Welcome to our 17 day Vietnam travel guide! Planning for a trip to Vietnam but don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered!
After a long hiatus on this blog from our Thailand backpacking article, we’re finally back with a Vietnam travel guide! Last December, we embarked on another backpacking adventure through Vietnam for 17 days (~2.5 weeks), and we’ll be sharing the breakdown of our route, expenses, and itinerary here.
Disclaimer: Some of the links I’ve attached are affiliate links, so if you decide to purchase any of the items or book any of the experiences/ tours offered on those sites, we’ll receive a small commission at no extra costs to you! It would be a great way to support our blog and help us keep running it if you’ve found our content meaningful!
For some context, here’s how we approached this trip:
1. Have fun!
2. Aim to stick within the overall budget of S$1,000 per pax all inclusive of food, travel tickets, accommodations, tours, etc.
3. Daily budget is flexible as long as overall budget isn’t exceeded.
4. No fixed itinerary, but we have a list of places that we want to visit and types of local cuisines to check out
- Things to Note Before Backpacking Vietnam
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 1: Ho Chi Minh (4D3N)
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 2: Hue (3D2N)
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 3: Hoi An (3D2N)
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 4: Da Nang (3D2N)
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 5: Sa Pa (4D3N)
- Vietnam Travel Guide City 6: Hanoi (5D4N)
- Closing Notes for our Vietnam Travel Guide
Before we dive in, here’s an overview of the main cities together with the number of days that we stopped by when backpacking Vietnam for this Vietnam Travel Guide:
- Ho Chi Minh (3.5 Days)
- Hue (2.5 Days)
- Hoi An (2.5 Days)
- Da Nang (2.5 Days)
- Sa Pa (2.5 Days)
- Hanoi (3.5 Days)
Things to Note Before Backpacking Vietnam
Common to South East Asian countries, here are some rules to observe when visiting certain places in Vietnam. Also, here are some things you may want to take note of before backpacking Vietnam.
1. Prepare your travel documents in advance. You may need to apply for a single-entry VISA prior to entering Vietnam if you’re not holding a South-east Asian passport.
2. Pack for different weather. The weather is quite erratic across the country. It could be scorching (e.g., 31-35°C in Ho Chi Minh) but cold further up North (e.g., 5-10°C in Sa Pa)
3. No flipflops, sleeveless tops or shorts when visiting temples.
4. Avoid tap water. Buy water from the convenience store or supermarket whenever you can.
5. “Grab” or public buses are cheaper alternatives and don’t ever hop onto any public transport before bargaining! (E.g.,: Taxis, Minivans, etc. especially at airport exits)
6. Don’t be afraid of crossing the streets. Do it like you own the road! The trick is to keep walking and not stop.
7. Get your peace of mind by purchasing travel insurance with adequate coverage for all your activities (e.g., trekking, water activities, cycling, etc.)
8. Tipping is not compulsory in Southeast Asia although it is much appreciated.
Vietnam Travel Guide City 1: Ho Chi Minh (4D3N)
We spent about 3.5 days in Ho Chi Minh city before moving off to Hue on the fourth day. Ho Chi Minh city, also known as Saigon, has been through many wars, and is a city filled with history. There are tons of monuments and museums to check out for the history nerds (ahem…like me).
After touching down, the first thing on our itinerary was to collect our sim cards first and check in! We got our sim cards via Klook and you can get yours too below by searching for “4G SIM Card (SGN Airport Pick Up) for Vietnam” or just “4G Sim Card Vietnam” will bring you to a list of results.
The whole process was really simple and fuss free and we could immediately collect it once we touched down at the airport. There’s a counter located just after you’ve cleared the immigration (right before the exit). It’s very obvious since its located along the row of sim card booths. You just let the staff know your booking details and you get your card immediately. The staff can also help you with the installation if you have any issues.
Gettting from Saigon Airport to Ho Chi Minh City
Now that we’re connected, let’s get into the city!
Like every other country/ city, here’s the annoying part; exiting the airport and having tons of people shouting and poaching you to take their taxi or mini bus/van or whatever private transport there is. Depending on your budget, here’s what you can expect to pay for each mode of transport to get into the city:
- Airport Taxi (inclu airport surcharge and tolls): 300,000 VND (S$17)
- Minivan (S$26 from third parties like Klook)
- Yellow airport bus #49: 40,000 VND (S$2.28)
- Yellow airport bus #109: 20,000 VND (S$1.14)
- Blue/ Green Public Bus #152: 5,000 VND (S$0.28)
The choice is pretty obvious… we took the public bus. No extra charges for our backpacks/ luggages (if you have any) too.
You’ll board first and purchase the ticket (in cash) from the bus attendant on board. Depending on your location, it can range from 5,000 to 7,000 VND.
Don’t worry about not having small change.
These attendants hold onto thick stashes of cash and should be able to give you change if your note isn’t in the largest denomination.
Pro Tip:
Public bus #152 only runs up to 6pm so depending on when you arrive and factor in clearing customs, bag collection etc., its best to arrive in the morning!
Note:
Both airport buses run different routes so if you’re taking the airport bus, you’ll need to look up the bus stops or check with the attendant at the terminal.
However, they stop nearby/ at most of the touristy attractions (e.g., Ben Thanh market, backpacker street [Pham Ngu Lao], etc.) so if you’re staying nearby, then its a great option to consider after the public bus stops running.
Ho Chi Minh Accommodations
An Nam Corner – Dreamer (3 nights)
Amount paid: 729,000 VND (S$41.50)
Address: 183/15 Bùi Viện, Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1, Quận 1, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm
Check-out By: 12pm
It’s relatively affordable and located in a very convenient location, especially for those who love the nightlife. Just walk out of the street and across the road is the popular Bui Vien Walking Street filled with all the bars, pubs, clubs, whatever.
The room was also pretty cosy, but then again, we’re not very fussy about our accoms as long as it has WiFi and aircon.
Ho Chi Minh Itinerary
Vietnam Travel Guide: Ho Chi Minh Day 1
The first evening was spent exploring the area near us, which meant the Bui Vien walking district, and whatever’s in the area for dinner. Here’s a quick overview of our eventful afternoon:
- First coffee fix at Circle K after checking in
- Checked off Lau bo from our food bucketlist
- Walked through Bui Vien Walking Street with loud music and flashy lights
- Satisfied sweet tooth with Ca Phe Sua and coffee jelly at Highlands coffee
- Walked off the calories at Central market to end off the evening
Circle K convenience store coffee
Got a quick coffee fix at Circle K to fuel our evening!
It was unexpectedly good and also ended up being 1-for-1? (we’re still wondering if we took someone else’s coffee order by mistake… but no one stopped us)
Cost: 15,000₫ (S$0.90)
Lau bo (Vietnamese Hotpot)
Decided to check off Lau bo from our food bucketlist and went ahead to Lau bo Ti chuot for a hotpot dinner despite the hot weather…
Unlike Chinese hotpot, the base was slightly sour. You are advised to cook the meat then wrap it in the rice paper, with rice noodles and veggies like a spring roll.
