba

Ha Long Bay’s less touristy and more affordable sister, Cat Ba Island is located about 45 kilometers east of Hai Phong City. Located within the same geographical vicinity as the UNESCO heritage site of Ha Long Bay, you’ll get all the same stunning views with less crowding, less pollution, and at a more affordable rate.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Cat Ba:

Take a cruise to Ha Long Bay
Rent a scooter to explore the island
Kayak with Bioluminescent Plankton in Lan Ha Bay
Soak up the rays on Cat Co Beach 1, 2, and 3
Experience Viet Hai fishing village

Days 11-14: Hanoi

After spending some time in nature, it’s time to get back to the city. Hanoi is the second most populated city in Vietnam and offers a lot of context for the country’s cultural history.

Here are some ideas for how to spend three days in Hanoi:

Finish exploring the Old Quarter and walk around the French Quarter
Catch a water puppet show
Go museum hopping: check out the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, and the Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Eat all the delicious northern eats: Phở, Bánh Mì, Chè, Cà Phê Trung, Bún Chả, and Chả Cá Lã Vọng
Take a day trip to Ninh Binh
Learn more about traditional handicraft villages around the capital with a half-day trip to Quảng Phú Cầu (Incense Village)

Days 15 - 17: Hue

We’re finally heading to central Vietnam! The drive from Hanoi to Hue is 11 hours long so I recommend taking a nonstop, 1-hour flight directly to Hue. Hue is a charming city in central Vietnam that was the capital during the time of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 - 1945.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Hue:

Wander the imperial city and visit the citadel
Visit the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities
Explore the royal tombs of past emperors (Minh Mạng, Khải Định, and Tu Duc)
Try central Vietnamese cuisine: Bún Bò Huế, Cà Phê Muối, Bánh Bèo, Bánh Khoái Huế, Cơm Hến

Days 18 - 20 Hoi An

Hue to Hoi An is only a three-hour drive and if you book a transport tour with stops along the way, you can explore Da Nang, the Hải Vân Pass, and marble mountain while you’re at it.

Hoi An is a well-preserved ancient town built on canals. What’s exciting about this former port city is that you can still clearly see its melting-pot history through the architecture and food. Every full moon, Hoi An also hosts a special lantern festival that is definitely worth seeing.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Hoi An:

Wander old town
Get a custom tailored dress or suit
Shop Hoi An night market
Catch a show at Hoi An Memories Land
DIY your own lanterns
Take a boat ride and release floating lanterns on the river if you happen to be in town on a full moon

Days 21 - 22: Nha Trang

After taking some time to soak in the culture of these old cities, it’s time to explore a ritzier side of town. Nha Trang is a coastal resort town known for its beaches, diving sites and offshore islands. While it’s definitely more touristy than some other cities in Vietnam, it’s still worth seeing!

Here are some ideas for how to spend your day in Nha Trang:

Spend some time on the beach
Stop by Long Son Pagoda and Po Nagar Towers
Go snorkeling in crystal clear waters
Take the Vinpearl cable car

Days 23 - 25: Da Lat

This one month Vietnam itinerary truly does take you across all climates and terrains because right after the beach, we’re heading back into the high mountains! Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands. It’s known for its distinctive temperate climate that produces incredible agricultural products like flowers, coffee, honey, fruit, milk, and so much more.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Da Lat:

Explore the city and enjoy landmarks like Da Lat marketplace, Domaine de Marie, Crazy House, and Dinh I and III
Rent a bike or scooter and explore the region
Take a tour to Elephant Waterfall
Enjoy the peace and quiet of Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Take a tour of local coffee, honey, flower, and fruit farms

Days 26 - 28: Ho Chi Minh City

We’re nearing the end of our journey! After spending some time in the chilly highlands of Da Lat, we’ll head to the biggest and busiest city in Vietnam–Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is home to almost 9 million people and known as the financial center of the country. This former capital offers an eclectic blend of the traditional with the modern and is definitely one of the most lively cities that I’ve ever been in.

Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Ho Chi Minh City:

Take your time exploring the streets and alleyways in District 1
Tour the Cu Chi Tunnels
Take a tour to the Cần Giờ Biosphere Reserve
Go museum hopping: definitely check out the War Remnants Museum and the Southern Women’s Museum
Take an all-female-led motorcycle tour of Saigon nightlife
Watch the A O Show
Enjoy must-eat southern Vietnamese dishes: Bánh mì, Bún riêu, Cơm tấm, Bánh khọt, Gỏi cuốn, Bánh tráng trộn

Days 29 - 30: Can Tho

A trip to Vietnam is incomplete without a trip to the Mekong Delta. Can Tho is only 3 hours away from Ho Chi Minh city so set aside one day towards the end of your itinerary to experience traditional southern charm of beautiful floating markets, intricate temples, and delicious food.

Here are some ideas for how to spend your day in Can Tho:

Take a tour to Cai Rang Floating Market
Shop and eat at the night market
Go to a noodle-making factory and visit a local fruit farm
Visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House
Enjoy local eats: Bánh hỏi, Bánh Xèo, Canh Chua Cá, fish sauce hot pot

Day 31: Explore Ho Chi Minh City + Fly Home

And finally, you’ll return back to the city and prepare to fly home! Wrap up this trip with anything else that you might want to see and purchase all the last-minute souvenirs that you can! That ends our one month Vietnam itinerary for first timers!