Detailed schedule for a backpacking trip crossing Vietnam in 30 days

Making a long journey through Vietnam on a motorbike to explore the beauty of nature, of the culture, history, and people is something that many aspirants want to experience. With a trip across Vietnam, the schedule depends on the preferences and conditions of each person. With the schedule below, the visitors will have the opportunity to discover from the beauty of the Cuu Long River to the famous tourist cities such as Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hue ... the capital of thousands of years of civilization.

Day 1: Fly from Phu Quoc to Saigon ( 12:50) - Ehome3

Day 2:  Saigon - Ninh Thuan ( about 387 km)

Depart at  06:15 AM from Sai Gon
07:50 AM  have breakfast in Trang Bom, Dong Nai
10:10 AM in Ham Tan district
10:40 AM in  La Gi town
11:10 AM in resort Dat Lanh
12:00 in the abandoned castle,  Lighthouse Mui Ke Ga
13:05 Phan Thiet city
13:20 have lunch in Phan Thiet - Bau Trang 15:00 Mui Ne fishing village - Tuy Phong wind farm, Phan Ri
18:30 Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan - Tinh Nguyet Hotel 432 Ngo Gia Tu (200,000 VND 8.63$ / double room/single room).

Day 3 Ninh Thuan -  Tuy Hoa (about 330 km):
07:05 have breakfast in Phan Rang 07:50 Buu Son Pagoda - Ninh Chu Beach
09h10 Rai Cave
10h15 Vinh Hy Bay - Cape Dai Lanh 12h20 Lunch at chicken rice 52 Dak Lak
15h30 Dam Mon (will have to hire a boat to visit Mui Doi - Cuc Dong and stay overnight on it which costs 1,200,000VND - 1,400,000 VND 51.78$-60.41$) - the beach in Phu Khanh
16h50 Ca mountain pass - Nua island, Phu Yen, check in Phu Yen
16:40 Tuy Hoa City - Hotel Khanh Hoa 625 Hung Vuong Avenue (contact: 0982.839.579 Mr Thien - 150,000VND 6.47$ / double room - 250,000VND 10.79$ / room 4 people).

Day 4 Tuy Hoa - Quang Ngai (about 287 km):
07:20 breakfast with chicken Quang noodles (a Vietnamese noodle dish that can be found in Quang Nam province). Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen + check the bike
09:00 Hoc Lam Lake
12:30 Ganh Da Dict ticket 10,000VND / person
14:30 Tam Giang Dam (near Cho Moi Church, An Giang
14:40 Meng Lang Church
15:10 O Cop wooden bridge - lunch
16:50 Cu Mong pass, Binh Dinh district
21:25 dinner in Quang Ngai -Guest house Tianjin 66 Vo Tung (poor service, not recommend)

Day 5 Quang Ngai - Hue (About 274 km):
08:30 breakfast with Quang noodles 20,000VND about 1$ / opposite to the Hospital of Traditional Medicine + check the bike + oil change
08:55 Quang Ngai station
12:00 Hoi An
13:00 have lunch with Cao Lau & snack at Hoi An Market
14:10 Da Nang - check-in Dragon Bridge and Swing Bridge
15:30 Hai Van Pass
18:15 An Cuu Market
20:00 dinner in Hue city: Khoai cake and nem lui on Truong Tien bridge - walking street at the foot of Trang Tien bridge
21:30 eat “alley-sweet” - Hotel Hai Nguyen 19 Nguyen Thai Hoc (contact Ms Huong 0988856555 - 50,000VND about 2$ / person / night).

Day 6 Hue - Ha Tinh(about 367 km):
07:00 Hue city
07:50 Hue beef noodle
10:40 Ethnic group - Tam Giang lagoon - passing Huong Thuy commune to see many beautiful rice fields
11:45 having lunch in Cam Lo - Pho Trach, Quang Tri
13:40 Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River - Gianh bridge crossing the Gianh River which was the boundary of Cochinchina, parallel 17
16:25  Ngang Pass, Quang Binh
16:45 sand hill near Vung Ang area (looks like a miniature of Bau Trang) on the way with An Dong church ... - Ky Anh town (heavy rain)
18:40 Ha Tinh
20:10 dinner in Guest house 89 (contact 0393 892 703 - 150,000VND 6.47$ / double / single room).

Day 7 Ha Tinh - Hanoi (430 km):
Breakfast 07h45 soup soup Ha Tinh (heavy rain) - 08h50 TX. 9h15 Ben Thuy bridge - - Phu Ly, Ha Nam - 21h00 Ha Noi (Ha Nam has Ba Kien house but it is late to visit) - Hoa Quynh House, No. 3 Lane 405 Phuc Tan (contact 0966000119) - Dinner and 22h30 Save with your friends at Cao Fong (Hang Bong).

