Vietnam forum

Save time by flying to Phu Quoc, cheap and convenient.

I agree with antoniamitchell but didn't say anything as I'd mixed up reading your post with another Vietnam itinerary post where they had experience already traveling in Vietnam. You've got 28 days and want to see all the highlights, which is admirable, but you may want to cut something out in order to take a more relaxed time and leave some room to juggle days here and there.

Most would probably recommend you either cut out the caves or the highlands as you could then fly Hanoi to Hue (quite affordable). Though, I do like the experience of catching the train downtown Hanoi and getting off the next morning in Hue, there wasn't that much to see on the ride, but it saves a night at a hotel. I highly recommend the train (2 hrs?) between Hue and DaNang, but most likely you'll skip Da Nang and focus on Hoian. Station yourself there and you could spend a few days exploring the entire area, even Monkey & Marble Mts up by DaNang and the beaches around both DaNang and Hoian.

If you skipped the Central Highlands it would give the the opportunity to spend more time in HCMC and travel overland to Phu Quoc which could be enjoyable with the ferry trip and all. I'd defiantly book a flight back to HCMC though, no need to go over the same ground again. You don't necessarily have to skip all the Central Highlands though, there are flights from Da Nang to Dalat and that could save a day or two.

It also depends on what time of year you're traveling. Certain areas might be less pleasant and hospitable than others. There is also that allure of going the whole way without flights, but then you'd certainly want to cut out Caves and just do a stop over in Dalat before heading into the Delta. Also - you seem to have a lot of time on your itinerary for natural beauty and very little time for cities (HCMC for instance) so my advice to skip the caves should certainly fall on deaf ears if you want that sort of thing. I just know that myself, I like to take a rest for a few nights in one spot at least every couple of days, if just so I can soak a place in and unpack my bag, let my laundry dry properly and the sort.

Posted from within Vietnam.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Vietnam is easy to travel around. I’m atour operator and I have some experiences in Vietnam traveling, my suggestion below:
Day 1 - Arrive in Hanoi .
Day 2 - Hanoi city tour. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 3 - Hanoi - Halong Bay cruise
Day 4 - Ha long
Day 5 - Halong - Hanoi - night train to Lao cai. Overnight on train
Day 6 - Laocai arrival - bus trip to Sapa . Overnight in Sapa
Day 7 - Sapa
Day 8 - Sapa
Day 9 - Sapa - bus trip back Laocai - night train Laocai back Hanoi. Overnighton train
Day 10 - Hanoi - Tam Coc Ninh Binh . Overnight in Ninh Binh
Day 11 - Ninh Binh - Thien Duong Cave. Overnight in Quang Binh Province
Day 12 - Phong Nha Cave - Depart for Hue (Mondial Hue Hotel is a good choice)
Day 13 - Hue (Mondial Hue Hotel)
Day 14 - Hue - Hoian
Day 15 - Hoian
Day 16 - Hoian - Danang. Overnight in Danang
Day 17 - Danang - Dalat. Overnight in Dalat
Day 18 - Dalat
Day 19 - Dalat - Hochiminh City
Day 20 - Hochiminh (Cuchi tunnel, city tour...)
Day 21 - Mekong Delta 2 days 1 night would be interesting
Day 22 - Mekong Delta (Chau Doc - Can tho)
Day 23 - Mekong Delta - Hochiminh City. Overnight in HCMC
Day 24 - HCMC - Phuquoc Island
Day 25 - Phuquoc
Day 26 - Phuquoc
Day 27 - Phu Quoc - HCMC
Day 28 - HCMC - leave back Australia
I hope this itinerary can maximizeplaces you visit and minimize your time and your money. Have night trip to you.Remember to bring raincoat, umbrella and warm coats when you're traveling because it's cold and rainy in November in Central and North Vietnam.