Hiking in Vietnam
An expert guide to the best treks & hikes in Vietnam
I’ve been living in Vietnam on and off for 15 years, and I’ve spent most of that time writing travel stories, authoring guidebooks and working as a fixer for other visitors.
So vast are the outdoors here that it seems I’m always writing about adventure travel in some form or another. Vietnam’s dramatic landscapes make hiking a worthwhile activity on its own, but unlike mainstream trekking destinations, it’s rarely the sole focus. For me, motorbike touring, caving, abseiling and swimming have all played a big part in my trekking experiences – as have human encounters, village life, and incredible food.
In the northern mountains, multi-day organised treks connect culturally disparate villages surrounded by epic rice terraces. In central Vietnam, a steamy jungle hike is the only way to delve into the biggest caves on the planet. And in the south – a part of Vietnam that’s not known for its hiking – you’ll find festooned shrines nestled in forested hills.
Interest piqued? Read on for my guide to trekking and hiking in Vietnam.
Where to go hiking in Vietnam
Popular spots and some hidden gems
Before I get into my favourite Vietnam hiking destinations, a word of warning: this is a populous country, which (among other things) puts pressure on its environment. Despite what the glossy, but misleading, Instagram posts suggest, you’re unlikely to encounter immaculate natural landscapes while trekking in Vietnam. Some may lament the lack of untouched wilderness. But for most, rubbing shoulders with the warm-hearted, playful, curious and at times hedonistic Vietnamese embellishes the hiking experience.
Sapa
How to avoid the worst of Sapa
Vietnam’s dramatic north offers the most diverse landscapes in the country. Sapa and around has long been northern Vietnam’s premier trekking destination, and with good reason. The area is home to the country’s highest mountains, iconic rice terraces, and an unusually diverse patchwork of cultures and ethnolinguistic groups.
Sadly, Sapa has fallen foul of modern tourism’s biggest failing: promoting already popular places and pushing them to breaking point. Badly-planned tourism in Sapa town and the immediate surroundings has led to gross overdevelopment – a reality you won’t see in most tourism marketing. To get the most from this region it’s essential you employ the services of a guide and find an itinerary that gets you well into the countryside.
Pu Luong
North Vietnam in miniature
I sometimes think of Pu Luong, another of my favourites in the north, as a microcosm of the northern mountains, with the rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai, jagged peaks of Sapa and stilt house villages of Mai Chau. This is also one of the few destinations where self-guided solo hikes are recommended. There are easy-going day hikes from Ban Don into the surrounding mountains.
Ha Giang
The north’s hidden gem
Ha Giang is Vietnam’s northernmost province and the landscapes are like something from a science fiction flick. I predict that it will become one of the country’s premier destinations this decade. Most come for motorbike road trips, but trekking trails are also beginning to emerge.
I recently discovered a short half-day hike on the Skypath, a lofty path that clings to the cliffs high above the Nho Que River and Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass, which is one of Ha Giang’s (and Asia’s) most extraordinary roads.
Son Doong & Phong Nha Caves
Explore the caves of central Vietnam
I think Central Vietnam’s best trekking spots are in its rugged interior away from the coastline. Local explorer Ho Khanh chanced upon Son Doong Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang, a little-known national park in Quang Binh Province, deep in the jungle in 1990. In 2008 he returned with the British Cave Research Association, who surveyed the chambers and declared it the biggest cave on the planet. Since then the national park has transformed into one of the world’s top caving and trekking destinations.
Bach Ma National Park
An underrated hill station
While some natural areas in central Vietnam suffer from overtourism, Bach Ma National Park has slipped under the developers’ radar. A century ago this was a hill station for overheating French colonists from the nearby city of Hue. The national park still holds a cluster of French holiday villas, some of which have been converted into places to stay.
Dalat
Get your thrills in Dalat
Further south from Bach Ma, nearby Dalat has become central Vietnam’s busy adventure travel hub. Most people come here for the canyoning (abseiling down waterfalls), but there are some decent hikes in the national parks and other protected areas nearby. The area’s elevation means that temperatures are refreshing and cool for much of the year, especially when compared with the lowlands.
