Three weeks in Vietnam - Everything you need to know

After three trips, all of varying length, I want to share what I would choose as an itinerary if I only planned one trip and only had normal vacation days. I choose three weeks, because everything else is far too rushed for a country as long and diverse as Vietnam.

Of course there is always more to see! Sapa, Ha Ging, Phong Na, Mui Ne, Da Lat and Can Tho are all great destinations within Vietnam as well, but when you only have a certain amount of time you can’t go everywhere.

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Three weeks in Vietnam – Overview

Here is an overview of everything in this post, for convenience everything is linked to the part of the page where you can find it.

Three Weeks in Vietnam – The perfect itinerary

Where?	How long?
Stopover Dubai	1 Night
Hanoi	3 Days / 3 Nights
Ha Long	2 Days / 1 Night
Ninh Binh	2 Days / 2 Nights
Ninh Binh to Hue	1 Night
Hue	3 Days / 3 Nights
Hue to Da Nang via Hai Van Pass	1 Day
Da Nang	2 Days / 2 Nights
Hoi An	4 Days / 5 Nights
Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days / 2 Nights
Stopover Singapore	One Night (-1 day back home)

Try to find a one way flight with a stopover in Dubai (when flying from Europe), it is about half way to Hanoi and a long stopover is ideal to explore the city. For the way back, the perfect flight route will lead over Singapore, with a long stopover again to make the most of your trip. From Europe and America you will loose two days to transportation anyway, might as well make it count.

!! Remember that you need to show your ticket for the flight back to get through customs in some of the countries mentioned in this itinerary. !!

Stopover Dubai

During a stopover in Dubai over 8 hours you are allowed to leave the airport. While in Dubai it is implicit to visit the highest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall below. Some beaches are connected to Hotels, but most beaches are public and have changing rooms and showers you can use, which is ideal to spend a few hours relaxing during a travel day.

If you don’t want to carry your luggage all day you can store it at Radicalstorage* on the way from the airport into the city for about 6,50€ per day.

Read more on a stopover in Dubai: 21-hour-long stopover in Dubai

Hanoi

As Vietnam’s capital Hanoi has a lot to offer, from delectable food and a great coffee culture, a fascinating history and interesting architecture, there is something for everyone. Only the traffic is hard to manage, but you will get used to it. The Old Quarter* is the best district to stay in, in Hanoi, since it is walkable, most sights and attractions are there, as well as great food and delicious coffee.

Must see places in Hanoi:

Temple of Literature – first university in the country from 1070
Vietnamese Women’s Museum
Maison Centrale / Hoa Lo Prison
Ancient house – in the style of a Hanoian house from the 19th century
Thang Long Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the former imperial city of northern Vietnam
Bunker D67⁠ – military headquarters of the People’s Army of Vietnam during the war between 1954 and 1975
Vietnamese Military History Museum⁠, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City have big military history museums, its interesting to see the differences in how the war is shown in either museum
Trấn Quốc Pagoda – the oldest Buddhist Temple in Hanoi
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Indigo Store Hanoi – shop traditionally indigo dyed clothes and accessories
Daos Care – get a herbal bath from the traditional recipe of the Dao people or a massage by a blind masseuse (they will find every little knot in your body)

Free things to do in Hanoi:

Explore the maze like roads and ancient charm of the bustling Old Quarter
Gardens around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum⁠
Hoàn Kiếm Lake, with the jade temple and red bridge⁠
Train Street
St. Joseph’s Cathedral – the oldest church in the city⁠
Long Biên Bridge – an old railroad bridge⁠

Must try foods in Hanoi:

Xôi xéo – sticky rice with shaved mung bean, liquid chicken fat, crunchy fried onions and pork floss. The perfect breakfast!
Phở – Vietnam’s de facto national dish. A delicious soup consisting of savoury broth, rice noodles, herbs, and beef strips
Bánh Rán – stuffed Vietnamese sticky rice doughnuts
Bánh mì – crispy Baguette bun with different fillings
Bún chả – Grilled pork belly, rice vermicelli, pickled carrot and papaya, dipping sauce or broth, served with greens, herbs, garlic and chilli

