Central and South Vietnam are often underestimated or even skipped by travelers in Vietnam. The north of Vietnam is a lot more beautiful in terms of nature but in Central and South Vietnam, on the other hand, you will find more culture and history. Use this itinerary for Central and South Vietnam in 3 weeks as a guide for your trip.
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Tip: In this travel itinerary Vietnam we link to more extensive articles about the destinations. Clicking on the link will take you to the article.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): 3 days
How to get to Ho Chi Minh City: this itinerary for Central and South Vietnam in 3 weeks starts in Ho Chi Minh City. From many airports, there are flights directly to Ho Chi Minh City. These flights do tend to be quite a bit more expensive than if you book a flight with a transfer. Check all options, prices and the cheapest dates to fly to Ho Chi Minh on Skyscanner.
If you come to Vietnam from Cambodia you can easily travel by bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. Book tickets for the Giant Ibis bus in advance through 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City: welcome to Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City is your first introduction to Vietnam and its bizarre traffic. You can dive right into Vietnam’s history here while visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Museum. Both activities are a must for learning more about the Vietnam War. Other than that, there are not very many sights and activities in Ho Chi Minh City. This will give you a chance to recover well from your long journey.
What is still highly recommended is to take a day tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. You can book this tour that combines the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta. The guide gives a lot of information about the history and local life at the Mekong Delta. It is very interesting to learn more about this and the tour is very well put together.
Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City: Thao Nhi is one of the best cheap hotels in Ho Chi Minh. The hotel is just a 2-minute walk from downtown. If you book through here, an overnight stay costs an average of €17. If you are looking for a more luxurious hotel in Ho Chi Minh City that is also close to the city center, you can choose the Au Lac Charner Hotel. This hotel even has rooftop pool. This way you can really recover from your long journey and start your tour of Vietnam in a relaxed way.
Tip: check out the nicest hostels in Vietnam via the image below. Based on our own experiences and those of dozens of other travelers, we have listed the 3 best hostels for each destination.
Mui Né: 2 days
If you have less time than described in this Central and South Vietnam itinerary, it is best to skip Mui Né and travel from Ho Chi Minh City straight to Dalat.
How to get to Mui Né: From Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a direct bus to Mui Né or the nearby village of Tam Hanh. The bus leaves every half hour and takes between 4 and 5 hours. For €12, you can book the bus tickets at 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Mui Né: Mui Né is a small village where there is not much to do. The tour to the sand dunes is the highlight of Mui Né. You can choose to do these at sunrise or sunset. We recommend going at sunrise because it is not extremely hot then. Furthermore, you can wind and kite surf in Mui Né.
Accommodation in Mui Né: It is recommended to book accommodation in Mui Né with a swimming pool. Since there are not many activities, it is nice to spend a few hours relaxing by the pool. The very nicest and coziest hostel is iHome, a real social party hostel. If you want to sleep well in addition to partying, it is recommended to book with Eva Hut. This hostel is a 2-minute walk from iHome so you have the conviviality but not the inconvenience.
Just looking for a hotel? Irina Boutique in Mui Né is a very nice hotel with a nice pool.
Dalat: 3 to 4 days
How to get to Dalat: From Mui Né, you can take another fine trolley bus to Dalat. Transportation in Vietnam is all very well organized. You can also buy these bus tickets online at 12GO.Asia or arrange them at your accommodation in Mui Né. The bus trip from Mui Né to Dalat takes about 6 hours.
Things to do in Dalat: Dalat is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters in the mountains of southern Vietnam. Because of this, Dalat has a fairly cool climate, which is great if you want to take a break from the heat. Dalat offers many fun outdoor activities such as the zipline, alpine coaster and canyoning. When canyoning, you swim, climb and abseil over waterfalls and through the river.
Furthermore, it is recommended to do a day tour with easyriders in Dalat. During this day tour, you will see special places where almost no other tourists visit and get to know the beautiful surroundings of Dalat. Easyrider Quy is highly recommended to go out with in the Dalat area. You can whatsap him at +84 908 620 055.
Finally, the crazy house is worth a visit in Dalat. The unusual architecture makes it fun to visit. Furthermore, going to the maze bar in the evening is highly recommended. After entering, you have to go through a sort of maze of several floors before you get to the bar. The place is bustling with many travelers every night.
Accommodation in Dalat: The Tigon Hostel was our highlight in Dalat. It is a 25-minute walk from town but with the cool climate it is perfectly fine to walk. You can also get a Grab for 20,000 dong. From the Tigon Hostel you have an insane view of the area and fun activities are organized. The Dalat Family Hostel is also a nice hostel, possibly with private rooms.