An Giang
Lesser-known hikes in the far-south
The far south of Vietnam is not known for its treks: this is a delta region where the horizon usually stops at the closest tree. However, An Giang Province close to Cambodia is different. Here the Bay Nui (Seven Mountain) chain offers elevation and some interesting hikes.
The best hikes & treks in Vietnam
Our expert's top picks
I’d recommend any of the following hikes while in Vietnam. If pushed for a favourite, I’d probably suggest Son Doong or actually any caving trek in Phong Nha. I think these hiking & caving tours are Vietnam's best tourism product and I’d recommend them to almost everyone.
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Sapa
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Pu Luong
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Ha Giang
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Son Doong & Phong Nha Caves
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Bach Ma National Park
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Dalat
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An Giang
Sapa
Sapa multi-day hikes
- Duration: Two to 14+ days
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Accommodation: Homestays
- Start/end point: Sapa town
Unfortunately, the town of Sapa suffers from overdevelopment and is one of my least favourite places in the country. But those that find Sapa disappointing seem to be the ones that base themselves in town and attempt day trips from there. Instead, engage a reputable tour company, tell them what you want and they will get you well away from the standard tourist traps.
I don’t recommend trekking in Sapa without a guide. The trails and homestays (accommodation with local families) are unmarked, and travellers that attempt their own treks often end up lost or where they don’t want to be (e.g. on a road, near a hydroelectric plant, facing a quarry etc.). Besides, employing a guide is one of the best ways to learn about Sapa’s cultures and support local families. The majority of guides are women from local ethnolinguistic groups, and they usually speak decent English.
Pu Luong
Ban Don to Ban Hieu hike
- Duration: One day
- Distance: 15 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start/end point: Ban Don to Ban Hieu
This is an easy hike you could do without a guide. Starting from Ban Don, a village with a number of cosy mountain lodges that offer views of the surrounding rice terraces, the trail descends through forests and farms before running along rivers and cutting through hamlets. Eventually the trail reaches Ban Hieu, a picturesque village built on a waterfall.
Ha Giang
Ha Giang Skypath
- Duration: One day
- Distance: 8 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start/end point: Ma Pi Leng Village to Ma Pi Leng Ecolodge
I couldn’t complete this guide without mentioning a short half-day hike that I discovered recently. The Skypath is a lofty path that clings to the cliffs high above the Nho Que River and Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass, one of Ha Giang’s (and Asia’s) most extraordinary roads.
Starting at Ma Pi Leng Village, the path ascends through farmland to a great white cliff before descending through hamlets. The path finishes at Ma Pi Leng Ecolodge, which serves refreshments. From there it’s possible to hitch back to Ma Pi Leng Village. Ha Giang is becoming very popular, but few seem to know that the Skypath exists. Trekkers are likely to have the trail entirely to themselves, bar the occasional farmer. No guide required.
Son Doong & Phong Nha Caves
Son Doong cave expedition
- Duration: Four days
- Distance: 25km (8km caving)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Accommodation: Camping
- Start/end point: Phong Nha Village
The British Cave Research Association helped launch this tour with Oxalis Adventure, a local company, with limited numbers and a strict route to protect the integrity of the cave. This includes guides, porters, a cave expert and food, and it remains the only way to explore Son Doong Cave.
Son Doong is a unique trekking experience, with underground jungles, giant ceiling collapses, ethereal campsites and stalagmites the size of multi-storey buildings. If you think caving is crawling around in narrow spaces, think again – some of these chambers can fit aeroplanes with room to spare.
Whenever I mention the Son Doong Expedition, people usually question the expense of the all-inclusive tour – USD $3,000 – and I always say the same thing. Yes, it’s expensive, especially for Vietnam. But this cave is one of the world’s great wonders. Many people are happy to pay that much to go skiing in the Alps for a week – and the Son Doong Cave Expedition surely beats that.
If the Son Doong Expedition is over budget, consider one of more than a dozen other caving experiences in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, including the hike to En Cave, Pygmy Cave or the Tu Lan cave system.
