Vietnam Itinerary 7 Days | Budget-Friendly Travel Plan

This shoestring journey of 7 days in Vietnam favors hostels, sleeper buses, street eats and free activities - perfect for backpackers. Expect overnight rides and authentic local experiences on a tight budget.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Dive into Vietnam’s largest city. Stroll downtown District 1 to see French colonial landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office (free). Visit the War Remnants Museum for a sobering look at war history (40,000 VND entry)​. In the evening, explore the lively Bùi Viện Street backpacker area for cheap beer and street performances, yes the street your friends told you to not miss in Saigon.

• Stay: A social hostel in District 1, such as Long Hostel (~$8/night dorm, free breakfast and beer)​ or Saigon Chill Hostel (party vibe near Bùi Viện)​.

• Transport: Get around by walking or Grab Bike motor-taxis (only $1-$2 per ride).

• Food: Feast on street food - try a bowl of beef noodle phở at a local stall for breakfast (~30,000 VND). Grab a famous Saigon banh mì for lunch (try Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa or a street cart for ~20,000 VND). For dinner, sample a plate of cơm tấm (BBQ pork with broken rice) at a night market stand. Street eats are delicious and typically $1-$2 each.

• Tips: Join a free walking tour led by university students (like Saigon Free Day Tours) to find hidden spots and get local insights​. At the War Remnants Museum, be respectful - exhibits are graphic. In shops or markets, bargain politely for souvenirs.​ 

Day 2: Mekong Delta Day Trip (from Saigon) - Take an early public bus (2.5 hours, ~$5) or budget tour to the Mekong Delta. Explore lush canals and local villages: ride a small boat under coconut palms, visit a coconut candy workshop, and taste tropical fruits. Many backpackers visit Mỹ Tho’s Unicorn Island, but for a less touristy vibe head to Bến Tre, known for its quiet canals and “coconut kingdom” charm​. Return to Saigon by evening and prepare to head north.

• Stay: If back late, stay another night in your Saigon hostel (most will store your bag). Some offer shower facilities even after check-out - handy before a night bus.

• Transport: Bus Saigon to Mỹ Tho/Bến Tre (rough local bus $3) or join a group tour ($15). In the evening, catch a sleeper bus heading north. An open-ticket sleeper bus pass is cost-effective, or book online via Vexere for good deals​. Take the overnight bus from Saigon to Da Nang or Nha Trang depending on your route.

• Activities: Boat ride on Mekong canals (small rowing sampan), visit a temple or local home, cycle around a delta village if possible. These tours usually include a rustic lunch (elephant ear fish, spring rolls).

• Food: Try the delta specialty hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho (savory pork noodle soup) or elephant ear fish wraps offered on tours. Back in Saigon, grab a last street dinner - maybe a bowl of spicy bún bò Huế (Hue beef noodle soup) at a local eatery to fuel up for your bus ride.

• Tips: Bring a daypack with sunscreen, bug spray, a rain poncho, and toilet paper for the delta. Keep small change for toilet fees. Overnight bus tips: carry earplugs, a light jacket (buses blast A/C), and secure your valuables on you. Sleeper buses are an adventure - not super comfy, but very cheap and save a night’s accommodation​.

Day 3: Da Nang to Hoi An - Wake up on the overnight bus as you approach the central coast. (If you stopped in Nha Trang for a beach break, catch a morning bus onward to Da Nang). Arrive in Da Nang and take a public yellow bus or shared shuttle 1 hour to Hoi An, a charming ancient town. Spend the day wandering Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Old Town with its mustard-yellow shophouses, temples, and the iconic Japanese Bridge (ticket 120,000 VND covers multiple heritage sites). In the evening, the town glows with thousands of lanterns along the Thu Bồn River - a magical free spectacle.

• Stay: A budget hostel or homestay in Hoi An. For a fun social vibe, Sunflower Hostel (~$8, dorm with pool) is famous for backpackers​. For something chill, try Tribee Hostels - they offer free breakfast and cultural activities like spring roll making nights​.

• Transport: Da Nang to Hoi An by local bus #1 (20,000 VND) or a shuttle arranged by your hostel ($5). In Hoi An, rent a bicycle (~30,000 VND) to explore the town and nearby rice paddies cheaply.

• Activities: Stroll the Ancient Town (mornings are quieter). Visit free sites like the Chinese Assembly Hall courtyards, or use your Old Town ticket to see heritage houses. Get a cheap tailor-made garment - many budget travelers get clothes or shoes made overnight (shop around small tailor shops for bargains). Hit the night market for souvenirs and to release a paper lantern on the river (10,000 VND).

• Food: Don’t miss Hoi An’s local dishes. Grab a banh mì from the famous Banh Mi Phuong stall - hyped by Anthony Bourdain​ - or try the local-favorite Madam Khanh “Banh Mi Queen” for a truly tasty sandwich​ (~20k VND each). For dinner, sample cao lầu (Hoi An’s signature noodles with pork and herbs) - look for street carts or the Central Market food hall for a bowl under 30k VND. Wash it down with a fresh beer for 5k VND.

