There is so much to see and do in this diverse country and it is so hard to squeeze it all into a one month visa. Therefore, I have written up my 4 week itinerary to help you with your planning.

You’re most welcome…

The Mekong Delta: Vinh Long – 2 nights

Lizzie and I began our adventure in Vietnam by travelling via bus from Kep in the South of Cambodia to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta region of Southern Vietnam.

Whilst reading up on Vietnam, we’d seen that many backpackers choose to do a trip from Hanoi to The Mekong Delta via a tour. However, being the anti-tour gal I am and, having read some terrible reviews from people who had been on these excursions, we opted to get dropped off in Vinh Long on our way up – we were passing by after all.

The Mekong Delta aka ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ is a rich, luscious and fertile region brimming with colourful orchards, unique floating fisheries and fruit-laden boats chugging along the Mekong’s mud-brown waterways.

Out of all of the areas in the Mekong Delta, we chose to base ourselves in Vinh Long as we’d read that it wasn’t as geared up for tourists as other places such as, My Tho and Can Tho and was well-known for its homestays on An Binh island (a 5 minute ferry ride from Vinh Long). We spent two days on the island cycling around the dizzying, narrow walkways and exploring life for the Vietnamese on the water.

Bus/mini bus to Ho Chi Minh – approx. 2/3 hours

Ho Chi Minh/Saigon – 3 nights

The bustling city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly known as Saigon) is an overwhelming attack on the senses, but an attack I would happily experience over and over again.

Swarming with hoards of traffic, kaleidoscopic lights and buzzing street stalls, wandering around Ho Chi Minh is an excellent introduction to contemporary Vietnam.

It’s a contrast of old and new. Whilst locals and tourists mingle together on squat stools drinking sharp Vietnamese coffee and wolfing down a $1 bowl of Pho, on the outskirts of the city, the War Remnants Museum and Chu Chi Tunnels whisper of tough years gone by.

Be sure to put aside at least half a day for each of these unmissable sights.

Bus to Dalat – approx. 4/5 hours

Dalat – 2 nights

Dalat is a cool hill station 4 hours North of Ho Chi Minh. Once frequented by the French when they were desperate to escape the tropical heat of Saigon, Dalat now boasts an abundance of rustic French colonial villas, scenic fields sprouting with colourful crops and flowers and a bizarre crazy house.

Spend your first day renting a moped or going on an Easy Rider tour to explore the striking scenery on the outskirts of town before getting yourself a little lost/drunk in The Maze Bar at night.

You don’t need a huge amount of time in Dalat but enough to soak up the cool air and the fact that you’re still in Vietnam.

Overnight bus from Dalat to Hoi An – approx. 12/14 hours

Hoi An – 3 nights

For a lot of backpackers, the UNESCO protected city of Hoi An is the crème de la crème of Vietnam.

Flaunting rustic colourful buildings draped in shimmering lanterns, a ridiculous number of tailor shops sewing shite shirts made out of funky fabric at a reasonable price and vibrant rice paddy fields for as far as the eye can see, it’s no surprise that this riverside city is such a popular spot with travellers.

Rent a bicycle and cycle your way around the nooks and crannies of the city, learn how to make Vietnamese lanterns at a lantern workshop, book onto a cooking class to craft your own summer rolls and relax in the sunshine on Cua Dai beach 4 km Northeast of Hoi An.

Bus/train from Hoi An to Hue – approx. 2/3 hours

Hue – 2 nights

Located on the romantic Perfume River, Hue was once upon a time the capital of the Nguyen emperors.

With a magnificent imperial citadel oozing with regal charm at its core and an eerie abandoned water park with a graffiti-covered dragon on its outskirts, Hue is a unique contrast of ancient history and contemporary architecture.

If you’re rushed for time, you could easily cover the main sights of Hue in one full day.

Bus from Hue to Phong Nha – approx. 5 hours

Phong Nha – 2 nights

Phong Nha was Lizzie and I’s favourite spot in Vietnam and one, which is still yet to be swamped with tourists.

