Sparkling Mirror

Two weeks in northern Vietnam on a backpacker budget

Sleeper buses, homestays in the mountains and the day-by-day spending log we kept the whole way.

Northern Vietnam rewards slow travel. Distances look short on a map, but mountain roads, river crossings and the simple pleasure of a long lunch stretch every day.

How we got around

Sleeper buses linked the bigger towns, and we hired a local rider for the steepest mountain loop. Book sleeper buses a day ahead in busy months.

Where we stayed

Family-run homestays were the highlight: dinner with the family, an early start and directions scribbled on the back of a receipt.

Keeping a spending log

We noted every expense in a shared spreadsheet. Use the budget planner to set your own daily amounts before you go.

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