Vietnam 12-Day Itinerary · 2

Trip at a glance

Day	Date	Plan	Night
1	Tue 2 Mar	Fly Mumbai → Hanoi, Old Quarter evening, 11:30 PM night bus	Bus
2	Wed 3 Mar	Sapa: rest, alpine coaster, Silver Waterfall, Rong May, O Quy Ho sunset	Sapa
3	Thu 4 Mar	Sapa: Fansipan summit, Cat Cat Village, herbal bath	Sapa
4	Fri 5 Mar	Slow Sapa morning (Moana or Ta Van), daytime bus back to Hanoi NEW	Hanoi
5	Sat 6 Mar	Ha Long Bay day cruise, night market after	Hanoi
6	Sun 7 Mar	Hanoi sightseeing: Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Train Street, night market	Hanoi
7	Mon 8 Mar	Fly to Da Nang, Marble Mountains, Hoi An lanterns	Da Nang
8	Tue 9 Mar	Ba Na Hills (optional) or Son Tra, My Khe Beach	Da Nang
9	Wed 10 Mar	Lady Buddha, Han Market, fly to Phu Quoc, night market	Phu Quoc
10	Thu 11 Mar	Island hopping, Hon Thom cable car, Sunset Town	Phu Quoc
11	Fri 12 Mar	Free beach and resort day NEW	Phu Quoc
12	Sat 13 Mar	Fly Phu Quoc → Mumbai	–

What changed from the earlier version

One extra day in Sapa, and the return to Hanoi is by daytime bus, so there's only one night bus in the whole trip.
Ha Long Bay moved to Day 5, so you go on it after a full night's sleep instead of straight off a bus.
Ho Chi Minh City removed. You fly Da Nang → Phu Quoc directly and get 3 nights in Phu Quoc, with one free day.
Everything else is kept. Items marked Optional show their cost, and you can tick or untick them in the cost table to see the total.

Why these dates workWell clear of Lunar New Year (6 Feb) and Holi (around 22 Mar), and March fares are usually lower. The Hanoi sightseeing day is a Sunday, when the Mausoleum is open and the Old Quarter night market and walking street are on (they also run Friday and Saturday). Ba Na Hills falls on a quiet Tuesday. The one thing you miss is the Dragon Bridge fire show in Da Nang, which only runs on weekends.

Flights (all with 7 kg cabin + 20 kg checked)

These are estimates, not live pricesPrices are typical ranges for this route and season. Confirm them on Google Flights and the airline's own site, then type the real fares into the cost table.

Leg	Date	Target time	Airlines to compare	Est. ₹ pp (incl. 20 kg)
Mumbai → Hanoi	Tue 2 Mar	Early morning, landing by about 1 PM	Akasa (your 05:45 option), VietJet	15,000–22,000
Hanoi → Da Nang	Mon 8 Mar	08:30–09:30	VietJet, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo	3,500–5,500
Da Nang → Phu Quoc	Wed 10 Mar	12:00–14:00	VietJet, Vietnam Airlines. Check a direct flight runs on this date, otherwise connect via HCMC	3,500–5,500
Phu Quoc → Mumbai	Sat 13 Mar	Afternoon or evening	VietJet: direct if running, otherwise via HCMC on one ticket	16,000–25,000
Total flights per person				~38,000–58,000

Getting 7 kg cabin + 20 kg checked bags on each airline

VietJet: The basic Eco fare includes only 7 kg cabin. Add 20 kg checked while booking, because it costs much more at the airport. Compare it with the Deluxe fare, which includes a checked bag.
Vietnam Airlines: Economy fares above the cheapest tier usually include 23 kg checked. Once you add a bag on VietJet, the price difference is often small.
Akasa: You already have the 20 + 7 kg fare. Make sure the baggage shows on your ticket.
Return flight: Buy at least 20 kg each, because souvenirs, coffee and pepper add up.
When to book: International flights in Nov–Dec 2026. Watch the VietJet sales on 11.11 and 12.12, and the Akasa and IndiGo year-end sales. Book domestic flights by mid-January 2027.

How busy is it?

