9 days from Phu Quoc to Ha Long: the island, Hoi An, Hanoi and the bay
9 days, 8 nights: Phu Quoc (3N), Hoi An (1N), Da Nang (1N), Hanoi (2N), Ha Long Bay (1N). Best time to go: Best Feb–Apr, when all three regions are dry; Oct–Dec is wet on the central coast.
Day 1: Arrive in Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc
- Sao Beach · 3 h
Day 2: Hon Thom cable car & Kiss of the Sea show
Phu Quoc
- Hon Thom cable car & Kiss of the Sea show · 6 h. Combo with the round-trip cable car saves vs separate tickets.
Local tip: Combo with the round-trip cable car saves vs separate tickets.
Day 3: 4-island snorkelling boat trip
Phu Quoc
Day 4: Phu Quoc → Hoi An
Hoi An · Phu Quoc to Hoi An, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- 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 5: Hoi An → Da Nang
Da Nang · Hoi An to Da Nang, Car ~45 min
- 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 6: Da Nang → Hanoi
Hanoi · Da Nang to Hanoi, Domestic flight ~1–2h
- Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Day 7: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
- Thang Long water puppet show · 1 h. Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
- Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda · 2 h. Mornings only, shoulders/knees covered; closed some Mondays and Fridays.
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2 h
Local tip: Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
Day 8: Hanoi → Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay · Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, Road via Hanoi
- 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 9: Depart from Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
- Ti Top Island viewpoint · 1.5 h
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Phu Quoc (3 nights): Long Beach resorts. West-coast sunsets, pools, 15 min to town.
- Hoi An (1 night): Ancient Town edge. Walk to lanterns at night without the noise.
- Da Nang (1 night): My Khe beachfront. Beach across the road; Ba Na and Hoi An within an hour.
- Hanoi (2 nights): Hoan Kiem boutique stays. Quiet lanes, still walkable to the Old Quarter.
- Ha Long Bay (1 night): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.