Location: 3 Đ. Cao Bá Nhạ, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Cost: 250,000₫ (S$14.40)
Operating hours: 6am – 12am daily
Bui Vien Walking Street
If you’re looking for the nightlife in Ho Chi Minh, you’ve come to the right place! There’s bars, clubs, pubs, etc. all in this one street.
Lights and music start going off at around 6pm and it starts getting busy around 7pm where there’ll be lots of bikes and people zooming through the streets.
Location: Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ca Phe Sua with Coffee Jelly @ Highlands Coffee
The Vietnamese version of Starbucks! We all know how Vietnamese coffee leans towards the sweeter side, but all foodies with sweet tooths rejoice!
You have to try their milk coffee with coffee jelly! (You might want to ask for less sugar/ syrup though) This is always on my must-have list when in Vietnam! Couldn’t leave without getting at least one cup!
Location: Various locations countrywide
Cost: 49,000₫ (S$2.80)
Operating hours: 7am – 11pm (also varies depending on branch)
Central Market
Similar to Pratunam or Platinum mall in Bangkok, Central Market is filled with many small shops with everything you need from counterfeit goods to shoes, clothes, electronics, etc.
Location: 4 Đ. Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Operating hours: 10am – 10pm
Vietnam Travel Guide: Ho Chi Minh Day 2
We booked a half day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels with the meeting time set at 8.30am so we set out to get fueled with some Banh Mi and coffee first! The tour doesn’t come with lunch but they can drop you off at Ben Thanh market if you’re headed in that direction. Here’s what we had planned for the day:
- Early breakfast at Banh mi Ba Hyumh
- Cu Chi Tunnels Half day tour
- Late lunch at Com Tam Moc to check off broken rice from our food checklist
- Check off the touristy attractions (i.e., Benh Thanh market, Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc.)
- Grab dinner somewhere along the way before heading back and chilling for the rest of the night
Banh mi Ba Hyunh
One very very very big Banh Mi (dac biet) right there! We bought one which was more than enough to fill the both of us for breakfast!
There’s also a really interesting backstory to the origins of this Banh mi store – which was initially started by a trans couple.
(they broke up and one of them stole the recipe and opened another store so now they’re competitors selling Banh mis with the same recipe – though not sure if this is 100% factual)
Location: 185K Đ. Cống Quỳnh, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Cost: 59,000₫ (S$3.40)
Operating hours: 6am – 9pm daily
[Klook] Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour
We booked a half day tour to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels via Klook (linked above) to see and experience what it was like for the Vietnamese during the war against the French in the late 1940s.
Before you head to the Cu Chi Tunnel site, you’ll be introduced to a local handicraft workshop manned by the victims of the war. These families were affected by a chemical called “Agent Orange” used during the war which caused genetic mutations and affected their subsequent generations and offsprings (You can find out more at the war remnants museum).
Throughout the tour, you get the opportunity to crawl through the tunnels of varying lengths: 20m, 40m, and 60m to get a taste of what it was like back then. It was said that there was a guide for every vicinity as it’s very easy to get lost if you don’t know the way back then.
You’ll also get to take a look at some of the traps built back then to deter enemies and sample some tapioca at the end of the tour. At the end of the tour, the tour bus can drop you off at popular landmarks such as Benh Thanh market or back at your pickup location.
Overall, it was a really insightful and enriching tour, to be able to learn so much about the history of the people and the predecessors in Ho Chi Minh. Would recommend to check if out if you have time or is interested in the history of the city!
Com Tam Moc
After crawling through tunnels and checking out historical traps, we’re starving! Having alighted at Benh Thanh market after the tour, we checked out this “broken rice” store nearby to check yet another local dish off our food bucketlist.
Maybe check out another Com Tam store cos this was meh and kinda pricey…
Location: 85 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Cost: 182,000₫ (S$10.50)
Operating hours: 9am – 8.30pm daily
Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, and Book Street
Also popped by the iconic Ho Chi Minh post office and the bustling book street in the evening.
Location: 02 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Noodle place
not so great + pricey… should have left the Bun Bo Hue to Hue and tried something else
Location: (too unimportant to remember the location)
Cost: 170,000₫ (S$9.70)
Operating hours: 9am – 8.30pm daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Ho Chi Minh Day 3
The third day was more of a chill day, where we wanted to check out this bouldering gym after all the eating the past 2 days… and check off all the other coffee places we wanted to try on our list, plus a side quest to the war remnants museum. If you’re lazy to read through, here’s what we did for the day:
- Got in our morning exercise at Vertical Academy
- Grabbed some post-climbing Banh Mi from a random street side stand we found
- Get our coffee fix at La Viet Voffee Saigon
- Make a visit to the War Remnants Museum
- Grab dinner somewhere along the way back to our hotel
Vertical Academy
Unfortunately for us, when we went there, they were in the midst of switching up the routes so there was only half a gym available.
Tip: Bring your own climbing shoes if you have one cos the ones we rented… had no friction at all… climbing barefoot felt so much easier than just sliding around on the wall…
Location: 789D Số 1, P, Thu Duc, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Cost: 340,000₫ (S$19.30)
Operating hours: 8am – 10pm daily
Just a random banh mi stand that we popped by at the end of the street to grab a quick bite for lunch… Simple, cheap, and good!
Cost: 20,000₫ (S$1.10)
La Viet Coffee Saigon
This cafe was recommended for its coffee so of course, we had to pay it a visit.
Since the weather was so hot, we got their iced coconut coffee, and lavender milk coffee, which both tasted pretty amazing (though we preferred the coconut coffee).
Location: 789D Số 1, P, Thu Duc, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Cost: 105,000₫ (S$6)
Operating hours: 8am – 10pm daily
War Remnants Museum
You could easily spend half a day here just reading and taking in the history depicted in those few exhibition halls. If you have time, I’d recommend you to pop by and spend a few hours here.
It’s a really enriching and eye-opening experience, with so much to learn about what went on in the past!
Location: Phường 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Cost: 80,000₫ (S$4.55)
Operating hours: 7.30am – 5.30pm daily
Street stands along Bui Vien Street
Now that we’re filled with knowledge for the day, it’s time to feed our bellies!
For dinner, we’re pooped so we decided to just walk around the area near our place, and check out some local food stands.
Vietnamese locals are so friendly, they’ll try to strike a conversation with you despite the language barrier! We’ve learned how to order noodle soup (Hu Tieu) and dry noodles (Mi Kho) from this friendly uncle who was sitting beside us chatting with the stand owner.
Location: Phường 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Cost: 80,000₫ (S$4.55)
Vietnam Travel Guide: Ho Chi Minh Day 4
This was our last half a day in Ho Chi Minh city before we set off for the city of Hue in the afternoon via a domestic flight, so here’s how we spent the first half of our day:
- Grabbed some Vietnamese noodle soup for breakfast at a random road side stand
- Get our coffee fix at The Workshop Coffee
- Prices were high and we weren’t really satisfied with the coffee so we got another Hazelnut Latte Katinat Saigon Kafe which seemed popular amongst the locals
Random streetside hawker stand
In the mornings, there’ll be lots of streetside stands set up along the roads for people to pop by for a bowl of noodles as breakfast before they head off to work.