Easyrider tour from Dalat to Hoi An: 5 days
The easyrider tour from Dalat to Hoi An is one of the highlights of Vietnam for us. Few travelers make this trip, but we wanted to include it in this itinerary for Central and South Vietnam in 3 weeks. This is because it is such a unique experience where you also learn a lot about the real Vietnam.
Quy arranges everything for this easyrider tour including overnight accommodations. Along the way, you will stop at all the local houses and villages. Here you will get to know Vietnam in a very different way. You’ll go swimming at a waterfall where no one else ever goes, have coffee with people practicing a local craft and much more. If you have the time for it and got excited, you can read our extensive article for more information and a better idea of the experience. If you have more limited time you can always send Quy a message (+84 908 620 055) to ride part of the route in 3 days.
Hoi An: 5 days
How to get to Hoi An: When you do the easyrider tour with Quy you will be dropped off at your accommodation in Hoi An. Are you coming by night bus from Dalat? Then you can arrange tickets at your accommodation in Dalat or again through 12GO.Asia. We use 12GO.Asia for all buses in Vietnam and it is always well arranged.
Things to do in Hoi An: Hoi An does not offer many activities, but it is a beautiful town to stroll through. Hoi An’s old town is charmingly decorated with lights, lanterns and colorful houses. Especially in the evening there is a cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy a relaxing walk. In addition, in Hoi An you can participate in a fun cooking class, take a boat ride on the iconic coconut boats and relax on the beach. Check out the 15 attractions in Hoi An to make a nice travel plan.
Accommodation in Hoi An: If you are looking for a pleasant place to stay in Hoi An, you should consider whether you prefer to stay near the beach or in the old town. We personally prefer the old town. During the day you can easily bike or Grab cab from the old town to the beach. In the evening, you can then stroll through the lively old town, where you can enjoy delicious food and visit stores.
Numerous charming accommodations can be found in Hoi An’s old town. Our favorite is iHome, a beautiful hotel with a lovely pool. The breakfast is excellent and the rooms are fantastic. They offer several private rooms, but if you are traveling alone, the dormitory is also a good option.
Another great accommodation is Hoi An Odyssey Hotel & Spa. It is close to the old town and offers river views. The rooms are spacious, clean and there is a beautiful pool. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option in Hoi An, Longan Homestay is a great choice. It is just a 1-minute walk from the old town and you can rent bikes cheaply.
If you do prefer to stay near the beach, Red Flower Cottages is our favorite place. It is just a one-minute walk from the beach and is managed by a very friendly host.
Hué: 3 days
How to get to Hué: From Hoi An, you can get to Hué via the insane Hai Van Pass. You can choose to rent a motorbike in Hoi An and drive yourself to Hué in one day where you return the scooter (and pick up your luggage). You can also ride on the back of an easyrider or by train. Learn more about the Hai Van Pass in this article.
Things to do in Hué: Hué is a true Vietnamese imperial city. This is reflected in the Citadel and the Forbidden City. Hué is best known for its many ancient buildings and history. Book a tour to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the border between North and South Vietnam used to be. During this tour, the guide tells a tremendous amount about the Vietnam War and gives a lot of interesting information. Extremely fierce fighting has taken place in this region.
Furthermore, it is recommended to visit the abandoned water park in Hué. In 2001, this water park opened its doors but it had to close after a few months, due to disappointing numbers of visitors. The water park was not demolished but simply abandoned. This makes it a special place to visit: you see the slides and rides merging with the jungle and nature taking over again.
Accommodation in Hué: Hué offers an abundance of excellent hotels and homestays for less than €20 a night. Our personal favorite is Tâm Homestay, where the owner is exceptionally friendly. Upon arrival, nice tea or water is always prepared for you. The location is very good, right in the center. Breakfast is included and you can make your choice the night before. Tâm Homestay is truly a fantastic accommodation in Hué, as proven by its high rating of an average of 9.7 on booking.com!
Another delightful accommodation in Hué is Hué Sweethouse 1. Here you will find beautiful rooms and bathrooms, and the location is also excellent.
Back to Ho Chi Minh
From Hué, you can fly back to Ho Chi Minh City and then fly back to your home country. Make sure you have enough time between flights when booking. In fact, you will probably have to collect your luggage and check it in again. This, of course, takes extra time.
Do you travel further in Vietnam? We also created a comprehensive itinerary for North Vietnam. If you prefer a complete itinerary for all of Vietnam, we recommend this itinerary for Vietnam in 4 weeks. Also see all Vietnam articles for more information of destinations and activities. Enjoy your trip in beautiful Vietnam.
