By aussiematesvietnam 
G’day fellow wanderers! After decades of dreaming about those iconic Vietnamese landscapes, I finally bit the bullet and embarked on what turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Vietnam by road is a whole different ball game compared to your standard resort holiday. Trust me, mates, there’s nothing like feeling the warm breeze on your face as you zip past emerald rice paddies on a scooter, or watching the countryside unfold from a car window with no schedule but your own.
For us Aussies in our golden years, Vietnam offers that perfect mix of exotic culture and familiar comforts. The war that dominated our youth is now ancient history, replaced by a vibrant, welcoming country that’s modernizing at breakneck speed while keeping its soul intact. So pack your sense of adventure (and some Tiger Balm for those long rides), as I walk you through planning the ultimate Vietnam road trip!
When to Go: Timing Your Vietnam Adventure
First things first, cobbers – timing is everything in Vietnam. This long, skinny country has wildly different weather patterns from north to south.
If you’re planning to cover the whole country, February to April and August to October are your best bets. You’ll avoid the worst of the monsoons and scorching heat. I went in March and scored beautifully – warm days, cool evenings, and minimal rain except for some atmospheric drizzle in Sapa that actually enhanced those misty mountain views.
Avoid Tet (Vietnamese New Year, usually in February) unless you fancy everything being shut and transport prices going through the roof. Similarly, July and August can be stinking hot in the south – not ideal when you’re navigating Ho Chi Minh City traffic on a 35-degree day!
Getting Your License Sorted
Right, here’s the boring but crucial bit. Technically, you need a Vietnamese license to drive legally in Vietnam, and your Aussie license alone won’t cut the mustard. You’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your local automobile association BEFORE leaving Australia, plus your regular license.
That said, plenty of tourists rent scooters without proper documentation. I’m not recommending it, but it happens. Just know that if you have a bingle, your travel insurance likely won’t cover you without proper licensing. For car hire, companies are much stricter and will want to see that IDP.
If you’re not keen on driving yourself (and fair enough – Vietnamese traffic is not for the faint-hearted), hiring a car with a driver is surprisingly affordable. We paid about $50 USD daily for a comfortable car with an English-speaking driver who doubled as a tour guide. Absolute ripper of a deal!
Planning Your Route: North to South or South to North?
The classic Vietnam road trip runs either from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa. I reckon starting in the north gives you a gentler introduction – Hanoi feels more manageable than the hectic southern capital.
Our 3-week itinerary looked something like this:
- Hanoi (3 days) – Absorbing the French colonial architecture and café culture
- Ha Long Bay (2 days) – Cruising among those limestone karsts
- Ninh Binh (2 days) – “Ha Long Bay on land” with rice fields and caves
- Hue (2 days) – Exploring the Imperial Citadel
- Hoi An (4 days) – Getting suits made and cycling through rice paddies
- Da Lat (2 days) – Cooling off in the mountains
- Ho Chi Minh City (3 days) – Urban adventures and Cu Chi tunnels
- Mekong Delta (2 days) – Floating markets and village life
If you’ve only got two weeks, I’d suggest focusing on either the north or south, with the middle section around Hoi An as your pivot point. No point spending half your holiday in transit, eh?
Road Conditions: What to Expect
Let me give it to you straight – Vietnam’s roads range from beautifully smooth highways to potholed tracks that’ll rattle your fillings loose. The main artery, Highway 1, runs the length of the country and is generally decent, but traffic is mental.
The real magic happens on the smaller roads, especially the coastal route (Highway 1A) between Hue and Hoi An. This stretch, part of the famous Hai Van Pass, offers jaw-dropping ocean views that’ll have you pulling over every five minutes for photos.
Be prepared for the unexpected – water buffalo crossing the road, impromptu markets on the shoulder, and the occasional scooter coming straight at you on the wrong side. It’s all part of the adventure!
Northern Highlights: Hanoi to Hue
The north is where Vietnam’s heart beats strongest, with its blend of stunning natural scenery and deep cultural heritage.
Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Kick off in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where life spills onto the streets in a glorious jumble of food stalls, shopfronts, and cafés. We stayed in a boutique hotel that cost less than a roadside motel back home and spent our days wandering the 36 ancient streets, each traditionally dedicated to a specific trade.
Don’t miss sipping Vietnamese egg coffee at Café Giang – sounds weird, tastes like heaven. It’s a custardy, caffeinated delight that’ll give you the energy to dodge the thousands of motorbikes zipping around Hoan Kiem Lake.
