Vietnam: North to South (Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City)

Vietnam's long, narrow shape makes it a natural corridor for backpackers. The 1,726 km spine from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) follows the Reunification Express railway through some of the most diverse scenery in Southeast Asia -- from the misty mountains of the north through ancient imperial cities and white-sand beaches to the buzzing southern metropolis. Vietnam's food alone is worth the trip.

Suggested duration: 3-5 weeks

North to south (Hanoi → HCMC) is the classic direction, following the Reunification Express. You start with the more culturally intense north (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay) and gradually move into the more relaxed, tropical south. The route follows the coastline south, which means the beaches keep getting warmer.

South to north is equally viable and slightly less crowded. Some backpackers prefer to fly into HCMC (often cheaper international flights) and work north.

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay): September-November is best (dry, mild). December-February is cold and misty in the mountains. March-May is warm and pleasant

Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang): February-May is ideal. September-November can bring typhoons and flooding

Southern Vietnam (HCMC, Mekong Delta, Mui Ne): December-April is dry season. May-October is wet but rain comes in short bursts

Overall best compromise: March-May or September-November for the full route

1. Hanoi (2-4 days)

Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Train Street, egg coffee, bun cha, pho

Gateway to Ha Long Bay and Sapa

2. Hanoi → Ha-Long-Bay

Distance: 170 km

Tourist bus: 3.5-4 hours, most visitors book a 2-day/1-night or 3-day/2-night cruise package from $80-250 USD including transport from Hanoi, meals, and kayaking

Public bus: Local bus to Bai Chay station, 4 hours, 100,000 VND (~$4 USD) -- budget option if booking a day cruise locally

Stay: 1-2 nights on a cruise (Bai Tu Long Bay is less crowded than the main Ha Long Bay)

3. Hanoi → Sapa

Distance: 320 km

Sleeper train: Hanoi to Lao Cai, 8 hours overnight, from 500,000-900,000 VND (~$20-36 USD). Then bus from Lao Cai to Sapa, 1 hour, 50,000 VND (~$2 USD)

Sleeper bus: Direct from Hanoi, 6 hours, from 250,000-400,000 VND (~$10-16 USD)

Stay: 2-3 days (rice terrace trekking, Cat Cat Village, Fansipan cable car, homestays)

4. Hanoi → Ninh-Binh

Distance: 95 km

Train: 2.5 hours, from 80,000 VND (~$3 USD)

Bus: 2 hours, from 70,000 VND (~$3 USD)

Grab/private transfer: 100,000-200,000 VND (~$4-8 USD)

Stay: 1-2 days (Tam Coc boat ride through karst caves, Trang An grottoes, Mua Cave viewpoint, Bai Dinh Pagoda)

5. Ninh-Binh → Phong-Nha

Distance: 400 km

Sleeper bus: 7-8 hours overnight, from 250,000-350,000 VND (~$10-14 USD)

Train: Hanoi or Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi station, 6-8 hours, from 300,000-500,000 VND (~$12-20 USD). Then bus/taxi to Phong Nha village, 45 minutes

Stay: 2-3 days (Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave by boat, Dark Cave zip-line and mud bath, Son Doong expedition for the committed -- $3,000 USD for 4-day expedition)

6. Phong-Nha → Hue

Distance: 210 km

Bus: 4 hours, from 150,000 VND (~$6 USD)

Train: Dong Hoi to Hue, 3-3.5 hours, from 150,000-300,000 VND (~$6-12 USD)

Stay: 2-3 days (Imperial Citadel, royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, bun bo Hue, motorbike to Hai Van Pass)

7. Hue → Da-Nang-Hoi-An

Distance: 100 km (to Da Nang) / 130 km (to Hoi An)

Train: Hue to Da Nang, 2.5-3 hours, from 60,000-150,000 VND (~$2.50-6 USD). The route crosses the Hai Van Pass with spectacular coastal views

Motorbike over Hai Van Pass: The legendary ride from the Top Gear Vietnam Special. Rent a motorbike in Hue, ride the pass, drop off in Da Nang/Hoi An. Rental from 150,000 VND/day (~$6 USD)

Grab/taxi: Da Nang to Hoi An, 30 minutes, 200,000-300,000 VND (~$8-12 USD)

Stay: 3-5 days (Hoi An Ancient Town, Japanese Bridge, tailoring, Marble Mountains, My Son ruins, An Bang Beach, Banh Mi Phuong)

8. Da-Nang-Hoi-An → Nha-Trang

Distance: 530 km

Reunification Express train: 8-10 hours, from 350,000-700,000 VND (~$14-28 USD) for a soft sleeper

Sleeper bus: 10-12 hours overnight, from 250,000-400,000 VND (~$10-16 USD)

Flight: Da Nang to Nha Trang (Cam Ranh), 1 hour, from 600,000-1,500,000 VND (~$24-60 USD)

