Reuben Charles
Da Nang to the Far North · a 26-day solo route

The top half of Vietnam

A comprehensive guide to central and northern Vietnam. Once you've done it, you've earned the right to say "I've done the north".

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Reuben Nathanial Charles · @reubenncharles
26Days, day by day
9Stops, heading north
12Linked videos
$1,603Full budget trip
Instagram · Direct
Hey! Which route would you take through Vietnam?
Ok so start in Da Nang, then Hoi An for a few days, get the train over the Hai Van Pass to Hue, then Phong Nha for the caves, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Ha Long, then the Ha Giang Loop...
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Field notes · welcome

It started as a DM that was too long to send

I'm Reuben, a full-time travel creator from the UK. I've spent several months in Vietnam as a "professional tourist", and I've tried almost everything there is to do in the north.

Someone asked me which route to take, and by the time I'd finished typing my reply, I'd basically written them a guide that was too long for Instagram. So I polished it up, added every detail I could think of, and turned it into this. All of it is yours for a tenner.

Read a page, then watch the video of that exact place. If something still isn't clear, DM me on Instagram and mention you're reading the guide.

Reuben · @reubenncharles

Itinerary master

Nine stops, heading north

Planned over 26 days. I took 45 with breaks, and I'd honestly give it a month so you have rest days in between.

  1. Phase 1 · Central coast
  2. Days1–2

    Da Nang

    The Lady Buddha on Monkey Mountain, the Dragon Bridge breathing fire on weekend nights, and lunch at A Quiet Place, where the staff are deaf and you order by sign and card.

    VideoBa Na Hills: soon
  3. Days3–5

    Hoi An

    A bespoke suit or dress in three days, a custom leather bag in under 24 hours, and Anthony Bourdain's favourite banh mi.

    2 videos
  4. Days6–7

    Hue

    The daytime train over the Hai Van Pass (sit on the right), the Imperial City, and bun bo Hue in the city it's named after.

  5. Phase 2 · Caves and karsts
  6. Days8–12

    Phong Nha

    The secret route to Paradise Cave by motorcycle ferry, then a multi-day expedition into some of the largest caves on the planet.

    3 videosExpedition: soon
  7. Days13–14

    Ninh Binh

    Trang An by rowboat (I'd pick route 2 for the water caves) and the 500-step climb up Hang Mua.

  8. Phase 3 · Hanoi and the north
  9. Days15–16

    Hanoi

    An open-top evening jeep tour to get your bearings, then egg coffee, pho and bun cha where they were born.

    Video
  10. Days17–18

    Ha Long Bay

    Day trip or overnight cruise? I tell you which is worth it travelling solo, with a budget and a premium option.

    Video
  11. Days18–21

    The Ha Giang Loop

    Three days on the back of a bike with Road Kings, through the most dramatic mountain roads in Vietnam. The highlight of the whole trip.

    4 videos
  12. Days22–26

    Sapa & home

    Fansipan, a valley trek through the rice terraces, an optional few hours in China across the Lao Cai bridge, then back to Hanoi.

The route is free. The detail is in the guide.

Every leg, price and tip for all nine stops

How to get between each stop, what it costs, which operators to book, and the small things that make each day work.

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What's inside

Everything you need to do it yourself

Land and get set up

Where to get a SIM (not the airport), how to handle cash, and paying Vietnamese bank accounts with Wise.

The apps I actually use

Grab, Green SM, Vexere, Skyscanner and the rest, plus local taxi numbers for when Grab can't reach you in Phong Nha.

A chapter per stop

What to do, how long to stay, real entry prices and opening times, and my tips from doing it.

Try it where it was made

The dish each place is famous for, from mi quang and cao lau to thang co in the highlands.

Every leg, costed

All ten journeys between stops, with the best way to do them solo, how long they take and what they cost.

Two real budgets

Line-by-line totals for budget ($1,603) and comfort ($2,581), so you know what to save before you go.

The people of the north

Who you'll meet, from the Kinh to the Hmong, Dao and Tay, their languages, food and way of life.

Travelling responsibly

What tourism has changed in Ha Giang, and how to spend so your money stays with local families.

Free updates forever

A few things are marked "not tried yet". When I've done them, you get the updated guide free.

Chapter 4 · Day 9

Paradise Cave, self-guided

Rent a bike and take the secret route across two motorcycle bridges and a motorcycle ferry.

I didn't rent a bike myself. I asked one of the people at the cave if they'd give me a ride back. They did, I gave them around 200,000 VND, and it was a great experience.

ENTRY 270,000 VND including the electric buggy. Open about 07:00–16:30.

WATCH THE VIDEO  The motorcycle ferry to Paradise Cave

A look inside

Written like a friend's notes

The guide is full of the small things that make a day work: which side of the train to sit on, when the Dragon Bridge breathes fire, and what to tip your Easy Rider.

Nearly every stop links to a video I filmed there, so you can see it before you go.

Affiliate & code policy

Being upfront

Book however you like

Everything in the guide can be booked on any platform. To support local families most, book directly with them and pay in cash, which often gets you a better rate.

Klook

I'm a Klook affiliate and earn a commission when you book through my links. If you'd like to support me, use code REUBEN at checkout for a discount.

Road Kings

I'm also a Road Kings affiliate. I chose them for their safety record, proper helmets and fair pay for their riders. Code REUBEN gets you a discount on the loop.

Questions

Before you buy

What do I get?

The full guide as a digital download you can read on your phone, tablet or laptop. Every video and booking link is clickable.

Is it for solo travellers?

Yes. Most days are self-paced, with a few small-group tours like the Ha Giang Loop, where you'll travel with other solo travellers.

When should I go?

Spring. I did the trip in March 2026. Central Vietnam gets heavy rain and flooding from roughly September to December, which can close roads around Hue, Hoi An and the Hai Van Pass.

Do I have to do it in 26 days?

No. 26 days is a fast pace. I took 45 with breaks, and I'd recommend giving it a month.

How much will the trip cost?

About $1,603 on a budget or $2,581 in comfort, per person, excluding flights. The guide breaks both down line by line.

Is Vietnam safe to travel alone?

In my experience, very. I've spent several months travelling here and never had a bad experience.

Can I ask you questions?

Yes. DM me on Instagram at @reubenncharles and mention you're reading the guide.

Will it be updated?

Yes. As I do the things marked "not tried yet", I'll update the guide, and every new version is free.

Da Nang to the Far North

Ready to say "I've done the north"?

26 days, 9 stops, 12 videos and two full budgets, for about the price of a lunch out.

Get the guide£10 Read on any device · free updates forever