Guide to Vietnam

I did two trips to Vietnam sometime in 2022 and a short one in 2024. The first was with my family where we spent about a week in Hanoi only and the second time was when I made my way from Hanoi (North) all the way to Ho Chi Minh (South). Visited Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, Danang, Hoi An, Dalat and Phu Quoc too.

Getting there

Took a flight into Hanoi from Singapore before heading elsewhere and lastly flying out from Ho Chi Minh back home. Took overnight buses and trains to get from city to city. With the exception for Dalat and Phu Quoc where I took a domestic flight over from Danang and Ho Chi Minh respectively. Booked my buses and trains via 12go and flights via AirAsia.

Day 1 (half day)

Landed in the evening and decided to check out Train Street and Hanoi Night Market before heading to Hanoi Railway station (Ga Ha Noi) to catch our overnight train to Sapa. I suggest getting a local SIM card too (Vinaphone/Mobifone from their official stores), super cheap there.

Note: Booked the train via Klook where we took Sapaly Express. There were 8 of us so we had two cabins to ourselves, each cabin can sleep up to 4 as seen in the pictures.

Day 2 & 3 (full day)

Arrived at Sapa train station (Lao Cai) and took a taxi to our accomodation: Laxsik Ecolodge where we decided to freshen up before heading back to explore the city. We then took an overnight bus back to Hanoi. In terms of comfort, the bus was definitely way better and faster but the train was an experience.

Note: The price from Sapa center to our accoms was VND150k by taxi.

Things to see
- Cat Cat village
- Day trekking tour with locals (2-3hrs)
- Fansipan cable car up
- Moana Sapa
- If you have time, visit a hill tribe market (eg. Bac Ha)
Food
- Giot Coffee & Tea
- Cong Cafe
- Sailing Cafe
- Viettreking
- Yummy restaurant
- Moment Romantic restaurant & bar
- May Quan (local food)
- Outdoor BBQ (skewers stall opposite Sun Plaza)

Day 4 & 5 (full day)

Arrived back in Hanoi way earlier than expected and decided to hang around for breakfast before boarding our bus near Old Quarters where they will take us to Halong Bay! We went with Dragon Bay Cruise (itinerary as seen here) and I also did try Rosy Cruise too. In terms of itinerary, you pretty much go to the same places, main difference is the quality of service and amenities onboard the different ships.

Arrived back into Hanoi around 3.30pm, where we checked into our accoms and decided to have dinner and explore the area.

If you need transport or tour options around Hanoi, you can contact: +84 976087662, who helped me get a bus to Ninh Binh while also having day trip tours to Ninh Binh.

Day 6 & 7 (full day)

Spent the next few days mainly eating and hitting up some historical sights.

Things to see
- Hoan Kiem lake / Ngoc Son pagoda
- St. Joseph’s cathedral
- Hanoi train street
- Ba Dinh square / HCM Mausoleum
- Imperial Citadel
- Temple of Literature
- Spas Hanoi (massage)
- Zenith beauty & treatment (nails)
- Mountain’s Color gift shop (local products)
- Film developing labs: Chiu Lab, Lab 36
- Ha Giang Loop (spend a couple days more in the North)

Food
- Cafe Giang (famous egg coffee)
- Xoi Yen
- Banh My Dan To (fried dessert balls)
- Che 4 Mua Hang Can (dessert)
- Pizza 4P’s (loved it)
- Mien luon Dong Thinh (eel noodles)
- Bun Bo Nam Bo Bach Phuong
- Cha Ca Thang Long
- Bun Bo Hue An Cuu - Doi Can
- Nha Hang Tam Vi (must book in advance)
- Railway cafe
- Banh My Mama
- Tuyet Bun Cha 34
- Chonay.Chokia (cafe)
- Socio Coffee (cafe)
- Binh Minh Jazz Club (great craft beers & music)

Day 8 & 9 (half/full day)

If you have another day to spare, I would suggest doing a day trip or even staying in Ninh Binh for a day or two to enjoy the countryside. It really makes you slow down to enjoy the nature around you. You can book a bus or tour to get there. I stayed at Trang An Moon Garden Homestay which had a small pool outside my room, great food options and motorbike rental. This was my first time riding a bike and it was fun, especially in this countryside area. if not, the bicycles were free to use as well.

Things to see
- Hoa Lu Ancient capital
- Trang An boat tour (this over Tam Coc)
  - Note: There are 3 routes to choose from, which you can read more from the pamphlet they give. It also feels less touristy and stressful as tipping is not required and they will not be anyone pushing you to buy snacks from them/take photos. I also suggest going early in the morning. I met a Vietnamese couple onboard too and became the lady’s second boyfriend helping her take pictures ahahahahas.
- Mua Cave viewpoint (500 steps hike)
  - Note: Scammers will try to make you park your bicycle or motorbike in their ‘parking lots’. Some might even be dressed in police uniforms blowing whistles at you. DON’T Stop! Continue on to the end of the road and park at the entrance of Mua Cave Ecolodge. I also suggest going there to catch sunset!
- Bich Dong Temple
- If you have time, Van Long Nature Reserve

Day 10 (half day)

I took the train to my next stop: Phong Nha (Ga Dong Hoi) where I did the dark cave + paradise adventure tour via Phongnha Discovery.