The countryside on the outskirts of the small town is pocketed with impressive caves, picturesque rice paddy fields and limestone karsts sprouting out of every horizon and the town itself is a small, laid-back haven.

Rent a moped and explore the striking caves this area is so well-known for before uncovering hidden waterfalls in the Botanic Gardens.

Overnight bus from Phong Nha to Ninh Binh – approx. 10/11 hours

Ninh Binh – 2 nights

Beside its cute name, I wasn’t a huggeee fan of Ninh Binh. However, I think that was simply because it was a touristier version of Phong Nha and by this point I was very biased.

Home to Tam Coc, the surrounding area of Ninh Binh offers some stunning scenery best appreciated from a boat. Take to the water and watch as the women row the boats with their feet before hopping on a bus to Vietnam’s crazy capital, Hanoi.

Bus from Ninh Binh to Hanoi – approx. 2/3 hours

Hanoi – 3 nights

Hanoi is… mental.

Inundated with hoards of chaotic mopeds, bicycles and horns, Hanoi lives up to every stereotype of a capital city.

The vibrant Old Quarter is dense with bustling markets, aromatic street food stalls and street-side bars selling bia hoi – the locally brewed beer, which you can buy for as little as 7p a pint. Whilst the tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake and ancient pagodas and museums that are dotted throughout the city, are a mellow contrast and escape to the Old Quarter’s mania.

Wander through the city’s colonial streets before catching a bus up to Vietnam’s enchanting North.

Bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang – approx. 4/5 hours

Ha Giang – 3/4 nights

The peaceful province of Ha Giang is so far North it borders China and is still very much untouched by tourists.

Most backpackers who want to unveil Vietnam’s captivating North travel to the tourist hub of Sapa, which is a few hours West of Ha Giang. However, with the promise of treks boasting the same striking scenery as Sapa and not another tourist in sight, Lizzie and I bee-lined for the less discovered land of Ha Giang.

We trekked through 16km of flawless scenery witnessing hill tribes going about their day-to-day lives and spiky mountain ranges like no other.

Note: a lot of backpackers who do make it as far as Ha Giang do so to complete the extreme three-day Northern ‘loop’ on motorbike, which is said to be the last frontier for adventurous travel in Vietnam. It is hardcore and is not for the fainthearted but is supposedly extremely well rewarded with the best scenery in Vietnam!

Bus from Ha Giang to Hanoi – approx. 4/5 hours. 1 more night in Hanoi before booking onto a tour of Halong Bay.

Cat Ba Island – 2 nights

Halong Bay aka. The Bay of Descending Dragons is the most visited spot in Vietnam and it is no surprise why. Rocky karst formations covered in vibrant, lush vegetation rise out of the waters giving the bay a mystical, other-worldly feel and local fishermen still go about their traditional lives on floating villages.

Lizzie and I decided to book onto the 3 day/2 night Hideaway Tour of Cat Ba Island and had an incredible time uncovering the enchanting history of this area. For more info on this trip as well as Cat Ba Island itself, have a read of my review here.

Note: if you have less than 1 month to explore Vietnam, you can cut out places that don’t interest you as much and, fly between major cities to cut down on travel time!

Vietnam was definitely one of my favourite places to travel and after reading this, I’m hoping you can see why too! It’s welcoming, easy to get around and absolutely bloomin’ beautiful.

Enjoy!!

Until recently, Myanmar has been isolated under a military dictatorship and therefore, has only in recent times been re-opened to the public. As a result, this country is a lot less touristy than its South East Asian counterparts and still retains its wonderful culture and charm, which is unfortunately, so quickly dissipating in other countries.

Throughout my time in Asia, I met soooo many travellers who could only sing Myanmar’s praises.

‘It’s off the tourist trail, there’s ancient temples, there’s off the beaten track trekking and there isn’t a Pizza Hut’…

I soon realised I had to add it onto my trip – and I’m SO glad I did.

