Vietnam forum

G’day all.

I’m heading off on a one month trip in Vietnam, going South to North.
I am traveling alone, and am planning on doing things cheaply.
Here is what i have tentatively planned so far, and would really like to hear any and all comments from fellow travelers.

Here’s what i’ve got:

Nov 29th Fly into HCMC

30th HCMC

Dec 1st - HCMC

2nd HCMC - Cat Tien National Park

3rd Cat Tien

4th Cat Tien – Dalat

5th Dalat

6th Around Dalat

7th Dalat to Buon Ma Thout – (then further on the Pleiku if possible)

8th Buon Ma Thout or Pleiku to Kon Tum

9th Kon Tum

10th Kon Tum to Pleiku, fly to Danang, then car trip to Hoi An

11th Hoi An

12th Hoi an (day trip to My Son)

13th Hoi An

14th Hoi An train to Hue

15th Hue

16th Hue (Day trip to DMZ) and hopefully then continue straight on to Dong Hoi, if not back to Hue

17th Hue or Dong Hoi – train to Ninh Binh

18th Ninh Binh

19th Nihn Binh to Hanoi (meet girlfriend)

20th Hanoi

21st Hanoi

22nd Hanoi

23rd Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (stay overnight on boat)

24th Halong Bay – Cat Ba Island (night on island)

25th Cat Ba Island (day in national park)

26th Cat Ba Island – Hai Phong (morning speed boat) spend night in Hai Phong

27th Hai Phong – Hanoi (Must be in Hanoi for girlfriends flight out at 6.00PM). Catch night train to Sapa.

28th Arive in Sapa

29th Sapa

30th Sapa – Moung Lay

31st Moung Lay – Diem Bien Phu

1st Jan Cross over Tay Trang Boarder into Laos


So what do you think? Am i trying to squeeze too much in?

Am i staying in some places for too long? Other places for not long enough?

Are there some good places that i’m missing out on completely?
Any other comments?

I don’t have any commitments to be anywhere at any particular times, with the exception of being in Hanoi on the 19th and the 27th to meet and then farewell my girlfriend.

Many thanks,
Pat