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Vietnam: More

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Vietnam: More

 

More of Vietnam

While it’s impossible to cover everything, here are some other places to go and top things to do in Vietnam that I wasn’t able to get to in the 5 weeks I spent there. 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page. And check out guides to other cities around Vietnam such as Saigon, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa and more! 

Nha Trang

I have heard mixed reviews. Large groups of tour buses stop here, crowding the place and driving up prices. I have heard that it can be a blast with some good beach time and a fun amusement park but it was an easy skip when under a time constraint and having already been to Phu Quoc Island. 

Nha Trang Travel Guide

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Ninh Binh

After going to Phong Nha and with plans to visit Sapa decided to skip Ninh Binh because I had heard it is quite similar.   

Ninh Binh: Explore Rural Vietnam On Your Own

What to do in Ninh Binh

Not Your Usual Guide to Ninh Binh

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Da Nang

To be honest I have no idea why I didn’t come here. If I ever go back to Vietnam I’d like to go to Da Nang. 

11 best Things to do in Da Nang

A Comprehensive DaNang Travel Guide for First Time Visitors 

Mui Ne

I really wanted to come here but there just wasn’t enough time! 

Where to Stay, What to Eat and What to Do

Travel Guide Blog Budget + Itinerary

What to do

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Vietnam: Hanoi

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Vietnam: Hanoi

 

Hanoi, Vietnam

Coming

How to get to and from

Sleeping

Where to stay for any budget

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Doing

16 Things to do

15 Best Day Trips

Eating

Best Vietnamese Food in Hanoi

The Best Restaurants and Cafes

31 Local-Approved Places to Eat 

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Staying

Hanoi will be your base for surrounding areas so you’ll see it a lot, but not always consecutively. Give the city itself a day or two to explore all it has to offer. 

Going

Whether you’re going South or you’ve just come from there don’t leave without first having gone to Sapa and Ha Long Bay. 

If you’ve come from the South then your Vietnam adventure is probably complete! Your nearest countries are China and Laos–  How to get to and from Hanoi 

If you’re just beginning your Vietnam adventure then start heading south towards Phong Nha and/or Ninh Binh. 

For more general information on traveling Vietnam such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, you can visit the Vietnam travel page.

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Vietnam Sa Pa

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Vietnam Sa Pa

 

Sa Pa, Vietnam

Overview

The thing to do in Sapa (or Sa Pa) is be there. Get out of the city and disconnect into jaw dropping scenery as far as the eye can see. Sa Pa is a slice of countryside where you have the chance to get a real taste of Vietnamese rural life. Make sure to pick the right experience because there are many spots that are very touristy. 

Visiting means first heading into Sa Pa Town where your base will be. Spend the night and leave your big bags (if you didn’t leave them in Hanoi) before you’re off to trek in the heart of Sa Pa.

Sa Pa Town

Getting to Sa Pa Town

Eating out in Sapa, Vietnam

Where to stay in Sapa Town

sapa vietnam huy-min

Doing

When you head out to the hills there is only one man to go with. And his name is Huy. His experience is affordable and much more off the beaten path than others. We had such an amazing time we kept extending our time with him and we still keep in touch today. The entire experience start to finish – communication, food, happy water (rice wine), accommodation, hospitality and activities were unforgettable. Spend your days trekking through rice paddies and the hillside as he explains culture and life in Northern Vietnam (which is distinctly different than the South). Learn about the different people and languages as well as daily and seasonal life as you wander through bamboo forests and lunch at waterfalls. 

His contact info: FB message him at with the name Sapa Bob. Or get in touch if you want me to connect you, it’s truly worth it. 

Complete Guide

A Comprehensive Guide to Visiting Vietnam’s Northern Hill Station

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Staying

You’ll want 1-2 days trekking, if not 3-4 days. It’s stunningly beautiful. 

Going

Back to Hanoi.

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page.

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Vietnam Ha Long Bay

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Vietnam Ha Long Bay

 

Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island

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Ha Long Bay

“Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1994, Halong Bay’s scatter of islands, dotted with wind-and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam’s number one-tourism hub.” – Lonely Planet

One of Vietnam’s most visited sites, it’s easy to see how Ha Long Bay earned its fame. Make sure to practice responsible tourism as its popularity has brought with it more visitors, more trash and more damage to the area. Make sure you’re choosing responsible tour operators and if possible taking longer excursions (2 days vs 1) so you can get farther out. 

Travel Guides

How to Visit 

The Definitive Travel Guide

Travel Guide and Tipsv

Cat Ba Island

“Rugged, craggy and jungle-clad Cat Ba, the largest island in Halong Bay, has experienced a tourism surge in recent years. ” – Lonely Planet

Enjoy the perks of Ha Long Bay but without the expensive cruises or the party boats (which are supposed to be really fun but was outside our budget and current energy levels). 

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Travel Guides

Cat Ba Island Travel Guide

The Best Guide You Can Find

The Ultimate Guide to Cat Ba Island

Staying

Halong Bay: 1-2 Days 

Cat Ba Island: 2-3 Days 

Going

You’ll need to go back to Hanoi 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page.

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Vietnam: Phong Nha

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Vietnam: Phong Nha

 

Phong Nha, Vietnam

Coming

Getting here

Phong Nha cave is easily reachable by foot from Easy Tiger hostel and some cave excursions will pick you up. Talk to your accommodation or whoever you’re booking your activities through. 

The best way to get around the National Park (if you’re not traveling by bike and you don’t have one) is to rent a motorbike. This allows you to get out and ride through the beautiful scenery of the park as well as the freedom and flexibility for more dining options. Make sure you’re aware of your gas levels before you leave and bring cash just in case you need to fill up. We got a bit lost and used up our tank riding around trying to get unlost. Quite the adventure though. 

