You can do a lot of things in your Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks. This period is enough for any traveler to explore all the popular places and try all the best dishes of the entire 3 regions: north, central, and south.
Not to miss any tourist attractions and local food, you need to set up a good plan before your trip.
We understand that not everyone has experience planning a suitable itinerary for 3 weeks in Vietnam. That’s why we have made this article to list all the most famous places you can visit and recommend the special dishes you should try.
Scroll down and read our guide!
Week 1: Northern Vietnam
You should begin your Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks in the northern region. 7 days are not much, but enough to experience all the tourist attractions in the 3 popular cities and provinces: Hanoi, Halong Bay (Quang Ninh), and Ninh Binh.
Ha Noi
Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam is a beautiful combination of the new, the old, and the in-between. The city attracts tourists around the globe with its scenic spots, historical sites, modern skyscrapers, guild streets, museums, and delicious street food.
Where To Go
Thang Long Imperial Citadel – Hoang Thanh Thang Long
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a feudal dynasty vestige in Vietnam. It has been chosen to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is still used nowadays for royal court ceremonies and ancient dance performances.
Old Quarter Streets – Pho Co
Old Quarter Streets are the places that make Hanoi unique. It is not wrong to say that Pho Co is the spiritual symbol of Vietnam’s capital. Old Quarter Streets combine more than 36 streets selling a wide range of traditional products, from drums, toys, silks, votive, and fresh ingredients, to special food.
Hanoi Cathedral – Nha Tho Lon
Hanoi Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Vietnam’s capital, built in December 1886 by the French colonies. This place has the throne of the archbishop. Nowadays, Hanoi Cathedral is the host place of Catholic parishioners for many religious activities.
I.1.2. What To Eat
Xoi Xeo
Xoi Xeo is a type of sticky rice in Hanoi. You can see a lot of street vendors and small restaurants selling this dish. Xoi Xeo is beautiful with a green-yellow color, served with fried onions and pork bologna (Cha Mo). Locals usually buy this food for their breakfast.
Banh Tom
When going around Ho Tay in Hanoi, you will see a long row of vendors selling Banh Tom (shrimp cake). The food contains shrimp mixed with rice powder. The entire piece of shrimp cake is deeply fried in hot oil before serving.
Banh Cuon
Banh Cuon is another food you should try when visiting Northern Vietnam, especially Hanoi. The rice flour is steamed and rolled with ground meat and mushrooms. The food is served with sweet fish sauce, fresh herbs, and fried onions.
I.2. Halong Bay
After you visit Hanoi, you can move on to Halong Bay. This place is located in Quang Ninh province, about 121.8 miles from Vietnam’s capital.
I.2.1. Where To Go
Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is one of the largest caves in Halong Bay. This place catches the eyes of the tourists with multiple rocks that have unique shapes. The “Sung Sot” means “Surprise”, named by a French scientist who visited this cave in 1901. At that moment, he was amazed by the beauty of the cave and gave the name “Grotte de la surprise”.
Monkey Island
The name has said everything. Monkey Island contains hundreds of monkeys that are playful and very friendly. Tourists can feed or interact with these creatures freely. The only way to get to this island is to take a boat tour. But since you are on the island, there are a lot of outdoor activities you can try, such as snorkeling, swimming, or going kayaking.
Viet Hai Village
Viet Hai village is located in the heart of the Cat Ba National Park. This place is unique thanks to its traditional features, including small houses made of bamboo, leaves, soil, and wood. Locals still keep the tradition of their ancestors, as they go fishing, do farming, and raise cattle for a living.
I.2.2. What To Eat
Cha Muc
Cha Muc is a favorite food of both Vietnamese and foreigners when they visit Halong Bay. The chopped squid is mixed with rice flour and grilled or fried at high heat. It looks delicious with a burn-yellow color and tastes wonderful with a soft and juicy flavor.
Seafood
Halong Bay is famous for its seafood. As you are in this place, don’t miss your chance to try the freshest lobsters, prawns, clams, fishes, and oysters. There are a lot of methods to prepare and cook seafood. You have to try grilled, quick-fried, deep-fried, boiled, or even steamed versions of the seafood!