Nothing very special but a bowl of warm noodles is always a great way to start off the day.
Location: Somewhere along this stretch of the street if you’re interested (Vinhomes Grand Park, Thủ Đức, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam)
Cost: 50,000₫ (S$2.85)
The Workshop Coffee
This cafe also had tons of recommendations for its extensive coffee selection so we decided to give it a go.
Not sure if we picked a coffee blend that wasnt to our liking, but it tasted quite sour and underwhelming… the cookie was also cold… (taken right out from the tupperware in the fridge and served, not even heated up)
Location: 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Cost: 105,000₫ (S$6.00)
Operating hours: 8am – 9pm daily
Katinat Saigon Kafe
Just like how we have our Local Coffee People, Kopifellas, Toast Box, etc., Katinat is the Saigon version of their local coffee stand!
We saw lots of office staff and students queuing so why not give it a shot if its popular amongst the locals? They have a wide selection of teas and coffees, but we got their Hazelnut Latte.
Great for those seeking a not-so-strong coffee or something to satisfy your midday sweet tooth!
Location: multiple locations citywide (only in HCM)
Cost: 55,000₫ (S$3.15)
Operating hours: 6.30am – 11pm daily
Cost breakdown for Ho Chi Minh
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (inclu. plane tickets from SG to SGN) | S$163.50 | 2,867,562₫ |
| Food & Water | S$93.50 | 1,639,684₫ |
| Activities: 1. Cu Chi Tunnels Tour 2. War Remnants Museum Entry Tickets 3. Climbing Gym Pass | S$70.25 | 1,257,199₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 3 nights) | S$44.00 | 729,000₫ |
| Total | S$371.25 | 6,493,445₫ |
Ho Chi Minh → Hue
Depending on the length of your trip, it’ll affect your considerations when deciding on the mode of transportation between cities. As we wanted to maximise the time we had to explore, we chose the fastest mode which was via a 1.5hr flight since it wasn’t that much more cost wise either.
By Plane:
Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) to Hue (HUI)
Price (One Way): S$46 per person (806,775₫)
Duration: About 1 hr 30 mins
Where we got our tickets: Baolau (cheapest option after comparing several sites)
If you’ve got more time to spare or on a tighter budget, you can consider other modes such as via overnight train or bus. It will take almost a full day of travelling as its quite a distance away.
By Overnight Train:
Ho Chi Minh Railway Station to Hue Railway Station
Price: Ranges from S$55 to S$97 depending on type of seat booked (Price list shown below)
Duration: Ranges from 18 to 22 hours depending on train booked
Tip: Bring your own Banh Mi or snacks and water up on board for the long journey ahead if you’re afraid of the food quality on board. You can pre-book your tickets on 12Go or Easybook
Note: The timings and prices below may vary depending on the train service provider.
| Train Number | Duration | Departure | Arrival | Hard Seat (S$) | Soft Seat (S$) | Hard Berth (S$) | Soft Berth (S$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE2 | 18h 24min | 21:55 | 16:19 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
| SE4 | 19h 41min | 19:45 | 15:26 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
| SE6 | 19h 52min | 9:00 | 04:52 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
| SE8 | 19h 34 min | 6:00 | 1:34 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
| SE10 | 22h 58min | 14:00 | 12:58 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
| SE12 | 22h | 07:55 | 05:55 | 55 | 65 | 92 | 97 |
By Bus:
Binh Thanh District or Thu Duc District to Hue City (May differ depending on bus service provider)
Price: Around S$37
Duration: 25 hours
Tip: Bring your own Banh Mi or snacks and water up on board for the long journey ahead although the bus will stop at a few rest stops along the way where you can restock on food and water. You can pre-book your tickets on 12Go or Easybook.
Vietnam Travel Guide City 2: Hue (3D2N)
Another beautiful historical city where the Monarchs once resided with their tombs also established throughout this city. When we touched down in Hue, it was only 5.15pm, but the skies were already getting dark. The daylight is really short here so by 6pm its already dark.
Getting into the City:
We’ve read a few blogs that mentioned that there were still buses (5,000₫ to 25,000₫ depending on route) running from Hue Airport to Hue City, but unfortunately, could not find any. The people outside of the airport were not very helpful either as they were “forcing” all the foreigners to take their private minivan into the city which costs a almost 30 USD per person.
Not wanting to pay that ridiculous price for a ride into the city, we walked further out and found a security post which also could not point us to a bus stop nearby. Hence, we settled for a taxi (100,000₫ = S$5.70) further out the front gate, which was way cheaper than the private minivan.
Hue Accommodations
Amigo Hue Hotel (2 nights)
Amount paid: 365,000 VND (S$22)
Address: 66/3 Lê Lợi, Phú Hội, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm
Check-out By: 12pm
December seems like the wet season in Hue so be prepared for cooler weather and frequent rains.
Luckily, there was an air conditioner that came with the heater setting to help us dry our clothes… since it was constantly raining and our shoes and clothes were always wet.
The room was also quite spacious with all the amenities we need, and even a bathtub for those who love their long baths.
Hue Itinerary
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hue Day 1
Just a chill evening exploring the nearby areas of our Hotel and grabbing some dinner to fill our stomachs after a long day of travelling on the road… here’s what we found:
• Lots of street vendors late at night opening food stands along the road side
• Found some amazing Bun Bo Hue (Vietnamese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup)
• Took a stroll along the river to help digest our food before turning in to rest & recharge!
Bun Bo Hue Ba Gai
Who can pass up a bowl of hot noodle soup on a cold, windy night out?
We were walking around the neighbourhood and chanced upon this Bun Bo Hue store that was still open amidsty the dead looking street… There were a few other stores that were still open, but most of the locals were in this store so we decided to check it out!
Fortunately, it did not disappoint, and was one of the better Bun Bo Hues we had thus far! (We ordered the Thap Cam & Dac Biet option)
Location: 11A Hà Nội, Vĩnh Ninh, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Cost: 90,000₫ (S$5.00)
Operating hours: 24 hrs daily
Truong Tien bridge
A great place for a stroll to walk off the calories/ help with digestion after your meal (and enjoy the cool weather)
Location: 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hue Day 2
Our only full day to really explore the city and although it was cold, rainy, and gloomy the whole day, here’s how we made the most of it:
• Fueled ourselves for the day at Dong Ba morning market
• Walked off breakfast by exploring the ancient Imperial City
• Stopped by for more Bun Bo Hue for lunch and some coffee
• Intermissioned with a nap to recharge before heading out for more food!
• Went to grab more Bun Bo Hue for dinner and coffee for tomorrow’s early headstart
Dong Ba morning market
If you’re looking for a place to check-off your local food bucketlist, then this is the place to be in.
There are tons of vendors selling fresh produce and cooked foods. You name it, if they have it, they’ll serve you or you can ask them where you can find the dish elsewhere and they’ll suggest another store.
If you like dumplings/ mochi, then you’ll want to try this local specialty (Banh Ram It) out when you’re here. It has a crispy base, and a mochi like dumpling on top.
Location: 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Hue Imperial City
The main attraction in this city is the tour of the old imperial city. You can get tickets from the kiosk at the entrance when you arrive.
