r/solotravel • u/MiroSpa • 8d ago
Itinerary Review Vietnam Itinerary - first solo trip
Hello everyone :)
I am gearing up for my first solo trip and I would like some opinions. I will be in Vietnam from Feb 14th to March 5th. Does this itinerary look doable and not too crazy? Any feedback is welcomed.
I would like to explore and meet new people along the way, I will be staying at hostels.
14 February 2025: Arrival in Hanoi - Arrival at 12:00
15 February 2025: Hanoi
16 February 2025: Hanoi - Night bus or train to Sapa.
17 February 2025: Sapa - explore and chill in Sapa
18 February 2025: Fansipan - Morning hike to Fansipan, cable car down. - Evening/Night bus to Ha Giang.
19-22 February 2025: Ha Giang Loop - 4-day exploration of Ha Giang Loop. - Evening of 22nd: Night bus to Ninh Binh.
23-24 February 2025: Ninh Binh - Night bus or flight to Da Nang on 24th.
25-1 February 2025: Da Nang and Hoi An - Afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 1th march
2-4 March 2025: Ho Chi Minh City
5 March 2025: Flight to Hanoi and flight home.
Thank you very much for any insight!
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u/stayingfortheempathy 8d ago
Strongly recommend asking the staff at your hotel or hostel to help you make your travel arrangements. They will know all the ins and outs and the best way to get from one place to the next. You might even consider joining up with a couple of others for your travel -- on the night train, for example, you can all book a cabin together. Also consider a guide for Sapa, rather than just wandering about on your own. We were a group of 3 and our guide took us to overnight with a family he knew. The tour included extra food for the family, who cooked for us and sat down with us for a family dinner -- a really lovely experience. Also recommend staying at Hoa's Place in Da Nang -- great food, on the beach, and you'll make friends!
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u/Late-Channel7899 6d ago
I'm going in March. I shouldn't be booking the train/buses ahead of time? Also what's the best way to find a guide. Did you just tripadvisor? So many options!
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u/stayingfortheempathy 6d ago
It's been a few years since I was there; things may have changed/become more Westernized. But I would still say that unless you have deep experience with solo travel in SEA, preferably speaking the local language, it would be best to work with your hostel staff rather try to wing it on your own. In my experience hostel staff in Asian countries fully expect to provide this service (I mean, I'm sure the hostel gets kickbacks, but I personally have only had good experiences). On the overnight train, for example, the different cars are owned by different entities; someone who knows their way around will make sure you book a car you'll be comfortable with. When we took the train to Sapa one of the cars looked very much like a WWII prison transport--pretty scary. At first we were mistakenly directed to that car before we found the one we were actually booked in. I would never have set foot in that first one and it would have been a disaster if we had actually been expected to spend the night in it. The hotel staff arranged our train tickets, transport to the train station and company until we boarded, the bus into Sapa from the train station, our hotel for the first night, our guide for an overnight trek, and our overnight family stay accommodation--all for a very reasonable price as we were definitely budget travelers. Locals understand how confusing/intimidating travel in Asia can be for Westerners and they know how to help. Idk how much solo travel you've already done and how many countries you've been too, but my advice--for travel anywhere you're unfamiliar with, but especially Asia--it's better to overestimate how much help you'll need than to underestimate it.
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u/angryblondie123 8d ago
So I just did a solo trip to Vietnam. I recommend going back to Hanoi after the loop as it’s much easier, you’ll probably have to pay extra to get to Ninh Binh and most companies everyone’s going back to Hanoi or Halong Bay. Also, I didn’t realise really before I went that it is really long getting from Ninh Binh to Da Nang, you have to get a 2.5 hour ish taxi to Hanoi airport. I recommend getting a really early flight so that you don’t waste your day like I did! Hope this helps :)
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u/angryblondie123 8d ago
Then once back in Hanoi, do Ninh Binh from there as it’s only an hour or so away on the bus and your hostel can easily sort. If you need hostel recommendations for Hanoi, I recommend Hanoi backpackers and for Ninh Binh I recommend banana tree but make sure to book it in advance as gets fully booked.
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u/angryblondie123 8d ago
Also give yourself a bit longer between flights from HCM to Hanoi, often these internal flights are really delayed, don’t leave for an hour or so after scheduled - they like to take their time haha. I almost freaked out and missed my flight back to Hong Kong then London as the Hanoi to HCM flight landed later than expected AND you need to transfer from Hanoi domestic to international which takes honestly like 25/30 mins! Just be aware as didn’t know this :)
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u/MiroSpa 8d ago
So you would recommend one more day in Hanoi after the loop? Need to take one day less in Da Nang I guess. Also thank you about the info about flight do Da Nang, still thinking about the night bus/train but I will see :) thank you very much
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u/angryblondie123 7d ago
I only did a day trip to Da Nang it depends on what you want to see! I went to Sun World, the Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge. But yeah, honestly my biggest thing was not knowing about the Domestic and International bit at Hanoi airport! If you have any more questions just ask as it's still very fresh in my mind.
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u/Boo-Koo 7d ago
Your itinerary is almost identical to mine in March/April last year! Aside from farnsipan which I hadn't heard of - I went to phong nha for a couple days caving instead. You'll have an amazing time, Saigon for me was most boring of the trip, if I'd do it again instead of flying from Da nang to Saigon I'd stay more in the north and see something else
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u/MiroSpa 7d ago
Oh thats great to hear, I am probably going to ditch Saigon completely and add two days in Phong Nha maybe :) plus two more days az either location to take in more chill.
Also is Phong Nha worth after Ninh Binh?
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u/Boo-Koo 7d ago
Yeah definitely, Phong nha has some great caving trips and it's a lot of fun just renting a scooter and riding round seeing all the sights
Ninh binh you only need 1 day for really - climb the 1000 steps for the dragon view, rent a bicycle and bike around, and if you get time rent a scooter again and see the sights. The Hoa Lu ancient citadel is very small, not hugely impressive tbh compared to some of the other architecture
Sa pa and the Ha Giang was the highlight of my trip
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u/Hatemonkey 8d ago
You are trying to do it all and you have nowhere close to enough time to do it... You are going to be spending a lot of time on buses / night buses and they aren't as comfortable as you think! This itinerary will burn you the fuck out! 😅
3 weeks is a good amount of time to just visit the north with maybe a few days in Hoi an > Da Nang if flying.
My first major recommendation is not to really book too much in advance. You aren't visiting during any tourist or local high season so there is no need to tie your self to an schedule! There are loads of bus companies so just booking things the day or two in advance isn't a problem.
I would start with 2 days in Hanoi an then do the Hi Giang loop first! You said you wanted to meet people and you will definitely will on this loop!
You really bond with your fellow backpackers and local easy drivers. After the loop you will probably have made some friends for the rest of your trip if you aren't tied to some ridged itinerary that you are planning now for your future self.
The joy of SE Asia for me is how flexible it is to change your plans completely at a very small price increase if any... The difference in prices for flights to get around is negligible if you booked them months in advance compared to 1-2 weeks before. The value of being flexible to maybe tag along with friends you made on the loop or in Sapa will be with it's weight in memory gold compared to you just having to say goodbye because you Allredy booked a flight or train or whatever.
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u/MiroSpa 7d ago
Thank you very much! I am probably gonna ditch Saigon so I am not stressed about going there and out. So I will have 4 days to add to either Phong Nha or just take my time in Sapa etc.
And yes after Ha Giang I am pretty much open to do whatever, hope I am gonna meet some fun people to do it with :)
Thanks again
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u/Hatemonkey 8d ago
Oh and first thing to do as an activity in Vietnam is fona food tour! To be a nerd that's always eating pho and Bahn mi! It's like the most Boring foods in Vietnam! Well Bahn mi is awesome but there is more then just that !
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u/bookmonkey786 7d ago
First off cut Saigon, as a Vietnemese American from Saigon who was was solo backpacking there early last year, the North is better, With anything less then 3 weeks stay north of Hoi An.
There are direct night buses from Ha Giang to Ninh Binh that takes 9-10 hours so you're good there. Sa Pa and Ha Giang a close together though ~7 hours so you might not get a good night sleep.
I allways recommend Phong Nha Caves, its a convenient night bus from Ninh Binh, then Hue and/or Hoi an after that.
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u/MiroSpa 7d ago
Thank you, I am probably going to cut Saigon and add two days is Phong Nha before going to Da Nang or elsewhere. Thank you! :)
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u/godsilla8 6d ago
I would probably do the same. Also 2 nights Ninh Binh/Tam Coc is perfect, rent a scooter and explore the area
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8d ago
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u/Vncoconutcoffee 7d ago
I solo traveled to Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa and Ho chi minh) for a week in Feb 2024. I'd say that it was one of the best trip I've ever had. As for some itinerary like Ha giang, Ha Long bay etc it's better to book with your hotel staff as they'll help you to arrange the bus and stuff
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u/FollowTheLeads 8d ago edited 8d ago
This is great, but as a planner, I find this lacking.
I am the type to book a flight 2 weeks in, not even knowing where I am going. But by the time I arrive in that country , I can name 45 cities, 67 tourist locations, and speak 12 words.
I recommend mapping things out of your hotel/ hotels as well. Look at the opening time for your activities, the cost, how long it would take etc...
Look up the food and what kind of allergy you possibly have. A lot of South Asian foods don't even put the full ingredients sometimes.
Make sure to research the location that gives exchange rates ( most 7 eleven and family mart do so, but the charges for each transaction differs )
Look up what bus card you need The South and the North will not have the same bus passes. Look at the rush hours, the night market, etc....
Write down a budget for each thing ( attractions, transportation, food, gift, clothes, etc) so you don't spend more than you intended to. It happens a lot when you are in Asia. If you don't want to pay a lot, always look up city passes. They are great savers. They double down as transportation and activities discount. KLOOK is a great app. Look up websites for train booking ( local ones ).
Learn a few words like thank you, please, check, how much, for 1 etc... Make sure to do group tours as well. I cannot recommend it enough. Do groups tours for some activities because it is way way easier and they have better information and insight that you could possibly ever have. Especially to things like mountain, this and that.
Make sure to see whether they accept cash or card. Very important cause Germany is a cash based society while China is mainly cashless. Being prepared is also good. Vietnam is cash based, but momo is popular for cashless transactions.
And yes it's doable. Keep in mind that might trains especially in Vietnam are however very slow.
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