Here are 9 things to know before you plan your trip to this endearing corner of the world.

Visa

Getting a visa for Myanmar is extremely easy. You can either apply for an E-Visa online ($50) which tends to take a couple of days to be approved or, you can go to a Burmese Embassy and apply there (I believe the latter option is a bit cheaper however, I can’t find an exact price online).

Entry

You can fly into Myanmar or, enter via land at certain border crossings. I met a lot of people who entered through the Mai Sot border from Thailand who said it was as simple and easy as any other country in SE Asia.

Longyi

In Myanmar, men wear sarong like bottoms called longyis. Similarly to lungis in India, these are worn to keep the locals cool and comfortable. They come in lots of different colours and patterns and are a great fashion staple to buy if you want to fit in with the locals.

Betel nut

When you travel in Myanmar you’ll notice a lot of the locals have rotten, bright red teeth. This is caused by the betel nut, which is mixed with tobacco in a palm leaf and chewed in the corner of the mouth as a pass time. In my opinion, it tastes foul and causes you to constantly spit a vibrant, blood-coloured substance. However, the locals love it and it seems to be a social habit ingrained in their culture (similarly to cigarettes for us).

Thanaka

When you arrive in Myanmar you’ll quickly notice that women and occasionally men wear a powdery yellow substance on their faces. This is Thanaka, a paste made from ground bark, which is worn as a form of protection from the sun as well as, for cosmetic purposes.

WiFi

WiFi in Myanmar is… infuriating. It is extremely slow and takes forever to load anything. Therefore, if there is anything important you need to organise or book such as, flights whilst there, I’d recommend doing it beforehand.

Monks

Monks are everywhere in Myanmar – even more so than in its neighbouring Buddhist countries.

The devout monks range in age from around 5 and up and can be seen doing their alms rounds day-to-day (when they go around homes, shops and restaurant asking for offerings of food and donations).

In Myanmar, all boys must become a monk at least once in their lifetime. Therefore, it is very common for them to go to the monastery during their school holidays to devote their time to the Buddha. When we were in Myanmar, we witnessed multiple flamboyant parades of music, dance and decoration, which were sending the young boys off to the monastery.

Transport

Backpacking transport in Myanmar is not as well established as in other countries in South East Asia. Nonetheless, you can still get from A to B using buses, minibuses and trains very easily.

There are no sleepers and you may end up with bright lights and a crazy Burmese film blaring in the middle of the night but it’ll always be a journey to remember…

Food

Burmese food is a delicious fusion of Indian, Thai and Chinese dishes. They eat a lot of chicken curries, chapatis, rice and BBQ skewers and team these with cold noodles, zesty tomatoes and crunchy tea leaf salads. Be warned: the Burmese like to use alottttt of oil in their cooking.

Have you ever been to Myanmar? What would you add to this list?

For the Vietnamese, it is believed that when Vietnam was at war with the Chinese, dragons created Halong Bay as a maze to confuse the Chinese.

Consequently, they won the war.

This back story makes this area even more majestic and spiritual to explore.

Quite rightly, Halong Bay is a World Heritage Site and is therefore, the most desirable ‘must see’ spot in Vietnam.

But how can you do this magical area justice?

There are a ridiculous number of tours on offer through hostels and travel agents in Hanoi that vary in length, cost, activities etc. You can also visit Halong Bay independently however, this option is slightly more time-consuming, which is not ideal if you’re on a tight schedule like we were.

We were recommended the Hideaway Tour by a couple of girls we met in Dalat.

This tour is sold through the Central Backpackers Hostel in Hanoi and is based in Cat Ba National Park.

Cat Ba is an area close to Halong Bay, which boasts the same alluring scenery minus the swarms of boat tours – it sounded perfect for us.

We opted for the 3 day/2 night tour, which included transport to and from Hanoi, dorm style accommodation on an island in the archipelago, all meals, a guide and all activities including kayaking, hiking, cycling, swimming and rock climbing ($130 for 2 nights/$85 for 1 night).