It’ll take up at least half your day here with lots of walking, but if you’re interested in the history of this city, then it’s definitely worth a visit!
Location: 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Cost: 400,000₫ (S$23.00)
Operating hours: 7.30am – 5pm daily
Chanced upon this aunty sat along the roadside boiling her pot of Bun Bo Hue soup, plugged into a public electrical line which we still have no idea how she did so…
Tasted amazing, no other words needed to describe this wholesome bowl of Bun Bo Hue with a generous amount of toppings!
Cost: 40,000₫ (S$2.30)
The Lab Coffee
We enjoyed the coffee so much we got 3 cups in 2 days… this cafe was located right beside our hotel so we decided to get our quick coffee fix here on the first day.
Here’s what we ordered:
1. Salted Coffee + Coconut Jelly
2. Matcha Coffee + Peach Jelly
3. Iced White Coffee + White Bubble
Location: 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Cost: 114,000₫ (S$6.40)
Operating hours: 7am – 9.30pm daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hue Day 3
Today, its time to move on to our next city! With some convenience store bread and the 2 coffees we took away from The Lab Coffee the night before, we started off our day early by walking to Hue Railway Station at 5am…
Hue Railway Station
Looks kinda creepy and straight out of a horror movie… I know but our train was at 6am…
There are some stores nearby the train station that is open so you can get your Banh mis and eat on board the train. There are also some snack shops selling instant noodles and snacks inside the train station (although overpriced) if you prefer processed over fresh food…
Pro-tip: If you’re heading to Da Nang via the train, you’ll want to sit on the left side of the train for the beautiful sea view along the way!
Location: Sunny B. Hotel, Nguyễn Tri Phương, Street, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Cost breakdown for Hue
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport: 1. Plane tickets from SGN to HUI 2. Taxi from airport to city center | S$97.60 | 1,746,478₫ |
| Food & Water | S$38.50 | 689,357₫ |
| Activities: Imperial City Entrance Tickets | S$22.40 | 400,000₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 2 nights) | S$22.00 | 365,000₫ |
| Total | S$180.50 | 3,200,835₫ |
Hue → Hoi An
There is no direct transport from Hue to Hoi An other than by a private vehicle. If you’re taking the train/ bus/ plane, you’ll have to first arrive in Da Nang, before making a transfer to Hoi An, which is about 30min to 1 hour drive away.
We took the train from Hue to Da Nang, and booked a shared minivan from Da Nang Railway station into Hoi An through Klook (linked here). There are several drop off points in Hoi An, and ours was literally right outside our accommodation in Hoi An. The transport company was also very prompt in responding to our queries about the pick up and drop off points, and they’ll even send you an image of the pick-up vehicle and vehicle plate number via Whatsapp.
If you’re coming from Da Nang airport, there’s also a pick up point there, with multiple timeslots for pickup. Here’s what our costs looked like coming from Hue (for 2 pax):
• Train from Hue to Da Nang: 250,000₫ (S$13.90)
• Mini van transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An: 267,000₫ (S$14.90)
Vietnam Travel Guide City 3: Hoi An (3D2N)
Out of all the cities we visited throughout the trip, this small city was by far our most favourite! The food and weather here was great, the staff at our homestay was so helpful and friendly with her food recommendations and cycling routes. To sum up, it was a beautiful city that we would definitely be back in!
There were tons of beautiful tailors if you’re looking for custom clothing, which looked amazing from all the storefronts. We really wanted to get a suit and dress too but unfortunately, it wasn’t in our books for this round!
Getting into the city:
Depending on where you’re being dropped off by your private transport, you can most definitely walk to your next destination. The city is really small, with everything a short walk or cycle away.
Hoi An Accommodation
Legend Connect Homestay (2 Nights)
Amount Paid: 630,000₫ (S$38.00)
Location: 76 Thái Phiên, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm – 6pm
Check-out By: 12pm
The owner and staff were really friendly and welcoming when we arrived at the homestay! The staff (Thuong) gave us a really quick overview of what we could do during our stay here, and introduced us to the popular local spots for food everyday!
She even shared with us a scenic cycling route (which I will introduce under the itinerary for Day 2), streets where we can find local food stands, and what are the local specialties in the area.
Overall, the rooms were clean and cosy, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. You can rent bicycles from the homestay for free too!
Hoi An Itinerary
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hoi An Day 1
With what’s remaining of our first day in Hoi An, we went to scout for some good food to fill our stomachs and explore the night markets. Here’s how our evening went and the different foods we tried:
• Cao Lau (Hoi An’s regional noodle dish)
• Banh mis (Stores recommended by our homestay staff, and the popular store recommended by Mr Anthony Bourdain)
Cao Lau Lien
This place was introduced to us by one of the staff at our homestay. Unfortunately, the portion was really small, so we had to continue our hunt for more food!
Location: 120 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Cost: 35,000₫ (S$2.00)
Operating hours: 6.30am – 8.30pm daily
Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen
This was another food place recommended to us by the staff at our home stay. The banh mis here were so fresh, crispy, and thicccccc!
We couldn’t stop thinking about the Banh mis here, we got it twice:
1. Mixed/ Thap Cam – comes with veggies, pork, bbq pork, chicken, ham, eggs, pate, sauce, papaya and cucumber (30,000₫)
2. BBQ Banh Mi/ Banh Mi Thit Nuong – comes with veggies, BBQ portk, pate, sauce, papaya and cucumber (30,000₫)
You can also choose your spice level (spicy, medium spice, not spicy) for your banh mis, with no extra charges for takeaway.
Location: 115 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Cost: 60,000₫ (S$3.40)
Operating hours: 6.30am – 7pm daily
Banh Mi Phuong
Recommended by the dearest Mr Anthony Bourdain, this was one of the Banh Mi spots he recommended during his trip to Hoi An in the travel show “No Reservations”. We definitely had to pay this Banh mi shop a visit and it did not disappoint!
We went back twice and tried 3 of their Banh mis:
1. Banh mi Thap cam (Mixed) – 30,000₫
2. Banh mi thit bo voi trung (Beef with eggs) – 30,000₫
3. Banh mi thit bo cuon phomat (Beef and phomat) – 30,000₫
Our favourite was the beef with eggs Banh mi!
Location: 2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam
Cost: 90,000₫ (S$5.00)
Operating hours: 6.30am – 9.30pm daily
Walking Streets/ Night Markets
There are quite a few streets and markets that bustle at night:
1. Nguyen Hoang Night Market
2. Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Food Night Market
Some streets intersect, with many smaller alleys along the way so take your time exploring the streets and check out some of their local cuisines and desserts along the way!
Operating hours:
• 4.30pm – 10pm
• 4pm – 10pm (Only on Tuesdays)
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hoi An Day 2
This is the only full day we had to explore the beautiful Hoi An, so we decided to cover the small town by bike and cover more ground. Our homestay staff also recommended a cycling route for us to see the town, which we followed and saw many different sights. Here’s how our day went:
• Breakfast along the morning food stand street
• Cycled around to check out the town
• Came back to explore the night markets and walking streets again to check out some Vietnamese desserts
Banh Beo
Along this street, there are tons of food stalls where the locals will go to before heading to work. If you’re looking for authentic local food, this is probably the best it can get!
