7-Day Vietnam Itinerary: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An

I squeezed Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An into seven days without losing my mind. It took a night train, one internal flight, and some aggressive planning. Here’s exactly how I did it — including which Ha Long Bay cruise actually delivered, which Hanoi pho spot is worth the queue, and where I’d skip next time.

Is 7 days enough for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An?

Barely, but yes — if you move smart. The biggest time sink is transit. Hanoi to Ha Long Bay is a 3.5-hour bus ride. Ha Long Bay to Hoi An is a full day unless you fly. I flew from Hanoi to Da Nang (1.5 hours) and took a 45-minute Grab to Hoi An. That saved me an entire day versus the train or bus.

Hanoi: 2 nights (arrive Day 1, explore Day 2, leave Day 3 morning)
Ha Long Bay: 1 night on a cruise (depart Hanoi Day 3 morning, return Day 4 afternoon)
Hoi An: 3 nights (arrive Day 4 evening, explore Days 5–6, depart Day 7)

If you only have six days, cut one night from Hoi An. But don’t cut the overnight cruise — that’s the backbone of the trip.

Which Ha Long Bay cruise should I book?

I booked a mid-range junk boat through Sinh Tourist in Hanoi’s Old Quarter — around $150 per person for one night, all meals, kayaking, and a cave visit. It wasn’t luxury, but the boat was clean, the food was decent, and the crew didn’t rush us.

Sinh Tourist cruise: Good value, no hidden fees, English-speaking guide
Bai Tu Long Bay option: Quieter than Ha Long proper — I’d do this next time
Avoid: The $50 day-trip boats. You spend four hours on a bus, two hours on the bay, and see nothing but elbows
Kayaking tip: Request a morning paddle before breakfast — the bay is glassy and empty

The overnight cruise takes you to Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) and drops anchor near Ti Top Island. The cave is touristy but massive. The island’s viewpoint is a steep 400-step climb — worth it for the photo, not worth it in flip-flops.

What should I eat in Hanoi? (And where?)

Hanoi’s street food is the real reason to come. I ate pho for breakfast, bun cha for lunch, and egg coffee for a late-afternoon pick-me-up. Here’s where I went and what I thought.

Bun Cha Huong Lien (24 Le Van Huu): The Obama spot. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, the bun cha is still excellent. Go at 11:30 a.m. to beat the lunch rush.
Pho Thin (13 Lo Duc): Beef pho with a wok-fried twist. The broth is darker and richer than the standard. I preferred it over Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan Street, which felt overhyped.
Cafe Giang (39 Nguyen Huu Huan): Inventor of egg coffee. The thick, custard-like topping over strong Vietnamese coffee is not a gimmick. Order it hot, not iced.
Banh Mi 25 (25 Hang Ca): Best banh mi I had in Vietnam — crispy baguette, generous pate, fresh herbs. Skip the chain Banh Mi Phuong in Hoi An; this is better.

For accommodation, I stayed at La Siesta Hotel & Spa in the Old Quarter. It’s pricier than hostels but dead quiet at night, and the staff helped me book the Ha Long Bay cruise without commission markup.

How do I get from Ha Long Bay to Hoi An?

The cruise drops you back at your Hanoi hotel around 4 p.m. on Day 4. From there, I took a Grab to Noi Bai Airport and caught a 7 p.m. VietJet flight to Da Nang. The flight was $45 including a checked bag. From Da Nang, a 45-minute Grab to Hoi An cost about $15.

Option 1 (my choice): Fly Hanoi to Da Nang, then Grab to Hoi An — fastest, 4 hours total
Option 2: Overnight train Hanoi to Da Nang (16 hours, $30–$50 for a soft sleeper), then bus to Hoi An — saves a hotel night but eats a day
Option 3: Direct bus Hanoi to Hoi An — 14–16 hours, cramped, don’t do it

Book VietJet or Bamboo Airways at least two weeks ahead. Walk-up fares double. And pack a jacket for the plane — they keep the cabin like a refrigerator.

What’s worth doing in Hoi An?

Hoi An is prettier than it is interesting after two days. The Old Town is a UNESCO site, but it’s also a souvenir gauntlet. I spent Day 5 walking the lantern-lit streets and getting a custom suit made, then Day 6 on a scooter trip to the beach and the ruins.

Old Town at night: The lanterns are legitimately beautiful. Walk the Japanese Covered Bridge and grab a drink at Mango Mango on the river — overpriced but good view
Tailor shops: I used Yaly Couture for a linen suit ($120, two fittings, ready in 24 hours). Haggle hard. Start at 60% of their first price
An Bang Beach: 15-minute bike ride from town. Clean sand, cheap seafood at The Fisherman’s Table — grilled squid and a beer for $5
My Son Sanctuary: Half-day trip to the Cham ruins. Worth it if you like history, skippable if you’ve seen Angkor Wat. I found it interesting but dusty
Cooking class: I did Red Bridge Cooking School — morning market tour, boat ride, then four dishes. The spring rolls were the highlight

Stay near the Old Town but not in it. I booked Hoi An Ancient House Village Resort & Spa — a 10-minute walk from the night market, with a pool that actually felt cold in the humidity.

Is Hoi An worth the hype?

Yes and no. The Old Town is Instagram bait — beautiful, but packed with tourists and identical lantern shops. The real value is the surrounding area: the beach, the countryside, the food scene. If you only walk the Old Town, you’ll leave thinking it’s overrated.

Overrated: Riding a bike through the Old Town at peak hours (5–8 p.m.). You’ll spend more time dodging pedestrians than pedaling
Underrated: The Tra Que Vegetable Village — a 20-minute walk north. You can join a farming workshop or just eat herb-crusted seafood at a local homestay
Skip: The lantern boat ride on the river. $5 for 15 minutes, and you’re one of 50 boats in a floating traffic jam

FAQ

Is 7 days too short for this route? It’s tight but doable if you fly between Hanoi and Da Nang. The overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay is the key — it combines transit and accommodation. If you have 8–9 days, add a night in Ninh Binh or a second night in Ha Long on a proper island resort.

What’s the best time of year to go? February to April is ideal — dry in the north, warm in the center. I went in late March and had clear skies in Ha Long Bay and 30°C in Hoi An. Avoid October–December in Hoi An (flood season) and June–August in Hanoi (heat and rain).

Do I need a visa for Vietnam? Most nationalities need an e-visa ($25, 3 days processing) or a visa on arrival with a pre-approval letter. I used the official government e-visa portal — took 72 hours, no issues. Print two copies and keep one in your hotel safe.

Conclusion

Fly between Hanoi and Da Nang to save a full day of transit
Book a one-night Ha Long Bay cruise with Sinh Tourist or a Bai Tu Long alternative — skip the day trips
Eat bun cha at Huong Lien and egg coffee at Cafe Giang in Hanoi
Spend two days in Hoi An Old Town, then one day at An Bang Beach or My Son
Get a custom suit or dress made at Yaly Couture — just haggle
Pack light, bring a rain jacket, and carry small bills for street food