Bach Ma National Park
Rhododendron Falls trail
- Duration: One day
- Distance: 10 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start/end point: Bach Ma
Bach Ma National Park has several excellent trails, and more are being created as the area tries to promote adventure tourism. Rhododendron Falls Trail is one of the most popular hikes. It’s suitable for families, passes a panoramic viewpoint, and the highlight is a thundering waterfall with rock pools that are good for swimming.
Dalat
Ta Nang Phan Dung trek
- Duration: Two days
- Distance: 30 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Start/end point: Dalat to Mui Ne
This is one of several organised treks that involve a pick-up in Dalat and drop-off on the coast. Transfer by car to begin the trek in Ta Nang, a district of pine forests and rice paddies, before hiking into Phan Dung, a neighbouring district with gushing rivers and lush farmland. You’ll then be collected and driven to the beach town of Mui Ne.
An Giang
Nui Cam trail
- Duration: One day
- Distance: 21 km
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (mainly because of the heat)
- Start/end-point: Chau Doc
The guided Nui Cam trek is actually a 21km-trail run, which was designed a few years ago for an annual race. The trail begins in rice paddies before ascending through fruit farms and waterfalls. This is a deeply spiritual part of the Mekong Delta, and highlights of this trek are the atmospheric shrines tended to by smiley caretakers.
Stunning views over Ha Giang, one of north Vietnam's lesser-known hiking locations.
Hiking in Vietnam: Need to know
Everything you wish you'd known before you booked
When to go hiking in Vietnam
Vietnam’s climate is complicated, with each major region (north, central and south) experiencing their own climates.
In my experience the best time to hike in the north is October, November and December. The weather is relatively cool and dry, meaning trails aren’t too muddy, and visibility is generally good.
I like hiking in central Vietnam in the spring: March, April and May. It’s usually sunny but not too hot and rainstorms tend to be brief.
The south is hot all year, though there is some respite in their winter (December and January), making this the best time to trek there.
How much do Vietnam trekking tours cost?
Prices for organised trekking tours in Vietnam vary widely. The one- and half-day self-guided treks mentioned in this guide are essentially free, bar entrance fees to national parks.
When engaging a tour company or guide, prices tend to be around USD $S50-100 per person per day, including guide fees, transport, food and accommodation. The exception is the caving experiences in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which are double that or more.
My top Vietnam hiking tip
My biggest tip about hiking in Vietnam is this: don’t resist hiring a guide. When I first came to Vietnam I was, like many young travellers, keen to travel as independently as possible, and I often tried solo hiking without a guide.
Sometimes the hike was successful, sometimes not. But these guide-less trips were never as good as they could have been because I didn’t have a local person there to spot wildlife, explain local customs, identify edible fruit, show me the hidden swimming spots, solicit house invitations, recommend good food spots, enjoy a glass of rice wine with at the end of the day…. I could go on.
And probably more important in the big picture: hiring guides is a great way to get money straight into the pockets of local people.
How hiking in Vietnam works
In Vietnam’s bigger hiking locations, such as Sapa and Dalat, you’ll find plenty of independent guides and trekking operators when you arrive. Or you can book an organised trek in advance with the country’s small but growing community of trekking, hiking and adventure travel specialists. I don’t really recommend booking anything in the street, do your homework first and check for independent reviews. Trust me: you really don’t want to find yourself on the generic walking tours around Sapa.
Alternatively, international walking holiday companies increasingly offer small-group Vietnam hiking tours in which an entire weeks-long itinerary is arranged for you, including transport, accommodation and guided hikes. This is naturally the most expensive – but easiest – way of exploring Vietnam by foot along with a group of like-minded travellers.
About the author
Joshua Zukas
Joshua is a Vietnam-based journalist covering travel, culture, architecture, food and innovation in Asia. He holds a BA in Southeast Asian Studies and an MSc in Sustainable Tourism.
He writes on Vietnam for Lonely Planet, Michelin Guide, Bradt Guides, Ink Global, CNN Create and Asia's top inflight magazines, and contributes to The Economist, Insider, Wallpaper and Interior Design Magazine, among many others.