We checked out this Banh Beo store, which is like the Vietnamese version of our SG Chwee Kueh. Instead of the preserved raddish, theirs is topped with fried onions, shrimp, and pork rinds with some umami sauce instead of sambal chilli.
Location: 5 Thái Phiên, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Cost: 15,000₫ (S$0.85) – Minimum 4 in a plate
Operating hours: Mornings only (No fixed timings)
Cao Lau and Mi Quang
Other than Banh Beo and Cao Lau, there’s another dish that’s popular amongst the locals for breakfast: Mi Quang. This originated from the Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam, and is one of the most popular and nationally recognised food items.
*Cao Lau (Bottom dish), Mi Quang (Top dish) in the photo
Location:5 Thái Phiên, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Cost: 70,000₫ (S$3.95)
Operating hours: Mornings only (No fixed timings)
Once we’re fueled up, we headed back to our homestay to grab some water and our rental bikes. Fortunately for us, the homestay came with complimentary bike rental the whole day. Our homestay staff shared some cycling routes with us, and warned us about the scammy bike parking rates to look out for!
Note: Bike parking should only cost 5,000₫ (S$0.30), and anything above that is just a tourist trap!
Luckily for us, we had that crucial piece of information, and it really helped us to save on bike parking along the way with many owners charging 4-5 times the price!
Pro-tip: The sun ain’t a joke! Remember to dress well to protect against the sun (Bring your caps/hats, sunblock) and bring along a waterbottle, otherwise you’ll have to keep buying drinks along the way. Alternatively, some parking spot owners allow you to purchase a drink in exchange for “free” parking, but the bottled drinks will usually cost you 20,000₫ (S$1.15) each
Anyways, this was our cycling route for the day:
1. Rice fields and plantations
2. An Bang Beach
3. Coconut Village
4. Thanh Ha Pottery Village
5. Cao Lau Lunch/ Tea break at Cho Thanh Ha market
6. Photo stop of the Cầu Cẩm Kim mới bridge before heading back to rest and wash up to head to the walking streets for dinner!
We were only given the landmarks, so our route was quite flexible, as long as there’s a road, we’re cool. For those who have just learnt to cycle, try familiarising yourself with cycling on the road/ trails first so that you’ll be more comfortable with navigating in busy streets and roads.
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hoi An Day 3
There wasn’t much time on the last day as our minivan was picking us up at 10am for our ride back to Da Nang. We woke up early, went back to get more Banh mis before we left, and checked out to make our move to Da Nang! Our time in Hoi An was really short but we really enjoyed every moment and we’ll definitely be back (also to get a tailored set of clothing)!
Cost breakdown for Hoi An
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport: 1. Train from Hue to Da Nang 2. Mini Van from Da Nang to Hoi An 3. Bicycle parking | S$29.30 | 524,355.00₫ |
| Food & Water | S$30.35 | 543,200.00₫ |
| Activities: – | S$ – | – ₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 2 nights) | S$38.00 | 630,000₫ |
| Total | S$97.65 | 1,697,555₫ |
Hoi An → Da Nang
Similar to how we came from Da Nang, we took a mini van back from the same location that we were previously dropped off at. I’ll link our minivan pick up here:
• Mini van transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang: 267,000₫ (S$14.90)
Vietnam Travel Guide City 4: Da Nang (3D2N)
The bulk of our time in Da Nang was spent on Ba Na Hills, the high altitude theme park.
Unfortunately, in December, the weather up on Ba Na Hills is quite cold and foggy, so if you’re planning on going up there to take your insta-worthy photos, you’ll either have to wait for the fog to clear, or come in another season. You can also expect the weather up on Ba Na Hills to range between 11℃ to 16℃ in December.
Other than our full day up on Ba Na Hills, it was a rather chill 1.5 days exploring Marble Mountain, Son Tra Mountain, and just walking around night markets and trying new food!
Da Nang Accommodation
Vu Hotel & Massagate (2 Nights)
Amount Paid: 415,000₫ (S$23.00)
Location: 96 Lê Quang Đạo, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm – 6pm
Check-out By: 12pm
This hotel was just sketchy AF! The person at the counter didn’t even know how much we were supposed to pay and we ended up paying less than expected for this stay.
It was also not very well maintained, with several floors the lift couldn’t access, so we had to either take the lift a floor above or below our assigned floor, and take the stairs.
The location for this hotel was great though… for its price! It was about a 5 minutes drive away from the beach, 15 minutes to the night market, and also in between the 2 mountains we visited, making it quite a convenient location for us.
There are of course, many other hotels in the area, of higher price points, so feel free to explore your options!
Da Nang Itinerary
Vietnam Travel Guide: Da Nang Day 1
Arriving from Hoi An, we had about three quarters of a day for our first day in Da Nang; enough for first impressions. There were several places we wanted to check off our list here, so chop chop! But before we start exploring, it’s time to fuel up!
To summarise, here’s how our day went:
• Went for some grub at Naruto Ramen
• Searched for the cheapest bike rental for the next 2 days
• Headed out to see what Monkey Mountain has to offer
• Walked up Marble Mountains to get that amazing sunset views
• Recharged with a Poke bowl for dinner
Naruto Ramen
Not that we were expecting any quality…, but the portion was huge! It was also only a short walk away from our hotel so that’s a plus!
We ordered their:
1. Naruto Ramen – 110,000₫
2. Spicy Ramen – 100,000₫
Location: 59 An Thượng 4, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Cost: 210,000₫ (S$11.95)
Operating hours: 11am – 1am daily
Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain)
The main attraction here is the Buddhist temple with the giant lady buddha statue. It also offers great views of the East Vietnam Sea!
You don’t have to spend too much time here, maybe 2-2.5 hours is more than enough for you to get all the pictures you need while exploring the whole area.
Location: Vườn Lâm Tỳ Ni, Hoàng Sa, Thọ Quang, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
Cost: Pay what you want for parking (We paid 2,000₫)
Marble Mountain
We had to purchase a ticket to take the lift up to the entrance of the entire area. There are many caves here, of varying sizes where you can enter to look around (but not all have things to see)
The most notable cave here is the Huyen Khong Cave, the biggest one of all the caves you can enter.
We also wandered up into the “Heaven Gates” which rewarded us with some amazing views of the sunset! Not many people may know of this spot as the sign looks really sus, and its a much further climb upwards full of stairs. Towards the end, the climb consists of rocks and may be slightly slippery so be careful up there! But definitely a must visit if you’re already there!
Location: 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Cost: 30,000₫ (S$1.70)
Operating hours: 7am – 5pm daily
Pokeman
Located inside The Hideout Cafe, this cosy and quaint cafe serves up a Poke bowl so large that it feeds 2!
Initially, we were going to order 2 poke bowls considering the portions in SG, but the waiter cautioned us of the portion! He even mentioned that the sauces were refillable, so we settled with ordering 1 poke bowl and a smoothie bowl for dessert instead.
As mentioned, they did not disappoint! The portion was enough for us (not just rice but salmon and other stuff too!), and the smoothie bowl complemented the meal really well.
