We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Vietnamese farmer. Also, I’d be remiss not to mention ‘sex tourism’. Lynn, Thank you..I am booking my tickets and leaving for Vietnam asap..will be following you’re itenary..will give it some tweaks..hopefully it all goes well… . Whether you are travelling the Southeast Asia loop and entering by land, coming down from China, or flying directly there, border crossings are relatively straight forward and the days of the tricky Vietnamese visa are now over. Before you get alarmed by the suggested length of stay, I included some extra days in case you want to use Hanoi as a home base to go to nearby spots such as: A Vietnam backpacking itinerary wouldn’t be complete without including this magnificent spot! It’s a beautiful country worth exploring – once international travel is back that is! Here you can cruise around thousands of limestone karsts and islets. Leave the hustle and bustle behind and check into some of the most beautiful mountainous landscapes in Asia. You won’t find a cheaper bed to sleep on! On a boat of about 15 people, you’ll be taken through a stretch of Where backpackers need to be careful is riding a motorcycle. Whilst there’s a lot that we can do when it comes to travelling responsibly, reducing your plastic consumption is one of the easiest and most impactful things you can do. Between the markets, unreal food and nearby attractions, it can’t be missed! Such a great hostel and you can stay in a dorm room for under $10/night. Ha Long Bay anyway. I think we will have around 6 weeks, so glad to see that it is a realistic time frame. – Travelling Vietnam by motorbike is a very sought-after experience. I’m not normally one for taking the tour option but it is pretty impossible otherwise. Vietnamese cuisine is sublime, the cities offer a metropolis-meets-charming-chaos style of living and the mountains? When that one guy at the hostel has told you the story about how he almost became an international drug smuggler but then he remembered about his ethics so he just dodged taxes instead, an Airbnb can seem more appealing for a night. Admire the breathtaking scenery of mountainous limestone rocks while cruising Halong Bay. A decent head torch could save your life. Backpacking in Vietnam is incredible. Hoi An is an absolute gem. visit. The only drawback is having to climb a fairly steep hill but if you’re up for it, it’s 100% worth it. Based off another recommendation, I stayed at Central Backpackers Hostel in Phong Nha. Allegedly, this is where I was drunk under the table by a Vietnamese grandma… Turns out I can’t hold my moonshine as well as the locals – who knew! Fewer people speak English and white-faced tourists are rarely seen. With accommodation choices somewhat spread out in Ninh Binh, it can be difficult to make a decision on where to stay. Ho Chi Minh City (formally known as Saigon), will be your last stop! Very cheap rooms. As well as tasting absolutely wonderful, Vietnamese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world. Bus – Bus travel is the cheapest way to travel around Vietnam. Because it’s such a popular journey, there are a number of businesses that now allow you to rent a motorbike in Hoi An and drop it off in Hue, they will even transport your backpack for you so that you can concentrate on enjoying the ride. One of my favourite cities in all of Asia, Hanoi is a beautiful combination of Old meets Modern: a gateway to the incredible mountains and scenery to the North and the warm beaches and bustling cities to the south. Do it and enjoy it. Again thank you so much! For as little as $1 for a great meal, you really have no excuse not to try some of the local delicacies. Eat at the Lien Hoa temple, an excellent option for vegetarians and a tranquil place to enjoy a meal served by the temple’s monks. You don’t want to start a friendship with a Vietnamese person with too much banter; you still have to respect that people do not want to lose face. Head south, stopping to stay in the town of Hue, before moving on to visit Hoi An, where you can get an affordable, good quality suit made. Before we jump into the itinerary, keep in mind that most backpackers typically travel north to south or vice versa. In southern Vietnam, it usually rains from May through to November. THE NOTE CAFE – A little favourite of mine was the Note Cafe, a 4 story cafe that is We heard from other backpackers in Vietnam that Mai Chau is beautiful too. We do not represent World Nomads. It’s also partly because Vietnam was not a well-visited destination until the 1990s. It is one of Vietnam’s sticky spots – it’s just so easy to get stuck exploring and chilling out here. This all contrasts with a stunning, postcard-perfect exterior to create the ‘odd’ feeling. This route uses Hanoi as both the start and end point as it's the most convenient for a lot of travelers, however, it also involves a bit of backtracking so you may also want to consider reversing the trip by arriving in Hoi An. Often located up sketchy looking side streets, these little bars are a great place for a laugh and cheap beer. There’s a lot of banter and a kind of humour that’s a second cousin of sarcasm. Nha Trang is home to the Cham Towers and some very cool earthy Mud Baths. You’ll definitely need 3-4 days here. I spent around 20 dollars a day in Vietnam, sometimes a little more when splurging on a day trip or imported beer. With these essentials, I still make sure to do a rundown of my full backpacking packing list. Hanoi is a popular place to buy and sell motorbikes from or to other backpackers. Every first time backpacker to Vietnam has a few questions that they are dying to know! Although it's not the capital, it's the largest city in Vietnam by population and certainly the most challenging to get around with more motorbikes than people. Although it’s getting more and more popular every day, there are still some hidden gems here, like the remote lake of Na Hang. before rowing upstream back to the entrance. TEFL courses open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world with one! I have no short number of long-term travelling friends that do a stint working a backpacker job in Vietnam to build up their cash supplies. Or this is what Southeast Asia could be if there was a little more responsible tourism. I was recommended the Green Mountain Homestay and for $8/night I couldn’t pass it up! If you only have less than two weeks, you can focus on one region. We’re Charlie and Luke — UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. More information. Wer eine Reiseroute durch Vietnam in 4 Wochen plant, hat verschiedene Möglichkeiten. Reaching the dark Don’t miss out on visiting a local tribal village when backpacking in Vietnam. (The hostel provides them for free.) Other than the street carts selling banh mi until the early hours of the morning, it’s got to be the Temple of Literature. There are some great backpacker hostels in Nha Trang with awesome social vibes. Luckily, riding a motorbike is a lot easier than it looks and after about an hour of (somewhat, hilarious) practice, I was good to go. THE CRAZY HOUSE – This bizarre piece of architecture is hard to explain. 4. The only difference was that Mui Ne came with a luxury price-tag that doesn’t really suit the budget of most people who are backpacking in Vietnam. Vietnam originating from the workshops here. Once you get to know a Vietnamese person, I can guarantee you that you won’t stop laughing. Vietnam is cheap to travel. The good thing about having your own wheels is that you can go anywhere! We recommend just one day in Dalat to enjoy the town’s picturesque lake. The journey is 7 hours with buses usually leaving around 9pm, this means you’ll arrive very early in Ninh Binh so secure accommodation before you leave and make sure they will be able to check you in at 5am. Whilst exploring Halong Bay we stayed on a cool ‘Junk Boat‘ one night and in beach huts the other. Across all beliefs, the family and ancestor worship remain pillar belief concepts. Get the best price for the best ride… then use those savings to buy the best feed in town! The rolling hills are seaweed green; it’s already warm at 7 in the morning. I don’t know quite how to describe it, but there’s a lot of pointing out the randomness of life and having a good laugh about it. Luckily, we’ve got you covered…. If you’re an early bird and like morning exercise, 6 am Thai Chi takes place every morning. We’re talking the classic Banh Mi and fetal duck eggs. I choose to visit Cat Ba over Ha Long after recommendations from locals and it proved to be a good decision. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, is a great place to start backpacking in Vietnam. Petty crime and pickpocketing can be an issue in the cities however, so just watch your valuables or leave them locked at your hostel. This country is simply spoiled with the finest food in Southeast Asia. Good for budget travellers and mid-range travellers alike. While that’s not untrue, there’s a lot more to Nha Trang than you first realise. The Mongols did invade as well but were driven back. You get your Cambodian visa for a fee on the border. We recommend a budget of: Read a full breakdown of our Vietnam travel costs or check out the cost of living for an expat in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City [4 nights] My 4 week itinerary begins in Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon. Schau vorbei: Vietnam Reisen Inhaltsverzeichnis [ ANZEIGEN ] Vietnam Backpacking Kosten: Wie viel kostet eine Rundreise durch Vietnam? She loves coffee, green Thai curry and hiking volcanoes. Even though road tripping with a motorcycle is a huge part of Vietnam tourism, I don’t recommend this for beginners. Volunteering abroad is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst helping your host community. Deciding where you want to go backpacking in Vietnam is only one part of the equation. Sign up to The Broke Backpacker’s