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Hi! Doing a trip in March to Thailand and Vietnam. I will most liked see Bangkok and maybe Samui before heading to Vietnam. I want to skip HCMC as I am already doing Bangkok and I’m from New York so used to a lot of city life. I definitely want to go to Hanoi and will probably fly back to the US from there and I’d like to see Halong Bay. So then it’s what to do with the rest of my time…. Should I
-Do an overnight cruise in Halong bay? Or just a day trip?
-Should I spend some days in Ninh Binh?
-Any other day trips from Hanoi worth seeing?
-should I fly to the center of the country? I am hearing such mixed things about Hoi An and if it’s a huge tourist trap or if it’s enough to go there and also see Da Ang and and Hue.
-I’ve seen Ha Giang loop and Sapa discussed as well but unsure how doable that will be with timing.
I’m still booking everything but I’d assume I’ll have at least 8 days in Vietnam maybe a tough more… I don’t care too much about nightlife/partying, I really want to focus on cool cultural and nature experiences and keep my destinations somewhat diversified from my time in Thailand…thank you in advance!
Gail
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If possible, I highly recommend spending one night on a cruise rather than just doing a day trip. An overnight cruise allows you to fully experience the beauty of the bay, separating you from urban life and immersing you in nature. A day trip will only take you to a few scenic spots, while a 2-day, 1-night cruise will give you the chance to explore fishing villages. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, you can consider Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay, as these areas are much quieter than Halong Bay.
2 days and 1 night is ideal for Ninh Binh. You can spend the first day visiting Trang An and the second day exploring Tam Coc. These are two of the most famous spots in Ninh Binh, offering stunning natural landscapes and a peaceful atmosphere.
You can take an overnight train from Ninh Binh to Hue, explore the historical sites in Hue, and then continue to Hoi An. While Hoi An can be quite crowded, it is still a place worth visiting because of its charming ancient town and peaceful atmosphere. If you want something quieter, you might also want to consider other nearby spots around Hue and Hoi An.
Both Sapa and Ha Giang require at least 3 days and 2 nights to truly experience the beauty of the northern highlands, visit ethnic minority villages, go trekking, and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes. If you want to explore either of these areas, you’ll need a separate itinerary, as travel time from Hanoi is quite long.
You can join city tours by bus, vespa, or jeep to explore Hanoi. If you’re interested in day trips, you can try craft village tours like Duong Lam Ancient Village, Quang Phu Cau Incense Village, or Bat Trang Pottery Village. These spots offer a deep dive into traditional Vietnamese culture.
Agree with staying in North!
Check out Cuc Phuong National Park once in Ninh Binh.
If you go to Hoi An, it will take about 1 day to get there and back, from Hanoi.
If coming from Thailand, you could fly to DaNang, spend a few days in Hoi An/DaNang then either take an overnight train to Ninh Binh or fly to Hanoi.
But it will leave very little time for the Hanoi area, especially if you do Halong Bay.
Edited: 1:30 pm, January 04, 2026
@Pascale L, that’s great to hear! Do you think just Hoi Ann or do you think it’s worth spending time in ads Ang as well? Do you feel like it’s been walll to wall tourists or okay? Like I said, I heard mixed things
@ctm7944 I was thinking at least one night just because it’s a lot of driving from Hanoi! We definitely want to see it
@scottj765 what are your favorite things to do in Ninh Binh?
@jolanda b I am thinking of doing that too! Did you go with a particular company you liked?
“Ninh binh was another experience. Very touristy. You basically take a bus up you go to this old little city then they take you and you ride a bicycle for about half a mile down dirt road get a photo then you have lunch then they take you on this 2 1/2 hour boat ride where there’s a guy rowing behind you. There are at least 100 boats floating down this river around you with all the tourist. It’s a laugh.”
Ohhhh, the Ninh Binh area is far, far more than the contrived tourist trap tour you experienced!
Scott
Edited: 5:05 am, January 03, 2026
I wrote to you about halong bay. It has hundreds of boats. I personally thought it was an experience, but if you’re short on time, I would skip it. It is crowded when you go on your excursions there is a line of people going up and back. I prefer Hoi an and Danang. Ninh binh was another experience. Very touristy. You basically take a bus up you go to this old little city then they take you and you ride a bicycle for about half a mile down dirt road get a photo then you have lunch then they take you on this 2 1/2 hour boat ride where there’s a guy rowing behind you. There are at least 100 boats floating down this river around you with all the tourist. It’s a laugh. Hanoi is very polluted and busy. I would not stay more than three nights and make sure you stay in the old quarter. I stayed at the ketcho palace. I thought it was so interesting. You walk out the door and it’s a market on the street Cooking on the street. It’s amazing and fun. Get your wits about you bc you will be dodging cars moto bikes etc. you can buy everything and anything so cheap. I had my nails and toes done for twenty dollars with gel. I’m having an amazing time. I bought a suitcase because I only brought carry on and realized I’m buying all these gifts. Laundry is easy to do here. Leave it either them or do it yourself. It cost ten dollars for two loads. I dropped and picked up three hours later. People here are so nice. It’s safe. You will have a great time experiencing the way people live and trying their food.