• Tips: Hoi An’s Old Town is pedestrian-only in evenings - a delight after chaotic cities. Many attractions here are free to admire from outside; you only need to pay if entering old houses/temples. Bargain at the night market (offer half the first price). At tailoring shops, you can negotiate, especially for cash payment or group orders.

Day 4: Hoi An and Surroundings - Rent a bicycle or motorbike (if experienced) to explore beyond the tourist center. In the morning, ride to An Bàng Beach (~4 km) for a swim - beach access is free, and an umbrella chair costs just a drink purchase. On the way back, stop at the serene Tra Que Vegetable Village, where you can see farmers tending organic herbs (no fee to wander the paths). In the afternoon, consider a DIY trip to the Marble Mountains in Da Nang - five hilltop pagodas and caves (entry ~40k VND, reachable by open-tour bus or scooter). Return to Hoi An for one more night amid the lanterns.

• Stay: Same Hoi An hostel (many offer free nightly events or family dinner for guests - great to meet others).

• Transport: Bicycle rental (under $2/day) to the beach and villages. To Marble Mountains, catch the local bus to Da Nang or share a cheap taxi with other travelers. Alternatively, join a budget group tour to Mỹ Sơn ruins (around $8) if you prefer guided history.

• Activities: Beach time at An Bàng (pack your swimsuit). If you’re up early, a hidden gem is the Dawn Fish Market at Duy Hải fishing port - see fishermen unloading the catch (you’d need to hire a scooter taxi pre-dawn). Later, check out a cheap cooking class - some restaurants offer an informal class for ~$15 including a market tour (bargain hard or gather friends at a lower cost).

• Food: Try Hoi An’s street food classics: white rose dumplings and com gà (chicken rice). Many local eateries serve a filling plate of chicken rice for ~30k VND - look for Com Ga Ba Buoi, a local favorite. Snacks like fried banana pancakes or mango cakes from street vendors are just a few thousand dong. At An Bàng Beach, enjoy fresh seafood at a shack (grilled clams or whole fish can be shared, ~$5).

• Tips: Start cycling early to beat heat. Carry water and a hat - midday sun in central Vietnam is strong. When biking in town, keep to the right and go slow - motorbikes will weave around you. Marble Mountains tip: there’s a free lookout behind the ticketed caves if you’re really penny-pinching, but the cave shrines inside are worth the small fee.

Day 5: Hoi An to Hanoi (Sleeper Transit) - A long haul north. Use Day 5 to relax before an overnight journey. In the morning, you could take a cheap bus (40k VND) to Da Nang and spend the day there - visit the free Cham Museum (ancient sculptures) or China Beach. Otherwise, enjoy a last coffee by the Thu Bồn River in Hoi An. By late afternoon, catch the sleeper bus to Hanoi (around 350,000 VND, ~16 hours)​. Buses depart Da Nang/Hoi An in the evening; get ready for another bumpy but budget-friendly night.

• Stay: Overnight on the bus (saving money on a hotel). If you prefer the train, the Da Nang to Hanoi reunification express hard-sleeper costs around 700,000 VND - more expensive than bus, but safer and more comfortable for some.

• Transport: Sleeper bus booked through your hostel or a local agent (shop around agencies in Hoi An for a good price - Sinh Café, Hanh Cafe etc.). Ensure your bus has direct service to Hanoi to avoid bus-change hassle.

• Activities: This is a transit day. If in Da Nang, you can do a budget-friendly stop at the Dragon Bridge (check if the dragon breathes fire on weekends at 9pm) or a free walk on Mỹ Khê Beach. In Hoi An, take a free craft demonstration (some tailors or art shops show how lanterns or wood carvings are made).

• Food: Stock up on snacks and water for the long ride (buy from a supermarket to avoid markup at bus stops). Have an early dinner: maybe a last bowl of cao lầu or a cheap banh mi. Grab some Bánh mì sandwiches to-go for the bus. Buses will stop at local eateries, but prices can be higher for tourists - having your own food helps.

• Tips: Charge your phone/power bank before boarding (many sleeper buses lack charging ports). Keep your valuables (passport, cash, phone) on you at all times. Wear comfortable clothes for the journey. If you have extra time or budget, an alternative is breaking the journey with a stop in Ninh Bình instead of going straight to Hanoi - but on a 7-day trip, heading directly to Hanoi maximizes your final day.

Day 6: Hanoi Old Quarter - Arrive in Hanoi (likely early morning). Check into a hostel in the historic Old Quarter, and spend the day exploring the capital’s rich culture. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting Ngọc Sơn Temple on a tiny island (30k VND). Explore the maze of the Old Quarter: each street specialized in a trade (silk, toys, metalware, etc.). Key free sights include St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the train street (if open, where a train squeezes through a narrow alley - a unique sight). In the afternoon, learn about ethnic cultures at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (40k VND, a bit outside center but informative). Come evening, consider seeing a water puppet show ($5-$8) - a traditional art where wooden puppets dance on water to live music.