Day 8: Hanoi

10:00 Crab noodles - Cathedral - Hoan Kiem Lake / The Huc Bridge / Ngoc Son Temple - Ly Thai To Statue - oil change for the bike and maintenance - Reunification Palace - 15:30 lunch at Hanoi Food Street - Hanoi Opera House - Quan Su Pagoda - Hoa Lo Prison - Dong Xuan Market
17:30 Long Bien Bridge - Chuong Duong Bridge
19:00 Trang Tien Ice Cream + Bat Dan Pho  21:00 Xoan coffee.

Xoan Coffee

Day 9 Hanoi - Halong  (about 255 km)

08:30 check out the hotel + breakfast with bun cha Ha Noi (noodles and grilled pork with sweet spicy source)
09:30 Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam ( Hanoi Temple of Literature), ticket 30,000VND about 1.25$ / person
15:00 Hai Phong city, the city of red phoenix flowers - Canh Dieu square
15:45 Do Son beach - Halong -Bai Chay bridge
18:00 dinner - Halong party Hostel (80,000VND - 3.45$ / guest / night).

Day 10 Halong - Cao Bang (about 290 km):
07:40 Breakfast with seafood noodles 35,000VND - 1.5$ - Halong Bay
10:50 Cam Pha, Quang Ninh
13:05 lunch in the town of Dinh Lap, Lang Son (heavy rain)
15:20 Cao Loc sunflower fields on the left hand
15:40 Lang Son city
15:45 Ky Lan market, Hoang Van Thu street - take Highway 4A - Tan My, Van Lang (petrol station) - 18:20 Duc Xuan, Thach An, Cao Bang
19:30 Cao Bang - Huy Linh Hostel, 007 Group 7, Ngoc Xuan Ward (contact 0919555186 - 80,000 VND - 3.45$ / person / night).

Day 11 Cao bang - Bac Kan (about 225 km):
08:15 Breakfast with hot rolls in Cao Bang
09:40 Ha Quang district
10:30 Pac Bo cave (20,000 VND - 0.9$/ person)
12:40 check milestone km) HCM highway at the beginning of Cao Bang
14:50 Tran Hung Dao National Relic site Nguyen Binh, Cao Bang on the way to Bac Kan.
14:50 Ngan Son highway, Bac Kan district, have lunch
16:30 Khau Khang pass
18:40 Cao Tri, Ba Be, Bac Kan
19:30 Ba Be, dinner and homestay Huynh Len (double room 150,000VND - 6.47$ / night - single room: 80,000 VND - 3.45$/ night)

Day 12 Bac Kan - Ba Be - Dong Van (about 245 km):
07:40 Ba Be Lake - Breakfast at Chau Hoa town, Ba Be with snail noodles 10:15 Bac Ninh city
11:25 Thai Nguyen
12:00 Temple of Duong Tu Minh Prince consort (Thanh Dat, Phu Luong, Thai Nguyen)
13:23 Lunch at the opposite of Thai Nguyen University
14:25 Tan Cuong tea village near Tan Thai, Thai Nguyen city with a beautiful church
15:00 Nui Coc lake
16:20 Tuyen Quang (Son Duong, Tuyen Quang)
19:25 Tuyen Quang, the porridge - stay in hotel Tuyen Quang (150,000VND - 6.47$ / night)

Day 13 Tuyen Quang - Dong Van (about 300 km):
06:50 breakfast in Tuyen Quang - Highway 2, Yen Phu, Ham Yen, Tuyen Quang (along Lo river)
08:55 Ha Giang
11:10 Ha Giang City - km0 milestone - 4C Thuan Hoa National road, Ha Giang - Minh Tan, Xieng
13:40 Triangle, Quynh Tien, Quan Ba - Quan Gate
14:50 Quan Ben landmark 0km
15:15 Dong Ha, Quan Ba - Can Ty, Quan Ba (4C National road)
17:20 Van Chai, Dong Van
18:00 National road 4C 0km - Sa Phin
18:40 TP. Dong Van / walking street at night - Enjoy the Cross (Thai specialties) - Hotel Quynh Nhu (200,000 / night).