Days	Pace	Why
1	Very long	You're up around 2:30 AM for the flight and end on the night bus. This is the only really hard day.
2–4 (Sapa)	Comfortable	A morning rest on Day 2, 2.5 days to catch a clear morning for Fansipan, and a slow Day 4 with a daytime bus.
5–6 (Ha Long, Hanoi)	Busy, but rested	Ha Long is a long day (about 5 hours of driving), but you start fresh. Day 6 is a lot of walking.
7–8 (Da Nang)	Moderate	Full days with an afternoon break.
9–12 (Phu Quoc)	Relaxed	One tour day, one free day.

If you'd like Ho Chi Minh City back at any point, it needs 2 extra days and adds about ₹8,000–11,000 per person (flight, 2 hotel nights, Cu Chi Tunnels and museums).

Before you go: booking checklist

Documents & money

Vietnam e-visa for all 4, only on the official site evisa.gov.vn, 3–4 weeks before you fly. About US$25 for single entry, which covers the whole trip.
Passports valid for at least 6 months after 13 March 2027.
Travel insurance that covers adventure activities (Rong May swing, zipline, coaster).
Carry US dollars (new $100 notes get the best rates) and change them on Hà Trung street in Hanoi. INR is hard to exchange in Vietnam. A forex card is a good backup.
Offline copies of all bookings and hotel addresses.

Bookings

International flights: Mumbai → Hanoi and Phu Quoc → Mumbai.
Domestic flights: Hanoi → Da Nang (8 Mar) and Da Nang → Phu Quoc (10 Mar).
Buses: night limousine bus Hanoi → Sapa (2 Mar, couple cabins) and daytime limousine bus Sapa → Hanoi (5 Mar, around 1 PM). Book on 12Go or with the bus company.
Fansipan, Ha Long cruise (Sat 6 Mar), and any optional activities you choose (Klook or the official sites).
Water puppet show (2 Mar, 6:30 PM slot).
Hotels (see below).

Download these apps

Grab (book a 7-seater for airport runs with 4 people and luggage) · Xanh SM (electric taxis) · Google Maps (download offline maps) · Google Translate (camera mode for menus) · Klook · 12Go · an eSIM app such as Airalo, or buy a Viettel SIM at Hanoi airport.

Hotels: spend where you'll actually be in the room

Prices are per room per night (one room per couple). Your maximum is ₹5,000, and Phu Quoc gets it.

Nights	Where	Time in room	Target / room	Notes
Day 1, daytime only Optional	Hanoi Old Quarter	A few hours	₹1,500–2,000	For a shower and bags before the night bus. Tip: book the same hotel you'll use on Days 4–6 and leave your big suitcases there while you're in Sapa. Take only a small bag on the bus.
Night 1 Optional + Nights 2–3	Sapa town	Medium. It's cold.	₹3,000–4,500	Booking Night 1 (while you're on the bus) means the room is ready at 6 AM. Strongly recommended. Ask for heating and a valley view.
Nights 4, 5, 6	Hanoi Old Quarter	Low	₹2,500–3,500	Pickup point for the Ha Long cruise. Ask for an early breakfast on Day 7.
Nights 7, 8	Da Nang, My Khe Beach	Low to medium	₹2,500–4,000	Walking distance to the beach. A pool is a nice extra.
Nights 9, 10, 11	Phu Quoc, Long Beach	High	₹4,500–5,000	Beach resort with a pool and sunset views. March is high season, so book early.

Suggested hotels

Check before bookingThese are well-known, consistently well-reviewed properties, chosen for location first. Prices are typical for March. Compare on Agoda and Booking.com, and look for 8.5+ review scores and free cancellation.

Where	Best area & why	Hotels (≈ ₹ / room / night)
Hanoi	Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake: walk to Beer Street, the puppet show, the night market and Train Street. Buses and cruises pick up here.	Essence Palace Hotel & Spa ~₹3,000–3,800: popular, excellent service and breakfast. Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel & Spa ~₹2,500–3,300: great value, near Beer Street. La Siesta Classic Ma May ~₹4,500–5,500: splurge, on the best street.
Sapa	Town center / Fansipan road: walk to Sun Plaza (Fansipan) and the night market.	Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa ~₹2,800–3,800: valley views, spa. Amazing Hotel Sapa ~₹3,500–4,500: central, indoor heated pool. Pao's Sapa Leisure Hotel ~₹5,500–7,000: splurge, best views and pool.
Da Nang	My Khe Beach / An Thượng: one block from the beach and full of cafés. About 25 min to Hoi An.	Haian Beach Hotel & Spa ~₹3,000–4,000: across from the beach, rooftop pool. Sala Danang Beach Hotel ~₹3,500–4,500: beachfront, infinity pool. Cozy Danang Boutique Hotel ~₹2,200–2,800: budget, on An Thượng food street.
Phu Quoc	Long Beach (Duong Dong side): sunset beach, 10 min to the night market, 15–20 min to the airport. Sunset Town is about 30 min south.	Sol by Meliá Phu Quoc ~₹4,500–6,000: big pool resort, beachfront. Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa ~₹5,000–6,500: beachfront, rooftop infinity pool, walk to the night market. Lahana Resort Phu Quoc ~₹3,000–4,000: budget, hillside sunset-view pool.

Day-by-day plan

Prices are per person. Optional items can be switched on or off in the cost table.

Day 1Tue 2 Mar

Hanoi: arrival, Old Quarter, night bus

15–22°C · grey, light drizzle

05:45 AM
Mumbai → Hanoi, Akasa Air (20 + 7 kg) ₹18,000
Vietnam is IST + 1 hr 30 min.
~1:00 PM
Land at Noi Bai. Immigration takes 30–60 min. Buy a SIM / eSIM at the Viettel counter, and change just US$50 at the airport.
2:00–3:00 PM
Grab 7-seater to the Old Quarter (45–60 min). Change the rest of your money on Hà Trung street.
3:00–4:15 PM
Optional Check in to a day-use room (or just leave bags at the hotel) ~₹900. Late lunch: bún chả at Hương Liên.
4:15–5:15 PM
Hoan Kiem Lake, the red Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple ₹165. Egg coffee nearby.
5:15–6:15 PM
Optional Sunset drink at Terraço Sky Bar over the lake ~₹500
6:30–7:20 PM
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre ₹500
7:30–10:00 PM
Dinner and drinks on Beer Street (Tạ Hiện): bia hơi, nem rán spring rolls, grilled skewers.
11:30 PM
Night limousine bus Hanoi → Sapa (couple cabins, lower deck) ₹2,000

Day 2Wed 3 Mar

Sapa: alpine coaster, Silver Waterfall, Rong May

5–15°C · cold, often foggy

~6:00 AM
Arrive in Sapa. If you booked the room from Night 1 Optional ~₹1,750, go straight in for a hot shower and breakfast, then sleep until about 9 AM.
9:00 AM
Car with driver for the day through the hotel (about 1.5M VND for the car, shared by 4) ~₹1,250
9:30–11:00 AM
Optional Mong Village Alpine Coaster ₹1,000
11:30 AM–12:30 PM
Lunch: salmon hotpot (lẩu cá hồi).
1:00–1:45 PM
Drive up O Quy Ho Pass and stop at Silver Waterfall ₹70
2:00–5:30 PM
Optional Rong May Glass Bridge ₹2,000. Each activity costs extra ₹600 each:
- Optional Death Swing
- Optional Zipline
- Optional Rope Bike
- Optional Bridge through the Clouds
~6:00 PM
Sunset at O Quy Ho Pass (free), one of the best in Vietnam.
Evening
Grilled skewers and cơm lam (bamboo rice) at the stalls by the Stone Church. Early night.

Fog planCheck the forecast each evening. You have 2.5 days in Sapa, so do Fansipan on the clearest morning: Day 2, 3 or even Day 4 before the bus.