As I’m usually very anti-tours, I was keen to find a tour that had a good balance of culture and socialising without feeling like we were being shimmied from one activity to the other – I feel the Hideaway Tour nailed this on the head.

On our first day we travelled for 5/6 hours on a couple of buses and boats before pulling into Monkey Island – our home for the next two nights.

After climbing a rather steep set of stairs, we came to our dorm rooms. Basic yet, with excellent views across the ocean and protruding rock formations, it was a great set up for backpackers (but maybe not for flashbackers).

Once we’d had time to eat lunch and freshen up, it was time to jump back on the boat and explore the surrounding scenery we’d had teasing glimpses of on our way to the island.

As we boarded the boat the clouds parted and the sun emerged – magnifying the area’s beauty. We grabbed a beer, laid back and soaked up the contrast of Cat Ba to the manic streets of Hanoi.

We swam, kayaked and learnt about the locals’ lifestyle before heading back to the island as the sun began to sink behind the craggy karsts.

That night we had an incredible BBQ dinner (all the food on this trip was excellent) before drinking one too many vodkas and dancing the night away to ‘Roxanneeeeee’ in the islands’ bar, which is located beneath the dorm rooms.

We awoke the next morning feeling rather worse for wear. After brekkie and some much-needed coffee, we set ourselves up for another day of activities. We jumped on the boat and beelined for Cat Ba Island.

On the other end we transferred onto bicycles and followed our lovely guide along the waterfront and through local villages.

Before ascending a mammoth rocky mountain (sometimes on all fours) to gain panoramic views across the bay. Unfortunately it was a little cloudy but it was still incredible to admire the scenery from a different viewpoint…

After a scrummy lunch we made our way back to the island to meet the new arrivals (anyone doing 2 nights will spend one day/night with one group and the second night with another).

Due to our voddy overload the night before, we ate dinner and chilled around the campfire with the others before hitting the hay.

The next morning the weather was a little drizzly. Nevertheless, we didn’t let this rain on our parade and still explored the island we were staying on.

We started at monkey beach on the other side of the bay…

Before once again climbed up a cluster of terrifyingly high and sharp rocks to get views across the horizon…

Overall, the Hideaway Tour was everything I had hoped it would be. It was away from the hoards of other tourists, had a great balance of activities and socialising and had incredibly friendly staff as guides.

As a budget backpacker it is a bit on the expensive side however, I feel this trip was worth the extra for the ease of getting around, the standard of food and activities and the opportunity to stay on an island within the area.

However, when my parents flew out to Thailand to see me for a couple of weeks over Christmas, I definitely wasn’t complaining when they checked us into the lavish 4-star Twin Lotus Resort on Koh Lanta Island.

An oasis located on Klong Dao Beach in the North of the island, Twin Lotus Resort was the perfect place to rejuvenate and escape the festive turkey-cooking stress (for Mum).

Housing two infinity swimming pools – one overlooking the beach and the other in its own tranquil gardens, a beach bar and restaurant serving up a great menu of quality food and cocktails and a serene spa offering everything from traditional Thai massages to mani pedis, the Twin Lotus was definitely not short on facilities to ensure we had a fabulous holiday.

We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis in a garden view room (Lizzie and I in one, Mum and Dad in the other).

The rooms were divine.

Situated amongst colourful manicured gardens and a trickling lake, the garden view rooms had a wonderful, tranquil feel to them before we’d even set foot inside.

The rooms were set in a two-storey villa-esque building – one room upstairs, one room downstairs – all of which were in a circular position overlooking the pretty gardens.

Once inside the room, a huge squishy double bed stood in the centre with a flat screen TV and mahusive balcony as its view. The fridge was stocked with reasonably priced goodies and free water, the bathroom had an exotic, Mediterranean feel and the towel art was on point…

The breakfast included was just as impressive as the rooms and facilities. Fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, yoghurt, an egg station, curry, noodles, make-your-own smoothies – it had it all and was served up by the friendliest and smiliest staff members (especially Meow).