Loi Am Grilled Chicken
It may sound weird to eat chicken in a city that is popular for seafood. However, 1 of the best specialties in Halong Bay is the Loi Am Grilled Chicken. This dish is great due to the special way to prepare the meat and the special sauce to eat with. Believe it or not, the taste of Loi Am chicken is at a high level. You will be amazed by the flavorful, tender, smokey, and crispy taste!
I.3. Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is a wonderful place with towering limestone mountains and natural caves. This province attracts visitors with friendly people and spectacular views.
I.3.1. Where To Go
Trang An Grottoes
The Trang An Grottoes is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place looks amazing with limestone hills and crystal clear rivers. Also, Trang An Grottoes is considered the home of many natural species. The nature view is so beautiful as the famous King Kong: Skull Island was even filmed here.
Mua Cave
Visitors will have to climb about 500 stair steps on the Mua Cave Mountain to reach the peak of the Mua Cave. We advise you to ask the locals for the correct path, as this mountain has 2 peaks. One peak has a pagoda and the other has the Mua Cave – your destination. From the peak of the Mua Cave, you can have an overview of the entire Ninh Binh town, Trang An, and Tam Coc.
Thung Nham Bird Garden
This place is a paradise of birds. You can have a great view of different kinds of feathered creatures grazing on limestone karst hills. The city people choose Thung Nham Bird Garden to escape the crowds on weekends. When visiting this place on weekends, you will notice a lot of Vietnamese fishing, climbing, caving, and hiking around.
I.3.2. What To Eat
Goat Meat
The weather and geographical environment in Ninh Binh are ideal for raising goats. It is such a miss if you don’t try some pieces of fresh goat meat in this province. The dish is usually prepared along with local herbs, including ginger, chili, basil leaves, lemon, fig leaves, star fruit, and green banana.
Com Chay
Com chay is cooked rice but prepared specially. The locals slice the rice into many round-shaped pieces, cool them down, and fry them in hot oil. The rice attracts tourists with its yellow color and crispy taste.
Goi Ca Nhech
Goi Ca Nhech is a type of salad, with Nhech Fish as the main ingredient. The Nhech fish lives in freshwater and looks like a thin water snake. The dish is served with Nhech fish filets, some local spices, and herbs, such as ginger, garlic, salt, and roast ground corn.
II. Week 2: Central Vietnam
The next 7 days in your Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks are for visiting the central region. The most popular places are Danang, Hoi An, and Hue.
II.1 Danang
Danang is 1 of the biggest cities in Vietnam. You will need to travel back to Hanoi to buy an airplane ticket. The flight is about 2 hours from Noi Bai’s airport to Danang.
II.1.1. Where To Go
Bana Hill
Bana Hill is a top resort in Danang with western middle-age architecture, considered by the locals as the Heaven of The Earth. In this place, you have to experience the mountain cable car system, which brings you from the ground to the peak of the highest mountain. The Sun World resort on the top of Bana Hills is glamorous with European-style architecture.
Linh Ung Pagoda
Ling Ung Pagoda is located in the Son Tra peninsula, popular as a pilgrimage destination for many locals and foreign tourists. This place welcomes the most people on the Vietnamese traditional new year days. People come to this pagoda to pray and pilgrimage for luck, peace, and success. The pagoda is beautiful with its old architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
Bich Hoa Village
You should spend a little time visiting the lovely Bich Hoa village, in which all the small houses are beautifully painted by mural artists. The pictures on the walls are diverse in style. Some describe the daily life of sea villagers, some paint the cartoon characters in Disney comics, and some show the beauty of ocean life.
II.1.2. What To Eat
Mi Quang
The Mi Quang is the most popular food in Danang. Any tourists visiting this city should not miss this dish. It is flat rice noodles served with delicious broth and optional salad. You will decide which toppings to put in the bowl. The most common extra ingredients the tourists choose are pork, roasted peanuts, chicken, and shrimp. The dish is completed with a unique turmeric sauce.
Banh Xeo
Banh Xeo looks like crepes with a thin piece and bright yellow color. The food is filled with ground pork, chopped shrimp, natural sprouts, onions, and beans. Take one bite of the Banh Xeo, and you will be impressed by the cracking, crispy, and savory taste. The dish is served with special sauce and rice paper, along with local herbs.
Banh Canh
Banh Canh is a type of soup, with thick tapioca-flour noodles as the primary ingredients. The bowl of noodles is topped with pork, shrimp, fish cake, and vegetables. Before serving to the visitors, the chefs pour a special sweet broth to make the food more delicious.
