--- title: "40 Days of Vietnam -" description: "We spent 40 days in Vietnam and crossed the country from south to north. Here is what we've seen and done during that time:" date: "2025-04-05T04:45:12+02:00" language: "en-US" canonical_url: "https://patrickposner.com/blog/40-days-of-vietnam/" source_url: "https://patrickposner.com/blog/40-days-of-vietnam/" content_type: "text/markdown" --- We spent 40 days in Vietnam and crossed the country from south to north. Here is what we’ve seen and done during that time: ## Ho-Chi-Minh-City Our first stop was Ho-Chi-Minh-City and we had a blast! It’s a modern, clean city with many things to explore, and it was a breath of fresh air after our time in Phnom Penh. [![40 Days of Vietnam 2](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7293-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7293-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 3](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7296-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7296-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 4](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7303-1024x586.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7303-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 5](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7306-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7306-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 6](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7311-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7311-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 7](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7314-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7314-scaled.jpeg) ![40 Days of Vietnam 8](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/f03bf6fe-bb9c-4c50-b3f1-e18347d245a9-1024x768.jpg) Despite exploring the city and taking a 3-hour-long course to learn how to make Vietnamese coffee: [![40 Days of Vietnam 9](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/c8c45df0-3ebc-445e-8438-85efd4229dda-768x1024.jpg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/c8c45df0-3ebc-445e-8438-85efd4229dda.jpg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 10](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2427-1024x768.jpg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2427-scaled.jpg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 11](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2435-1024x768.jpg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2435-scaled.jpg) We also explored three places: - [The book street](https://g.co/kgs/TqKYTrK) - [The war museum](https://g.co/kgs/jXNDPgr) - [The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater](https://g.co/kgs/Pd9KfMv) It was a short trip as we only stayed for a few days, but it was well worth visiting. ## Da Lat Our next stop was Da Lat; we first noticed the lack of tourists. Despite Vietnam being overly popular for tourists (more on that later), we enjoyed finding a spot that wasn’t yet flooded with people, and we also visited some incredible (and some FREE) places there: [![40 Days of Vietnam 12](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7322-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7322-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 13](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7333-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7333-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 14](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7341-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7341-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 15](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7352-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7352-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 16](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7371-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7371-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 17](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7386-1024x686.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7386-scaled.jpeg) Places we visited: - [God Valley](https://g.co/kgs/LpK9cNb) - [The crazy house](https://maps.app.goo.gl/uacW63oBDw6R98YY6) - [The Golden Buddha](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xULzC1tUSQm4BcvW7) Oh, I’ve also recorded a video climbing up the crazy house, here you go: ## Hoi-An Our next stop was Hoi-An, which was inspired by French architecture and often called the Venice of Asia. To keep it short, I was disappointed. The buildings are in a terrible state, they are massively crowded, and this place is a tourist trap. Don’t listen to these mid-20 influencers on YouTube and Instagram; stay away from that place. [![40 Days of Vietnam 18](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7413-1024x655.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7413-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 19](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7415-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7415-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 20](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7418-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7418-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 21](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7422-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7422-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 22](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7423-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7423-scaled.jpeg) If you still want to visit it, here is a tip: get a zoom lens and use the crowds to hide. I took the first picture, sneaked behind a massive tourist group, and when she approached me (that’s one of the tourist traps I was talking about), I sneaked back into the crowd and was out of sight. Great photo for me without paying a hefty “photo-fee”. ## Danang One of the largest cities in Vietnam, but there isn’t much to share because my girlfriend caught a cold, and we spent quite a bit of time in the apartment. At least we had a pool! [![40 Days of Vietnam 23](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7427-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7427-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 24](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7460-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7460-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 25](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7483-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7483-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 26](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7514-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7514-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 27](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7518-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7518-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 28](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7536-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7536-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 29](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7551-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7551-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 30](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7574-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7574-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 31](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7577-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7577-scaled.jpeg) However, we still managed to visit two places: - [Marble Mountains](https://g.co/kgs/iH7rkfR) - [Ba Na Hills](https://g.co/kgs/LJ6W8Zx) I probably wouldn’t recommend the Marble Mountains, but the Ba Na Hills are a remarkable experience – expensive but worth it. It’s a bit sad that we haven’t managed to visit more of Danang, but that’s the trade-off of permanently travelling—you get sick, you need a break, that’s just how it works. ## Ninh Binh Our next stop was Ninh Binh – a small area surrounded by mountains. While certain spots were overcrowded with tourists, we still had a good time. It was also the first time I had to drive a semi-automatic motorbike. It took some time, but I finally got used to it, and it turned out to be a way better vehicle than the fully automatic bikes we used in the past (especially in mountain areas!). [![40 Days of Vietnam 32](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7587-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7587-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 33](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7597-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7597-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 34](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7623-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7623-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 35](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7655-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7655-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 36](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7676-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7676-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 37](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7700-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7700-scaled.jpeg) We’ve also done a boat tour through the caves: Places we visited: - [Tam Coc (boat tour)](https://g.co/kgs/PJ2TYXk) - [Mua Caves](https://g.co/kgs/EUePeM8) ## Cat Ba Next was a trip to Cat Ba. There isn’t much to say about this place—it has some beaches and hotels, and that’s it. I’m sure it will be flooded with tourists in a couple of years. Getting around is tricky as you can’t use Grab on the island, and taxis are expensive and unreliable. One cool thing was a lazarette in the middle of the mountain used during the Vietnam War. [![40 Days of Vietnam 38](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7735-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7735-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 39](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7736-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7736-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 40](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7740-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7740-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 41](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7742-576x1024.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7742-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 42](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7752-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7752-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 43](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7753-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7753-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 44](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7756-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7756-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 45](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7762-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7762-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 46](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7766-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7766-scaled.jpeg) ## Sapa Oh, you’re looking for mountains? Sapa is in the north of Vietnam and in the middle of the mountains. Despite the strong wind and having difficulty getting our little motorbike up and down these mountain streets, we had a great time here! [![40 Days of Vietnam 47](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7789-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7789-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 48](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7798-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7798-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 49](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7819-1024x588.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7819-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 50](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7834-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7834-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 51](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7863-576x1024.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7863-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 52](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7872-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7872-scaled.jpeg) ## Hanoi Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It’s cool, a bit more trashy than Ho-Chi-Minh-City but a pleasant experience – night markets, busy streets, tourist scams (Hello, bicycle riders!) and so much more. [![40 Days of Vietnam 53](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7885-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7885-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 54](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7890-1024x670.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7890-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 55](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7903-718x1024.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7903-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 56](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7911-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7911-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 57](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7914-1024x645.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7914-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 58](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7917-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7917-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 59](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7921-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7921-scaled.jpeg) [![40 Days of Vietnam 60](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7935-1024x576.jpeg)](https://patrickposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC7935-scaled.jpeg) That’s a wrap, folks! We only have two days left until our flight to Tokyo. As this is my number one spot to visit in Asia, writing the following article might take some time. Take care and wait until the next one!