Family north→central→Phu Quoc · 15 days
15 days, 14 nights: Ha Long Bay (1N), Hanoi (3N), Hoi An (3N), Da Nang (3N), Phu Quoc (4N). Best time to go: Sep window works for this spine (confirm Halong).
Day 1: Arrive in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
- Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise · Full day. Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
- Kayaking & Sung Sot cave · 2 h. Usually included on cruises — confirm before paying extra.
Local tip: Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
Day 2: Ha Long Bay → Hanoi
Hanoi · Ha Long Bay to Hanoi, Road via Hanoi
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
Local tip: Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
Day 3: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Hanoi vintage jeep or Vespa city tour · 3 h
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
- Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
Local tip: Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
Day 4: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda · 2 h. Mornings only, shoulders/knees covered; closed some Mondays and Fridays.
Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Day 5: Hanoi → Hoi An
Hoi An · Hanoi to Hoi An, Domestic flight ~1–2h
Day 6: Explore Hoi An
Hoi An
- An Bang beach afternoon · 3 h
- Hoi An Ancient Town heritage walk · 2.5 h. The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.
Local tip: The ticket covers 5 heritage houses; evenings are for lanterns.
Day 7: Explore Hoi An
Hoi An
- Market tour & Vietnamese cooking class · 4 h
- Tailor fitting (24–48h turnaround) · 1.5 h. Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.
Local tip: Order on day 1 to allow two fittings; price is per garment.
Day 8: Hoi An → Da Nang
Da Nang · Hoi An to Da Nang, Car ~45 min
- Linh Ung Pagoda & Lady Buddha, Son Tra · 1.5 h
- My Khe Beach · 3 h. Swim early; afternoon sun is harsh.
Local tip: Swim early; afternoon sun is harsh.
Day 9: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge by cable car
Da Nang
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge by cable car · 7 h. Be on the first cable car (~8am) for an empty Golden Bridge.
Local tip: Be on the first cable car (~8am) for an empty Golden Bridge.
Day 10: Explore Da Nang
Da Nang
Day 11: Da Nang → Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc · Da Nang to Phu Quoc, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Sao Beach · 3 h
Day 12: Explore Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc
- Vinpearl Safari · 4 h. Pair with VinWonders next door the same day.
Local tip: Pair with VinWonders next door the same day.
Day 13: VinWonders Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc
- VinWonders Phu Quoc · 6 h
Day 14: 4-island snorkelling boat trip
Phu Quoc
Day 15: Depart from Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Ha Long Bay (1 night): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.
- Hanoi (3 nights): Hoan Kiem boutique stays. Quiet lanes, still walkable to the Old Quarter.
- Hoi An (3 nights): Ancient Town edge. Walk to lanterns at night without the noise.
- Da Nang (3 nights): My Khe beachfront. Beach across the road; Ba Na and Hoi An within an hour.
- Phu Quoc (4 nights): Long Beach resorts. West-coast sunsets, pools, 15 min to town.