3 Week Vietnam itinerary (With the Ha Giang Loop!)
It’s not everyday I choose to visit a country I’ve already been to over the possibility of exploring somewhere new - but after spending 10 days in Vietnam with my friend Victoria during our summer vacation, I simply could not WAIT to get my feet back on Vietnamese soil. It’s just that good.
The craziness of Vietnam isn’t for everybody, but I absolutely fell in love. I’ve spent the most time in Hanoi, and I loved getting coconut coffee everyday at my favorite café, frequenting the same pho and bun cha restaurants, navigating the insane streets, and enjoying the contrast between the stunning French architecture and the charming craze of a bustling Southeast Asian city.
I even met up with a few of my expat friends who showed me the non-touristy parts of Hanoi where they’ve created their new lives, and they ~almost~ convinced me that setting up shop here would be a good next move for me! I truly love everything Vietnam has to offer, and I can’t wait to be back and finish exploring this gorgeous country that stole my heart so easily.
Vietnam is a deceptively big country, however, and even with having been twice and spending a grand total of about a month there, I still haven’t hit everything I want to see! Not everyone has a month to kill hopping around Vietnam, however, so I’ve done my best to condense my time into one jam packed 3 week itinerary.
If 3 weeks is still too long for you, I’ve offered adjustments that will squeeze it down into 2 weeks at the bottom of this post!
Also: Stay tuned - I will have designated city guides for each and every city on this itinerary - but to keep things short and sweet, I’ll just share the highlights here.
3 Week Vietnam Itinerary:
Lets hop right into our 3 week Vietnam Itinerary.
Since Vietnam is literally the longest country ever, quick and easy transportation really doesn’t exist. A lot of people begin planning their Vietnam itineraries with the hope of going north to south (or vice versa), but logistically, that rarely happens to be practical. To put it in perspective, driving from Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - which isn’t even the northernmost OR southernmost point of the country - would take 30 hours. It’s pretty freaking big y'all.
In light of that, and to make sure you’re not on more than 3 or 4 overnight busses or constantly spending your precious time getting taxis to the airport, this Vietnam itinerary shows you everything the north has to offer (a crap-load) and then will also take you down to central Vietnam.
How to get Around Vietnam
Transportation in Vietnam, while long, is surprisingly easy. Typically, because of the sheer size of the country and the amount of things to do, you can join a tour to essentially anywhere, and they will organize transportation for you. For example, if you decide to visit Halong Bay, the boat you book with will send a shuttle bus to pick you up from your hostel or Hotel! Easy peasy.
Domestic flights are very cheap, and you’re short on time or not a fan of the idea of overnight busses, consider flying from North, to Central, to South (if you decide to add on to this itinerary!)
If you’re not opposed to overnight busses, you can either book them on 12Go or through your accommodation’s reception. I would always have my hostel reception help me out, and I never had any issues!
Getting around within the cities could not be easier (or more fun!). Download the Grab app, and whenever you’re ready to drive to the next tourist attraction or restaurant, order a motorbike tax, hop on the back, and enjoy whipping through the hectic streets. It’s exhilarating and makes something as mundane as traveling from one place to the next seem like a little bit of an adventure.
(Pro tip - there are handlebars underneath the back seat of the motorbike! I know it seems like you have to hold on to the driver but thankfully that’s not the case LOL:)
Hanoi - 4 days
You can either start your 3 week Vietnam itinerary by flying into Hanoi and traveling south, or by flying into Da Nang and traveling north - whichever ends up being cheaper/more convenient for you! Feel free to flip this itinerary upside down if that works better for you.
I personally was flying in from Vientiane in Laos, so I opted to start in Hanoi.
Hanoi is MASSIVE, but most of the touristy things to do are in the old quarter of the city, so I would recommend staying somewhere in that area! The architecture is gorgeous, the shopping is immaculate, and you’re centrally close to everything.
Between all the amazing food, stunning pagodas, and shopping, you’ll never be bored in Hanoi.