Despite the outstanding grounds, views and facilities, the thing, which really set this hotel apart from the rest was the attentive staff and added extras.

Each morning after breakfast,  as we settled down into our crazy comfortable beanbags by the pool, a member of staff would cycle around the complex and hand out skewers of fresh fruit – the perfect refreshing, juicy snack in the sunshine.

Whilst at night-time, just after sunset, ‘the flower man’ would pop into every room and place a beautiful scented flower on each bed.

The hotel also treated us to a free Thai massage, which was the best massage I’ve ever had, a free yoga class overlooking the lapping ocean and, even ordered us in a barrel of Leo beer at our request.

Our stay at Twin Lotus Resort and Spa was everything we could have wished for and more and I’m sure will be cherished in the family memory book for years and years to come.

Thank you Twin Lotus!

Boasting extraordinary scenery, which could be mistaken for Mars and a charcoal coloured bubbling crater surrounded by perfectly formed volcanic cones, climbing Mount Bromo is one of my fondest memories whilst travelling so far.

Not only was the backdrop of the volcano out of this world, it was also one of the rare occasions where I managed to avoid a busy tour and do the trek independently.

Bromo is one of the main attractions on Java Island and is therefore, commonly combined with a trip to Mount Ijen in an expensive 3 day/2 night package tour.

However, despite what the touts tell you, it is easily done on your own for a pittance of the price!

Here’s my guide to getting to Cemoro Lawang and exploring Mount Bromo all on your own whilst also avoiding the crowds.

I started my journey in Surabaya (the nearest city to the volcano with an airport) where I had a very special morning (find out why here) before hopping on a 2 hour local bus to Probolinggo.

Once in Probolinggo, I asked around to find out where the mini bus to Cemoro Lawang departed from. Just around the corner from the bus station I found the mini bus in question and was told by the driver that it wouldn’t depart until it was full. At this point, it was just myself and one American guy – we were in for a long wait.

Eventually, after 5 more people turned up we decided to split the cost of the minibus between us (around £5/6 each – it should have been approx £3 each).

As the humidity and dusty roads of the city morphed into refreshing cool cloud, lush farmland and towering mountains, we weaved up treacherous windy roads until we reached the tiny town of Cemoro Lawang.

Our bus driver shimmied us into his guesthouse as we hadn’t booked any accommodation (around $5 each) and then we were all set for our early morning climb.

Most of the tours begin at around 4am. They pick you up from your accommodation, pile you into a truck and drive you up to a crowded sunrise point overlooking Mount Bromo’s crater.

Opting not to get an extortionate priced truck to the sunrise point we decided to set off a little earlier (2.30am) and tackle the walk head on – it was a trek after all!

Using trusty maps.me we waded through dewy cabbage patches, hidden spider’s webs, expanses of tall damp grass and heavily inclined concrete roads. It was a tough walk at points but nothing a podgy person who doesn’t exercise (me) couldn’t hack.

After a couple of hours and a few accidental detours we reached a quiet, uncrowded sunrise viewpoint a little below where the truck tour groups were. We grabbed a coffee and waited for the sun the unveil the magical view below the expanse of nothingness, which had been hiding from us all morning.

The sun slowly rose above the clouds uncovering vibrant vertical farming ground, Mount Bromo’s fizzing crater, sprouts of pristine volcanic cones and a blanket of bareness.

Once we’d revelled in the majestic sight the sunrise had revealed we began our descent to explore the volcanoes up close.

We followed a dotted track on our map down through farmland and rugged mud tracks before emerging into the nakedness below Bromo.

The elephant coloured crater was so ginormous each person climbing up it looked like an ant scurrying up the side of a mound. We bound our way towards the final destination on our trek – the crater.

As we approached the bottom of the crater we were greeted by hoards of tour jeeps and horses that up until now, we had managed to avoid.