II.2. Hoi An
Hoi An is just about 18.64 miles from Danang. You can easily buy a bus ticket in Danang and move to this ancient town. The drive takes about 50 – 60 minutes on the total count.
II.2.1. Where To Go
Ancient Town
What makes Hoi An unique is an ancient town. It was a trading port in Southeast Asia in the period from the 15th to the 19th century. The houses and streets in this town still keep the historic old styles till now. Don’t forget to visit the Japanese-covered bridge, the Old Houses, and the Quan Cong temple, which are located inside the town.
Central Market
If you want to try local fruits, food, and drinks, we recommend you visit the central market. This place consists of multiple private vendors, who sell items (mostly ingredients or food) at a very low price.
Hoi An Night Market
The Night Market in Hoi An is held on Nguyen Hoang street. Tourists are amazed by the shiny and lovely view of the streets covered in lanterns. If you want to buy souvenirs, the Night Market is the most suitable area. About 500 vendors provide different kinds of stuff, from clothing, and food, to paper lanterns.
II.2.2. What To Eat
Cao Lau
Although Cao Lau is simply noodles with pork and vegetables, its flavor is completely different from any other noodle you have tried. It is difficult to find Cao Lau outside of Hoi An. Even when there is a place that sells this dish, the taste may not be 100% original. The reason is that the ingredients used for this food are found only in Hoi An. Try the food to feel the unique flavor of the broth, the spices, and the toppings!
Chicken Rice
The dish is served with cooked rice and shredded chicken. What makes Com Ga Hoi An special is that the rice is flavored with chicken broth and turmeric sauce. You can easily distinguish the chicken rice in Hoi An from other places, as the mentioned rice has a beautiful yellow color (while the others are white).
Banh Khot
Banh Khot is a mini pancake version of Vietnam. A mixture of flour and eggs is deeply fried in hot oil, topped with shrimps, porks, and quail eggs. The food is usually served with special fish sauce, with shredded carrots and radish inside.
II.3. Hue
Hue is the final destination you should go to in your central Vietnam itinerary. This place was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945.
II.3.1. Where To Go
Quoc Hoc Hue
Quoc Hoc means National High School. This place is known as the very first and the oldest Vietnamese high school. In the past, the school only accepted students and pupils from royal families. At the moment, it is 1 of the top high schools for the gifted in Hue.
Hue Imperial Citadel
Hue Imperial Citadel is 1 of Vietnam’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Nguyen dynasty has had its seat in this citadel for over 143 years. Although this place had been destroyed by bombs in the war from 1947 to 1968, much old architecture remains and is being renovated nowadays.
Tu Hieu Pagoda
Tu Hieu is the largest and oldest pagoda in Hue. This place has a high value of history and culture, being the most sacred land for Buddhists.
II.3.2. What To Eat
Bun Bo Hue
During your trip to Hue, make sure that you order a bowl of Bun Bo. It is rice noodles in a spicy broth, served with beef slices, meatballs, and vegetables.
Nem Lui
Nem Lui is ground pork covering a lemongrass stick. The food is charcoal grilled before serving to the visitors. This food is unique due to its smokey and tender flavor. For the best taste, you should eat it with a meat sauce and rice paper.
Banh Beo
Banh Beo is a type of steamed water fern cake, with rice powder batters as the main ingredients. The food is filled with shrimp, pork, shallot, and fried onions. You dip the food in the fish sauce before enjoying it.
III. Week 3: Southern Vietnam
Your Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks are coming to an end. In the first 14 days, you have completed exploring all the most common places in the north and the central in Vietnam. You will visit the Southern region in your last week.
III.1. Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is known as Saigon – the biggest city in South Vietnam. It takes you about 1 hour 25 minutes to fly from Danang to Saigon.
III.1.1. Where To Go
Bui Vien
Saigon is famous for Bui Vien street – an amazing place to experience the nightlife. There is a club, bar, and rooftop coffee shop, where you can have some delicious beer, alcohol, sweet drinks, or cocktails.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels have an extensive and complex network of underground bases and storage. This place was used to store equipment, food, weapons, and medicines for Viet Cong during the Vietnamese wars.