Drinks and Cafés in Hanoi:

Vietnamese Coffee – traditional black coffee made in a Phin dripping pot at LE BERET (also try their London Fog tea and rose milk tea!)
Egg Coffee – black coffee on foamy, sugared egg yolks at Cafe Phố Cổ
Egg beer – the same egg mix, topped with a Saigon Special at Cafe Giảng
Coconut Coffee – coconut slush ice with Vietnamese coffee on top at Cộng Cà Phê locations

The perfect day in Hanoi: Begin your day in Hanoi at sunrise with Xôi xéo from a street vendor in Hanoi, watch the commotion around Hoan Kiem lake while sipping on an egg coffee, before strolling through the Old Quarter from Hoa Lu Prison to the Train Street, to the Temple of Literature, to the Vietnamese Women Museum. In between have a Phở for lunch and finish your day with a Bánh mì Ha Noi (or two) and visit the evening show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

Read more on Hanoi: A perfect trip to Hanoi

Hanoi to Ha Long

Ha Long Bay; the Bay of the Descending Dragon, a UNESCO world heritage site, internationally well known from National Geographic. The over 2000 limestone mountains and green islands in the turquoise and emerald water are breathtaking, more so in person than in pictures.

To really enjoy the bay I recommend a two day / one night cruise. And maybe also don’t go to Ha Long Bay, but rather Bai Tu Long Bay, north of Ha Long Bay. It is less crowded, less tourists, but equally as beautiful and more tranquil.

Read more on Ha Long: Ha Long Bay Daytour – Is it worth it?

Ha Long to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh really is a hidden gem of Vietnam. With Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of northern Vietnam, the Buddhist Bai Dinh Pagoda and Tam Cốc (sometimes called “dry Ha Long Bay“), the vastness of the lush green fields, surrounded by limestone mountains and without a soul nearby, it feels very peaceful. This is the least crowded place you will find in this itinerary for three weeks in Vietnam and it is refreshing to take a breather and imagine what life was like when this province was the heart of the country.

To really appreciate the natural beauty of Ninh Binh, take a sampan ride from Di sản Tràng An and visit the viewpoint Đầm sen Hang múa.

Read more on Ninh Binh: Hidden Gem – Ninh Binh Province Vietnam

Ninh Binh to Hue by train or night bus

From Ninh Binh you can catch a night sleeping bus, or book a bunk on a train over night to get to Hue. This is an experience in and of itself, not like a travel day, but its own adventure.

Huế

As the former capital of south Vietnam during the reign of the Nguyễn dynasty, Huế has a lot to offer in terms of historically important places. But whenever I heard someone in Vietnam talk about Hue – the city of emperors, they were always raving about the food.

Must see places in Huế:

Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities in the former Long An Palace
Imperial City Huê inside Hue Citadel, with the impressive Meridian Gate at the entrance. Visit it at night, too!
Thiên Mụ Pagoda with the 7 storey Phuoc Duyen Tower
Thomb of Gia Long – the last resting place of the Nguyen dynasties first emperor
- You can take a dragon boat down the perfume river to get to the Pagoda and then to the Thomb!
Tomb of Tự Đức / Khiêm Mausoleum – a huge, lush complex that was so much more than a thomb
Tomb of Khải Định / Ứng Mausoleum – the most different thomb, because of French influence
An Dinh Palace

Must try foods and drinks in Hue:

