Customised holidayTRVN7C
Hanoi to Hoi AnVietnam in 7 nights
- 8 Days · 7 Nights
- Vietnam · 3 Cities
- Classic pace
- Any date you choose
Hanoi (2N)Ha Long Bay cruise (1N)Hoi An (4N)
View day-wise itinerary →Holiday includes
- Hotel
- Meals
- Sightseeing
- Transport
- FlightsOptional
- Visa
Private car and driver throughout, private airport transfers. Prafull plans and answers every message himself.
Holiday highlights
- Cyclo ride and a water-puppet show in Hanoi
- Overnight cruise with kayaking on Ha Long Bay
- Hoi An's old town and the Japanese Covered Bridge by lantern light
- Basket-boat ride in the Cam Thanh coconut forest
- Golden Bridge and the cable car at Ba Na Hills
- Cham Hindu temple ruins at My Son
Itinerary (day wise)
The north and centre of Vietnam in one week: Hanoi's Old Quarter, a night on Ha Long Bay, then four nights in Hoi An with time for the old town, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills and the Cham ruins of My Son. You fly from Hanoi to Da Nang the day you leave the cruise, so there's no doubling back. It suits couples, families and first-timers who want one long, relaxed base after the busier days in the north.
Day 1Arrive in Hanoi (2 Nights)
About 30 km · 45 minutes–1 hour by road
Your driver meets you at Noi Bai arrivals and drives you into the city, over the Red River, to your hotel in or near the Old Quarter. After check-in and a rest, you take a cyclo, the pedalled rickshaw with the seat in front, through the Old Quarter's narrow streets, many named after the goods once sold there, and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Walk over the red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. Dinner is at your own pace; Indian and vegetarian restaurants are a short walk away. Overnight in Hanoi.
- Hanoi Old Quarter by cyclo
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ngoc Son Temple and the Huc Bridge
- Note: Hotel check-in is usually from 2 pm; a guaranteed early check-in costs extra.
Prafull’s tipCarry some US dollars to change in the Old Quarter; rates are better there than at the airport.
No meals included today
Day 2Hanoi
A full day with a private English-speaking guide and car. You start with the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, with its courtyards and stone tablets carried on tortoises. Then Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the yellow Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. After lunch there's time to rest or browse the Old Quarter's silk and lacquer shops. In the evening you watch a water-puppet show, a northern folk art played out on a pool of water to live music. Overnight in Hanoi.
- Temple of Literature
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- One Pillar Pagoda
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
- Note: The Mausoleum opens only in the morning, is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and shuts for some weeks each year for maintenance; on those days you see it from the square.
- Note: Cover shoulders and knees for the Mausoleum and temples.
Prafull’s tipIf the Mausoleum is open, go there first; the queue is shortest before 8.30 am.
Breakfast
Day 3Hanoi – Ha Long Bay Cruise (1 Night)
About 170 km · 2.5 hours by expressway
Your driver collects you after breakfast for the expressway drive east. You board the cruise around midday and lunch is served as the boat moves out among the limestone islands. In the afternoon you kayak, or take a bamboo rowing boat, into a sheltered lagoon, and walk through one of the bay's large caves. There's time on the sundeck for sunset, often a cooking demonstration, and dinner on board. You sleep in a private cabin with its own bathroom. Overnight on board in Ha Long Bay.
- Ha Long Bay's limestone islands
- Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or a similar cave
- Kayaking in a lagoon
- Note: The coastguard can hold boats in port during storms, most often between July and October; if that happens we rebook or switch you to a day cruise.
- Note: Take only what you need for the night on board; your main bag stays in the cruise's luggage room.
Prafull’s tipTell us your veg or Jain needs when you book; we brief the boat's kitchen a week before.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4Ha Long Bay – Hoi An (4 Nights)
About 2.5–3 hours by road to Hanoi airport · 1 hr 20 min flight to Da Nang · 45 minutes by road to Hoi An
Tai chi on deck at sunrise, a short morning visit, then brunch as the boat sails back; you're ashore by about 11 am. Your driver takes you straight to Noi Bai airport for the afternoon flight to Da Nang, where a second driver meets you for the run south to Hoi An. It's a long travel day, so we keep the evening simple: a stroll into the old town after dark, when the silk lanterns are lit and paper candle-boats float on the Thu Bon river. Overnight in Hoi An.
- Tai chi on deck
- Hoi An old town by lantern light
- Thu Bon river
- Note: Domestic flights in Vietnam usually allow 20–23 kg of checked baggage in economy; we confirm your allowance with the ticket.
- Note: Optional: a short sampan ride on the Thu Bon river to float a paper lantern, paid locally per boat.
Prafull’s tipKeep a snack handy; the domestic terminal at Noi Bai has few vegetarian options.
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5Hoi An
A morning walk through the old town with a local guide, before the heat and the tour groups. You cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, step inside a centuries-old merchant's house, and visit a Chinese assembly hall full of incense coils. In the afternoon your driver takes you a few kilometres out to the Cam Thanh coconut forest, where you ride in a round bamboo basket boat through the water palms; the boatmen like to spin you. The evening is free for the lantern-lit streets, the night market and the tailors' shops. Overnight in Hoi An.