Some of the best food I had in all of Asia was in Hanoi. Try authentic pho at the iconic Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, drink either egg or coconut coffee at The Note cafe, and eat where Anthony Bourdain took Obama for Bun Cha at Bún chả Hương Liên. I literally still dream of all this food (especially the Bun Cha).
You can either wander around old quarter or take a walking tour, which will take you to see St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the world famous train street! Depending on recent incidents, train street goes from being open to tourists to being shut down really quickly. The first time I went I was able to go, but the second time I heard that tourists weren’t allowed on the tracks in between trains at all - so just check local news and plan accordingly!
One of the most popular things to do is to walk around Hoan Kiem lake. There is a gorgeous pagoda perched right in the middle, and across the red bridge on a small island in the lake is Ngoc Son Temple - both are worth visiting!
I LOVE Hanoi. I know it can be a bit shocking at first, but if you give it a chance and accept the chaos with open arms, I think that you’ll love it too.
ha giang Loop - 4 days
Out of all the things I did in Vietnam (Actually out of everything I’ve done in Asia tbh), the Ha Giang Loop was the most memorable, and I’m begging you to not leave Vietnam without also completing it.
A lot of people cut it out of their trip the sake of time, but I simply couldn’t give you a 3 week Vietnam itinerary and not include the Ha Giang Loop.
You can do this loop in anywhere from 3-5 days, so feel free to pick what works best for you! I can’t recommend the tour that I went with, but I’ve heard amazing things about the tour through Jasmine Hostel.
Any tour will get your overnight bus sorted as well as either your motorbike or your easyrider (a local guide who drives the motorbike with you on the back - if you’re not comfortable driving yourself!), butmy friends who booked through Jasmine had a much better tour guide and system than mine did.
The Ha Giang Loop is a motorbike trip that winds through the otherworldly mountains of northern Vietnam and all the way up to the Chinese border. I have never. NEVER. seen landscapes quite like these. My jaw was constantly on the floor, and the exhilaration of flying down these windy roads in the most beautiful location I’ve ever been was absolutely unmatched.
It can be a little scary if you’re driving yourself, but if you opt to just ride on the back of a tour guides bike, it takes a little bit of the stress away. The drivers are local experts and it’s very safe - my friends who chose to ride on the back put headphones in, played vibey music, and took approximately 1000000 pictures.
Meanwhile, my knuckles were white on my handlebars, my body was sore from tensing for 7 hours a day, I took 0 pictures. I wanted to be able to say that I did it myself, but looking back they definitely had a more enjoyable experience than me - LOL.
Obviously, I still had an epic time, but I’m just trying to encourage you to not be put off by the loop if you’re not comfortable on a bike. The Ha Giang Loop is a must-do while in Vietnam.
3 days halong bay
Another iconic Vietnam bucket list item that you can tic off during your 3 week Vietnam itinerary is a cruise on Ha Long Bay.
You can go for a 1 night 2 day cruise, a 2 night 3 day cruise, or stay even longer if you have the time and the budget! I would recommend doing a 1 night, 2 day cruise, and then spending one night in the city of Ha Long, as there’s a hike with an insane view that I was dying to do but didn’t get to, due to spending my whole time in Halong Bay on a boat.
I booked my trip through Viator with Lavender Cruises, and it was the perfect mix of affordable while still feeling high end. We had a little cooking class on board, tries our hands at squid fishing (unsuccessful), went kayaking, toured massive caves, and had an epic karaoke party on the top deck. The boat was gorgeous, the crew was so kind, and we had an absolute blast.
I highly recommend if you’re looking for a good budget option!
I stayed for 1 night and 2 days, but if you have the time I definitely recommend staying at least 3 days.
I mean, just LOOK at these landscapes. I could have stayed forever tbh.
2 days ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is very similar to Ha Long Bay, except it’s the on-land version! I’ve decided that limestone karsts are my favorite type of landscape, so Ninh Binh was absolutely everything to me.
I unfortunately didn’t have the best weather when I was there, but Ninh Binh was still absolute Magic.
One of the most popular things to do in Ninh Binh is to go on a boat ride through either Tam Coc or Trang An - or both! Both are absolutely gorgeous, and if you have good weather consider trying them both out.
