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Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: 3 weeks overland solo
Vietnam21 days$
David T.
Mar 2025
Three weeks felt right for the classic north-to-south route: Hanoi, Ha Long, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, then Ho Chi Minh City.
Sleeper trains and buses are cheap and a great way to meet other travelers — I rarely ate dinner alone. Hoi An was the surprise highlight; I stayed two extra days just for the tailors and the lantern-lit old town.
A bowl of phở for under two dollars never got old.
Where I stayed
Backpacker hostels the whole way. Hoi An has some of the best-value private rooms I found anywhere in SE Asia.
Safety notes
Traffic is the main hazard — cross the road slowly and predictably and the scooters flow around you. Watch for taxi-meter scams at airports; use Grab.
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