Vietnam for adventure enthusiasts

A vacation isn’t complete without the rush of adrenaline? Next to great food and a rich history Vietnam offers many adventures for travellers. 14 – 16 Days Itinerary | 13 – 15 Nights | 6 Cities | 17 unique adventures. Glowing Plankton, Rock Climbing, Canyoning, Paragliding, Snorkeling, Sand Dune Surfing, etc.

Timeline

This itinerary can be done as listed or the other way around, depending on flight costs. There are international airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

This is an overview about the timeline:

• Day 1-2 Sapa
  Sleeper Train from Hanoi, Hike the rice fields & Climb Mount Fansipan
• Day 3-5 Cat Ba
  Kayak with glowing plankton, Rock Climbing, National Park Hiking & Caves (+ Lan Ha Bay Cruise)
• Day 6 – From Cat Ba over Hanoi to Hue
• Day 7 – Hai Van Pass on a Motorbike
  or Day 7 – 9 Ho-Chi-Minh-Trail by Motorbike
• Day 8 – 10 Da Nang
  Paragliding, Snorkeling & Surfing
• Day 10 – 12 Da Lat
  Canyoning & Alpine Rollercoaster & Cloud Hunting
• Day 13 – Mui Ne: Sand Dune Surfing or Quad
• Day 14 – Ho Chi Minh City: Crawl through Cu Chi tunnels

Day 1 – Arrival and Train to Sapa

Arrive in Hanoi, eat the de facto national dish of Vietnam at Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su for a late lunch, pack a Banh Mi from Bánh My Paté for dinner later (my favourite Banh Mi in all of Vietnam), then go to the train station to catch your overnight train to Sapa.

How to get to Sapa from Hanoi

Overnight trains from Hanoi range from 55$ to 90$ for a bed in a four person cabin. They depart the station from 7 PM to 11:30 PM and arrive at the station in Lao Cai between 6 AM and 11 AM. Of course you can also book a sleeper bus, but I am going for adventure here, not death.

-> More on my experience with this here: How to get from Hanoi to Sapa

When you arrive in Lao Cai, you can be picked up by the tour, if you choose to hike up Mount Fansipan.

If you choose to climb Fansipan from the top station of the Cable Car, ask your homestay (I’d pick SaPa Farmer House*) instead to help you arrange a Taxi from Lao Cai to them, or take the local bus from Lao Cai to Sapa for 50k VND, the take a taxi from Sapa City.

Join them for breakfast and put away your stuff, take a shower, then take one of the rice field treks offered by the family. Being out in nature will wake you up for sure! When you have a clear view you can see the stacked fields, the ethnic minority villages in between and the mountains as a backdrop. You’ll be back just in time for dinner.

Day 2 – Climb Mount Fansipan

Fansipan is the highest mountain peak in Vietnam and is often called the “Roof of Indochina”. From Hoang Lien Station in Sapa a funicular takes you along the mountain, afterwards a cable car (that holds two Guinness World Records: The longest three-wire cable car = 6,282 km and the highest ascent by a cable car = 1410m) takes you to the base of the peak, then you can climb the roughly 630 steps to the peak.

At the end of the day take the bus back to Lao Cai (make sure you know when the last bus leaves, or you will have to take a taxi), then take an overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 3 – Hanoi to Cat Ba and Glowing Plankton

In the morning go from Hanoi to Cat Ba. There are lots of different operators who organise bus transports and ferry tickets from Hanoi to Cat Ba and back again. Then there are three main tour companies (that I know of) who offer transportation from Hanoi to Cat Ba (and back again) with their own buses and speedboats. The good thing about that is that you are guaranteed a spot on the speedboat after getting off your bus, with the ferry you’re leaving it up to luck.

It can take anywhere from three to five hours to go between the two destinations and you usually get water on board, as well as one toilet break in the middle. I went with Good Morning Cat Ba* both ways.