Bánh bèo – Steamed rice-tapioca-cakes topped with dried shrimps, crispy pork skin, scallion oil and chili
Bún bò Huế – Beef Noodle Soup with Blood Pudding and Shrimp-Ricecake
Chè – “Sweet Soup” with choosable ingredients (like red bean, lotus, mung bean, coconut, etc.)
Bánh Canh Nam Phổ – a thick, almost gelatinous broth from shrimp and pork, with chewy almost see-through noodles
Nem Lụi Huế – Pork skewers with the minced meat wrapped around lemon grass
Bún thịt nướng – Rice Noodles with grilled pork and peanut sauce
Cà Phê Muối – Salt coffee (careful, it’s addicting ^^)

hue-museum-of-royal-antiquities-long-an-palace

The perfect day in Hue: A hot, steaming bowl of Bún bò Huế is the perfect breakfast for an eventful day. Followed by a Cà Phê Muối (salt coffee) and a visit to the Imperial City Huê inside Hue Citadel. The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is a quick, but must see stop before a lunch of Bánh bèo, where you can eat as many of the small bowls as you like. For the afternoon you can either visit the Tombs of Tự Đức and Khải Định via motorbike, or the Tomb of Gia Long and Thiên Mụ Pagoda via dragonboat. For dinner a bowl of Bánh Canh Nam Phổ and for desert, while taking a walk along the illuminated Perfume River, a glass of Chè.

Read more on Hue: Hue – City of emperors. Food capital of Vietnam?

Hue to Da Nang by Motorbike via the Hai Van Pass

While there are several ways to get from Da Nang to Hue (the Highway with a tunnel through the mountains, the train again, which takes you along the coast with amazing views) I recommend driving across the Hai Van Pass on a Motorbike. I opted to take a motorbike tour with an experienced driver, as I am not one. The views are spectacular, the food on the way is delicious and when you are driving with a local you get to see places you couldn’t find on your own.

Read more on the Hai Van Pass: Da Nang to Hue via Hai Van Pass

Da Nang

Da Nang is the biggest city in Central Vietnam and one of the most modern cities in the country, with a high human development index and has been voted Vietnams most livable city. Since it mixes traditional food and architecture with modern technology and education I was excited to visit.

Must see places in Da Nang:

Dragon Bridge – the iconic bridge crosses the Hàn River and breathes fire every Saturday and Sunday night at 9 PM
Da Nang Fine Arts Museum – Huge collection of art, both pictures and crafted items
Da Nang Fresco Village – Graffiti filled streets
Đà Nẵng Museum – Mix of modern and old-timey museum exhibits about the history of the city from thousands of years ago to today
Marble Mountains – Five mountains at the edge of the city, with caves and pagodas you can visit. From the top you also have a great view over the city
My Khe Beach – Voted to be one of the Top 10 beaches worldwide (please don’t ask me by who, I don’t remember)

Must try foods and drinks in Da Nang:

Bánh Khọt – tiny savoury pancakes wit shrimp
Bò Lá Lốt– minced meat, wrapped in betel leaves and grilled
Bánh mì at Bánh mì Cô Tiên, just as the cuisine changes throughout the country, the standart Banh Mi in Da Nang is very different from Hanoi or Saigon
Bánh Xèo – crispy, savoury Vietnamese pancake with shrimp and pork, dipped in peanut sauce, at Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng
Bánh Nâm, Banh bôt loc and Bánh ram it at Tâm (at 291 Nguyễn Chí Thanh)

Great drinks in Da Nang:

Cafeholic – Loved the coffees, teas and pastries here
ARROW Coffee and Foods – Try their lemon lemonade
Cá Nóc Café – wonderful place to meet locals and have good and affordable drinks
Goc Nha Tui Minh Teahouse – A traditional teahouse with an amazing selection of tea

The perfect day in Da Nang: Start your day with a Bánh mì while walking along the Han River towards the dragon bridge. Grab an iced Vietnamese coffee to go and walk through the colourful alleys of the Da Nang Fresco Village. Visit the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum and admire the artwork, before stopping at Tâm to try Bánh Nâm, Banh bôt loc and Bánh ram it. After lunch explore the caves and pagodas of the Marble Mountains. End your day with Bánh Xèo at Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng, then watch the sunset at My Khe Beach.

Read more on Da Nang: The two sides of Da Nang – Where to go

Hoi An

Hoi An is one of the first cities you will see when you are looking for a destination in Vietnam. The yellow houses, the colourful lanterns and it’s location near the ocean make it a very popular travel destination. Due to gaining international attention in recent years Hoi An has already changed a lot and is continuing to change with the increasing influx of tourists. Some of these changes are positive, some negative, but it remains to be seen if tourism will be more of a blessing or a curse for this historic town.

Must see places in Hoi An:

Hoi An Ancient Town – you can enter the ancient town for free, but you have to buy a ticket to get admission the sights. One ticket is good for five admissions, I recommend these:
- Fujian Assembly Hall / Hoi Quan Phuoc Kien
- Tan Ky Ancient House
- Japanese Bridge / Chùa Cầu
- Cantonese Assembly Hall / Quang Trieu Pagoda
- Museum of Folk Culture
Precious Heritage Museum – portraits, costumes and traditional garb of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam
My Son Sanctuary – originally a Cham temple site, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 40km from Hoi An
An Bang Beach

Must try foods and drinks in Hoi An:

Cao lầu – Cao Lầu noodles, chewy and crunchy, barbecue pork, greens
Bánh xèo – Crispy rice flour pancake with shrimp and pork
Bánh mì – Vietnamese sandwich with filling of your choice
Mì Quảng – Rice noodles in a strong broth with chicken, crispy rice cracker and greens
Cơm Gà – Chicken rice
Mango Cake – Chewy sticky rice cake (similar to Mochi) filled with candied peanuts
Seafood – Clams, mussels, fish and other seafood dishes, directly on the beach

Cafés and drinks in Hoi An:

Mót – herbal tea with lime, lemongrass, jasmine, lotus leaf, ginger and more
Salted roasted Oolong at 92 Station Café – with an amazing view over the rooftops of Hoi An
The Espresso Station – try their coffees, but also the butterfly-pea-tea
Reaching out Teahouse – take a break from the noise and crowds and enjoy some calming tea
Brown Sugar Boba Milk, Iced Matcha Latte or Vietnamese Coffees at 1989 Cafe

Experiences in Hoi An:

Hidden Hoi An Tour at 4:30 AM – To see what people usually don’t see you have to get up at a time most people aren’t awake yet.
Coffee Workshop – Learn how to make different coffee specialties
Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River
Bamboo Workshop – Make your own bamboo lamp, glasses case, box, tankard, etc.
Basketboat Tour & Cooking Class
Lantern Workshop – Make your own Hoi An Lantern
Leather Workshop – Make your own leather wallet, handbag, etc.
Getting clothes tailored – It’s fast, affordable and high quality (Go in on your first day. While it is fast, you still want to give enough time to allow for adjustments!)

The perfect day in Hoi An: A bowl of Mì Quảng, followed by a coffee at The Espresso Station is the perfect start to a day. Buy a ticket to the ancient town and visit five of the sights (the ones I recommend are listed above) to immerse yourself in Hoi An history and culture. Grab a Mót tea in between. For lunch you can try more than one Bánh mì at more and less famous places. In the afternoon opt for a workshop, tour or cooking class. For dinner try the famous Cao lầu and end your day with a Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River.

Read more on Hoi An: Hoi An – Vietnams most charming city?

Da Nang to Saigon by plane

Of course you can take a night bus or the train again to get from Da Nang to Saigon, but that will take you over 12 hours and there are cheap local flights for less than 25€.

Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has won several awards over the last years, the last ones in 2023, as one of the top travel destinations in Asia in general and Vietnam in particular. Ho Chi Minh City, previously called Saigon or Sài Gòn, had a name change after the end of the US-Vietnam war in 1976. With Saigon having been the seat of the south Vietnamese government the US influence is very obvious here and the city is very different to other big cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Da Nang.