Ben Thanh Market
If you want to try street food and buy souvenirs at a low price, spend time visiting Ben Thanh Market. This is the most authentic market in Saigon, which supplies basic items and gifts to tourists.
III.1.2. What To Eat
Com Tam
Com Tam is the soul of Saigon’s cuisine. The dish is served with white rice, marinated grilled pork chops, Cha Trung (mixture of egg and pork), fried fish, sunny side eggs, and vegetables. There will be special fish sauce and soup to make Com Tam tastier.
Hu Tieu
Hu Tieu is another version of noodle soup, containing broth, rice noodles, local herbs, and some slices of pork meat (or shrimp). A bowl of Hu Tieu is served along with chili peppers, lemon, and local sprouts.
Banh Trang Nuong
As locals say, Banh Trang Nuong is Vietnamese pizza. Instead of dough, the chef grills rice paper on a charcoal fire and fills on top with optional toppings as the customer’s order. The common toppings are sausages, eggs, sprouts, shrimps, and ground pork.
III.2. Can Tho
From Ho Chi Minh, you need to travel 78.9 miles to arrive at Can Tho. As a river delta city, Can Tho is beautiful with its poetic beauty of the waterways.
III.2.1. Where To Go
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang is the largest wholesale floating market in Vietnam. The common transportation method that most tourists will use to visit this place is by boat. The vendors in this market focus on selling agricultural products, food, and fruit juice.
Can Tho Market
The Can Tho Market is more than 100 years old. Located in the heart of the city, this market is known as the busiest shopping area in Can Tho, especially at night. You should visit this place to admire the elegant traditional architecture.
Bang Lang Stork Garden
This garden is the home of thousands of storks. There is not much glamourous architecture, but a great beauty of the countryside style. You can view and interact with different species of not only storks but also a wide range of tropical bird species here.
III.2.2. What To Eat
Com Chay Kho Quet
Com Chay Kho Quet is translated to scorched rice and caramelized fish sauce. The rice is grilled on fire to have a cracking, crunchy, and crispy flavor. You dip the piece of rice into the fish sauce (with pork slices) before taking a bite of it. The fragrance and taste are guaranteed to make you addicted!
Grilled Sticky Banana
This dish is very popular in the Mekong delta. The chef wraps the banana with sticky rice and grills it on fire. The food is served with coconut milk. The sweet and greasy taste will please you at best!
Grilled Snails With Pepper
This food doesn’t taste as weird as they sound. Snails are carefully cleaned before cooking. The chefs season the ingredients with special spices and aromatic herbs, especially pepper to increase the good smell.
III.3. Phu Quoc
III.3.1. Where To Go
Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc
Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc is a huge complex for entertainment, in which you can take part in multiple fun activities. The most interesting things you can do are exploring the aquarium, swimming in the water park, having fun in the indoor and outdoor game areas, and watching performances of seals and dolphins.
Phu Quoc Prison
With an interest in Vietnamese history, you should include Phu Quoc Prison in your itinerary. This prison is built by the French colonial to detent and torture the Vietnamese soldiers. You will see a lot of images about the death of the National heroes.
Bai Sao
Bai Sao beach is between 2 large mountains. Locals say that this beach has the quietest space and the freshest atmosphere. This should be the best place for you to relax after 3 long weeks of travel.
III.3.2. What To Eat
Crab rice
Crab rice is the top dish that you will see on the menu of every restaurant in Phu Quoc. The food is a mixture of white rice, boiled crabs, and eggs. It will be fried on a hot pan, seasoned with spices and special seafood sauce.
Grilled Coi Bien Mai
Coi Bien is a type of oyster found in the blue sea in Phu Quoc. The chef season the food with salt, and chili powder and grills it on a charcoal fire.
Grilled Mu Fish
Ca Mu – Mu fish is a must-try seafood in Phu Quoc. The fresh Ca Mu smells good when being charcoal grilled. You can choose not to season any spices to feel the original flavor, or add some salt, pepper, and chili powder for extra flavor.
Final Words
Above is our plan for a complete Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks. Our plan includes the most popular places and the best food in all 3 regions. You will be able to experience nearly the entire culture in 3 weeks in Vietnam.
For more tips on Vietnam travel, please subscribe to our website. We will update new posts in the future!
>> Read more: Vietnam Itinerary 10 Days: Awesome Guide You Shouldn’t Miss