Sleeping

Where to stay

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Doing

What to do: Caves and beyond

Things to do in Phong Nha

Eating

5 Best Restaurants

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Staying

1-3 days depending how many caves you want to do 

Going

S – N: Ninh Binh is closest with Ha Long not far off and Hanoi a great base for your northern adventures.  

N – S: Hue 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page. 

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Vietnam: Hue

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Vietnam: Hue

 

Hue, Vietnam

Coming

“This deeply evocative capital of the Nguyen emperors still resonates with the glories of imperial Vietnam, even though many of its finest buildings were destroyed during the American War.” – Lonely Planet

Getting here

Sleeping

10 Best Hostels in Hue

Where to stay Hue

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Doing

25 Best Things to do in Hue

Eating

Hue food guide

14 Must-Eat Restaurants and Street Food Stalls

In addition to the typical dishes of Hue also lies the tradition of royal cuisine.  Have a six course meal with explanations of the varying dishes and leave happy and full. It is advertised all over and we just picked a random place and walked in! 

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Staying

2 days plus but there are some nice day trips in addition to just the city 

Going

S -N:  Phong Nha or Ha Long Bay area 

N -S: Hội An

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, you can visit the Vietnam travel page.

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Vietnam: Hoi An

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Vietnam: Hoi An

 

Hội An, Vietnam

Coming

Getting here

Sleeping

Where to Stay

Best Hostels in Hoi An

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Doing

Best Things to Do

7 Best Day Trips and Tours from Hoi An

Eating

Hoi An Food: 12 Must Eat Food and Where to Eat 

20 Must Eat Restaurants

Eat as much Cao lầu as often as you can. It is a regional dish of Hoi An and rarely found outside the city so enjoy it while you can! The meat (usually pork) is marinated and served with rice noodles, greens, bean spouts and a little bit of broth. 

Cao Lau Hoi An vietnam

Staying

You’ll want a minimum of two days and after that it’ll depend on how many day trips you take. If you’re getting any clothes made make sure to do that on your first day because it will take a day or two to finish. And even then they might have to make alterations meaning you might have to stay a bit longer. 

Going

N – S: If you haven’t already day tripped, Da Nang or Hue are next. Otherwise head up to Phong Nha.  

S – N: Nha Trang or Da Lat 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, you can visit the Vietnam travel page.

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Vietnam: Da Lat

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Vietnam: Da Lat

 

Da Lat, Vietnam

Coming

How to get here

Sleeping

If you’re staying at a hostel look no further than Cozy Nook Hostel. It is an absolute MUST and ranks as one of my favorite hostels that I’ve ever stayed at worldwide. It has clean facilities, nice beds, a great location and excellent resources for the area- but its real charm lies in family dinners. For $5 the entire hostel gets a home cooked meal by the owners where you eat amazing food and end up chatting for hours with everyone which creates a really great environment. 

Where to stay in Da Lat (all budgets) 

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Doing

25 Best things to do

Canyoning

Secret Tour 

Eating

Where to Eat and Drink 

25 Best Foods to Try Here

Da Lat vietnam food

Staying

2 – 4 days

Going

N-S route goes onto Nha Trang, or if you’re like me, skip it and onto Hội An (both coming soon to RW). 

S-N route is nearing the end in Saigon. 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page. 

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Vietnam: Phu Quoc

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Vietnam: Phu Quoc

 

Phu Quoc Island

Coming

How to get here and around

There are no public buses from the airport. There is one private company that runs regularly to the city center for a fixed price of 50,000 VND per person. From there you’ll still have to get to your accommodation, though. You can also opt to take a taxi which isn’t usually too expensive and it’s obviously cheaper if you’re splitting with a travel buddy. Rental cars are available but an expensive option as well as motorbike taxis which are cheaper than taxis but only work well if you’re traveling light. 

Sleeping

Where to stay 

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Doing

18 Best Things to do

52 Things to do in Phu Quoc

Eating

Where to Eat  

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Staying

2-3 days

Going

Head to mainland Vietnam via Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) or onto nearby Cambodia.

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit the Vietnam travel page. 

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Vietnam: Saigon

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Vietnam: Saigon

 

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Coming

One of your best resources when traveling through Southeast Asia is Travelfish.org. I swore by them and so I’ll just let them do the talking. 

How to get to and from Ho Chi Minh City

Sleeping

Where to stay in Saigon by District

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City 

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Doing

15 Things To Do In Saigon In Just 3 Days

A Complete Guide to the Cu Chi Tunnels – This is a must. As an American, I learned more about the Vietnam war in one afternoon here than I did in 13 years of American schooling. For others it’s still a fascinating look into history and how it shaped the country as it is today.  It is entirely possible to visit on your own, but once you get there you will need a guide anyway. While I am not one to usually prefer tours, the convenience of setting up transportation and your guide I think is worth skipping the long taxi ride for this particular occasion. They’ll also throw additional activities in there for you.  

Mekong Delta Day trip – I personally was not a huge fan, it was too touristy and inauthentic for me. If I had more time I would’ve loved to have done it independently. 

Mekong Delta on your own

Saigon Self Guided Walking Tours

Eating

25 Must-Eat Dishes in Saigon (and where to try them)

Saigon Street Food

CRAFT BEER!! Such a rarity in SEA and neither disappoint. 

Pasteur Street Brewing Co

Bia Craft

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Staying

3 – 4 days

Going

If you just got here start heading north. Common next stops are Da Lat or Nha Trang (coming soon to RW). If you’ve come from the north then Cambodia is waiting. Another option would be to head to the island of Phu Quoc. 

For more general information on traveling Indonesia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, check out the Vietnam travel page. 

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