Hello,
my boyfriend and I are travelling to vietnam for the first time in November. It´s been a long time dream and we finally booked our flights, we are landing in Hanoi and flying back home from HCMC.
We have a full month to get from north to south but we want to avoid domentic flights and keep things slow and relaxed, so we will probably use trains and buses.
We need help planning a route that will takes us from north to south
The Vibe we are looking for :
-Nature over Cities: We only want to spend ~3 nights max in Hanoi and HCMC each. We want the rest of the time to be in the mountains, jungles, or by the water.
- Authentic Food & People: We’re looking for real local experiences, not "tourist menus."
- Anti-Instagram: We want to avoid the "hotspots" with long photo queues, mega-crowds, and rigid group tours.
- Adventure: We love hiking, exploring, and being active.
My questions are:
- The Route: Given we have 30 days and want to stay in nature, which stops are best for a "Slow North-to-South" route?
We are considering Cat Ba, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc
- Central Vietnam in Nov: We’ve read online November can be rainy/floody in the center (Hoi An/Hue). Should we skip the coast and head further inland (Da Lat) to stay in nature?
-Nature Gems: Where can we find "adventure" without the group tour feel? Are there specific national parks or smaller villages where we can hike independently or with a local guide?
- The "No Flight" Logistics: For those who have done the train/bus combo for the whole length, is it manageable in a month without feeling like we’re constantly in a vehicle?
Thanks so much for reading !