Embodiments disclosed herein include vector processing engines (VPEs) having programmable data path configurations for providing multi-mode vector processing. Related vector processors, systems, and methods are also disclosed. The VPEs include a vector processing stage(s) configured to process vector data according to a vector instruction executed in the vector processing stage. Each vector processing stage includes vector processing blocks each configured to process vector data based on the vector instruction being executed. The vector processing blocks are capable of providing different vector operations for different types of vector instructions based on data path configurations. Data paths of the vector processing blocks are programmable to be reprogrammable to process vector data differently according to the particular vector instruction being executed. In this manner, a VPE can be provided with its data paths configuration programmable to execute different types of functions based on data path configuration according to the vector instruction being executed.