1. Dragon Bridge – 140,000₫
2. Winter Smoothie Bowl – 60,000₫
Location: 24 K 72 Nguyễn Văn Thoại, Bắc Mỹ Phú, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Cost: 200,000₫ (S$11.40)
Operating hours: 8am – 9pm daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Da Nang Day 2
Ba Na Hills, Da Nang (Tips on maximising your time here!)
To fully maximise our time up on Ba Na Hills, we set off early on our long ride up to Ba Na Hills cable car station! It took us almost an hour, with us getting lost along the way, and we arrived at about 9am.
Fortunately, we were still the first few batches to arrive at the cable car station and there was no queue to head up! Since we got our tickets on Klook, we also did not have to queue for any tickets on the day itself, and it was slightly cheaper with out cashback from Shopback!
We reached Ba Na Hills after a long 15-20 minute cable car ride, and it was cold! The weather up there ranged between 11℃ to 16℃, and since most attractions are outdoors, it was cold!!! For us who were raised in weathers ranging from 28℃ to 33℃, albeit cold, we loved the weather!
There are 2 sections to the park, accessible via cable car. The upper section where you’ll reach first is the area with the indoor theme park and games, and the alpine coaster which we did not get to ride because it was closed due to the weather… (we were looking forward to the coaster the most… 🥲)
Like any other theme park, there are indoor shows, etc. However, to get around this park, you’ll either need to ride the funiculars or cable cars to get from one section to another. After you finish the first section, you’ll find the cable car down to the lower section with the famous golden hands. Here, you’ll see all the outdoor exhibitions, flower gardens, etc.
Pro-tip: If you’re already taking the first few cable cars up to Ba Na Hills, you’d want to dash towards the cable car to get to the golden hands in the morning (since it’ll likely be less crowded). Most tour groups arrive around noon or slightly before lunch, so these periods as well as after lunch would be the most crowded!
These are just some snaps we took from our time at Ba Na Hills, and it was pretty foggy as you can see from the images on the gardens. We had to wait awhile for the fog to pass before snapping those images. Definitely much less visibility in reality!
We went down to the golden hands in the afternoon, and crowded was an understatement! It may seem sparse from our image, but that’s because everyone was crowding where we were for the best angle of those hands!
Unfortunately, there are not many food options up on Ba Na Hill. There is however, a buffet that you can get at 300,000₫ (S$17) per pax (which seems like the most popular option amongst tourists and tour groups as you can purchase the buffet together with your entry ticket on Klook), or check out the other individual restaurants all over the park. We obviously went for the cheapest option, which was the fast food at Lotteria, although it still set us back around 238,000₫ (S$13.40)
Overall, Ba Na Hills is quite a child-friendly theme park, where kids would likely enjoy the indoor games and you don’t have to pay extra to go on certain rides unlike some other indoor theme parks like Skytropolis in Genting!
My An Beach
How could we pass up a visit to the beach when we’re staying only 5 minutes away?!
Although there wasn’t anything special in particular, it’s always great to take some time to unwind, stroll along the beach, hear the sound of the waves crashing and dip your toes in the cool water!
It’s not often we get to go to the beach too anyways.. #citylifethings
Location: Bãi tắm T20, Vietnam
Son Tra Night Market
After a short stroll along the sea and snapping some pics, it’s time to fill our bellies with some food!
The night market here seems quite lively, considering some tourism has came back to this city. It wasn’t super crowded here either.
There were tons of seafood options if you love seafood, but that’s not our jam so we stuck to the local food that we’ve yet to check off our list.
We managed to check off Bun Rieu (Vietnamese Crab, Pork & Tomato Rice Noodles) and some crispy, fried on the spot Ban Xeo (Vietnamese crepes/ pancakes).
Location: Mai Hắc Đế, An Hải Trung, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Operating hours: 6pm – 12am daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Da Nang Day 3
It’s time to move off to our next destination in our Vietnam Travel Guide today!
Our day started off with waking up much earlier to catch the sunrise by the beach! Though we made it on time, there wasn’t much of a sunrise to watch… so we picked up our bags and started walking to our bus stop to catch the bus to Da Nang Airport.
Along the way, there were some locals queuing for this Banh mi store right by the bus stop we were waiting at so we got ourselves some breakfast here to bring with us to the airport while we wait for our flight to Hanoi!
Cost breakdown for Da Nang
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport: 1. Mini Van from Hoi An to Da Nang 2. Motorbike rental 3. Motorbike Fuel 4. Bus to Da Nang Airport 5. Bike Parking Fees | S$30.05 | 529,774₫ |
| Food & Water | S$52.20 | 920,273₫ |
| Activities: 1. Marble Mountain Admission Tickets 2. Ba Na Hills Admission Tickets | S$95.80 | 1,688,930₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 2 nights) | S$23.00 | 415,800₫ |
| Total | S$201.05 | 3,554,777₫ |
Da Nang → Sa Pa
There is no airport in Sa Pa, so here’re some options for you to consider if Sa Pa is the next stop on your itinerary:
1. Fly from Da Nang to Hanoi Airport, then take a 6hr bus from Hanoi to Sa Pa
2. Fly from Da Nang to Hanoi Airport, then take an 8hr train from Hanoi to Sa Pa
3. Take a 22hr bus from Da Nang to Sa Pa, or
4. Take a 25hr train from Da Nang to Sa Pa
Note: Options 3 and 4 have limited availabilities, and do not run everyday. If you’re going for these options, you’ll need to check for tickets nearer to date as the tickets do not release very much in advance of the departure date.
We took the fastest route, which was to fly from Da Nang to Hanoi, then take a 6hr sleeper bus (which was included in our Fansipan trekking package) to arrive in Sa Pa.
Flight Cost: S$100 for 2 pax
One-way Cost for sleeper bus (for purchase separately) from Hanoi to Sa Pa: S$12.15 per pax
Vietnam Travel Guide City 5: Sa Pa (4D3N)
This is the shortest town we stayed in for this Vietnam Travel Guide. We didn’t have much time in this beautiful town although it seemed like we had a lot of time here (4D3N) as most of the time was spent on the road. 1 night was spent in the sleeper bus, another night up on Fansipan in a wooden hut, and only the last night was spent in Sa Pa Town.
However, as we were here in December, it was cold, foggy, and rainy especially up on the higher altitudes, with temperatures ranging from 6℃ to 13℃ and down to 0℃ up on Fansipan’s peak. There were many attractions and sites that we wanted to visit but couldn’t due to time constraints…
Overall, it was still a really beautiful small town, the food was not what we were used to (*still palatable*), but the people we’ve met were all very welcoming, friendly, and down to chat!
Sa Pa Accommodation
Camellia Guest House (1 Night)
Amount Paid: 270,000₫ (S$15.00)
Location: 3 Fansipan, TT. Sa Pa, Sa Pa, Lào Cai, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm – 12am
Check-out By: 12pm
Since we were only staying here for one night, we weren’t too fussy about the place, as long as there was a heater since it was cold in Sa Pa.
