Cross-Vietnam Routes from South to North

Taking a long cross-country journey through Vietnam to discover everything from natural beauty to cultural, historical, and human charm is a dream for many backpackers.

With an spontaneous cross-country trip, choosing a route depends on personal preferences and conditions. With the route below, hopefully backpackers will have the opportunity to explore everything from the beauty of the Mekong Delta region to famous tourist cities like Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hue... all the way to the thousand-year-old capital city of Hanoi.

During your journey, you can choose to stay overnight in each city, both to rest and to learn about each land you set foot on, falling even deeper in love with the country of Vietnam.

[blue]The first 5 days: Sai Gon – Vung Tau – Phan Thiet – Phan Rang – Nha Trang – Tuy Hoa[/blue]

Most of the cities along this route are famous coastal tourist towns, so you can easily find a place to rest after each leg, explore local landmarks and scenic spots in every region, and enjoy delicious specialty dishes loved by all.

When stopping in Vung Tau, you shouldn't miss the chance to swim at the bustling Front Beach or Back Beach, visit the Shakyamuni Buddha Monument, Christ the King statue, Bach Dinh, Niet Ban Tinh Xa pagoda...

[i]Phan Rang boasts many beautiful, untouched beaches perfect for backpackers to explore.[/i]
Stopping in Phan Thiet, remember to visit Duc Thanh School, Van Thuy Tu Temple, Rang Beach, Mui Ne, Lagi... all of which are gorgeous destinations. In addition, in Nha Trang, there are spots like Dam Market, the Institute of Oceanography, Bao Dai Villa... or in Tuy Hoa, Nhan Tower, Phu Yen War Invalids and Martyrs Memorial, and Chop Chai Mountain.

In Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan, don't forget to discover Cham cultural beauty through sites like Po Klong Garai Tower, Bau Truc pottery village, My Nghiep brocade weaving village, pick grapes at Ba Moi vineyard, or head to Vinh Hy Bay to admire the sea and coral reefs.

The stretches from Vung Tau to Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet to Phan Rang, or Nha Trang to Tuy Hoa are mostly picturesque coastal roads; clear blue waters with gentle waves and long stretches of white sand will captivate any backpacker.

[blue]The next 5 days: Tuy Hoa – Quy Nhon – Quang Ngai – Tam Ky – Da Nang[/blue]

The next 5 days of the journey will cover famous coastal cities in Vietnam, most notably Quy Nhon and Da Nang.

Clear turquoise waters, smooth sandy shores, and rugged rocky outcrops with rustling waves maintaining a pristine feel are what draw visitors to Quy Nhon. In Quy Nhon city, don't forget to visit Banh It Cham Tower – one of the remaining vestiges of Champa history, Twin Towers, Thi Nai Bridge – the longest sea-crossing bridge in the country connecting Quy Nhon with the Phuong Mai Peninsula, poet Han Mac Tu's grave...

[i]Quy Nhon, an ideal destination in the eyes of backpackers.[/i]
Quang Ngai is a coastal province located in the South Central Coast region, an ideal destination for exciting experiences with the open sea and famous sights.

On the way to Da Nang – a famous tourist city – you will have the chance to stop by Tam Ky in Quang Nam province. Tam Ky is the economic, administrative, and cultural center of Quang Nam province. Although not a tourist hotspot, it is a wonderful place for those looking to explore untouched nature or simply find a peaceful spot away from the hustle and bustle of major tourist areas.

Da Nang has long been famous for its beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and status as one of Vietnam's greenest, cleanest, and most beautiful cities. Stopping in Da Nang, you will get to admire iconic bridges like the Han River Bridge, Thuan Phuoc Bridge, Dragon Bridge, and Tran Thi Ly Bridge glittering at night, and visit and enjoy Sun Wheel...

[blue]The next 5 days: Da Nang – Hue – Quang Tri – Quang Binh – Ha Tinh[/blue]

Leaving Da Nang city behind, you arrive at the ancient capital of Hue, a land exuding royal elegance. Mentioning Hue evokes the ancient citadel with its golden palaces, magnificent shrines and temples, majestic royal tombs, and serene ancient pagodas... Situated on the banks of the Perfume River with poetic green mountains and azure waters, this ancient architectural complex of citadels, tombs, and pagodas makes the ancient capital of Hue – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site – endlessly charming and alluring to travelers.

Bid farewell to the ancient city of Hue to head to Quang Tri, featuring historical vestiges of the 17th Parallel alongside famous travel destinations for exploration enthusiasts. Notable spots in Quang Tri include Khe Sanh Combat Base, Cua Rao, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, and Truong Son National Cemetery.

[i]Visit Hue to relive ancient times.[/i]
Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh Province is situated along the Nhat Le River. In addition to miles of romantic coastline with calm beaches and crystal-clear waters, it features many historical monuments attracting visitors, such as Tam Toa Church, Nhat Le River, Nhat Le Beach, Quang Binh Quan Gate, and Dong Hoi Citadel... Moreover, Quang Binh is renowned both domestically and internationally for Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and the majestic Son Doong Cave.

Located along the southern strip of the Lam River, despite not being blessed with favorable natural conditions, Ha Tinh is regarded as a sacred land of extraordinary people, giving birth to many Vietnamese heroes and historical figures. Not only that, Ha Tinh also possesses an intriguing charm that leaves anyone who visits longing to return.

[blue]The final 5 days: Ha Tinh – Vinh – Thanh Hoa – Ninh Binh – Hanoi[/blue]

[i]Ninh Binh[/i]
Stopping in Vinh City, Nghe An Province, besides savoring local specialties like eel porridge, banh beo, and Vinh oranges, you shouldn't miss visiting Vinh's scenic attractions such as the Lam River, Phao Pontoon Bridge, Hoang Son Communal House, Ben Thuy Bridge...

Afterwards, visit Thanh Hoa, a land renowned for nurturing talents, home to the famous sour fermented pork roll (nem chua), and boasting beautiful beaches like Sam Son and Hai Hoa.

After journeying through the Southern and Central provinces, you will reach Ninh Binh, a province home to many famous scenic spots in Northern Vietnam. Stopping in Ninh Binh, you can visit attractions such as Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Bai Dinh Pagoda – a massive temple complex holding multiple Asian records, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, and Trang An. This region is also famous for delicacies like mountain goat meat, Yen Mac fermented pork rolls, Nho Quan straw liquor, and Lai Thanh wine.

Bid farewell to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu; before reaching Hanoi, you can visit Nam Dinh city, home to the Tran Dynasty's secondary capital, Tran Temple, King Dinh Temple, and numerous ancient pagodas. In Nam Dinh, you can also splash around at Thinh Long, a stunning beach with fine sand, clear water, and gentle waves.

The final stop concluding this cross-Vietnam route is the thousand-year-old capital city of Hanoi. In Hanoi, don't miss iconic landmarks such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi Citadel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, President Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, Hanoi Old Quarter... and taste exquisite dishes such as beef pho, West Lake shrimp cakes, Ngu Xa rolled pho, La Vong grilled fish, and Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls...