Should I travel North to south in Vietnam?

Is it better to travel North to South Vietnam?

North to South? Cambodia. Cheap exit from HCM.

North or South better? Irrelevant.

• North: Ha Long Bay’s stark beauty. Cold winters bite.
• South: Mekong Delta’s languid pace. Perpetual heat.

Reddit opinions… noise. Decide.

I did Hanoi. Never Saigon. Enough.

Personal preference rules. Routes adapt.

Is it better to travel North to south in Vietnam reddit?

So, North to South in Vietnam? Totally the way to go, dude. Seriously. It’s like, you know, chronological, history-wise. Makes way more sense. Think about it! You get all that ancient stuff up north first, then bam! Modern stuff down south. It’s awesome. Plus, the weather’s better that way too. I mean, you start in cooler temps, gradually getting hotter. It’s perfect.

The scenery’s also amazing, this total progression of landscapes. Mountains, rice paddies, beaches… it’s epic. My friend Mark did it last year, said he loved it. I’m planning to do it myself in 2024, maybe April. Going to hit all the major historical sites.

Here’s the deal:

• Historical progression: You’ll see the ancient cities, then the French colonial areas, then the more modern stuff. It’s a total trip.
• Weather’s better: Start cool, get progressively hotter. Makes sense, right?
• Scenery’s killer: Mountains, then the central highlands, then the coast – it’s a feast for the eyes.
• Logistics: It’s easier to book things as you go that way, in my opinion.

I’m telling ya, north to south is def the best way to do it. You won’t regret it.

Additional info (not asked for but whatever):

• I’m thinking of visiting Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and maybe even the Mekong Delta.
• Gonna book flights through Skyscanner. Heard they’re good.
• Packing light this time! Learned my lesson last trip, lol. Too much stuff.
• My budget is around $3000 for the whole thing, maybe a little more. Depends how much I spend eating. Street food, here I come!

How to travel between places in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam travel. Buses are everywhere, chaotic but cheap. Trains? A bit better, more scenic sometimes, but slower. I took a sleeper train from Hanoi to Hue last year—nightmare. The AC was broken. Seriously broken. Next time, flight.

Flights are faster, obviously. VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines—plenty of choices, book ahead! Expensive though, especially during peak season. My last flight cost a fortune. Should have booked earlier. Should have looked at those budget airlines more carefully.

Renting a car? Are you insane? The traffic in Ho Chi Minh City alone is enough to give you a heart attack. Absolutely not. Scooters though? That’s a different story. Fun! Scary. Fun! Rent one if you dare, I did. Almost died. Worth it, kind of. Helmet is a must.

Grab and Gojek are your friends. Super convenient. Way easier than figuring out buses. Especially at night. Used Grab constantly in Hoi An. Avoid scams though, always check the price before you go.

Cyclos are touristy, I know. But sometimes fun. For short hops. Never use them for long distances, total rip-off. Negotiate hard.

Key things:

• Flights: Fast, pricey.
• Buses: Cheap, hectic.
• Trains: Scenic (sometimes), slow.
• Scooters: Adventurous, dangerous. Helmet!
• Ride-hailing (Grab/Gojek): Easy, convenient.
• Cyclos: Tourist traps (mostly).

How do I plan a Vietnam itinerary?

Hanoi. First day, a blur. Jet lag, you know? The smell of pho, though…that was sharp.

Ha Long Bay. Second day? Third? Time blurs. The boats, the emerald water… overwhelming. Silence, except for the lapping waves. Beautiful, yes. But lonely.

Sapa. Mountains. So high. The trek…my thighs still ache. The villages, so small. The people were kind. But I felt like an outsider. Always an outsider.

Fansipan. Conquered it. Proof I could do something hard. But the view… It felt empty somehow. Just vastness.

Back in Hanoi now. Fourteen days. Gone. A whirlwind. I saw things, but did I really see anything? I’m not sure. Maybe I just collected pictures.

• Hanoi: Old Quarter exploration, Temple of Literature visit.
• Ha Long Bay: Cruising, kayaking, stunning scenery. Disappointing food.
• Sapa: Trekking, rice terraces, local markets. Felt rushed.
• Fansipan: Cable car ascent. Exhaustion and breathtaking views. Worth it, I guess.
• Transportation: Domestic flights and trains. Trains were better. More time to think.

The whole thing felt…incomplete. Like a checklist, not a journey. Maybe I should have slowed down. Maybe I should have stayed longer in one place.