Day 14 Dong Van - Ha Giang (about 250 km):
08:20 Breakfast at in Dong Van - Hanh Phuc street, Pa Vi, Meo Vac - Ma Phi Leng pass
09:50 Meo Vac district, check in Hanh Phuc street - back to Dong Van city 12:45 Lung Tao, Dong Van
13:20 Lung Cu (ticket price 25,000 VND - 1$ / person) - Lunch at Roong Cu flagpole - Stone plateau
18:00 Yen Minh
21:30 Ha Giang - Dinner in Ha Giang - Hostel 10am (Contact facebook Tuyet Chuột 0916.040.991- 60,000VND - 2.59$ / person / night).

Day 15 Ha Giang - SaPa (about 241 km):
08:10 Departure from Ha Giang city 279 highway Yen Thanh, Quang Binh meet the province of Lao Cai - Bac Cuong bridge, Tan Duong, Bao Yen, Lao Cai
17:25 Sapa market - dinner at the gastronomy bar near the lake - Sapa - Everest Homestay No. 17/520 Dien Bien Phu (contact 0915.049.138 Mr Son - 50,000VND - 2$ / night - 200,000VND - 8.63$ / double room)

Day 16 SaPa - Lai Chau (about 84 km)
10:40 Sapa: Breakfast with Sapa hot pot 400,000
11:40 Fansipan cable car (600.000VND - 25.89$ / person) + climb 600 steps to the milestone - 15:25 check out the hotel  - 4D highway, Son Binh, Tam Duong, Lao Cai - 16h30 Lao Cai through Lai Chau 18;15 4D highway, Ho Thau, Tam Duong, Lai Chau
19:15 TP. Lai Chau - Huy Lai Homestay (200,000VND - 8.63$ / double room / single) - Dinner on Tran Phu Street.

Day 17 Lai Chau - Dien Bien (about 300 km)
08:45 breakfast and departure from Lai Chau
09:55 Nam Na hydroelectricity power station 2 Huoi Luong, Phong Tho - follow National Highway 12, Sin Ho 10:20 Cham Nua district, Nam Bo district - Da river - Hang Tum bridge
12:10 Muong Cha, Dien Bien
14:40 Cha Cho, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
15:30 Cham Cang km0 (Cha Cang Market) - Pa Tan, Muong Nhe - Muong Nhe - Apachai - stay at the Grocery store of Ms. Mai + Mr. Tuan (Contact: 0978.097.165 - 50,000VND - 2$ / night).

Day 18: Dien Bien
09:00 Breakfast at Mai's house
09:30 Departure  and check in West pole
14:15 conquer the Khoan La San Mount (1864 meters comparing with the sea level) I did the self-climbing without border guards and it costed 400,000VND - 17.26$) - Note: bring drinks and food needed. It only takes about 3 hours to climb and 2 hours to go down (in a normal health condition)

Day 19 Dien Bien (about 265 km):
08:30 Departure from Apachai
10:45 Muong Nhe Town (bike washing, oil changing, bike condition checking)
13:30 have lunch near Cha Cang Market - highway 12
16:50 Pung Dat, Muong Muon
17:20 Muong Pon, Dien Bien - Dien Bien city - Guest house Hoa Ban (200,000 - 8.63$ / double room / single room)
20:30 dinner with Com Tam, cooked from broken rice + enjoy Ba Mai tea.

Day 20 Dien Bien - Son La (about 175 km):
09:30 visit A1 Hill / 10,000VND / person - Tunnel - Cat / ticket 10,000VND / person
11:20 lunch on 279 highway
12:30 Tang Quai pass on the way to Tuan Giao
14:40 Ta Go Pass In Chieng Sinh, Tuan Giao By AH13
15:10 Hua Sa B, Toa Tinh, Tuan Giao, Quai To
15:30 Pha Din Pass - Son La District - 17:45  Son La city
20:00 dinner - Stay at Guesthouse Hoang An (contact: 0982.875.761 - 200.000VND - 8.63$ / double room / single room, opposite to Son La Hotel).

Day 21 Son La - Yen Bai (about 237 km):
08:05 Breakfast in Son La - follow DT106 - 09h10 Ta Bú, Muong La (meet Song Da again)
09:30 Van Ba bridge crossing Song Da - follow DT109
10:45 Nam Chien - Nam Chien hydroelectric power, Muong La - ranh Yen Bai and Son La
13:25 Nga Ba Kim market - follow QL32
14:30 Mu Cang Chai
16:15 To Luan, Van Chan, Yen Bai - 18:20 Nghia Lo town - Nghia Lo town km0 - homestay Binh Nga (Contact: 0981.171.288 - 90,000VND - 3.88$ / night)
 

