6 Apr 2026 – 5 May 2026 · by annabella.
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Philippines, Philippines
ENTRANCE: Fly Philippines → Hanoi
✈️ Cheap carriers: Cebu Pacific / Air Asia into Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
Easy Route (North → South):
Hanoi (3–4 days) — Old Quarter, street food, museums
Ha Long Bay (1–2 days) — budget boat cruise
Sapa (2–3 days) — rice terraces and trekking
Ninh Binh (2–3 days) — karst landscapes on bicycles/boat
Phong Nha (2–3 days) — caves and adventure tours
Hue (2 days) — Imperial City
Da Nang / Hoi An (3–4 days) — beaches + lantern town
Nha Trang (2–3 days) — beaches + nightlife
Dalat (2 days) — coffee, waterfalls, canyoning
Ho Chi Minh City (3–4 days) — Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta tours
👉 Transport:
🚌 Sleeper buses (cheap, common between cities)
🚆 Vietnam Reunification Express (scenic train)
✈️ Budget domestic flights for long hops
Budget: dorms (€6–12), food €5–10/day
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Hanoi, Vietnam
Stays
The drift hostel
2️⃣ Ha Long Bay Day Trip
From Hanoi (1-day cruise, ~12 hrs)
Cost: $45–70
No need to stay overnight — saves time + money
Must-Do Additions:
Night street food tour (bun cha + egg coffee)
Sunrise walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
Train Street (timed carefully)
Water puppet show
Motorbike food tour (10/10 experience)
💡 If you love viewpoints: Lotte Observation
Deck.
📍I love fashion (cowboy boots)
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Ninh Bình, Vietnam
Must-do:
Trang An boat ride (better than Tam Coc)
Mua Cave sunset climb
Bike around countryside
Bai Dinh Pagoda (optional)
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Hà Giang, Vietnam
Motorbike tour (easy rider if you don’t ride)
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ethnic minority villages
Limestone mountains & rice terraces
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Sa Pa, Vietnam
Must-do:
1 full-day trekking with local guide
Fansipan summit (weather dependent)
Stay in a valley homestay if possible
⚠️ April = green season starting, beautiful.
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Cát Bà Island, Vietnam
Upgrade Tip:
Book a Lan Ha Bay route (less crowded, same scenery).
Must:
Kayaking
Sunset on deck
Early morning Tai Chi
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Phong Nha, Vietnam
Must-do:
Paradise Cave
Phong Nha boat cave
Dark Cave (zipline + mud bath)
Jungle trekking
Adventure lovers: Hang Tien expedition.
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Hue, Vietnam
Must-do:
Imperial City (2–3 hrs)
Khai Dinh Tomb
Hai Van Pass motorbike to Da Nang
Sunset cruise on Perfume River
Food:
Bun Bo Hue
Salt coffee
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Hội An, Vietnam
VPBanl express (atm)
- food‼️
📍Ms. Nguyen, Nguyen Phuc Chu St.
📍Bít Tết Ngọn Sô 5, Hanoi
105k VND / £3.30
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Da Nang, Vietnam
- Stay in hoi an
VPBanl express (atm)
Option A – Relaxed
Morning: Marble Mountains
Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge)
Lunch: Seafood in Da Nang
Afternoon: My Khe Beach
Evening: Dragon Bridge fire show
Return to Hoi An
Must-do:
Golden Bridge (go early!)
Marble Mountains
My Khe Beach
Dragon Bridge fire show (weekend)
Day trip to Hoi An at night (essential)
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Must-do:
War Remnants Museum
Cu Chi Tunnels (half-day)
Rooftop bar night
Ben Thanh night market
Motorbike street food tour
Optional:
Mekong Delta day trip
- beauty treatments 
Highly Rated Areas in HCMC
District 1 & 3 (central, lots of spas & aesthetic clinics)
Pham Ngu Lao — lots of budget spas/beauty salons
Thao Dien (Thao Dien Village) — more boutique & expat quality
📍 satin blink
💡 Tips to Get the Best Deals
✔️ Book later in the afternoon
Some spas lower prices in slower hours.
✔️ Ask for combo packages
90 min massage + facial combo saves a lot.
✔️ Check hygiene
Don’t go for ultra-cheap if place looks dirty → risk outweighs savings.
✔️ Use booking apps like
Bookaway
Spa booking apps
Local hotel concierges often give discounts
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Phú Quốc, Vietnam
Fly HCMC → Phu Quoc (often very cheap)
Must-do:
3-island snorkeling tour
Sunset beach dinner
Hon Thom cable car
Night market
Stay on west coast for best sunsets.
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia