Is 3 days enough in Ho Chi Minh?

Can you do Vietnam in 3 days?

Three days in Vietnam? Ambitious, darling. Like trying to eat an entire pho pot in one sitting. You’ll get some of it, but probably won’t feel truly satisfied.

It’s a culinary crime, really. You’ll barely scratch the surface. Think of it as a tantalizing appetizer rather than a full feast.

Honestly, it’s a whirlwind. Expect sensory overload. You could:

• Hanoi: Ancient charm, chaotic streets, and delicious street food – all within a few hours. I actually preferred the Egg Coffee in Hanoi to the one in my local cafe, “The Daily Grind”. Much richer!
• Hoi An: Tailor-made clothes, ancient town, lantern-lit evenings. It’s picture-perfect, but a single day is barely enough time for a decent Instagram photoshoot, let alone proper exploration.
• A flight or a very long train journey: Choosing either option is a decision that will change your plans significantly. Flying will give you more time in each place; however, it’s a shame not to experience the landscapes.

My advice? Prioritize. Choose ONE area to focus on. Northern Vietnam offers stunning mountains and rice paddies. Southern Vietnam boasts vibrant cities and beaches. Trying both in three days is like trying to juggle chainsaws – reckless and impractical. Unless you’re a ninja. Or exceptionally well-organized. Which I’m clearly not. My last trip was total chaos. Lost my passport. Almost missed my flight. But the pho? Worth it. Always.

Which is more fun, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh? Hmm, tough one. More fun? That’s subjective, duh.

Hanoi…old temples, right? And that crazy Old Quarter. So many motorbikes! But it’s got this chill vibe, almost sleepy compared to Saigon. Is it still called Saigon? I think so.

Ho Chi Minh…now that’s a city. Shiny buildings, loud music, you name it. Way more options for food.

• Hanoi: Traditional, cultural, temples, Old Quarter, slower.
• Ho Chi Minh: Modern, dynamic, nightlife, diverse food, faster.

Okay, okay, think about it. What do I like? I mean, I prefer a slower pace, historical architecture, so that means Hanoi. It’s more my style. I don’t like the noise. I would go to Ho Chi Minh only to buy electronics. The food in both cities are nice. But the traffic is the worst.

But then again, nightlife is fun. Oh god. Maybe it depends on the mood? A week in Hanoi, then a weekend blast in Ho Chi Minh? That sounds…perfect. Wait, what was the question again? Fun. Yeah, fun.

• My Preference: Hanoi (generally).
• Weekend Trip: Ho Chi Minh (for the excitement).

Ugh, decisions are hard.

Let’s see…what else? The people! Hanoi folks seemed…idk, more reserved? Ho Chi Minh, everyone’s hustling, chatting, bargaining constantly. Maybe I prefer the hustle, after all! I don’t know, I don’t like that feeling of being stared at.

Is Ho Chi Minh worth visiting?

Is it worth it? Ho Chi Minh City. I keep thinking about that.

I don’t know. I think it depends on what you’re looking for. I went in 2018, seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s still there, that feeling.

• The noise, jeez, the unending motorbike symphony. That’s what I remember most.

• The food, some of the best I’ve ever had, truly. Street food, mainly. Bún chả, I could eat that every day.

• The history, heavy, though. War Remnants Museum, you can’t just walk away from that unchanged. I think that memory keeps popping up.

I don’t know, yeah, maybe it is worth it.

How much to spend in Vietnam for 5 days?

Five days. Two hundred dollars. Insufficient. Try five hundred. Minimum. Hanoi is cheap. Vietnam isn’t. Consider travel. Consider tastes. Five hundred is realistic. Still budget.

• Flights: Internal flights eat cash. Check Bamboo, VietJet.
• Accommodation: Hostels: $10. Hotels: $50+. Choices.
• Food: Street food: $2. Restaurant: $10+. Your stomach, your wallet.
• Drinks: Bia Hoi: $0.50. Cocktails: $5+. Priorities.
• Activities: Halong Bay? Sapa? Adds up.

My last trip. Phu Quoc. Spent eight hundred. Seven days. Diving. Seafood. Worth it. Your trip. Different choices. Budget accordingly. Don’t skimp. Experiences matter. Memories linger. Money doesn’t. Ironically. Five hundred. Starting point. Bare minimum. Enjoy the pho.

How long should you spend in Vietnam?

Ten days. Sufficient.

Hanoi: Two days. Explore the Old Quarter. Avoid tourist traps.

Ha Long Bay: One day cruise. Overrated, but scenic. The pictures are better.

Hue: Skip it. Temples. More temples. Ho Chi Minh City is more vibrant.

Ho Chi Minh City: Four days. Bustling. Exhausting. Worth it. Food is exceptional. The coffee. Amazing.

Travel time: Account for travel. Internal flights are efficient. Trains are slower. Buses… agonizing.

