Vietnam is one of the truly great Backpacker destinations on earth. It is ideally suited for people on a budget, taking a gap year or simply traveling through the region for a few weeks. Southeast Asia in general and Vietnam, in particular, has much to offer the backpacker. They come to Ho Chi Minh City in their thousands and gravitate to Pham Ngu Lao, the backpacker area on the edge of District 1, the Central Business District. Bui Vien at night is packed out with young people, drinking and enjoying the truly unique sights of a Southeast Asian city. Also in this area are the many travel agents offering excursions to different parts of the country.
The Mekong Delta is a huge favorite among the backpacker community. It is a truly unique area offering a glimpse into history. A few days in the Delta offer a pretty inexpensive way of seeing something really special. Hotels in Can Tho are cheap and whilst the city doesn’t market itself as a backpacker destination, they arrive in good numbers. The way of life is simple here, the nightlife for many consists of a stroll along the riverfront on Hai Ba Trung. There is plenty of cheap fresh fruit and veg available and street side restaurants offer inexpensive meals.
Moving up the coast to the Central Region, the cities of Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, and Hue offer plenty of inexpensive things to see and do. The beaches here are excellent and many backpackers just rack up, find a cheap place to stay and head for the beaches. The quality of food in the beachside, seafood restaurants is incredible and not at all expensive. Traveling up to the coast can be a very cheap business as well. The Reunification Express train travels from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi several times every day and travels slowly up the coast stopping off at various places on the way. It is neither stylish nor an express, taking 33 hours to go all the way to the capital, but it is a great way to see a bit of the country and meet people.
Hoi An is such a pretty place and whilst some of the restaurants can be quite expensive, there are bargains to be had. The famous Bia Hoi is a big winner here among backpackers, and at 11 beers for a dollar, it’s not surprising. Whilst tailored shirts are not normally on the backpacker agenda, think about having an Asian style one made; for less than $20, you’ll take home a gem. You can hire a motorbike for about $9 per day and head out to the beach for some free R&R.
Hanoi is one of the culture capitals of Asia. A really good, funky arts scene has grown up here and backpackers are made very welcome. The three streets of Hang Be, Cau Go and Hang Bac providing plenty of hostels and friendly bars. This part of town is known as the Old Quarter and is a fascinating myriad of winding streets and alleyways. There are some very good live music venues here.
From Hanoi you can take the inexpensive overnight train to Sapa; this, of course, saves you a hotel fee for the night. So train out, two nights and a train back will give you 4 nights accommodation. Whilst you are there, the food is inexpensive and activities are centered around walking and trekking. Even the accommodation can be in a homestay, which is an inexpensive way of engaging with the local ethnic minority people.
So as you can see, from north to south, Vietnam offers so many opportunities for backpackers to come and enjoy this wonderful country. It is also an incredible base from which to visit the nearby countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.
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