Northern Vietnam has some of the most remote and stunning scenery in the country, delicious food & one of the best places to experience the rich Vietnamese culture. If you’re taking the time to read this north Vietnam itinerary, I’m assuming you’re in the process of planning a trip to Vietnam. I’m so excited for you because Vietnam is a fantastic country and one of my favourite places in Asia.
Vietnam is an affordable and safe destination and traveling anywhere here will give you unforgettable memories.
This itinerary will have you exploring three incredible parts of Northern Vietnam, at a pace that won’t leave you exhausted by the time you fly home. And, I will also suggest a couple of other places if you have longer than 7 days.
Pre-Trip Essentials for 1 Week in Vietnam
Visa For Vietnam
The majority of countries will need a tourist visa when for Vietnam. Vietnam has an e-visa system which makes it very easy to apply for and pay for your visa online.
The tourist e-visa is available for 80 countries and costs 25USD. The visa is valid for 1 month, you must have at least 6 months of validity on your passport.
There’s also a few countries that won’t need to apply for a visa at all;
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, visa-free for 30 days.
Philippines, visa-free for 21 days.
Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, visa-free for 15 days.
Brunei & Myanmar, visa-free for 14 days.
This information can change without notice so always check the specific visa requirements for your passport before you travel.
Money in Vietnam
The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong. At the time of writing this blog, 1 USD was approximately 23,000 Dong and 1 AUD was 16,000 Dong.
Language in Vietnam
While backpacking in Vietnam I found very few people spoke fluent English, even the younger generation. Also in a lot of restaurants, the menu was only written in Vietnamese.
A couple of things I would recommend when traveling to Vietnam to assist with a possible language barrier; have google translate downloaded on your phone and make sure Vietnamese is available offline. And, learn a few of the local words for food.
Some words you may find helpful when ordering meals:
Vegan – Thuan Chay
Vegetarian – An Chay
Chicken – Ga
Beef – Bo
Fish – Ca
Pork – Thit Lon
Rice – Com
Packing for This North Vietnam Itinerary
If you’re traveling to northern Vietnam in the winter months (December – February) it can get surprisingly cold, so make sure you pack winter gear. Especially if visiting mountain areas such as Sapa.
Traveling with a portable charger can always come in handy, particularly in Vietnam if using trains or buses. These journeys can be very long and often (if they even had them) the chargers on board didn’t work.
Also, comfortable shoes are a must for Vietnam. Cities like Hanoi are best explored on foot so you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
How Long to Spend in Vietnam
Before traveling to Vietnam I really underestimated how big it is, it may not be wide but Vietnam is mighty long!
If you plan to visit North, Central & South Vietnam, I really think you need to spend 1 month (most visas are only valid for a maximum of 1 month). My husband & I spent a month in Vietnam and although we saw heaps, there are still so many destinations we didn’t get to.
But if your sights are just set on North Vietnam, 7 days will be perfect. One week will give you time to visit three of the best areas at a reasonably relaxed pace.
Best Time to Visit North Vietnam
Vietnam sits in a tropical zone so technically only has two seasons, rainy and dry. But the Northern region of Vietnam does experience a variety of seasons throughout the year.
And, as Vietnam is so long the weather can vary quite a bit depending on which region you’re visiting.
Generally, the best time to visit North Vietnam is during Spring and Autumn, when the weather is dry and not too hot. Perfect for outdoor activities and getting amongst the beautiful scenery.
I visited in June and although it was very hot and we had a few days of rain, it was still amazing.
Summer (May-August)
This is the hottest and sweatiest time of the year, and during summer there can be tropical storms. I love the heat so really enjoyed visiting in summer but did always need to cover up when I was on the back of the bike because I could feel my skin burning.
Autumn (September-November)
For many, this is a much more pleasant time to visit north Vietnam with the daily average temperature being in the mid-20s.
Winter (December-February)
The northern region of Vietnam gets very cold in winter. It’s essential to pack warm clothing, the temperature can get as low as 13 degrees.
Spring (March – April)
This would be the best time of year for hiking as the weather is pleasant & wildflowers will be in full bloom. The weather in spring is also the most consistent.