Must see places in HCMC:

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in the former Gia Long Palace
History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
Independence Palace – the site has seen French occupation (twice), Japanese occupation, the “Republic of Vietnam”, a coup d’état and not one but two wars that were decided right on its doorstep
War Remnants Museum – permanent and temporary exhibitions range from the First Indochina War, up until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975
Tan Dinh Church – the pink church
Củ Chi Tunnels – built during the French occupation and later enlarged and used more extensively during the Vietnam war

Free things to do in HCMC:

Ten Thousand Buddha Temple
Cafe Apartments – built in the mid-1960s as an apartment block, today it’s filled with many small cafes and shops
Saigon Central Post Office – A remainder of the French colonial period of southern Vietnam / Indochina
Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ – this cafés basement was used as a hideout and shelter for the Viet Cong operating within South Vietnam’s capital during the war
Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment blocks – built in the late 1800s, during French occupation

Must eat food in HCMC:

Bò Né – beef, sausage, pate and an egg, served on a sizzling hot cast iron pan, served with banh mi bread, veggies and greens
Bún thịt nướng, rice vermicelli, spring rolls, sliced veggies, peanut sauce, pig skin crackers
Sticky rice with different toppings
Chuối Nếp Nướng – banana, wrapped in sticky rice, grilled, then topped with coconut sauce and sweet sesame
Bánh Mì – this time the south Vietnamese versions
Bò Lá Lốt – minced beef, wrapped in Betel leaves and grilled

Drinks and Cafés in HCMC:

Sugarcane juice – with ice and kumquats
Lemon ice tea at a cafe with immaculate vibes at S’mores Saigon
Salt Coffee and Golden Boba Crepe Cake at Cheese Coffee – 15 Pasteur

oldest-apartment-blocks-ho-chi-minh-city

The perfect day in Ho Chi Minh City: Begin your day in Ho Chi Minh City in the early morning with Bò Né, then visit the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple close by, before heading to Saigon Central Post Office right as it opens to avoid the crowds, afterwards have a coffee at Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ and see the hidden basement. After a lunch of Chuối Nếp Nướng, visit the Independence Palace to explore south Vietnamese history. While unpacking all of that in the late afternoon you can stroll along Nguyễn Huệ street to see (and have coffee at) the Cafe Apartments. End your day with a visit to the Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment bloc and eat Bò Lá Lốt.

Read more on Saigon: Ho Chi Minh City – Top travel destination in Asia

!! If possible fly back home with a stopover in Singapore to explore Jewel Airport. !!

Stopover Singapore

The Jewel at Changi Airport in Singapore is worth a visit alone, even if you don’t have enough time to see the city itself. However, to enter the Jewel you still have to go through customs, which is only possible if your stopover is longer than 6 hours.

Inside the Jewel you can see the Rain Vortex, the worlds highest indoor waterfall, as well as over 200 shops, cafes and restaurants and many attractions. I spend most of my time sitting among the trees, watching the rain vortex and sipping on different drinks (I recommend the milk teas at Chun Yang and The Alley).

Read more on a stopover in Singapore: 8 hour stopover at Changi Airport Singapore

Bucket List Experiences in Vietnam

Begin your day in Hanoi at sunrise with Xôi xéo from a street vendor in Hanoi, watch the commotion around Hoan Kiem lake while sipping on an egg coffee, before strolling through the Old Quarter from Hoa Lu Prison to the Train Street, to the Temple of Literature, to the Vietnamese Women Museum. In between have a Phở for lunch and finish your day with a Bánh mì Ha Noi (or two) and visit the evening show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

Stay overnight on a cruise through Ha Long Bay and marvel at the emerald water and limestone islands.

Explore the peaceful and vast nature of Ninh Binh, first high up from the viewpoint at Đầm sen Hang múa, then by water on a sampan ride through Tam Cốc.

A hot, steaming bowl of Bún bò Huế is the perfect breakfast for an eventful day in Huế. Followed by a Cà Phê Muối (salt coffee) and a visit to the Imperial City Huế inside Huế Citadel. The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is a quick, but must see stop before a lunch of Bánh bèo, where you can eat as many of the small bowls as you like. For the afternoon you can either visit the Tombs of Tự Đức and Khải Định via motorbike, or the Tomb of Gia Long and Thiên Mụ Pagoda via dragonboat. For dinner a bowl of Bánh Canh Nam Phổ and for desert, while taking a walk along the illuminated Perfume River, a glass of Chè.