Stay: 2-3 days (beaches, island hopping, Vinpearl cable car, nightlife)

9. Nha-Trang → Da-Lat

Distance: 135 km (but mountainous)

Bus: 3-4 hours through stunning mountain passes, from 150,000-250,000 VND (~$6-10 USD)

Stay: 2-3 days (cool mountain climate, waterfalls, canyoning from $40-65 USD, night market, coffee culture, French-colonial architecture)

10. Da-Lat → Mui-Ne

Distance: 150 km

Bus: 4 hours, from 150,000-200,000 VND (~$6-8 USD)

Stay: 1-2 days (sand dunes at sunrise, kite surfing, Fairy Stream, fishing village)

11. Mui-Ne → Ho-Chi-Minh-City

Distance: 200 km

Bus: 5 hours, from 120,000-200,000 VND (~$5-8 USD)

Train: Phan Thiet to HCMC, 4 hours, from 100,000-200,000 VND (~$4-8 USD)

Stay: 2-4 days (War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh Market, District 1 nightlife, banh mi, pho, coffee culture)

Reunification Express (Train)

Full route Hanoi → HCMC: 32-36 hours, from 750,000-3,000,000 VND (~$30-120 USD) depending on class

Hard seat: Cheapest but brutal for long hauls

Soft seat: Reasonable for day journeys, from 400,000 VND (~$16 USD) for medium legs

Hard sleeper (6-berth): The backpacker sweet spot, from 600,000-800,000 VND (~$24-32 USD)

Soft sleeper (4-berth): More comfortable, from 800,000-1,200,000 VND (~$32-48 USD)

Booking: vietnam-railway.com, 12Go Asia, or at the station. Book sleepers 2-3 days ahead in peak season

Pros: Iconic journey, scenic, meets locals, comfortable sleepers, flexible (hop on/off at any station along the route)

Cons: Slow, delays common, hard seats are uncomfortable

Sleeper Buses

Operators: The Sinh Tourist, Hoang Long, Phuong Trang (FUTA), Camel Travel

Style: Flat-bed sleeper buses with individual pods. Upper and lower berths available

Prices: Generally 20-40% cheaper than equivalent train journeys

Booking: At operator offices, hostels, or via 12Go Asia

Pros: Cheap, overnight travel saves accommodation costs, frequent departures

Cons: Can be cramped for tall travellers (over 180cm), driving can be aggressive, some operators are better than others

Flights

Carriers: VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines

Hanoi to HCMC: From 800,000-2,000,000 VND (~$32-80 USD), 2 hours

Pros: Fast, cheap if booked early

Cons: Skip all the stops in between

Motorbike

Rental: 150,000-250,000 VND/day (~$6-10 USD) for a semi-automatic Honda Wave/Blade

Purchase: Many backpackers buy a motorbike in Hanoi for $300-500 USD and sell it in HCMC (or vice versa). Honda Win and Yamaha Exciter are popular choices

Pros: Ultimate freedom, the Hai Van Pass is a top-10 motorcycle ride in the world, incredibly cheap

Cons: Dangerous (Vietnam has high traffic fatality rates), insurance issues, mechanical breakdowns, requires confidence in Asian traffic

MethodApproximate Cost (VND)Approximate Cost (USD) Sleeper buses (full route)2,000,000-3,500,000$80-140 Reunification Express (hop on/off)3,000,000-6,000,000$120-240 Motorbike (purchase + fuel + sell)3,000,000-5,000,000 net$120-200 net Flights (Hanoi-HCMC direct)800,000-2,000,000$32-80

Grab is essential -- works in every major Vietnamese city. Use it for local transport to avoid being overcharged by taxi drivers and motorbike taxis

Crossing the street -- Vietnamese traffic does not stop for pedestrians. Walk slowly and steadily at a constant pace; the motorbikes will flow around you. Do not stop or run

Hai Van Pass -- if riding a motorbike, go early morning for less traffic and better light. The road is well-maintained. Watch for gravel on corners

Coffee culture -- Vietnam produces the world's second-most coffee. Try ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee) everywhere. A cup costs 15,000-30,000 VND (~$0.60-1.20 USD)

Train Street in Hanoi -- the famous street where trains pass inches from houses has periodic closures to tourists. Check current status before visiting

Overnight trains -- bring snacks, a lock for your bag, and earplugs. The rocking motion is surprisingly soothing

Bargaining -- expected in markets but not in restaurants or shops with marked prices. Start at 40-50% of the asking price

Vietnamese currency -- 1 USD ≈ 25,000 VND. The large numbers take getting used to. Double-check bills when paying -- a 500,000 note looks similar to a 20,000 note

Banana-Pancake-Trail -- the broader SE Asia circuit

Cambodia-Circuit -- continue south from HCMC into Cambodia

Thailand-North-to-South -- loop back through Thailand