Start the day with a relaxed morning packing check and a hearty English breakfast at Gatwick’s Be At One or The Breakfast Club to fuel the journey; allow extra time for security and to drop off baggage at the Air China check-in desk. If you have time, take a short pre-flight stroll through the North Terminal shops and pick up any travel necessities or a last-minute travel adaptor and local currency for transit.
Board your Air China flight CA848 departing 11:05 from LGW; settle into Business Class on the Airbus A350 XWB and enjoy the onboard meal and inflight amenities while you begin to rest and adjust to the time change. Use the afternoon hours in flight to watch a film, nap in a lie-flat seat if available, or review your connection details for Shanghai (PVG) to ensure a smooth transfer.
During the overnight segment you’ll continue toward Shanghai with a scheduled arrival at PVG on Dec 20; rest, hydrate, and take advantage of cabin service so you arrive refreshed for your 7h 40m transfer. Briefly review onward boarding information for CA755 to Hanoi and keep travel documents and any visas handy so that when you land you can follow signs for international transfer without collecting baggage.
Arrive at Shanghai Pudong T2 around 06:25; after deplaning follow the international transfer signs and use the dedicated transfer lanes so you don’t need to collect or re-check baggage. With a long 7h 40m layover, head to Plaza Premium Lounge (T2) or the Air China transfer desk to refresh—enjoy a hot shower, fresh coffee and a light dim sum or congee breakfast to reset your body clock.
Spend the middle of the day relaxed and productive: catch up on messages or watch a film in the lounge, or explore the terminal’s shopping area for a tea set or Shanghai souvenirs and grab a noodle bowl at one of PVG’s sit-down restaurants. Keep an eye on the CA755 boarding time (14:05 departure from PVG) and reconfirm gate information at the Air China transfer counter about 90 minutes before boarding.
Board Air China CA755 in Business on the Airbus A321 for the short hop to Hanoi, enjoying the onboard meal and views as you descend toward Noi Bai; arrive at HAN around 16:40 ready to proceed through immigration. If continuing your journey that evening, use the time after arrival to collect any onward travel confirmations, change a small amount of local currency at the airport counter, and take a short taxi or Grab into the Old Quarter to stroll Hoan Kiem Lake and sample a bowls of pho at a nearby street-side eatery.
After clearing immigration at Noi Bai, take a light, relaxed morning in Hanoi’s Old Quarter — stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and watch locals practising tai chi, then grab a steaming bowl of pho at Pho Gia Truyen or a bánh mì from a popular street stall to refuel. Pop into a nearby café like Cafe Dinh or The Note Coffee for strong Vietnamese coffee and to sort any onward e-tickets or Grab bookings for later.
Spend the afternoon exploring a couple of close-in highlights: visit the Temple of Literature to admire its tranquil courtyards and then stop at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum or a small lacquerware shop to pick up a handcrafted souvenir. Return to your hotel or a comfortable lounge about two hours before departure to freshen up, collect luggage, and request a Grab or taxi to the airport allowing extra time for Hanoi traffic on the way to Noi Bai.
Board your evening domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (departure ~19:55) and enjoy the short hop while scanning plans for the south — on arrival at Tan Son Nhat (around 22:05) take a late-night ride into District 1, check into your hotel, and sample a bowl of hủ tiếu or bánh xèo at a nearby late-night eatery. If you have energy, take a brief walk past Nguyen Hue Walking Street to experience Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant night atmosphere before turning in.
Start the day with a relaxed Vietnamese breakfast near your District 1 hotel—try a steaming bowl of hu tieu at Bún Chả 145 Bùi Viện or classic bánh mì at Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa—then return to pack and check out with time to spare. Head to Tan Son Nhat International Airport mid-morning, allowing extra time for Ho Chi Minh traffic, and breeze through check-in for your VietJet flight VJ849 while grabbing a coconut water or cà phê sữa đá before boarding.
Onboard the direct ~4-hour flight to Denpasar, settle in and enjoy views as you cross toward Bali; use this quieter time to rest and review plans for the island. After landing at Ngurah Rai (DPS), collect luggage, change a little cash or buy a local SIM at the arrivals hall, and take a short taxi or private transfer to Seminyak or Ubud depending on your Bali plans—stop at a beachfront café in Seminyak for a late lunch of nasi goreng or fresh grilled fish.
Spend your first Balinese evening watching the sunset—if staying in Seminyak head to Ku De Ta or Potato Head for cocktails and ocean views, or if in Ubud settle into a riverside warung for traditional Babi Guling or a vegetarian rijsttafel. After dinner, stroll the nearby streets to soak up Bali’s relaxed nightlife and return to your hotel to prepare for the next day’s island explorations.
Enjoy a relaxed last Balinese morning—savour a coconut and tropical fruit breakfast at your Seminyak beachfront café (try Sea Circus or Shelter) and take a final short stroll along the shoreline to breathe in the sea air before checking out. Leave plenty of time for the transfer to Ngurah Rai (DPS), drop any excess luggage at the counter, and grab a quick kopi or nasi jinggo for the flight ahead.
Board your morning flight and after the short hop and connection (via one stop with PT Indonesia AirAsia/AirAsia partners), use the mid-day transit to rest and catch up on photos; consider a lounge stop if available for a shower and light meal. On arrival into Chiang Mai, transfer to your hotel in the Old City or Nimmanhaemin—take a gentle orientation walk around the moat to get your bearings and pop into a café like Ristr8to for a renowned local latte.
As evening falls, sample northern Thai cuisine at a nearby restaurant such as Khao Soy Khun Yai or Huen Phen for authentic khao soi and spicy larb, then wander Chiang Mai’s relaxed Night Bazaar or the lively Nimman Road area for boutique shops and dessert stalls. Return to your accommodation for an early night or optional traditional Thai foot massage to recover from travel and be ready for exploring more of Chiang Mai tomorrow.
Begin your final Chiang Mai morning with a leisurely breakfast at Ristr8to or the nearby Graph Cafe, savouring one more expertly brewed local latte and a light khao soi or pandan waffle. Return to your hotel to double-check onward documents and pack, then take a short Grab or tuk-tuk to Chiang Mai International Airport allowing extra time for check-in and security before your 13:20 departure.
Board Thai AirAsia FD870 for the direct 1h 30m hop to Hanoi and use the flight to nap or review plans for your first evening back in Vietnam; on arrival at Noi Bai (around 14:50) clear immigration and collect any checked bags. After exiting the terminal, take a Grab or pre-booked transfer into the Old Quarter and check in to your Hanoi hotel, then stroll to Ta Hien Street or the lakeside to reacquaint yourself with the city and grab a refreshment—try an iced egg coffee at Cafe Giang or a light bun cha tasting.
For your New Year’s Eve evening, dine at a riverside restaurant near Hoan Kiem Lake such as Cau Go or KOTO for Vietnamese favourites served with views, then join the local celebrations around Nguyen Hue Walking Street to soak up the festive atmosphere and street performances. If you prefer a quieter night, head to a rooftop bar like Summit Lounge for panoramic city views and a relaxed toast to close out the trip before returning to your hotel.