The Majestic Ha Long Bay
From Hanoi, it’s about a 3-hour drive to Ha Long Bay. Skip the day trips – you’ll want at least one night on the water to really appreciate this UNESCO wonder. We splurged on a mid-range cruise (about $150 per person) and had our own cabin with a balcony. Worth every dollarydoo to wake up surrounded by those misty limestone karsts rising from the emerald waters.
The organized kayaking and cave explorations were decent, if a bit touristy. The real magic was sitting on deck with a cold Hanoi beer as the sun set over this prehistoric landscape.
Ninh Binh: The Hidden Gem
Many road-trippers miss Ninh Binh, and that’s their loss. This region, just a couple hours south of Hanoi, gives you those iconic Vietnamese landscapes without the crowds. We stayed in a homestay among the rice fields (about $30 a night including brekkie) and spent our days being rowed through cave systems and cycling past limestone mountains.
The Mua Caves hike nearly did me in with its 500 steps, but the panoramic view of the Tam Coc river winding through rice fields was worth every labored breath. Top tip: go early morning before the heat becomes brutal.
Central Delights: Hue to Hoi An and Beyond
The central region is where Vietnam’s history, beaches, and culinary traditions shine brightest.
Imperial Hue
Hue served as Vietnam’s imperial capital, and its massive Citadel complex offers a fascinating glimpse into royal life. We hired a guide ($20 for half a day) who brought the history to life, explaining how the royal family lived and how much of it was destroyed during various wars.
The drive from Ninh Binh to Hue is a long one, so consider breaking it up with an overnight in Phong Nha, where you can explore some of the world’s largest cave systems. We didn’t have time, but fellow travelers raved about it.
The Magnificent Hai Van Pass
Any Top Gear fans will recognize the Hai Van Pass as the road the lads declared “one of the best coastal roads in the world,” and fair dinkum, they weren’t wrong. This 21km mountain pass between Hue and Da Nang offers hairpin turns with views that’ll make your heart stop.
We hired a private car for this section, so we could stop whenever we wanted for photos or just to soak in the view. If you’re comfortable on a motorbike, this is arguably the most exhilarating ride in Vietnam – just make sure you’ve got a good helmet and keep your wits about you on those corners.
Charming Hoi An
After the adrenaline of the Hai Van Pass, Hoi An is the perfect place to slow down. This ancient trading port, with its yellow-walled buildings and lantern-lit streets, is easily the most photogenic town in Vietnam.
We spent four nights here, which seemed excessive on paper but wasn’t nearly enough in reality. Days were filled with bicycle rides through rice paddies, cooking classes where we massacred some perfectly innocent spring rolls, and visits to the tailor for fittings of custom-made clothes that cost a fraction of Aussie prices.
Come sunset, the Thu Bon River transforms as hundreds of colorful lanterns are lit, and the reflection on the water is something truly special. Grab a riverside table, order a cold beer, and watch the world go by – this is what travel is all about, mates.
Southern Wonders: Da Lat to the Mekong
The south offers a different Vietnam – more developed, tropical, and influenced by its relatively recent American chapter.
Da Lat: Vietnam’s Alps
After sweating our way through central Vietnam, the cool mountain air of Da Lat was sweet relief. This former French hill station sits at 1,500 meters elevation and has a distinctly European feel, complete with its own mini Eiffel Tower!
We stayed in a French colonial villa converted to a guesthouse and spent our days visiting flower farms, coffee plantations, and waterfalls. The cable car ride over the pine forests is a must, offering views that could easily be mistaken for Switzerland rather than Southeast Asia.
Ho Chi Minh City: Urban Energy
No road trip through Vietnam is complete without experiencing the organized chaos of Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many locals). The drive from Da Lat takes you through some gorgeous scenery before depositing you into the traffic maelstrom of Vietnam’s largest city.
We ditched our rental here and relied on Grab (Southeast Asian Uber) to navigate the city. Must-visits include the War Remnants Museum for a sobering look at the Vietnam War from the other side, and the Cu Chi tunnels about an hour outside the city, where you can squeeze through the underground network used by Viet Cong soldiers.
After all that history, treat yourself to a rooftop bar with views over the city. We splashed out at the Caravelle Hotel’s Saigon Saigon Bar, where foreign correspondents used to watch the war unfold from their bar stools – now just a great spot for a sundowner.
Mekong Delta: The Final Frontier
Our road trip concluded with a jaunt into the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl. You can do this as a day trip from HCMC, but it’s worth spending at least one night to really appreciate the rhythm of river life.
We based ourselves in Can Tho to catch the floating market at Cai Rang. Setting off by boat at the crack of dawn, we watched as vendors sold everything from pineapples to pho from their wooden vessels, advertising their wares by attaching samples to long poles.
The Mekong region feels like another country entirely – flat, lush, and defined by its relationship with water