• Stay: A hostel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Popular budget picks include Hanoi Buffalo Hostel or Central Backpackers (dorms ~$6-$10) - expect a social atmosphere and free walking tours. For a quieter vibe, See You At Lily’s or Old Quarter View Hostel are clean and affordable. Many hostels offer free beer happy hours or rooftop hangouts.

• Transport: Hanoi is very walkable in the center. Use GrabBike for quick rides (cheap and fun way to zip through traffic). Public buses can reach sites like Ethnology Museum (bus #14 from Hoan Kiem area).

• Activities: Don’t miss the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area (free entry to see Uncle Ho’s embalmed body if you go early in the morning). Nearby are the Presidential Palace grounds and the One Pillar Pagoda - worth a look and free to walk around. The Temple of Literature (30k VND) is a beautiful 1000-year-old university - budget-friendly and serene. These sites close by late afternoon, so plan accordingly if visiting after your morning rest.

• Food: Hanoi is street-food heaven. Start your day like locals with phở at a street stall - try the famous Phở Bát Đàn in the Old Quarter​ (expect to share a table and pay ~40k VND). For lunch, have bún chả - grilled pork with noodles in broth (the dish President Obama tried) - at a local joint (about 40k VND; look for busy places or follow the scent of the grill). Snack on a freshly fried bánh gối (meat pastry) or a sweet cold chè dessert from street vendors (10k VND). In the evening, grab a tiny stool at Tạ Hiện Street (the “beer corner”) to enjoy fresh draft beer for 5k VND a glass and mingle with other travelers. Don’t forget to try an egg coffee in a hidden café like Cafe Giảng (~30k VND) - a Hanoi must-try.

• Tips: Hanoi’s Old Quarter is bustling - watch your belongings against pickpockets in crowded markets like Đồng Xuân. Many museums (and the Mausoleum) close on Mondays and Fridays, so schedule Day 6/7 accordingly. Dress modestly for the Mausoleum and be prepared to queue. In the evening, join a free local street food tour - some hostels organize walks where you pay only for the food you eat.
  Oh and don’t forget to find a perfect spot to watch sunset in hanoi while sipping on chilled Bia Hoi!

Day 7: Ninh Bình “Halong on Land” Day Trip - Cap off your budget adventure with a taste of Vietnam’s northern countryside. Take a DIY day trip to Ninh Bình (2 hours south of Hanoi, easily reached by train or bus ~150k VND round-trip). Known as “Hạ Long Bay on land,” Ninh Bình boasts stunning karst mountains rising from rice paddies and rivers. Rent a bicycle (40k VND) or motorbike (100k VND) at Tam Cốc and cycle through peaceful villages. Take a boat ride in Tam Coc or Trang An (120k-250k VND) - a rower will paddle you through caves and lily-pad dotted waterways amid limestone cliffs (truly magical and well worth the modest cost). Climb the 500 steps up Hang Múa (Mua Cave) for a panoramic view of the region’s “dragon tooth” peaks and winding rivers - a breathtaking sight​. By late afternoon, return to Hanoi to catch your flight or onward travel.

• Stay: Not applicable (overnight in Hanoi if needed, or on an evening flight). If you have a late flight out of Hanoi, many hostels offer showers and luggage storage on your last day for a small tip.

• Transport: Train from Hanoi to Ninh Bình (approx 2.5 hours, $5) is scenic and comfortable - take the 6am train to maximize time. Alternatively, a minibus or limousine van (2 hours, ~$8 one-way) can be booked via your hostel. In Ninh Bình, hire a bicycle or scooter to get around sites which are a few km apart. To return, catch an early evening train/bus back to Hanoi.

• Activities: Boat tour through Tràng An’s caves (often cited as less touristy than Tam Cốc, though both are beautiful). Visiting Bich Dong Pagoda - a lovely pagoda built into a mountainside, free entry (just a small parking fee for your bike). If you’re energetic, consider a short hike in Cuc Phuong National Park (but that would need a motorbike and more time). Most will find Tam Cốc/Tràng An + Hang Múa plenty for a day.

• Food: Enjoy countryside specialties: try cơm cháy (crispy rice crust) with goat meat, a Ninh Bình specialty - a portion in a local restaurant ~70k VND (you could split with friends). Fresh river fish grilled in banana leaf is another local dish if you’re feeling adventurous. Otherwise, pack snacks and have lunch at one of the small home restaurants near Tam Cốc boat pier (many serve rice and noodle dishes for ~50k VND). Don’t forget to hydrate - the climb at Hang Múa is steep. Reward yourself with a cold sugarcane juice (nước mía) at the top or a roadside beer when back in Tam Cốc.

• Tips: Hidden gem: if time permits, stop by the Mua Cave Ecolodge area just before sunset - they often have free traditional music performances in the late afternoon. Be aware that the last boats in Tam Coc go out around 5pm. Catching the direct 5:27pm train from Ninh Bình gets you to Hanoi by 7:30pm​. Back in Hanoi, you can squeeze in last-minute gift shopping on Hàng Gai Street (silk products) or simply relax by Hoan Kiem Lake, reflecting on your jam-packed week of budget adventures across Vietnam!