This was our journey along Vietnam. We also went to Siem Reap in Cambodia to visit the amazing Angkor temples. I indicate cities, flights, activities, which places we visited and where we spent the nights so you’ll know how much time we dedicated to each place. At the end of this post, you’ll find a map with the route, restaurants, accommodation… and a couple of websites where you can check more ideas.
I also suggest you to read these tips about Vietnam so that you organise your trip the best way and without setbacks (such as delays and cancellations of flights, renting a motorbike, public buses, ATM’s commissions). Besides, there is more information about how to plan the trip on Planning a trip to Vietnam.
April 2017
Day 1 – Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
Time of arrival: 6:30 pm. War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh market, The Jade Emperor Pagoda, walk through Old Saigon (Dong Khoi).
?Night at Ho Chi Minh, Thien Hai Hotel
Day 2 – Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
7 am Travelling to Cu Chi tunnels. Chinatown. Binh Tay market. Night walk through city centre (Dong Khoi).
?Night at Ho Chi Minh.
Day 3 – Siem Reap, Cambodia
✈️ 8:20 – 9:55 am Flight to Siem Reap.
Route by tuk-tuk along the temples that are part of Small Circuit.
Relaxing time in the swimming pool at the hotel. Night market and walk around the city centre.
?Night at Siem Reap, Amber Angkor Villa Hotel & Spa
? More information on: Amazing Angkor Temples.
Day 4 – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Grand Circuit and Banteay Srei Temple by tuk-tuk.
Relaxing time in the swimming pool at the hotel. Night market and walk around the city centre.
?Night at Siem Reap.
? More information on: Amazing Angkor Temples.
Day 5 – Siem Reap, Cambodia // Danang, Vietnam
Visit to Beng Mealea Temple by private car.
✈️ 3:45 – 5:35 pm Flight to Danang. Walk along the promenade.
?Night at Danang, Danang Tomodachi House
? More information on: Amazing Angkor Temples.
Day 6 – Hué
? 8:41 am – 12.06 pm Train Danang to Hué.
Citadel and night market.
?Night at Hué, Holiday Diamond Hotel
Day 7 – Hué
Visit to tombs by motorbike (Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, Ming Mang, Gia Long, Khái Dinh, Thieu Tri).
Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda.
?Night at Hué.
? More information on: Imperial Tombs.
Day 8 – Hoi An
?7:30 am from Hué to Hoi An by private car. Stop by the Hai Van Pass, the French Fort and the Marble Mountains.
Walk around Hoi An, visit to 5 places which are included with the ticket: Old House of Tan Ky, Art Craft Manufacturing Workshop, Quan Cong Temple, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, Tran Family Chapel.
Night market.
?Night at Hoi An, Minh Phat Homestay Hoi An
Day 9 – Hoi An // Ha Giang
Route along the Cam Kim island by bike.
✈️ 3 – 4:20 pm Flight to Hanoi.
? 7:30 pm Night Bus Hanoi – Ha Giang.
?Night between night bus and Ha Giang.
Day 10 – Dong Van
? Travelling by private car to Dong Van along the side of Ma Pi Leng, stop by several viewpoints: Quan Ba, over the river Nho Que and others.
Quan Ba market.
Climb to the French Fort of Dong Van: Don Cao.
?Night at Dong Van, Xuan Thu Guesthouse.
? More information on: The best of northern Vietnam is not Sapa.
Day 11 – Dong Van
20 km hiking along Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark to Hmong family house.
?Night at homestay with Hmong family.
? More information on: The best of northern Vietnam is not Sapa.
Day 12 – Dong Van
5 km hiking to Sà Phìn market and Hmong Palace.
? Coming back to Ha Giang by private car, stop by a village to watch how they weave hemp.
? 8 pm Night Bus from Ha Giang to Hanoi.
?Night between night bus and Hanoi, Hanoi Golden Moment Hotel & Travel
? More information on: The best of northern Vietnam is not Sapa.
Day 13 – Hanoi
Visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Temple Of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison.
Night market.
?Night at Hanoi.
Day 14 – Hanoi
Walk around old quarter, visiting some places and watching many different shops (Ngoc Son Temple, Thê Húc bridge, Martyrs’ Monument, House 102, Bach Ma Temple, O Quan Chuong Gate, Dong Xuan market, St Joseph Cathedral)
Show in the theatre: Thang Long Water Puppet.
?Night at Hanoi.
Day 15 – Hanoi // Cat Ba
Visit to Vietnamese Women’s Museum.
? + ⛴ + ? 2 pm travelling to Cat Ba.
?Night at Cat Ba, Little Cat Ba
Day 16 – Cat Ba
Visit to Hospital cave and a hidden temple in the north. Hiking to the Dinh Kim Gial at Cat Ba National Park. Exploring the beaches and the way between them. Lonely/abandoned beach.
?Night at Cat Ba.
Day 17 – Cat Ba
Tour to Lan Ha bay, kayaking and climbing to the Monkey Island’s viewpoint. Beach. Climbing to the Cannon Fort.
?Night at Cat Ba.
Day 18 – Cat Ba
Exploring by motorbike: Butterfly valley. Beach.
? + ⛴ + ? 4 pm Coming back to Hanoi.
?Night at Hanoi.
Day 19 – Hanoi
Shopping in Hanoi.
✈️ 1 pm Flight. Coming back Home