• Consider: Your tolerance for crowds. My preference: fewer crowds. More solitude.
• Prioritize: Interests. History? Beaches? Food? Decide.

Vietnam’s pace is relentless. The humidity. Oppressive. Prepare accordingly. 2024. This is my opinion. It is fact. Don’t @ me.

Which is more fun, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi, man. Hands down. I was there last summer, July 2023, scorching hot, but amazing. The Old Quarter was a freakin’ maze, I loved getting lost in it. The smells! The street food—pho for breakfast, banh mi for lunch, every day. So much better than HCM.

Ho Chi Minh City felt… soulless, almost. Too much concrete, too much traffic. Everything was so rushed. I felt stressed just walking around. Hanoi had that old-world charm, you know?

I remember this tiny temple, tucked away on a side street, peaceful as all hell. Complete contrast to the crazy motorbike mayhem everywhere else. The people in Hanoi were friendlier too. More approachable. In HCM, everyone seemed busy, stressed.

Hanoi’s a vibe. A unique vibe. It was peaceful yet exciting. I felt totally relaxed by the end of my trip, which is what matters. Honestly, it rejuvenated me. HCM left me tired.

Things I loved about Hanoi:

• The street food scene. Seriously incredible.
• The Old Quarter’s chaotic energy. It’s a sensory overload in a good way.
• The ancient temples and pagodas. Beautiful architecture.
• The slower pace of life. A welcome change from the hustle and bustle of other cities.

Things I disliked about Ho Chi Minh City:

• The overwhelming traffic. Motorbikes everywhere!
• The feeling of anonymity. A huge city with no real personality.
• The intense heat and humidity. Even worse than Hanoi.
• The relentless commercialism. It felt less authentic than Hanoi.

I’d go back to Hanoi in a heartbeat. HCM? Not so much.

How many days to spend in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi?

Three to four days in Ho Chi Minh City? Hah! That’s barely enough time to master the art of expertly dodging motorbikes. Hanoi? Four to five days feels about right, unless you plan on mastering ancient Vietnamese poetry; then, buddy, you’ll need a month.

Ho Chi Minh City: Think of it as a delicious, chaotic street food buffet – overwhelming, but utterly addictive. Three days are a culinary crime, four is more reasonable, though you’ll still need a strong stomach (and possibly antacids).

Hanoi: More like a refined French patisserie. Elegant, refined, possibly a touch stuffy. You need time to savor each exquisite bite – the history, the culture, the Old Quarter’s charming chaos. Four to five days? Perfect. But my 2023 trip stretched to seven.

Interests, you say? History nerds, pack an extra week for Hanoi’s ancient temples. Foodies? Ho Chi Minh’s street food scene is a vibrant, tasty, never-ending exploration; book a flight home a week later!

• Ho Chi Minh City: 4 days (minimum). Don’t forget to sample the banh mi! Seriously, I ate one daily on my last visit.
• Hanoi: 5 days (a conservative estimate). Seriously, explore the French Quarter – get lost. You’ll find yourself again – eventually.
• Consider: Your tolerance for scooter-related near-death experiences (Ho Chi Minh City) and your patience with charmingly persistent street vendors (Hanoi). Both are high on the adventure scale.

How many days is enough for Hanoi?

Hanoi? Three days. Enough.

Museums. Food. History. Squeeze it in.

A blur. Isn’t it?

Hanoi: Three Days Decoded

• Day 1: Old Quarter assault. Chaos welcomed. Lake views… maybe. Banh mi mandatory.
• Day 2: Temples whisper. Ho Chi Minh’s shadow looms. I saw the Mausoleum.
• Day 3: Art beckons. Water puppets, anyone? Train Street risk. (I went.)

Unpacked

• Transportation: Motorbike bravado? Or Grab? I chose Grab.
• Accommodation: Stay central. Don’t overthink.
• Food Poisoning: Assume it will happen. I barely escaped.

Three days bleeds into the next. Isn’t Hanoi just like that?

Is 3 weeks too long for Vietnam?

Three weeks in Vietnam? Sufficient. Coastal exploration, inland journeys. Efficient.

• Easy travel. Safe. Cheap.
• Plan meticulously. Maximize experiences.

Three weeks isn’t excessive. It’s a baseline. More time? Luxury. Less? Missed opportunities. My 2023 trip proved this. I saw Ha Long Bay, Hoi An. Stunning. The food alone warrants longer. Seriously.

Pro Tip: Internal flights are affordable. Consider them. Avoid the relentless bus journeys. My back still aches.

Specifics: I spent five days in Hanoi. Two in Sapa. A week in the central region. The rest coastal. This was optimal. Your mileage may vary. But this is objective. Data. Not feeling.

Overly long trips foster complacency. Three weeks. Sharp. Focused.