Day 22 Yen Bai - Moc Chau (about 238 km):
08:40 Departure from Nghia Lo - 09:00 Breakfast in Thai Binh (specialty fish soup) - go to 37 highway, Muong Coi, Moc Chau
11:40 Lung Lo Pass (rough road) - check the Yen Bai - 37 Pho Yen - 12:20 Deo Ban
14:40 via Van Yen ferry - Follow National Road 43, Direction, Moc Chau - Phung Luong, Moc Chau - 16h40 Moc Chau tea - enjoy 10,000 tons of sour yogurt - Lake, Moc Chau - buckwheat hill + plum garden tour (photo or visit 15,000 / person) - Mai Chau village - Mai Chau host (Contact Mr. Nam - 0123.585.8688 - a night and a breakfast)

Day 23 Moc Chau - Vinh (327 km)
08:45 Mai Chau: Breakfast at hostel Mai Chau
09:45 Co Luong
12:10 lunch in Ngoc Lac, Thanh Hoa - follow National Highway 15 - 13h50 Lam Kinh, Lam Kinh Bridge - 15h30 TH real milk farm in Nghia Lam , Nghia Dan, Nghe An - Sunflower field - Cua Lo beach
17:40 Vinh city

Day 24 Vinh - Phong Nha - Quang Tri (about 385 km):
09:45 Visiting the relic of Kim Lien village, Nam Dan - Huong pagoda
12:10 lunch in Ha Tinh - follow 1A highway - Ky Nam, Ky Anh, Ha Tinh - 14:00 Ngang pass - Quang Binh
14:20 Vinh - Hai Phong, Quang Binh
16:35 Phong Nha, Ke Bang - toward Ho Chi Minh street - Ba Da, Dong Hoi
18:30 Long Dai bridge
20:20 Dong Ha city, Quang Tri Province - Stay at guest house Tan Quy (150,000VND - 6.47$ / double room or single room)

Day 25 Quang Tri - Da Nang - Quang Nam (about 300 km):
08:20 Depart
08:40 breakfast with bun bo nang ( beef noodles) 25,000VND - 1$ in the town of Ai Tu, Trieu Phong, Quang Tri
09:10 City of Quang Tri
13:40 Hai Van pass
15:05 Da Nang
16:40 Quang Nam - Lunch at Phuoc Son hotel, 43 HCM Highway (Contact 0982881296 - 200,000VND - 8.63$ / double room / single room)

Day 26 Quang Nam - Buon Me Thuot (about 470km):
07:20 breakfast with snakehead fish noodle soup at Kham Duc 25,000VND - 1$ / portion
10:00  follow AH17- Dak Man, Dak Dak Dak, Kon Tum
11:20 Bo Y international border
11:45 border marker of Vietnam + Laos + Cambodia Indochina
16:00 Kon Tum and Gia Lai
17:00 Chu Puh - Buon Ho - 21h00 Buon Me Thuot.

 Day 27 Buon Me Thuot - Da Lat (about 300 km):
08:30 Breakfast  in Buon Me Thuot city + check the condition of the bike + oil change
09:40 the cathedral - follow the National Highway 27 - Golgotha Hills
11:20 Yang Reh lake, Krong Bong, Dak Lak
16:00 Đang Kang, Dam Rong
17:00 Đinh Van, Lam Town Ha
18:00 Dalat - Stay at hostel Long Thao Thong Thien Hoc (contact 0938 464 548 Thao - 60,000VND - 2.5$  ~ 80,000VND - 3.45$ / night)

Day 28: Da Lat
10:40 Breakfast in Phan Thiet Phung Restaurant - Da Lat University - Con Ga Church
12:00 Thai Phien Flower Garden - Grass Hill  - Tiger Cave Waterfall (bad road) - Linh Pagoda Phuoc (Ve Chai Pagoda) - Lam Vien square - Da Lat night market.

Day 29 Da Lat - Saigon (about 320 km):
11h30 - Breakfast at the most famous Lanhua bread Dalat
14:55 Linh Quy Phap An
17:00 Bao Loc Pass - follow NH20
17:40 Chuoi Pass
18:20 Tan Phu, Dong Nai
21:10 Saigon
21:45 Phuong Trang to Ha Tien.

Day 30th: Saigon -Ha Tien - Phu Quoc
06:00 to Ha Tien, breakfast near Tam Bao Pagoda
10:20 Xa Xa border gate
10:30 check-in milestone 314
10:50 enjoy specialties Poklohong near My Duc town, Ha Tien
13:30 on board to Phu Quoc
14:50 check-in Phu Quoc, finish the trip.

Hope this schedule is useful to you.
All the best to your backpacking motorbike trip across Vietnam!