EXCLUSIVE VIP AREA below and download our top backpacking guides as PDFs – go offline with peace of mind! Trekking with elephants in Yok: In the National Park, you can go trekking with elephants along with one of the park rangers. Mountain trails wind the ranges over oceans of rolling cloud formations – sunrise is a real treat. century and of the Nguyen Dynasty throughout the 19th century as This was mainly because we were concerned about the risks of driving on Vietnam’s roads (both in busy cities and mountain roads). I picked myself up a Honda Win Manual Motorbike second hand from one of the many backpackers selling their bikes in Ho Chi Minh. Be sure to pass by the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica. I checked out Phu Quoc and i must say that looks like the place to relax after the rigours of travel. Best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City: Top of our list of things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, which tells the history of Vietnamese independence. Von Ho-Chi-Minh-City nach Hanoi. While that’s not untrue, there’s a lot more to Nha Trang than you first realise. As such, there is a contagious and frenetic energy in the hostels. For those backpacking Vietnam without the luxury of time, the best way in is to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. It’s both a waterpark with huge slides, a They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Da Lat: angenehmes Klima und Wasserfälle. If you have any questions about travelling to Vietnam, leave a comment below or message me on Instagram. If you only have 2 weeks to backpack in Vietnam, split the route in half and choose to travel either the north or the south of Vietnam. I had this expectation that the roads in Vietnam were going to be dangerous dirt tracks. It’s also easy to get around. Mui Ne, talked up by backpackers as a similar but better version of Nha Trang, actually had equal numbers of drunks and Russians. I found Vietnam to be a heady collision of worlds. He’s a lot more ‘go for it’ than us and said the experience was incredible, but also dangerous. Nha Trang gets a bad wrap from other backpackers in Vietnam for being full of hedonistic gap-yah bingers and Russians. There’s plenty of ripe adventure material left to find travelling in this part of Vietnam. Über 2500 Kilometer haben wir auf unserer Vietnam Backpacking Route zurückgelegt und viele verschiedene Orte gesehen. If you’re looking for a party hostel, Cococha will be right up your alley! It’s not one of Vietnam’s completely hidden gems anymore, however, it’s still far from touristic. Of course, there will likely be a one night stand in your backpacker travels – whether you bone down in a hostel or have a sensuous encounter with a particularly beautiful local. Obviously, tourists do have a little leeway but it pays to be respectful as a guest of this country. off, that doesn’t mean you should discount Phong Nha. As an affiliate I may earn a commission on any qualifying purchases, including those from Amazon, at no extra cost to you. So while this guide will share with you the best places to visit in Vietnam – and a few budget tricks – its main message is to touch down in the country yourself. varies each weekend, but you can guarantee some sort of singing or dancing There’s still an element of debauchery waking up still drunk in a city you don’t know. Most backpackers stay in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Flying into Hanoi will be an experience in itself. Local transport is very cheap; though an airconditioned bus ride will be around $15. Moving past the ‘tourist’ trap section, the Mekong Delta is a paradise for local wildlife. It’s a nice place in Vietnam to stay and take a breather for a few days. It is closer to Hanoi and offers a more low-key and authentic experience. Vietnamese taxi drives have a reputation of touring you around town and/or taking you to alternative hotels. Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Vietnam. Whilst there, make sure you visit the nearby Bar with the It would be equally good to go backpacking from south to north. It’s more metropolitan, more multinational, louder and sassier than the rest of Vietnam, but it’s also not so quintessentially Vietnamese. After a pit-stop back in Hanoi, head to the tribal villages and rice terraces of the highlands. The price of freedom is cheap here. element of fun. We’re too sensible though and decided against renting a motorbike. Nha Trang is a perfect place to let loose, get a bit wild, and have some fun on the water. Before backpacking through Ho Chi Minh, prep! That being said, it was truly beautiful and I had no trouble keeping busy there. If rest and relaxation are what you are after the beaches of Lang Co and the mineral hot pools of Phong An are just a short distance away. Luckily, most backpackers don’t fall into this category but, when you’re out and about and have had a few too many drinks, it can be easy to embarrass yourself.