The complete guide to traveling through Vietnam from north to south on a budget.

Hanoi (3-4 days): the Old Quarter is the base. Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison (the Hanoi Hilton). The street food circuit in the old quarter is extraordinary — bun cha, pho, banh cuon. Hostel dorm $7-10/night. Budget: $20-25/day.

Ha Long Bay (2 days): the tourist boat tour for the karst scenery. Cruises start at $80-90 for a 2D/1N budget tour. The cheapest boats are fine for the scenery; the extra $50 for the mid-range boat buys you kayaking and better food. Non-negotiable experience — factor it into the budget.

Hue (2 days): the imperial city. The Imperial Citadel ($15 entry, worth it), Thien Mu Pagoda (free). Banh mi Hue is different from Saigon — rice-based rather than wheat. Budget $20/day.

Hoi An (3-4 days): the old town lantern city. The tailors (custom clothing for $30-80) are the famous activity. The old town entry fee is $5. Night markets every evening. Budget $22-25/day.

Da Nang (1-2 days): the beach city between Hue and Hoi An. Han River Bridge, Marble Mountains ($2 entry). Reasonable accommodation at the beach.

Ho Chi Minh City (3 days): the War Remnants Museum ($2, moving and important), the Ben Thanh Market area, the French colonial quarter. Busier and more expensive than Hanoi but still manageable at $25-30/day.

Total for 17-18 days north to south: approximately $400-500 plus the Ha Long Bay tour.