Check in at An Homestay

For me, there is only one choice on Cat Ba: An Homestay. This small family homestay has two rooms: One bigger one with a breathtaking view of the mountains from the bed and a private bathroom down the hall and a smaller one without a view, with a directly accessible private bathroom. The rooms are super clean, smell nice and the bed is HUGE and incredibly comfortable, with two blankets in the colder months and several pillows.

Tam, who owns the homestay with her husband Quynh, is a phenomenal cook and you’ll get to taste her cooking every morning with a delicious Vietnamese breakfast.

Kayaking and glowing Plankton

A unique adventure on Cat Ba I can recommend is seeing the glowing plankton of Lan Ha Bay by Kayak at night. If you stay at An Homestay ask Quynh about it. If not, I have linked a tour down below!

The glowing plankton looked way more intense in reality than anything a phone could capture!

Day 4 – Rock Climbing and/or National Park hiking

On Cat Ba you can go rock climbing on the limestone islands of the bay, directly over the water. For the climbing you have two choices. For beginners with little or no experience:

or for experienced climbers:

I have never been rock climbing before, but there were many people who looked like they might have just travelled here to go climbing, so two options are a very good idea to offer a good experience to everyone.

National Park hiking

When you drive from the city centre towards the national park you can stop at the Hospital Cave, which served as a shelter and medical facility for Northern Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War, on the way. You pay 40k VND admission to the lady in front of the cave to park your bike and enter the cave itself. When I went there two guides showed people around at random intervals, just when people showed up they would be shown around in English. You only need about 30 Minutes for the entire cave, including the tour.

Cat Ba National Park is one of the prettiest in Vietnam and is the heart of the UNESCO Cat Ba Archipelago Biosphere Reserve. So the National Park is much bigger than just the “park” you can visit on the main island Cat Ba. Admission to the park is 80k VND. Keep your ticket to see both Trung Trang Cave and climb to the top of Ngự Lâm Peak. And to park in front of the entrance to the park you have to pay 5k VND, but honestly to keep the scooter from overheating that is a price I will happily pay.

Inside the park you can also visit Trung Trang Cave with many stalactites and stalagmites.

The round trip trek through the national park and up the highest mountain on Cat Ba island: Ngự Lâm Peak, is only about 1,5 km long, but also over 550 m elevation one way. It took me 45 minutes to go up. And then after spending almost an hour at the peak about 15 minutes to go down. Some parts of the trail have steps or stone plates, while others are left wild.

They offer dinner menus at An Homestay where you can pick one of four menus for a set price. For a relaxed arrival after a long travel day I recommend you to book one. I have not found any better food on Cat Ba. Especially her grilled oysters are to die for.

Day 5 – Lan Ha Bay Cruise

After a day of hiking and walking you can relax on a cruise! Of course you start with a breakfast at the homestay. There are many to choose from, but the one I did with Serenity Cruises* was the best value for money I found. The pace was relaxed, but not slow, the food was plenty and delicious and the guides try to make sure not to be where everyone else is.

Visiting Lan Ha Bay is one of the things you should do with a tour since you most likely don’t own a cruise ship. You might have heard more about Ha Long Bay, but I preferred Lan Ha Bay: There are fewer ships, fewer people and fewer tours operating in this area. So if everyone tells everyone to come here instead of Ha Long Bay it’s not going to stay like this for much longer.

-> More of my experience on this cruise here: Lan Ha Bay Cruise from Cat Ba

Day 6 – Cat Ba to Hue

One last breakfast on Cat Ba, enjoy it, you’ll miss it! Depending on when your train departs from Hanoi I would recommend taking the earliest bus possible, just to make sure you’ll be on time for your train.

Tam can and will stay in contact with the bus company to make sure you’ll be ready in time.

Train to Hue

There are several overnight trains departing from Hanoi to Hue between 7 PM and 9:30 PM every day. The cost for a ticket ranges from 55$ to 90$ for a bed in a four person cabin.

Depending on your departure time you will arrive between 9 AM and 11 AM in Hue. Book a train that will be there in time for you to get on the motorbike for your next adventure!

You can book your tickets on 12Go for secure payment and instant confirmation.

Day 7 Option 1
Hue to Da Nang by Motorbike via Hai Van Pass

The best way to get from Hue to Da Nang is on a motorbike via the Hai Van Pass. There are many different tours you can book where you can sit on the back of a motorbike and enjoy the views and security of an experienced driver.

This route is well known to some people from the TV show Top Gear.

Up the serpentine road, the world becomes foggy. The Hải Vân Pass is called the “ocean cloud pass” for a reason. You can see the clouds floating over the street and down the mountain towards the ocean in the picture.

When you reach the Hai Van Pass on the other side you’ll have a breathtaking view of Da Nang Bay, even when the view is limited at the top of the mountain. The bay is beautiful, nearly untouched, with only a handful of fishing boats on it.

If you book the tour I linked (which I highly recommend, it was an amazing experience, the pace was just right and the lunch was amazing) you will see the Marble Mountains on the way, one of the most interesting and beautiful cultural sights of the region.

or Day 7-9 Option 2 – Hue to Da Nang
3D / 2N Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorbike Tour

For the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Central Vietnam you should plan at least 2 days and 1 night, but 3 days and two nights will give you the oportunity to see more! I booked this one: Ho Chi Minh Trail Loop – Explore rural Central Vietnam*

From Hue to Da Nang the motorbike tour will stop near Hue at one of the many mountain springs and near Lap An Lagoon, then you’ll be taken take you through Sao La Nature Reserve to the mountain village Prao (where you will spend a night), on the second day after a market breakfast you’ll drive to several minority villages, then along the Laotian border and past past My Son Sanctuary.

Make sure to pick a reliable driver you feel comfortable being alone with. During our drive through this area (apart from the mountain villages and mountain spring) we saw 10 people. For the entire drive.

-> Here is my post about my experience on this trip: Ho Chi Minh Trail – Motorbike Tour along the Laotian border

Day 8 (or 10) – 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. Stay at the Golden Lotus Grand Da Nang* for an affordable stay in a modern hotel with a Panoramic Rooftop Bar and Pool!

Da Nang has the Marble Mountains, museums and pagodas for culture lovers and sprawling beaches for nature enthusiasts. Monkey Mountain, a mountain which is inhabited by lots of monkeys, is one of the nature highlights of the city. It is also the meeting point for the first possible adventure in Da Nang: Paragliding.

If heights are not your thing, you might want to go for water-fun instead. At a 2,5km long river you are paired up with a person, then you’ll race down the river on a rafting adventure!

Day 9 (or 11) – Cham Islands Snorkling

Taking a Cham Islands Snorkeling Tour is one of the more popular day tours in the province.

The Cham Islands are a group of 8 islands about 20 kilometres off the coast of Hoi An. They are part of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Roughly 3000 people are estimated to live on the islands, with most of them living on the main island Hòn Lao (Pearl Island).

They are very popular for snorkeling, diving and “sea walks”.

-> More on my experiences on the Cham Islands here: Cham Islands Snorkeling Tour from Hoi An

Day 10 (or 12) – Surfing & Da Nang to Da Lat

In the morning of Day 10 you can go for a surfing lesson at My Khe Beach (Forbes considers it to be one of the top 10 beaches in the world!), even if it’s your first time on a surf board this lesson is for you! Usually you get pictures and videos of yourself on the board, too, but when I went there was no SD card in the camera, so all I got was some bruises from jumping on the board weird.

Da Nang to Da Lat

The easiest and fastest way to get from Da Nang to Da Lat is by plane. You can book affordable national flights with Vietnam Airlines. A sleeper bus is again possible, but so far I haven’t heard a single positive experience on this journey.

Da Lat is located in the southern parts of the central highlands of Vietnam and one of the most important areas for agriculture, while at the same time being an important university town and one of the favourite vacation spots for local tourists.

You can take a taxi directly from the airport to your hotel and should arrive around lunchtime. The Da Lat Stram Hotel* is a small family run hotel with clean and quiet rooms and a lovely host family. They can help you arrange transport as well.

Da Lat specialty and Lam Vien Square

Baked rice paper (banh trang nuong): This is a savory snack made by grilling a thin rice paper topped with a variety of ingredients, including minced meat, dried shrimp, sausage, scallions, and herbs. This crispy, savory, and slightly sweet snack is perfect for enjoying on the go.

Lam Vien Square is a well loved picture spot in the city, with two illuminated modern glass buildings on the banks of Xuan Huong Lake.

Day 11 (or 13) – Canyoning

The very day that made me think of doing this itinerary in the first place!

In Da Lat at the Datanla Waterfalls you can find a 2,4 km long alpine coaster that takes you from the parking lot to the main area.

After this small morning adventure you can go canyoning (including rappelling, abseiling and using a waterfall with a raging current as as water slide) within the same waterfall system!

Both are thrilling experiences that will get your blood rushing. But along the way, you also get to see breathtaking nature and bond with the other people in the group. And the included lunch afterwards (prepared by the wife of our instructor) was absolutely delicious and exactly what we needed to replenish our energy.

-> More on my experiences with them here: Canyoning in Da Lat – Vietnam

Bao Dai Summer Palace

In the afternoon you should visit one of three palaces in Da Lat city and the one where you can learn more about the same emperor you’ve started learning about in Hue. But where An Dinh palace in Hue was more traditionally Vietnamese, the summer palace in Da Lat is built in the art deco style.

This Summer Palace was used by King Bao Dai and his family to live in and work in when visiting Da Lat.

Hot Pot or Home Style Meal

If you want to try hot pot (careful, it will be too much food if you’re here by yourself) you can do that here, or you can go for a home style Vietnamese meal. For that you pay 2-3€ and get a variety of dishes that are unique to the day and the region. Cơm Tiệm A Vũ is in walking distance from the hotel.

Day 12 (or 14) – Cloud Hunting & Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City

Cloud hunting is the best activity you can do in the morning on a travel day. You get picked up at 4AM to climb one of the hills around Da Lat to catch the clouds at sunrise. After the sunrise the tour stops at the green tea hill and a former French colonial wine factory, as well as the tea museum. Finally you’ll get a morning coffee (or tea), before returning to your accommodation for a quick shower.

The entire tour is 4 to 6 hour long, so even if you catch the long one, you’ll still be in time to check out and get to the airport.

The easiest and fastest way to get from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City is by plane. You can book affordable national flights with Vietnam Airlines. A sleeper bus is again possible, but so far I haven’t heard a single positive experience on this journey.

Day 13 (or 15) – Mui Ne

From Ho Chi Minh City it takes about 3 – 3,5 hours to Mũi Né and at the end of the day another 3 – 3,5 hours back again. This 12 hour long tour takes care of transport, lunch and lets you stop at the most scenic spots (like the Fairy stream) on the way, as well as letting you experience the sand dunes of Mũi Né in an adventurous way: Either by four-wheeler-quad or by sand surfing.

Day 14 (or 16) – Cu Chi Tunnels & Last Day

From Ho-Chi-Minh City it’s roughly 1,5 hours to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a tunnel system dating back to the French Colonization period, but heavily used and expanded during the US-Vietnam war. At the site that’s open to visitors you can see traps used in the war, learn about the storage areas and weaponry and even crawl through the military supply tunnels yourself.

I had to go in the afternoon, since there wasn’t anyone else interesting in the tour in the morning. Afterwards I would still advise you to go in the early morning (8am to 3pm)! Especially when you are flying back home in the evening.

-> More on my experience there: Cu Chi Tunnels – Tunnel systems of the Viet Cong

In the evening / at night you fly out from Ho Chi Minh City and you might even be tired enough to sleep the entire way.