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Old merchant houses
- Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
- Basket-boat ride in the Cam Thanh coconut forest
- Hoi An night market
- Note: Entry to the old-town sights is by a combined ticket covering several houses, halls and the bridge; it's included.
- Note: The old-town centre is closed to cars for much of the day and evening; wear comfortable sandals.
Prafull’s tipA tailor can make a shirt or dress in 24–48 hours; order on your first full day so there's time for a fitting.
Breakfast
Day 6Hoi An: Ba Na Hills
About 55 km each way · 1–1.25 hours by road
Your driver takes you inland to the foot of Ba Na Hills, where a long cable-car line climbs through forest to a hilltop at about 1,400 metres. First stop is the Golden Bridge, a curving gold walkway held up by two giant stone hands. Further up there's a mock French village, flower gardens, an old wine cellar and an indoor amusement park that children love. The air is noticeably cooler than on the coast, so carry a light layer. You're back in Hoi An by late afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.
- Ba Na Hills cable car
- Golden Bridge
- French Village
- Le Jardin d'Amour gardens
- Fantasy Park
- Note: Ba Na is busiest at weekends and on Vietnamese holidays; we send you on a weekday where we can.
- Note: Mist can hide the views; we watch the forecast and swap this day with day 7 if needed.
Prafull’s tipStart early and walk the Golden Bridge first, before the crowds come up the cable car.
Breakfast
Day 7Hoi An: My Son and An Bang Beach
About 40 km each way · about 1 hour by road
An early start for My Son, a UNESCO-listed valley of brick temples built by the Cham kings between about the 4th and 13th centuries. Your guide explains the Hindu gods carved on the walls, Shiva above all, and how the towers were built without visible mortar. Some were damaged by bombing during the war, and restoration goes on. You're back by lunchtime, and the afternoon is for An Bang beach, a short drive from the old town, with sun-loungers and seafront cafés. Overnight in Hoi An.
- My Son Sanctuary
- Cham temple towers and carvings
- An Bang beach
- Note: Arrive at My Son by 7.30–8 am; there's little shade and it gets hot by 10.
- Note: A short shuttle and a walk of about 1–1.5 km on mostly flat paths link the temple groups.
Prafull’s tipIndian guests often enjoy My Son most; ask your guide to show you the Shiva lingas and the Sanskrit inscriptions.
Breakfast
Day 8Hoi An – Da Nang – Departure
About 30 km · 45 minutes by road
Breakfast and a last morning in Hoi An: a bicycle ride through the rice fields to Tra Que, the vegetable village that supplies the town's herbs, a swim at the hotel pool, or a coffee by the river. Check-out is usually by noon, and the hotel holds your bags if your flight is later. Your driver collects you about three hours before an international departure for the drive along the coast road, past the Marble Mountains and the long beaches south of Da Nang, to Da Nang airport. Your holiday ends here.
- Tra Que vegetable village
- Marble Mountains (passing)
Prafull’s tipPick up tailored clothes the evening before you leave, not on the last morning.
Breakfast
Tour details
Accommodation
Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.
| City | Standard hotels |
|---|---|
| Hanoi2 nights | Mercure Hanoi La Gare / Silk Path Hotel Hanoi / Ibis Hanoi Centre / or similarDeluxe room |
| Ha Long Bay cruise1 night | Bhaya Classic Cruise / Ambassador Cruise / or similarDeluxe cabin with window and private bathroom |
| Hoi An4 nights | Hoi An Historic Hotel / Hoi An Silk Marina Resort & Spa / Allegro Hoi An / or similarDeluxe room with pool or garden view |
| City | Deluxe hotels |
|---|---|
| Hanoi2 nights | Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi – MGallery / Hilton Hanoi Opera / Pan Pacific Hanoi / or similar |
| Ha Long Bay cruise1 night | Paradise Elegance Cruise / Bhaya Legend Cruise / or similar |
| Hoi An4 nights | Anantara Hoi An Resort / Little Riverside Hoi An / Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa / or similar |
| City | Premium hotels |
|---|---|
| Hanoi2 nights | Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi / Capella Hanoi / JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi / or similar |
| Ha Long Bay cruise1 night | Heritage Line Violet / Heritage Line Ylang / or similar |
| Hoi An4 nights | Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai / Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery / or similar |
Hotels are confirmed when you book. If a hotel is full, we give you one of the same category in the same area, and tell you before you pay.
Optional add-ons
Not in the price. Prafull can book them for you or you can pay locally.
| Experience | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian cooking class in Hoi AnMarket visit, a basket-boat ride and a lunch you cook yourself; Jain menus on request. | On request |
| Lantern-making workshopAbout 1.5 hours with a local craftsman; your lantern folds flat for the flight home. | On request |
| Hue day trip over the Hai Van PassA long day, about 3.5 hours each way, for the Imperial Citadel; best swapped for the beach afternoon. | On request |
| Lan Ha Bay cruiseA quieter bay next to Ha Long with fewer boats. | On request |
Tour information
Read this to prepare for your holiday.
Tour inclusions
- 7 nights' accommodation: 2 in Hanoi, 1 on a Ha Long Bay cruise and 4 in Hoi An, in the hotels and cruise listed (or similar), twin sharing
- Daily breakfast; lunch and dinner on the cruise, and brunch on board before you disembark
- Economy flight Hanoi–Da Nang with checked baggage
- Private air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeing: sedan for 2 guests, 7-seater for 3–4, 16-seat van for 5–8
- Private English-speaking guides in Hanoi, Hoi An old town and My Son
- Cruise activities: kayaking or bamboo boat, cave visit, sunrise tai chi and cooking demonstration
- Ba Na Hills cable-car ticket, My Son entry and the Hoi An old-town ticket
- Cyclo ride, water-puppet show and basket-boat ride in the coconut forest
- Bottled water in the car every day
- Help with your Vietnam e-visa application; we check the form before you submit
- Prafull's day-by-day trip notes on WhatsApp
- 24/7 helpline while you travel
Tour exclusions
- International flights to Hanoi and from Da Nang
- Vietnam e-visa fee (approx. US$25 for a single-entry e-visa, paid online)
- GST (5%) and TCS as applicable under current rules
- Lunches and dinners not listed, and all drinks on the cruise
- Ba Na Hills buffet lunch and any rides or wax museum beyond the cable-car ticket
- Sampan lantern rides, tailoring and shopping in Hoi An
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for guides, drivers and cruise crew, at your discretion
- Early check-in, late check-out and excess baggage on the domestic flight
- Personal expenses: laundry, minibar, phone calls and porterage
- Extra costs from cruise cancellations, flight changes or bad weather
Good to know
- Indian passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa before travel. Apply at least two weeks ahead; your passport needs six months' validity.
- Hoi An is best from February to August. From October to December central Vietnam gets heavy rain and the old town can flood briefly; we keep plans flexible in those months.
- Hanoi is cool from December to February while Hoi An is warmer; pack layers for the north and light cottons for the centre.
- Vegetarian food is called 'chay'. Hoi An has many vegetarian cafés, and we pre-brief the cruise and hotels.
- My Son and the old town involve 1–2 km of easy walking on flat ground; sun hats and water matter more than fitness.
- The currency is the Vietnamese dong; carry cash for markets, boats and tips. Vietnam is 1.5 hours ahead of India.
When to go
October to April. Hanoi and Ha Long are cool and dry from October to April; Hoi An is best from February to August; the south is dry from December to April. October to December brings rain to the centre.
Our favourite months
Cancellation policy & payment terms
Payment terms
| To confirm your holiday | 25% of the package cost, or ₹25,000 per person, whichever is higher |
|---|---|
| 30 days before travel | Balance payment |
| Booking within 30 days of travel | Full payment at booking |
| Flights, trains and visa fees | Paid in full at booking, as the airline or authority requires |
Cancellation charges
| 45 days or more before travel | 10% of the package cost |
|---|---|
| 30–44 days before travel | 25% of the package cost |
| 15–29 days before travel | 50% of the package cost |
| 7–14 days before travel | 75% of the package cost |
| Less than 7 days, or no-show | 100% of the package cost |
- Cancellations must be sent in writing, on email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
- Flights, trains, visa fees and non-refundable hotel or activity bookings are refunded only as their own rules allow.
- Date changes are free when made 30 days or more before travel, subject to hotel availability and any difference in price.
- Refunds are paid within 14 working days of us receiving them from the hotels and suppliers.
- No refund is possible for services not used during the holiday.
- Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
Questions about this holiday
How much does the Hanoi to Hoi An trip cost?
The 7-night Hanoi to Hoi An journey starts at ₹52,000 per person on twin sharing in Standard hotels (about ₹70,000 in Deluxe and ₹99,000 in Premium hotels), land only. Flights are extra and quoted for your dates.
What is the best time for this Vietnam trip?
October to April. Hanoi and Ha Long are cool and dry from October to April; Hoi An is best from February to August; the south is dry from December to April. October to December brings rain to the centre.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every TripRoutes trip is private, so we can add or remove nights, swap Hanoi or any other stop, change hotels, or adjust the pace.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes — Indian passport holders apply online for an e-visa before travel. We help you apply and check the form, and confirm the current rules when you book.
How many days are enough for Vietnam?
Five nights for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, seven to add Hoi An, and ten to travel from north to south.
Vietnam
Other ways to see Vietnam
5 nightsEasyHanoi & Ha Long Bay
- Hanoi's Old Quarter and street food
- An overnight Ha Long Bay cruise
- Rowing boats through Ninh Binh's karsts
10 nightsSignatureVietnam north to south
- Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and the imperial city of Hue
- Hoi An's old town
- Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
Plan with Prafull
Make this holiday yours
Tell Prafull your dates and who is coming. He will send a revised plan and an exact price, usually within a few hours.
- WhatsApp +91 74800 66666
- Call +91 74800 66666
- prafull.pitale@triproutes.in
- 304, Kailash Plaza Business Park, Ghatkopar East