Drive through the clouds on a motorbike across the Hai Van Pass, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch and cool off in one of the natural springs on the way from Hue to Da Nang.

Start your day in Da Nang with a Bánh mì while walking along the Han River towards the dragon bridge. Grab an iced Vietnamese coffee to go and walk through the colourful alleys of the Da Nang Fresco Village. Visit the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum and admire the artwork, before stopping at Tâm to try Bánh Nâm, Banh bôt loc and Bánh ram it. After lunch explore the caves and pagodas of the Marble Mountains. End your day with Bánh Xèo at Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng, then watch the sunset at My Khe Beach.

A bowl of Mì Quảng, followed by a coffee at The Espresso Station is the perfect start to a day in Hoi An. Buy a ticket to the ancient town and visit five of the sights (the ones I recommend are listed above) to immerse yourself in Hoi An history and culture. Grab a Mót tea in between. For lunch you can try more than one Bánh mì at more and less famous places. In the afternoon opt for a workshop, tour or cooking class. For dinner try the famous Cao lầu and end your day with a Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River.

Begin your day in Ho Chi Minh City in the early morning with Bò Né, then visit the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple close by, before heading to Saigon Central Post Office right as it opens to avoid the crowds, afterwards have a coffee at Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ and see the hidden basement. After a lunch of Chuối Nếp Nướng, visit the Independence Palace to explore south Vietnamese history. While unpacking all of that in the late afternoon you can stroll along Nguyễn Huệ street to see (and have coffee at) the Cafe Apartments. End your day with a visit to the Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment bloc and eat Bò Lá Lốt.

Preparations for spending three weeks in Vietnam

There are some things you should take care of before departing on your trip. Of course, booking places to stay and tickets for transportation as well as the main tours you want to do is part of it, but there are more things you should consider before embarking on your trip:

Vaccinations and common sense

Advised vaccines for a trip to Vietnam are:

Tetanus (It is advised generally, I’m just mentioning it to cover everything)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Diphtheria
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Measles
Polio
Dengue
If you are over 60 years old, also consider getting a pneumococci vaccination

As a person who grew up in Germany and lived their formative years in the 90s and 00s I was already vaccinated against Polio, Tetanus and Measles. Before my first Vietnam trip I got a refresher of Tetanus, as well as the vaccinations against Diphtheria and Pertussis. The second trip required three Covid vaccinations. Before the third trip, which included south Vietnam, I also got the vaccine against Dengue. However, I never got the Hepatitis vaccinations as they take several weeks to build up immunity and I never planned far enough in advance.

That’s where common sense comes in: You can only get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, which are most likely acquired by eating something infected or close body contact. You can avoid that by only eating something you saw die, you saw being peeled, something that has been boiled, fried or grilled thoroughly. And of course by not sharing bodily fluids with strangers. Hepatitis C is often transmitted via infected blood transfusions, but in a situation where you’ll need a blood transfusion you won’t be conscious enough to refuse it anyway.

E-Visa

Individuals from several countries can enter Vietnam without a visa for 15 to 45 days as a tourist. For three weeks you can get an e-visa, which is valid for 90 days for tourists. There is ONE official website and you can apply and pay directly on it: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt

!! If you have a VPN enabled you might get a white page instead of the payment portal, turn your VPN off during the process and it should work fine. !!

Get a Vietnamese SIM Card or eSIM

Even though you can find free wifi everywhere in Vietnam, a Vietnamese SIM or an eSIM still make sense, especially for navigation and translations purposes. Also it is much easier to stay in contact with people, since almost everyone uses WhatsApp. I got a SIM card directly at the airport from vinaphone, which is cheap, although not the cheapest (12€ for 10 GB of mobile data every day).

You can get cheaper versions in stores of every bigger city, but not all of them will work in every phone. Especially European and phone from the USA might reject the “foreign” SIM card.

If you want to arrive fully prepared and keep your current SIM in your phone, look into getting an eSIM*. It works like a virtual SIM card on your phone:

Travel Insurance

Having travel insurance in case of sickness, accidents or even death is always a good idea. Depending on where you’re from and where you’re going there are many different options. My advice is to go for the most affordable one, that still covers at least 50k in liability.

If you are from Germany, look into the travel insurance options of the ADAC. Although they are called the “General Automobile Club Germany” they offer much more. That is NOT an affiliate link by the way, but I have had nothing but positive experiences in insurance cases with them.

And bring a copy of the declaration of the amount of your travel insurance with you, you can get asked for it at the immigration counter. I got asked once in three trips.

Download the Grab VN App

I am not sponsored by them or even affiliated with them, but I want to share what was most helpful for me during my trips and Grab works so much better than Uber and any other ride-booking plattform.

Upon arriving in Vietnam you’ll quickly realize that the best way to discover the ins and outs of this countries bustling cities (and also the countryside) is on the back of a motorbike or scooter with a local. It’s also the best way to get from point A to point B. To avoid scams, simply download the Grab VN App to your phone, set up a profile and add a payment method. Now you can book rides wherever and whenever and always see upfront what your ride will cost you. It also works for food deliveries!

Packing list for three weeks in Vietnam

General travel advice I will give time and time again is to invest in suitcase dividers. You can sort your stuff much easier and you can fit more into the same space. You can also keep your laundry and shoes separate and by that your other clothes clean and tidy.

Important and helpful stuff to pack:

Sunscreen!!! You cannot buy the ones you are used to here. The only ones I found also had bleach in them.
Bamboo Travel towel* (Bamboo dries fast)
High quality Mosquito Net (you can often get one at accomodations, but not all of them are free of holes or mould and most are tiny)
Insect repellent containing DEET, Icaridin, or IR3535 (to protect against the mosquitoes that transfer Malaria, Zika and/or Dengue)
Adapter to charge your electronics if necessary. In Vietnam C is standard (also A and B in some regions), but you can also use plug type F and type E is also fully compatible. Check the Website Worldstandards.eu to see weather your countries plug is compatible.
You don’t need a water filter. Buy bottled water, it is cheap and you save on luggage space

Travel medications

In my experience these are most important:

Ibuprofen (paid meds that also reduce fever and inflammation)
Loperamide (against diarrhea)
Electrolyte medication like HYDRAlyte (after the diarrhea)

Also bring a list (business card sized) in English and Vietnamese of any and all medications you regularly take and your allergies. Take it with you everywhere you go.

Clothes to bring for three weeks Vietnam

For my planning, I knew I could wash my stuff the first day I arrived in Hoi An. This is what I brought with me. It fit, with room to spare, into a carry on luggage.

14 pairs of underpants and socks (Can you wear sandals? Yes. Do I advise against it? Strongly.)
4 short sleeved T-Shirts
6 sleeveless Tops
2 long sleeved linen Button-Downs
2 Dresses
2 pairs of knee long Jeans
1 pair of long linen Trousers
1 sun-proof and UV proof jacket (I bought it in Vietnam, if you don’t have one you can do the same)
1 pair of comfortable shoes in your luggage (one on your feet)
- You WILL need two, your feet will get wet.
- Don’t worry about slippers, all accomodations provided them so far

Best travel time for a Vietnam trip

The best time for a trip to Hanoi, in my opinion, is from March to May, just at the end of the rainy season and before the main travel season. The weather is hot and humid, but that’s always the case. While I was there the temperatures during the day averaged 28 in northern Vietnam, Da Nang and Hoi An and 38 in Hue and southern Vietnam.

Map for your trip – three weeks in Vietnam

Every one of the 92 dots is a place (house), something to see or do (camera), a street vendor or restaurant (fork and knife), a cafe (coffee mug) or something special about the city (star).

Red is everything in and around Hanoi
Orange is everything in and around Ha Long
Yellow is everything in and around Ninh Binh
Green is everything in and around Hue
Dark blue is everything in and around Da Nang,
Light blue is everything in and around Hoi An
Purple is everything in and around Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon