Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Itinerary from the UK

Late afternoon arrival and easy first wander

Ease into the city with a gentle first loop through Hanoi Old Quarter in Hoan Kiem — this is the part of town where the city feels most alive, with narrow lanes, metal shutters, tiny altars, scooter traffic, and shopfronts selling everything from lacquerware to phone chargers. Don’t try to “do” it properly today; just let yourself drift for about 90 minutes, especially around streets like Hang Gai, Hang Bac, and the alleys off Ta Hien. If you need to drop bags first, most hotels here will let you check in early or store luggage while you go out. A short taxi or Grab inside central Hanoi usually costs around ₫40,000–₫80,000, depending on traffic.

Lakeside reset

From the Old Quarter, wander over to Hoan Kiem Lake for an easy first reset after the flight. The loop around the water is flat, calm, and one of the best ways to shake off jet lag without overcommitting; in the early evening it’s full of local life, couples taking photos, older residents strolling, and families sitting under the trees. Give yourself about 45 minutes to go slowly, sit a while, and watch the light change. A short walk from the lake brings you to Ngoc Son Temple via the red The Huc Bridge; entry is usually around ₫30,000, and it’s worth going in for the views back across the water and a quick look at the small, atmospheric temple grounds. It generally opens from morning until early evening, but it’s best to check the day’s closing time when you arrive.

First Hanoi dinner

For dinner, head back into the Old Quarter for bún chả at a well-reviewed local eatery — this is the right first meal in Hanoi: grilled pork, rice noodles, herbs, and dipping broth, smoky and satisfying without being too heavy. Expect to pay roughly £4–£10 per person depending on the restaurant and how much you order. Good local-style spots in the area often fill up fast between 6:30–8:00 PM, so go a little earlier if you want a quieter table. Keep it simple tonight; this neighborhood is at its best when you’re not rushing, and there’s always time for a second bowl of something later in the trip.

Coffee finish and a slow return

Finish with a strong Vietnamese coffee — either a photo stop near Train Street if it’s open to visitors and your timing works, or, more reliably, a nearby Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem café where you can get a proper cà phê sữa đá or egg coffee without the crowd-control hassle. A good café stay costs about ₫50,000–₫150,000 per drink, and it’s the easiest way to end the day in Hanoi’s rhythm: noisy below, calm at your table, with the city still humming outside. If you’re heading back to your hotel after, a short Grab is the simplest option once the streets get busy.

Morning

Start early and head to Ba Dinh first, because the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is at its best before the tour groups build up and the heat kicks in. Aim to arrive around opening time; the complex is usually open in the morning only, with tighter access rules than most sights, and you’ll want modest clothing and a bit of patience for security checks. Budget about 45–60 minutes here, then walk over to the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, which is small but worth it for the setting and the quick contrast from heavy political monument to something much more delicate and spiritual. It’s an easy, flat walk between the two, so no need for a taxi.

Late Morning

From there, take a short Grab or taxi to Temple of Literature in Dong Da. This is one of those places that feels like a breather in the middle of Hanoi: courtyards, old stone steles, shaded paths, and a calmer pace than the Old Quarter. Give yourself about 1.5 hours so you can slow down instead of just ticking it off. Entry is usually modest, and mornings are best if you want softer light and fewer school groups. If you want a coffee after, you can stop nearby at one of the simple cafes around Quoc Tu Giam Street before heading back toward the center.

Lunch and Afternoon

For lunch, keep it easy and local near the Old Quarter with a proper pho or bun cha specialist — this is the best time to eat simply and well before another indoor stop. Good no-fuss options in this part of town are places like Pho Thin Lo Duc if you’re willing to detour a little, or any busy neighborhood bun cha shop where the tables are packed and the broth smoke is in the air. Expect around £4–£12 per person depending on whether you add drinks or extras. After lunch, take a taxi or Grab out to Cau Giay for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology; it’s one of Hanoi’s most rewarding museums if you want to understand the country beyond the usual city-and-temple circuit. Allow about 2 hours, and if the weather’s good, don’t miss the outdoor traditional houses in the grounds — they make the visit feel much more alive than a standard gallery.

Evening

Wrap up back in Hoan Kiem at Bia Hoi Corner for a very Hanoi end to the day: plastic stools, cold draught beer, fried peanuts, grilled snacks, and a loud, messy street atmosphere that somehow works perfectly. It’s best as a short, informal stop rather than a long night out, and you’ll spend very little — roughly £2–£8 per person depending on how many rounds and snacks you order. If you still have energy after, wander a few blocks through the lantern-lit side streets around Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen, then call it a night; tomorrow’s day trip will come early, and you’ll be glad you didn’t overdo it tonight.

Early Morning: Hanoi pickup and the road to the bay

Get out of Hanoi early and keep things simple: your Halong Bay cruise transfer pickup will usually be somewhere between your hotel in Hoan Kiem or a fixed meeting point on the edge of the Old Quarter, and the whole point is to be ready before the city fully wakes up. If you’ve got luggage, have it packed the night before and bring a light layer, sunscreen, and a bottle of water; the drive is long enough that a smooth start really matters. By the time you’re out of the city and heading east, you’ll notice the landscape flatten into rice fields and low-slung towns before the limestone starts appearing on the horizon.

Late Morning to Afternoon: Cruise time, cave stop, and the classic bay views

Once you’re on board, let the day slow down. Ha Long Bay is all about the rhythm of water, wind, and limestone towers drifting past the deck, so don’t try to rush it — sit outside if you can, because the best views are from the open air rather than the lounge. Lunch is usually served onboard and is often seafood-heavy; it’s part of the experience and usually the best meal of the day, around £10–£25 per person depending on your cruise level, with plenty of rice, vegetables, and simple shared dishes. After that comes Sung Sot Cave, the bay’s most famous stop: expect a steady stream of visitors, lit walkways, and huge chambers that feel more dramatic than the photos suggest. It’s busiest in the middle of the day, so just follow the flow, wear shoes with grip, and don’t bother carrying much — the walk is short, but the humidity makes it feel longer.

Afternoon: Ti Top Island and the best panorama

From the cave, the cruise usually rolls on to Ti Top Island, and this is the classic postcard moment. The climb up is short but steep in sections, so take your time and pause when you need to; the view at the top is the reason everyone does it, with the bay opening out into a scatter of green-topped karsts and boats below. Give yourself around an hour here including the climb, photos, and a breather at the beach below if your cruise allows it. By late afternoon, you’ll want to head back toward the harbor and onto your return transfer to Hanoi — leaving around 3:30–4:30 PM is the sweet spot if you want to avoid an exhausting late-night arrival. The drive back is the same 2.5–3.5 hours, so if you’re arriving into the city after dark, keep dinner flexible and aim for something easy near your hotel rather than planning a big night out.

Late morning to afternoon: arrive, reset, and head for the coast

By the time you get into Hoi An, keep the first hours light and unhurried — this is one of those days where trying to “do” too much will only make the evening feel flat. If you’ve landed at Da Nang International Airport and come south by road, you’ll usually be in the Cam An area by mid-afternoon; from there, it’s an easy first stop at An Bang Beach. Park or hop out near one of the beach access lanes and settle into a beach club or simple café — Mina’s and The DeckHouse are popular, while smaller local spots along Hai Ba Trung or the lane crossings are usually better value for a quick bánh mì, fresh seafood, or a cold drink. Expect basic sunbed rental or café minimum spends rather than formal beach fees, and aim to stay around two hours so you’ve still got energy for the evening.

Late afternoon: a quieter shoreline pause

If you want one more stretch of sand, continue a short ride south to Cua Dai Beach before sunset. It’s calmer than An Bang Beach and gives you a softer, less busy transition into town; think long shoreline walks, fewer beach bars, and a more local feel. This is a good place for a quick coffee or coconut before heading back inland. Grab a Grab taxi or a rented scooter for the short hop, but don’t linger too late — once the light starts to drop, the lanes into the old town get busier, and you’ll want to be walking in Minh An before the main lantern crowd arrives.

Evening: first night in the old town

Start your evening in Hoi An Ancient Town with no agenda beyond wandering the lanes around Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and the riverside streets. The ticket booths for the heritage core sell entry passes for the old houses and assembly halls, but if it’s your first night, it’s perfectly fine to focus on the atmosphere and save the ticketed sights for daylight tomorrow. After that, have dinner in Minh An — a reliable first-night order is cao lầu, ideally at a local spot rather than a tourist menu place; try Morning Glory Original, Cao Lầu Bà Bé in the market area, or Bụi Hoi An if you want something a little more polished. Expect roughly £4–£12 per person depending on where you sit and what you drink.

Finish with a lantern riverfront stroll along the Thu Bồn. This is the best way to understand why people fall for Hoi An so quickly: the water, the reflections, the slow boats, the glowing shopfronts, and the way the whole town seems to lower its voice after dark. If you want a drink after dinner, duck into a café like Faifo Coffee for a rooftop look over the rooftops, or just keep walking and let the night thin out naturally — that first lantern-lit wander is usually the part people remember most.

Morning

Start with the Japanese Covered Bridge in Minh An while the old town is still relatively calm; it’s small, but it really does feel like the visual anchor of Hoi An. Give yourself about 20 minutes here, then wander at an easy pace to the Fujian Assembly Hall — one of the most ornate heritage stops in town, with carved altars, incense, and that layered red-and-gold grandeur Hoi An does so well. It’s usually open through the day, and the entrance fee for the old town ticket system is modest, around ₫120,000 for several heritage sites, so keep your ticket handy. From there, it’s a short walk toward the old town edge for Hoi An Market, which is best before lunch when the fruit stalls are fullest and the locals are actually shopping. Expect loud, colourful, and a little chaotic in the best way; this is where you’ll find tropical fruit, spice packets, snacks, and the kind of casual street-level energy that balances out the more polished heritage stops.

Midday to Afternoon

After the market, head out for My Son Sanctuary in Duy Xuyen District. It’s the most worthwhile major excursion from Hoi An if you want something deeper than the old town: atmospheric Cham ruins, jungle-backed red brick towers, and a sense of how much older central Vietnam’s history is than the lantern-lit riverside image most visitors know. The drive is roughly 1–1.5 hours each way, and with time on site you’re usually looking at 3–4 hours total. Go with an early lunch or a packed snack, because the heat builds quickly and the site is much more comfortable if you’re not arriving hungry. A guided transfer or small group tour makes the logistics easiest, but if you’re arranging it yourself, leave enough buffer so you’re not rushing back into town at dusk. On return, keep the rest of the day light — this is the point where a swim, a rest, or a slow coffee would be completely justified.

Evening

For dinner, book a table at Morning Glory Original in Minh An. It’s one of the safest, most reliable places to eat central Vietnamese dishes in the old town, and a good spot for trying things like cao lầu, white rose dumplings, or crispy wontons without having to guess your way through street-stall menus. Budget roughly £8–£20 per person, depending on how many dishes and drinks you order, and it’s worth going a little earlier than peak dinner rush if you dislike waiting. After that, finish with a Thu Bon River boat ride from the Minh An riverside, ideally just after sunset when the lanterns start reflecting on the water. A short ride is usually only 45 minutes, and the practical move is to agree the price before stepping on — expect a small boat fee and a tip-friendly setup rather than anything formal. It’s a gentle way to end the day: no big agenda, just warm air, river light, and the old town looking exactly as it should at night.

Morning

Leave Hoi An early enough that you’re not eating into the island afternoon — a morning flight is the right call here, because once you factor in the airport transfer, check-in, and the connection, this is really a half-day travel move. At Da Nang Airport, keep it simple: eat before you go, travel light if you can, and expect the usual domestic-flight rhythm of bags, security, and a bit of waiting between legs. By the time you land at Phu Quoc International Airport, the island pace kicks in fast, and a taxi or Grab to Long Beach or Duong To is the easiest way to get straight to the sand. If you’re staying on the west coast, the drive is usually around 15–25 minutes depending on your hotel.

Afternoon

Go first to Long Beach (Bai Truong), because after a travel day it’s exactly the kind of soft landing you want: long sand, gentle water much of the year, and enough beach bars and shade options that you can settle in without effort. A quick swim, a cold drink, and a slow walk along the shore is usually enough to shake off the journey; most of the action is spread out along the Duong To/Long Beach strip, so don’t feel pressured to “cover” it. If you want a snack or coffee afterward, keep it nearby and informal, then continue north toward Duong Dong once the heat starts to ease.

Late Afternoon to Evening

Make a short stop at Duong Dong Market before sunset. It’s best for a quick browse rather than a long shop: look for tropical fruit, pepper, fish sauce, dried seafood, and little island snacks you can try without committing to a full meal. Then head a few minutes away to Dinh Cau Night Market, which is the easiest first-night dinner plan on Phu Quoc — lively but manageable, with grilled squid, prawns, shellfish, seafood pancakes, fresh juices, and plenty of sit-down stalls if you’re not in the mood to keep moving. For a final relaxed meal, finish at a beachfront seafood restaurant on the west coast near Long Beach or Duong Dong; pick somewhere with tanks or a simple charcoal grill, order whatever looks freshest, and keep dinner unhurried. Expect roughly £10–£30 per person at the seafood restaurant and around £5–£18 per person at the night market, depending on how generously you eat and drink.

Morning

Get an early start and head north toward Ganh Dau for Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc while it’s still cool; this is the part of the island where the day feels easiest before the sun gets serious. From most stays around Duong Dong or Long Beach, the drive is roughly 45–70 minutes by taxi or Grab depending on traffic and where you’re based, and it’s worth leaving around 8:00 AM so you arrive just after opening. Entry is usually in the region of ₫650,000–₫750,000 for adults, and the safari takes about 2.5–3 hours if you keep a steady pace. Dress light, bring water, and don’t overpack the morning — the tram sections and animal enclosures are the main draw, so it’s better to enjoy them calmly than rush to “see everything.”

Lunch and Afternoon

Stay in the north and keep the momentum simple with a Northern seafood lunch near Ganh Dau/Rach Vem — this is where Phu Quoc does the casual seafood thing best, with tanks of live crab, steamed squid, grilled fish, clams with lemongrass, and salty sea breeze instead of a polished resort feel. A good local-style meal usually lands around ₫200,000–₫500,000 per person depending on how much seafood you order, and it’s the kind of lunch where you can linger an hour without any guilt. After that, roll straight into VinWonders Phu Quoc for the full afternoon; it’s the biggest theme-park-style stop on the island, with rides, indoor breaks, and shows that make it workable even in the heat. Give yourself 3–4 hours here, aim to arrive after lunch when the crowds are spread out a bit, and expect entry to be roughly ₫900,000–₫1,000,000 for adults. If you want a smoother experience, go in with a loose plan: one or two headline rides, a show, a shaded break, then out — that’s usually the sweet spot.

Late Afternoon

On the way back south, pause at Starfish Beach in Rach Vem for a slower end to the day. It’s not the kind of beach you go to for polished facilities — it’s more about the shallow water, the wooden walkways, and that quiet north-end feeling once the day-trippers thin out. Late afternoon is best because the light softens and the heat drops, and 1.5 hours is plenty unless you want to sit longer with a drink. Keep expectations practical: tide and conditions change the look of the beach, so treat it as a scenic stop rather than a guaranteed postcard scene, and wear sandals or something that handles sand and uneven access well.

Evening

Finish with sunset at a beach bar on Long Beach back near Duong To, which is the easiest way to land the day after a north-island loop. A taxi or Grab back from the north usually takes around 45–60 minutes, and it’s worth timing your return so you arrive 45 minutes before sunset rather than after it. Pick a low-key spot with sea-facing seating — somewhere like a casual resort bar or a stretch of beach club along the Long Beach corridor — order a cold beer, passionfruit cocktail, or fresh coconut, and let the day settle. Expect roughly ₫100,000–₫400,000 per person depending on what you drink, and don’t feel pressured to turn it into a long night; this is the kind of evening that works best as an unhurried final hour with sand under your feet and nowhere else to be.

Morning

Head north early for Phu Quoc National Park while the air is still relatively cool and the trails feel manageable. From most bases around Duong Dong or Long Beach, expect about 45–70 minutes by taxi or scooter depending on exactly where you’re staying and which entrance you use; go after breakfast and aim to be on the road by 7:30–8:00 AM so you’re not hiking in the harshest sun. Keep it simple here: this is more about the island’s green side than a big trek, so think short walks, forest views, birdsong, and the quiet you don’t get on the coast. Bring water, mosquito repellent, and proper shoes because the ground can get uneven and muddy after rain.

Late Morning to Lunch

Continue over to Cua Can for a pepper farm visit — this is one of those very Phu Quoc stops that feels genuinely local rather than touristy. The visit usually takes around 45 minutes, with a quick look at how the pepper vines are grown and dried, plus the chance to buy peppercorns or pepper salt to take home; prices are generally modest, but do compare quality before you buy. From there, work your way south toward Ham Ninh for a seafood lunch around the stilt-house restaurants by the water, where crab, squid, clams, and fish are the natural order of the day. A solid meal here usually lands around £8–£22 per person depending on whether you go simple or order the full spread, and lunch is best taken unhurriedly because the east-coast breeze is part of the experience.

Afternoon

After lunch, keep driving toward Ho Quoc Pagoda and then on to Sao Beach. Ho Quoc Pagoda is one of the nicest viewpoint stops on the island: big sea views, a calm atmosphere, and enough space to breathe after the busier lunch spot. Give yourself about an hour there, then head to Bai Sao for the classic white-sand beach time — this is the place to swim, laze under shade, and forget the clock for a bit. Plan on roughly 2.5 hours here, and if the sea is calm, it’s one of the better places on the island for a proper lingering swim; just keep in mind facilities can be basic in parts, so bring cash for drinks, towels, and any sunbeds.

Evening

Finish with sunset at a seaside café in An Thoi — a slow, easy way to end a full circuit day without overdoing it. Choose a relaxed spot facing the water, order a cold drink or coconut coffee, and let the light drop over the southern harbor and islands; this is a better move than trying to squeeze in one more sight. If you’re heading back to Duong Dong afterward, allow about 45–60 minutes by car depending on traffic and where you’re staying, and leave around or just after sunset so you’re not driving in the dark longer than necessary.

Morning

If you’re staying anywhere around Duong Dong or Long Beach, set off early for An Thoi — it’s usually about 35–50 minutes by taxi or Grab, and it’s worth starting before the heat and day-trippers build up. Aim to arrive around opening time for the Hon Thom cable car so you get the clearest views and the shortest queues; return tickets are typically in the region of ₫700,000–₫900,000 per adult depending on promotions. The ride itself is the whole point: wide-open sea views, fishing boats below, and that slightly surreal feeling of gliding over the water toward the south islet chain. Keep your camera ready, but also just look out for the first half of the ride — it’s the prettiest.

Late Morning to Afternoon

Once you’re on Hon Thom, let the day stay easy and resort-like at Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park. You can split your time between the beach area, a swim, and a slow wander rather than trying to “tick off” everything; this is one of those places where the best plan is simply not to rush. If you want water activities, check the rental counters or package boards when you arrive — prices vary, but expect theme-park-style pricing rather than budget-island pricing. For lunch, keep it simple and scenic with a beachfront lunch on Hon Thom or, if you’ve already moved back toward the mainland side, at Bai Khem; this is a good window for grilled seafood, fried rice, fresh fruit, and cold drinks, usually around ₫250,000–₫600,000 per person depending on how much seafood you order.

Afternoon

After lunch, head over to Khem Beach (Bai Khem) for the prettiest swim stop of the day. The water is often calmer here than on the wilder west coast, and the sand is pale and soft enough that it still feels special even if you’ve already done a lot of beaches this trip. Give yourself about an hour and a half to swim, dry off, and just sit under shade if you can find it — this is the part of the day that should feel unstructured. If you’re using taxis, keep the driver waiting or pre-book the return so you’re not scrambling in the middle of the afternoon.

Evening

As the light softens, make your way north to Sunset Sanato Beach Club on the Long Beach side for the classic west-coast sunset finish. It’s popular for a reason: the sculptures, long beach views, and the orange-pink sky all work well together, even if it’s a bit more polished and photo-driven than a quiet local beach bar. Expect an entrance or minimum-spend style setup depending on the season and venue rules, so keep some cash or card handy. Then finish with a casual seafood grill near Long Beach — the stretch around Tran Hung Dao Street has plenty of low-key spots where you can get grilled prawns, squid, clams, and a beer for a very reasonable price, usually ₫250,000–₫750,000 for two if you’re not going overboard.

Morning

Keep the final morning on Phu Quoc very light and get to Phu Quoc Airport (PQC) with a comfortable buffer — I’d aim to leave your hotel around 2 hours before departure, and if you’re coming from Long Beach or Duong Dong it’s usually a straightforward 15–35 minute run by taxi or Grab depending on traffic. Once you land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), a taxi or Grab into District 1 is the easiest move; expect roughly 30–45 minutes in normal conditions, a bit longer at peak commute times, and it’s worth having some cash or a card ready for the airport pickup lane.

Late Morning in District 1

Start with Ben Thanh Market once you’ve dropped your bags or checked in nearby — it’s busy, noisy, and a little chaotic in the best possible way, so don’t overthink it. Give yourself about an hour to browse silk, coffee, lacquerware, dried fruit, and the usual souvenir mix, but keep your bargaining friendly and low-pressure; many stalls are geared toward tourists, and prices usually soften if you buy more than one thing. From there, it’s an easy walk or a very short Grab to Saigon Central Post Office, where the vaulted interior, old maps, and yellow French-colonial facade make it one of the city’s most photogenic quick stops; allow around 30 minutes. Just across the square, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is best viewed as a compact exterior visit right now, since access can be limited by restoration work, but it still fits neatly into the same sightseeing loop.

Lunch and Late Afternoon

For lunch, settle into a good pho spot in District 1 rather than chasing a destination restaurant — this is the right day for a clean, satisfying bowl after travel, and there are plenty of reliable places around Pasteur, Ly Tu Trong, and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai serving excellent broth for about £4–£12 per person. If you want a simple local pick, look for a busy, no-fuss place with stainless-steel tables and a lunch crowd; that’s usually the best sign. Afterward, head to Nguyen Hue Walking Street for the city’s most relaxed people-watching stretch: you’ll get families, office workers, street performers, and the skyline opening up toward the river. In the late afternoon and evening, this is one of the nicest places in the center to wander without a plan, and it leaves you well placed to drift into dinner or a rooftop drink nearby if you still have energy.