Contact: +84 932594126, where they will send over the itinerary and pricing. I also stayed at the nearest available accoms to the train station as it was going to be early mornings for me to catch the train. If you were like me, the train arrived in way earlier than I could check into my accoms, you can head over to Sophie Homy Cafe & Food which serves a humble breakfast while you wait around, even being able to leave your luggage these days. You will be back by 5pm and can just try to find food before turning in for the night cause you have an early train to catch the next day.

Note: Bring along your GoPro or a waterproof casing like me to capture your moments!

Day 11, 12 & 13 (full day)

Took the train to Danang! This city is a good base if you do not want to stay in Hue or Hoi An for a night so you can do day trips out of Danang instead. I did not manage to squeeze Hue into my itinerary but it looks beautiful.

I used April Adventure Travel for transport option into Hoi An. Contact: +84 931977193. And doing a day trip here is very possible.

Things to see
- Han market (bought cute crochet things here)
- Dragon bridge (nightly fire/water show)
- Son Tra night market (at the end of Dragon bridge)
- Chuan Linh Ung
- Ban Co peak
- Film developing lab: Pho film
- Golden hand bridge (day trip)
- Hue (spend a couple of days here)
Food
- Ikigai garden cafe
- Boulevard gelato & coffee
- Ge cafe
- Cua Ngo cafe
Things to do (Hoi An)
- Precious heritage art gallery museum (loved it)
- Hoi An market (tailor make clothes)
- Hoi An night market
- Hoi An lantern boat ride
- Hoi An coconut boat
- Artbook cafe & bistro
- Mot Hoi An (refreshing drink)
- Banh Mi Phuong (best banh mi by Anthony Bourdain)
- Tan Phu Giao (cute boat model shop)

Day 14, 15 & 16 (full day)

Next stop: Dalat, where I was reunited with my other two friends again! Took a flight over from Danang. This city is known for its flowers and canyoneering which we did and it was SO FUN! We used Adventure Dalat and did extreme Dalat canyoning, contact: +84 984837128. You will get your pictures by the next day too.

Things to see
- Puppy farm
- Linh Phuoc pagoda
- Crazy house
- Dalat market
- Dalat Clay tunnel
- Elephant falls
- Datanla waterfall (canyoneering here)
- Mui Ne (spend a couple of days here)
Food
- MIRK
- quyen (coffee)
- Cala lily Dalat
- Bun Thit Nuong Lien
- Kem Phung / Thanh Thao avocado ice cream
- The Beti Dalat
- Phe La Dalat
- Maze Bar

Day 17 & 18 (full day)

Next stop: Phu Quoc, where we took the overnight bus to Ho Chi Minh and then caught our flight over to the island. Would recommend renting a motorbike to explore the island yourself.

Things to do
- Phu Quoc night market
- Bai 3 Cay Dua beach
- Khem beach
- Sao beach
- Ham Ninh fishing town
- Starfish beach (hard to get to if not motorbiked licensed)
- Bai bien Ganh Dau
- Ong Lang beach
- Bai xep (cable car)
Food
- Banh Xeo Cuoi 2
- Nage eatery Phu Quoc
- OCSEN beach & bar & club
- Sunset Sanato beach club

Day 19, 20 & 21 (full day)

And finally making it back to Ho Chi Minh city, where the hustle and bustle is. Tried hitting up as many cafes as we could.

Food
- Pho Le
- Quan Nem restaurant
- Barista collective
- Tenten coffee
- Partea - English tearoom (the whole building has MANY cafes to choose from)
- Haru cafe (the building was really cool)
- Pizza 4P’s (loved it from the start till end)
- Hai Cai Tay cafe (has vinyl)
- Okkio Caffe
Things to do
- Saigon central post office (send yourself a postcard)
- Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
- Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
- Seeker Saigon (cute knick knack store)
- Saigon Square (bargaining)
- Reading Cabin (cutest stationary store)
- The New Playground (another shopping area)
- LEN Clothing (whole street full of shopping)
- Kido Flagship store (whole street full of shopping)
- Hoang Hoa Tham market (cheaper bargains)
- Sunyata Retreat Hill Spa (LOVED IT!)
- Cu chi tunnel (day trip)
- Film developing labs: LLAB, Crop lab, Film drugs, Thuong Xanh film store, Tiem Co Thoi