3-week Vietnam itinerary map
This is our recommended 3-week itinerary that takes you through 14 of the most popular destinations in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City → the Mekong Delta → Mui Ne → Dalat → Nha Trang → Quy Nhon → Da Nang → Hoi An → Hue → Quang Binh → Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay → Hanoi → Sapa → Hanoi.
Summary
Destinations: 14
Travel time (hr): 65+
Transportation costs (USD): 150+
Total cost (USD): 800+
Itinerary details
Ho Chi Minh City
(2 days)
Things to do: War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Skydeck, Bui Vien Street, Cu Chi Tunnels.
Ho Chi Minh City → the Mekong Delta:
- Transportation: Tour (2 days 1 night, Vietfuntravel, The Sinh Tourist)
- Price: 2,150,000 VND ($95)
Mekong Delta
(2 days)
Things to do: Lan Island, Phung Island, Vinh Trang Pagoda (My Tho), Cai Rang floating market (Can Tho).
The tour will take you back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City → Mui Ne:
- Transportation: Bus (Hanh Cafe, Tam Hanh Bus)
- Travel time: 4 hr 30 min
- Fare: 190,000 VND
Mui Ne
(1 day)
Things to do: Mui Ne Beach, Sand Dunes, Po Shanu Cham Towers.
Mui Ne → Dalat:
- Transportation: Bus (An Phu Bus)
- Travel time: 3 hr 45 min
- Fare: 200,000 VND
Dalat
(1 day)
Things to do: Xuan Huong Lake area, Dalat Railway Station, Chicken Church, Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
Dalat → Nha Trang:
- Transportation: Bus (Phuong Trang, The Sinh Bus)
- Travel time: 3 hr
- Fare: 250,000 VND
Nha Trang
(1 day)
Things to do: Nha Trang Beach, Vinpearl Land, Po Nagar Cham Towers, Dam Market.
Nha Trang → Quy Nhon:
- Transportation: Bus (Thanh Thuy)
- Travel time: 5 hr
- Fare: 200,000 VND
Quy Nhon
(1 day)
Things to do: Ky Co, Eo Gio, Twin Towers, Queen’s Beach.
Quy Nhon → Da Nang:
- Transportation: Bus (Phuong Trang, Lien Hung)
- Travel time: 6 hr 30 min
- Fare: 250,000 VND
Da Nang
(2 days)
Things to do: My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hills, Marble Mountains, Museum of Cham Sculpture.
Da Nang → Hoi An:
- Transportation: Bus (01)
- Travel time: 45 min
- Fare: 30,000 VND
Hoi An
(1 day)
Things to do: An Bang Beach, the ancient town, Bay Mau Coconut Forest.
Hoi An → Hue:
- Transportation: Bus (Hanh Cafe, The Sinh Bus)
- Travel time: 3 hr 45 min
- Fare: 180,000 VND
Hue
(1 day)
Things to do: The Imperial Citadel of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda, Khai Dinh Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Dong Ba Market.
Hue → Quang Binh:
- Transportation: Bus (Camel Travel)
- Travel time: 4 hr
- Fare: 400,000 VND
Quang Binh
(1 day)
Things to do: Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Paradise Cave, Nhat Le Beach.
Quang Binh → Ninh Binh:
- Transportation: Train (Dong Hoi – Ninh Binh)
- Travel time: 8 hr
- Fare: 300,000 VND
Ninh Binh
(2 days)
Things to do: Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Mua Cave, Trang An Landscape Complex, Bai Dinh Pagoda.
Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay:
- Transportation: Bus (The Long Bus)
- Travel time: 5 hr
- Fare: 350,000 VND
Ha Long Bay
(1 day)
Things to do: Ha Long Bay, Tuan Chau Island.
Ha Long Bay → Hanoi:
- Transportation: Bus (Trung Thanh Limousine)
- Travel time: 1 hr 30 min
- Fare: 260,000 VND
Hanoi
(2 days)
Things to do: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, Dong Xuan Market, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Hanoi → Sapa:
- Transportation: Bus (Fansipan Express Bus)
- Travel time: 6 hr 10 min
- Fare: 250,000 VND
Sapa
(1 day)
Things to do: Sapa Stone Church, Ham Rong Mountain, Cat Cat Village, Ta Van Village.
Sapa → Hanoi: Bus (Fansipan Express Bus)
You take bus number 86 (35,000 VND) to Noi Bai International Airport from Hanoi city center, ending your 3-week itinerary in Vietnam.
A few notes
- The exchange rate between USD and VND in 2023 is approximately 1 USD ≈ 23,500 VND.
- Please note that the travel time mentioned for each part of the itinerary does not include check-in time at the airport and train station.
- For train travel, we recommend booking tickets on the official website of the Vietnam Railway Corporation: dsvn.vn.
- The above recommendations for tours, hotels, bus operators, and airlines were selected based on suitability, without any advertising or affiliate marketing, so you can rest assured with these suggestions.
3 weeks in Vietnam costs
For a 3-week trip to Vietnam, the average expenditure for many tourists is around $800. Here are some estimated fixed costs to help you plan your budget:
- Transportation costs are approximately $150.
- Accommodation in a private hotel or homestay will cost around $15 to $20 per night. For solo travelers, hostels can be a more affordable option, with prices starting at around $5 per night.
- Food costs are typically around $15 per person per day.
- Admission to monuments, museums, and attractions costs around $1 – $5.
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