The location was also very convenient, being right opposite Sa Pa station. Since the town is so small, everywhere you want to visit is probably a short walk away (e.g., convenience stores, restaurants, etc.)
It’s also about a short 10-15 minute walk to the bus station where you board the sleeper bus back to Hanoi.
Note: If you’re off to visit Cat Cat Village or the Silver Waterfall, you’ll need to drive or hire a private transport to get you there since it’s further out from the town’s center.
Sa Pa Itinerary
2D1N Fansipan Mountain Trek
Disclaimer: This was our first trek ever that is of this intensity, so we were basically going in blind… Of course, we tried to read up on some blog articles who others who have summitted Fansipan to see what gear they bring along, and what to prepare, but otherwise, we did not know what to expect 😅and thus this had to go into our Vietnam Travel Guide!
We wanted to challenge ourselves with this hike since it has been awhile since we really did anything spontaneous, so we decided to trek up instead of take the cable car up on a whim. Little did we know, we’d be summitting Fansipan with our entire backpack 🥲 Unfortunately, it was raining all night and morning, and we couldnt depart early to catch the sun rise or the view up on the peak…
The trekking package came with:
• A one-way transfer from Hanoi to Sa Pa
• Breakfast at a hotel before they pick you up for the trek
• Water
• A guide for your trek
• Trekking fees and permits required to stay overnight
• Camping equipment (e.g., sleeping bag)
• Lunch and Dinner on the 1st day of the trek + Breakfast on the 2nd day of the trek
We were expecting a drop off point for our bags prior to the climb, but there wasn’t so if you’re planning on embarking on the trek too, then you may want to either arrive a day earlier to leave your bags somewhere, or travel really light!
These are some of our snaps along the way, and we’ll drop in the comments if you’re interested in finding out more about the package or the trek! We’ll probably be detailing our experience in a separate blog post with more pictures and details of our trek!
Cost breakdown for Sa Pa
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport: One-way cable car down for 1 pax | S$41.90 | 737,000₫ |
| Food & Water | S$48.50 | 852,478₫ |
| Activities: 2D1N Fansipan Mountain Trek | S$214.80 | 3,775,513₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 1 night) | S$15.00 | 270,000₫ |
| Total | S$320.20 | 5,634,991₫ |
Sa Pa → Hanoi
There are 2 options you can take back to Hanoi, which is either by a:
1. 6hr bus ride, or the
2. 8hr train.
We booked a sleeper bus back to Hanoi, which was very convenient and had rest stops in between for you to go to the toilet or get some food/ snacks. Since our Fansipan trekking package covered the one-way bus from Hanoi to Sa Pa, we only paid for the bus back, and had to make the booking separately by ourselves. The staff in the bus will provide bottled water so feel free to ask them for it.
Sleeper Bus from Sa Pa to Hanoi:
Cost: S$12.15 per pax for one way
Vietnam Travel Guide City 6: Hanoi (5D4N)
We’re down to our last leg of the Vietnam travel guide… After such an eventful trip so far, we’ve decided to slow down our pace here in our final city and enjoy our last few moments in Vietnam and end off the year 2022!
We spent a good portion of our time visiting thrift shops to see if there were any good loots, checking off the last few items on our food checklist, and visiting many cafes for coffee! Since we were also here to ring in the new year, we also went to check out what their new year countdown celebrations were like before heading back home to SG to celebrate the new year with friends and family.
Hanoi Accommodation
Libre Hostel (4 nights)
Amount Paid: 1,957,658₫ (S$109.00)
Location: 29 Ng. Hàng Cháo, Cát Linh, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Check-in From: 2pm onwards with the security guard downstairs
Check-out By: 12pm
The room was pretty spacious, and the vibe was cozy. Since there is a school nearby, there are many flats in the same apartment block that is rented out to students.
In addition, just one street away, there are tons of food stalls that open till late, so you won’t have to be afraid of going hungry. However, there’s always grab food if you’re hungry in the middle of the night.
There’s a small pantry with some bowls, utensils, and pans with a portable electric stove if you’re planning on some minor cooking. We mostly used the hot flask to pour hot water into a bowl and let our instant noodles sit n cook than use the stove to avoid having to clean up.
The toilet also comes with a twin-bulb heater which was a lifesaver for our clothes!
Hanoi Itinerary
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hanoi Day 1
It was a chill day today, having just reached Hanoi with our backpacks. First things first was to fill up our stomachs before checking in and deciding what to do for the rest of the day! So here’s a gist of how our first day in Hanoi went:
• Lunch at Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
• Chilled at a cafe to get our coffee fix and gamed for awhile
• Walked around the lake area
• Grabbed dinner at Bun Cha Dac Kim before calling it a day
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
This pho was one of the best we’ve had in our life thus far! The bowl comes without any chili, but there’s some on each table so add as much as you like.
We both got the half cooked beef pho, and the beef was not hard or tough to chew. Paired with the broth, it’s one hearty bowl of noodles!
There’s always a queue, but they have a few outlets so check them out if you’re in Hanoi!
Location: 10 P. Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 130,000₫ (S$7.30)
Operating hours: 6am – 10pm daily
Cafe Pho Co
This cafe was hidden inside another shop, and has some chinese restaurant vibes once you see its interior.
You have to order downstairs first before heading up to get a seat. We ordered their iced coconut coffee and hot egg coffee just to try out what egg coffee tastes like.
Location: 11 P. Hàng Gai, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 10000, Vietnam
Cost: 85,000₫ (S$4.80)
Operating hours: 8am – 11pm daily
Bun Cha Dac Kim
Let’s welcome another one of Mr Anthony Bourdain’s amazing recommendations in Vietnam!
We got the Combo: Bun Cha Va Nem Cua Be (Bun cha with 2 pieces of spring rolls)
The spring rolls were really crispy, paired with the grilled meat from the bun cha, it was nothing short of an amazing meal!
His recommendations never disappoint so make sure to do yourself a favour and check it out!
Location: 1 P. Hàng Mành, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 110,000₫ (S$6.20)
Operating hours: 9am – 9pm daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hanoi Day 2
Today is the day we’re heading out to clear all the popular tourist attractions in Hanoi off our list and in the meanwhile, get some souvenirs for our family and friends back home. Sounds boring and typical of a tourist in a foreign country so here’s how our day went:
• Walked to the Hanoi Train street to snap some photos and grab some coffee
• Grabbed some bubble tea and checked off another local dish called Bun bo nam bo at Bun bo nam bo
• Chanced upon the St. Joseph Cathedral, and grabbed some banh mi afterwards at Banh My Mama
• Did some aimless exploration around the city before deciding on a supermarket to visit and do all our shopping
Hanoi Train Street
After the pandemic, the local authorities have been enforcing stricter entry into this popular “train street” due to safety concerns. However, there are still 2 ways to get your insta-worthy train street shot.
Firstly, it’s to visit any one of the cafes on the street, purchase a drink, and quickly snap up some uninterrupted photos without getting onto the tracks. They are pretty strict about this, and the store owners have to bring you into their shops.