Another incredible thing to do is climb to the Mua Cave Viewpoint! You’ll get a good workout in from the terrifying amount of stairs, but the views from the top are unmatched.
Of course, as with anywhere in Vietnam, there are stunning pagodas and historical sites to visit as well such as the Ancient Capital of Vietnam!
1 Day Hanoi - or overnight bus (choose your own adventure vibes)
After you explore everything Ninh Binh has to offer, we’re heading down to Central Vietnam! You can either take the short bus back to Hanoi and spend another day exploring or hitting a new museum and then choose to fly to Da Nang, or you can take the overnight bus from Ninh Binh to Hue.
Logistically, if you don’t mind an overnight bus, heading to Hue next makes the most sense - so that’s what I recommend! Plus - a night on an overnight bus is definitely cheaper than a hotel. Every time I took an overnight form of transportation, I felt like I got a free night of accomodation. I was going to have to pay for the transport regardless, so girl math says that I spent the night for free.
That’s how that works, right?
Right.
2 days Hue
Hue (pronounced hway) , compared to the rest of the Vietnamese cities that I’ve been to, is very unique. It reminded me a lot of Eastern Asian countries, which was interesting to see! There are so many gorgeous royal tombs to visit, such as the royal tomb of Minh Mang the First, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc. All of them are worth a visit!
Nearby Hue, there is a stunning incense village that is well worth a visit. The colorful bundles of incense are absolutely stunning (and it obviously smells good too!)
One of the most popular things backpackers love to do in Hue isn’t historical or cultural at all - it’s to visit the abandoned water park there! It’s most famous for the dragon head everyone gets pictures with, and while not all that exciting, it is still something fun to add to your 3 week Vietnam Itinerary.
2 days Da Nang
After a whirlwind of travel through north and central Vietnam, take a few days to simply relax on the beach in Da Nang. I’ll be the first to admit that when I have limited time in a country, the last thing I want to do is to waste a day sleeping on a beach…
… But let me tell you - you will hardly be wasting your time.
The beaches in Da Nang are gorgeous, the water is blissfully warm, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I wasn’t crazy about the rest of Da Nang, but the beaches are undeniably amazing.
If you’re looking for something else to do in Da Nang besides catch up on some sleep and some sun, consider visiting the Linh Ung Pagoda - it has the biggest depiction of Buddha as a woman in the world!
Another iconic thing is to take the cable car (one of the longest in the world!) up to Ba Na hills - which is an amusement park! People flock from all over the world to take a picture on the iconic hands bridge - but not all of them realize that it’s simply part of an amusement park!
Busch Garden vibes - but still very cool.
3 days Hoi An
Ladies and Gentlemen - we’ve saved the best for last!
I know Hoi An gets a lot of flack for catering only to tourists, but I’m not gonna lie - they do an amazing job. The colonial architecture is SO cute, the restaurants are Instagram-worthy (and so delicious I was brought to tears two whole times), and there are so many things to do.
Participate in the full moon festival, take a basket boat tour of the Thu Bon river, rent a bike and ride all around! Get clothes custom made, shop for souvenirs at the epic night market, and watch the sunset over the river while eating the iconic white rose dumplings you can only get in Hoi An.
I love Hoi An, and I think it’s the perfect way to end a trip to Vietnam.
Take a taxi back to Da Nang and fly out!
Believe it or not, your 3 weeks in Vietnam have now come to a close. There is so much to do and see in this massive country that this itinerary barely scratches the surface, and I know I have to go back to see Phong Na, Da Lat, Mui Ne, Saigon, and more.
Ah, well, as IF I needed another reason to start plotting my return to this incredible country.
How to condense into 2 weeks
If you only have two weeks and are pressed for time, I would say to take the shorter Ha Giang Loop tour, which is three days, and the shorter Ha Long Bay boat trip, which is two days and one night. Additionally, I would fly to Da Nang and cut out Hue! Then you’ll be good as gold.
But really, the more time you have to spend in Vietnam, the better.
Did you enjoy this three week Vietnam Itinerary with the Ha Giang Loop? Are you planning to go? Talk to me in the comments below!
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