The horses were waiting to take tourists up to the top of the crater however, we opted to walk as the horses didn’t look like they were being looked after very well.

The crater was a 10/15 minute climb up an incline of stairs.

And at the top we were welcomed by a deep v crater with a staggeringly unsafe and scary drop – you wouldn’t want to trip whilst up there…

We gazed in awe as the crater puffed out white, black and blue smoke from the bubbling vent below praying that today would not be the day that it would explode once again…

Mount Bromo was definitely my favourite trek whilst travelling to date. Not only because its scenery was unusual and majestic but also, because I was able to beat the crowds and experienced it independently.

Facts for climbing Mount Bromo independently

Get a local bus from wherever you are to Probolinggo.

From Probolinggo get a minivan to Cemoro Lawang (where Bromo is located).

Check into a guesthouse and get an early night (I didn’t book accom beforehand so don’t panic if you can’t find anything online).

Start the trek at 2/3am using maps.me app as a guide – there are many viewpoints located on the map to choose from.

After sunrise, descend towards the crater using maps.me – we happened to enter the area where there was no ticket booth so did not have to pay the approx $16 entry fee. This is risky but definitely doable.

The trek took around 6 hours in total.

HAVE FUN!!

Have you ever climbed Mount Bromo? Did you do it with a tour or on your own?

I’d heard so many stories about how touristy and party fuelled it had become that I was a little sceptical about whether I was going to like it or not.

Verdict – I absolutely loved it.

Although this island does have a fair few party areas jam-packed with boozing Australians, it also still retains its rich Hindu culture, which is evident in every intricate temple and colourful offering placed on each street corner.

Incorporate this with vibrant rice fields, trendy cafes, picture-perfect islands, cascading waterfalls and a coastline made out of a surfers’ dream and you have found yourself a backpackers’ paradise.

Here are my picks of the most unmissable spots in Bali.

Ubud

Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali. Strewn in grand, charcoal coloured temples embellished in brightly coloured offerings of flower petals, sweets and incense, trendy cafes selling smoothie bowls galore, exuberant yoga and clean eating retreats and vibrant rice terraces making for the most scenic of Insta posts, this place is a hippie haven.

Rent a moped, bicycle or taxi and uncover an abundance of rice paddy fields, waterfalls, volcanos and temples. Also be sure to check out the outstanding luxury villas on Air BnB – they’re insanely lavish and cheap!

Canggu

Step into a surfer dude’s heaven.

Canggu is located on the South coast of Bali and is the epitome of a ‘trendy’ town. Westerners flaunt their perfect beach babe waves in cool cafes as they discuss the morning’s surf over a raw juice and men seem to have to have hair longer than their ears to fit in. It’s very hip and very westernised but in the best way possible.

Grab a surf board and try your hand at catching some waves, treat yourself to a creamy smoothie bowl at Crate before heading to Old Man’s beach bar for an unbeatable beach party at night.

Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is a beautiful island floating around an hour off of the East coast of Bali. Still very much undeveloped, this tiny island is home to quiet, reflective white beaches, fantastic marine life and a luscious mangrove forest.

We looped the island in a golf buggy in under an hour and found hidden beaches enveloped in jagged towering cliff faces, breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the island and beyond and a private sunset point to die for. Nusa Lembongan is also a great spot to venture out to swim with the ocean’s friendly giants – manta rays.

Uluwatu

Similarly to Canggu, Uluwatu is where you’ll find the best waves and the coolest hang out spots.

Here, all mopeds come with a surf board attachment and backpackers don snazzy tropical shirts and crystal necklaces. There are multiple beaches spread out across the town where you can relax, surf and shop as well as, a very scenic temple overlooking the ocean and towering cliff faces.

Although Uluwatu and Canggu have very similar vibes, I’d say the diversity of the beaches makes it worth checking both out!

Have you ever been to Bali? What would you add to this list of unmissable spots?