Alternatively, you can walk down to another street (since the tracks span quite long), and you’ll end up overhead the railway tracks, with a better view if the train is approaching, with less stress of being chased out by the police (and you can snap your pictures freely)
Location: 3 P. Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Bun bo Nam bo
We definitely did not plan for this lunch stop, but we saw the people buzzing around this shop and thought to give it a try.
Fortunately, the beef noodle salad which they’re known for, is amazing! Definitely not mind blowing, but still a decent dish for a random store we decided to check out.
We also got the herbal chicken stew, but that was just… not our thing… will not recommend but give it a shot if herbal chicken is on your list!
Location: 73-75 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 135,000₫ (S$7.60)
Operating hours: 7am – 9pm daily
St. Joseph Cathedral
Finally, the last attraction of the day which was not on our list but still checked off. We were walking aimlessy when we chanced upon the cathedral so that’s how it went.
There was a popular Banh mi stand at the corner so we went ahead and queued for lunch! Obviously, the Banh mi was great, we were hungry, and chowed it down really quickly, so no photos were taken…
If you’re interested, check out Banh My Mama if you’re already in the area!
Location: 40 P. Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hanoi Day 3
The last day of 2022! Everybody was in the countdown mood today so most of the streets and shops were empty in the morning. Later in the afternoon was when people start hitting the streets, staking out the best countdown locations, choping their seats, etc.
Many people were geared for the late night, and especially in the evening (4.30pm onwards), crowded was just discounting how we felt that day! We could barely move in the packed alleys when we were heading to our dinner location to meet up with some friends for some drinks before the countdown… Everyone was hitting up the bars, and any shops that sold alcohol had almost no seats left by the time we went at around 8pm. Anyways, here’s how our day went:
• Started the day off by visiting the Ho Chi Minh’ Mausoleum ‘s final resting place
• Got some coffee afterwards at the popular Cong Ca Phe (Regardless of the branch, it’s always crowded or full!)
• Did some aimless walking and visiting thrift/ vintage shops and chanced upon this Korean themed cafe and stopped by for some interesting tteokbokki flavours
• More aimless walking before we head into the night market vicinity to grab dinner
• Went to walk off the calories and grab some souvenirs at the night market
• Met up with some friends we met on the trip for some drink before the countdown
• Counted down into 2023 before slowly making our way back to our place
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
Mr Ho Chi Minh’s body has been embalmed and preserved in this final resting place, and can be seen in the mausoleum that was inaugurated in 1975. The mausoleum was modeled after Lenin’s tomb in Moscow, but with a Vietnamese touch by changing the architectural elements involved in the build.
Of course, if you’re planning to visit, make sure that you’re appropriately dressed (e.g., no crop tops, flip flops, etc.)
Location: Hùng Vương, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: Free!
Operating hours: 7am – 5pm daily
Cong Ca Phe
One of the most popular hang out coffee spots in Vietnam amongst both locals and tourists alike! Everytime we pass by a branch, it’s always either crowded, or full!
It took us almost the whole trip before we got our hands on some drinks from this cafe! They’re known for the coconut coffee so of course, we had to get one.
Here’s what we ordered:
1. Iced coconut coffee – 49,000₫
2. Signature Mountain Milk Tea with Jelly – 59,000₫
Location: Multiple locations country-wide
Cost: 108,000₫ (S$6.00)
Operating hours: 7.30am – 11.30pm daily
Pogeun
We were heading towards another thrift shop in mind when we chanced upon this cafe serving Korean fusion food.
The cafe looked really aesthetic so we decided to head in for brunch! The food was great although the wait time was slightly long.
Here’s what we ordered:
1. Burrata Rose Tteokbokki – 140,000₫
2. Truffle Carbonara Tteokbokki – 85,000₫
Location: 16A2 P. Lý Nam Đế, Quán Thánh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 225,000₫ (S$12.60)
Operating hours: 10am – 10pm daily
Hotpot Dinner at Lau Mung 93
Well… it’s new years eve so its expected to be crowded and packed everywhere. But we felt like eating hotpot and didn’t make any reservations…
We checked out a few stores and they were all fully booked until they closed. Hence, we settled with some street side hotpot! We got to eat to our hearts content at half the price!
Location: 93 P. Hàng Buồm, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 330,000₫ (S$18.50)
2023 New Year Countdown
Having seen the Countdowns from various countries online and the ones back home, the one in Hanoi sure was underwhelming…
Crowds of people filled the square, and it was so packed that you couldn’t even move! But all that we got was a 10 min drone show with just 5 images! Of which, a good 5 minute of the drone show was to publicise the sponsor.
After the sponsor and city logo was shown, the countdown started from 10 seconds till the new year.
We were expecting a firework show after the countdown, but all we saw was one small spurt… and that’s all…
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hanoi Day 4
Our second last day in Vietnam was a really chill one. We slept in, caught up on some episodes of One Piece while deciding where to go, before heading out for the day. Today was just more aimless walking, visiting thrift shops, getting coffee, and taking in the last few sights that Hanoi has to offer…
Goc Cafe
A local coffee shop that sells authentic Vietnamese Coffee and roasted coffee beans. The coffee was great, but the ambience was terrible.
People were smoking away and the whole place just smelled like coffee and smoke… The only place that didn’t smell bad was the toilet
Location: 2 Đ. Yên Phụ, Yên Phụ, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Cost: 59,000₫ (S$3.30)
Operating hours: 7am – 11.30pm daily
Vietnam Travel Guide: Hanoi Day 5
Today marks the last day of our short adventure in Vietnam. 🥲 But we know we’ll definitely be back to explore the other parts of Vietnam that we’ve yet to see! We had an early flight to catch so we checked out early and headed to the airport first thing in the morning.
Let’s introduce the worst part of our trup in this Vietnam Travel Guide…
Unfortunately, there was barely any food available at the airport and all food prices were in USD… These 2 Banh Mis that we got set us back almost S$30!!!
Please remember to grab a meal before heading to the airport or takeaway to eat at the airport… It’s overpriced here and not even nice!
Cost breakdown for Hanoi
| Expense | Cost (SGD) | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport: 1. Sleeper bus from Sa Pa to Hanoi 2. Public bus throughout Hanoi 3. Flight back to SG | S$258.80 | 4,548,895₫ |
| Food & Water | S$143.95 | 2,530,191₫ |
| Shopping + Misc. | S$50.85 | 893,784₫ |
| Accommodation (2 pax, 4 nights) | S$109.00 | 1,957,658₫ |
| Total | S$562.60 | 9,888,749₫ |
Closing Notes for our Vietnam Travel Guide
TL; DR for our Vietnam Travel Guide, in short, over the past 17 days, we’ve had a ton of fun, great food, coffee, and adventures! Our favorite town/city in Vietnam thus far is Hoi An! It has amazing food, great people, and lots of sights to take in while enjoying the slower pace of life there. And if you’re curious about whether we burst our budget, the answer is NO!
In fact, we spent about S$930/pax, which is still within our S$1,000/pax budget. If you’re interested in a more detailed itinerary for each city in our Vietnam Travel Guide and what to look out for, feel free to drop a comment below.
We’ll be heading to Bangkok soon, so stay tuned for a Bangkok travel guide! It’s been a few years since we’ve been back so we’re pretty pumped and excited for it.
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