Day 3Thu 4 Mar

Sapa: Fansipan summit and Cat Cat Village

Summit near 0°C · frost possible

7:00 AM
Breakfast, then walk to Sun Plaza (Sapa Station).
8:00 AM–12:30 PM
Fansipan, "Roof of Indochina", 3,143 m (monorail + cable car) ₹5,300
- Take the Muong Hoa monorail to the Hoang Lien cable car station. The cable car takes about 20 min.
- From the top station, it's about 600 steps to the Buddha statue and summit, or Optional take the funicular ~₹400. The steps are hard work at 3,000 m in the cold.
- Wear a down jacket, gloves and a beanie.
12:30–1:30 PM
Lunch in town.
2:00–5:00 PM
Cat Cat Village ₹500. Optional Rainbow Slide ~₹330. Take a motorbike taxi back up the steep hill ~₹170.
Evening
Dinner and the Sapa Night Market. Optional Red Dao herbal bath (about 1 hr, lovely in the cold) ~₹650

Day 4Fri 5 Mar

Slow Sapa morning, daytime bus to Hanoi

NEW

7:30 AM
Slow breakfast with the valley view.
8:30–11:30 AM
Pick one, or just rest:
- Optional Moana Sapa: Heaven's Gate, the Moana statue, the Infinite Lake, the Giant Hand ₹400
- Optional Ta Van / Lao Chai village walk, easy trails through the valley and H'mong and Giay villages ~₹400 incl. entry + taxi
12:00 PM
Check out and have lunch. Local taxi for the morning ~₹150
~1:00 PM
Daytime limousine bus Sapa → Hanoi (about 5.5–6 hrs, with mountain views) ~₹1,500
Ask for a drop-off in the Old Quarter.
~7:00 PM
Check in to your Hanoi hotel and collect any bags you left there. Easy dinner, then the Friday night market and the car-free streets around the lake if you have energy.

Day 5Sat 6 Mar

Ha Long Bay day cruise

17–22°C · often misty

7:30–8:00 AM
Cruise pickup from the hotel. The drive takes about 2.5 hrs.
11:30 AM–4:00 PM
Cruise ₹4,000
- Seafood lunch on board.
- Sung Sot Cave, the biggest and most impressive cave on the route.
- Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat (check it's included).
- Ti Top Island: about 400 steps to the best panorama. It's too cold to swim in March.
- Optional Drinks on board and a tip for the guide ~₹500
~8:00 PM
Back in Hanoi. The Saturday night market and walking street are on.

Book a cruise with free reschedulingCruises can be cancelled in bad weather. If that happens, swap with Day 6. Saturday is busier than a weekday, but it's fine.

Day 6Sun 7 Mar

Hanoi: full day of sightseeing

7:00 AM
Breakfast: phở at Phở Bát Đàn or Phở Thìn Lò Đúc.
8:00–10:30 AM
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free; winter hours about 8:00–11:00, slightly longer at weekends). Presidential Palace & Stilt House ₹130. The One Pillar Pagoda (free).
Cover your knees and shoulders. No photos or talking inside.
10:45 AM–12:00 PM
Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university ₹230
12:30–2:30 PM
Lunch: bánh cuốn or chả cá Lã Vọng. Egg coffee at Café Giảng, then rest.
3:00–3:30 PM
St. Joseph's Cathedral (free). Lemon tea on the street outside.
3:45–4:45 PM
Dong Xuan Market (free). Go before 5 PM.
4:45–5:15 PM
Phùng Hưng mural street (free).
5:30–7:00 PM
Train Street. Optional sit at a café with a drink (needed to get a seat) ~₹200. Ask them for that day's train times.
7:00–9:30 PM
Dinner, then the Sunday night market (Hàng Đào → Đồng Xuân) and the walking street.
Night
Pack. You leave for the airport at about 7:00 AM.

Day 7Mon 8 Mar

Da Nang: Marble Mountains and Hoi An lanterns

21–27°C · dry season

~7:00 AM
Breakfast, then a Grab 7-seater to Noi Bai. Flight Hanoi → Da Nang around 9:00 AM (about 1 hr 20 min).
~10:30 AM
Land. It's 10–15 min to the hotel. Drop your bags.
11:30 AM
Lunch: Mì Quảng at Mì Quảng 1A, then a salt coffee.
1:00–3:00 PM
Marble Mountains (entry, elevator, Am Phu cave) ~₹250. Wear shoes with good grip.
3:30 PM
Grab to Hoi An (7-seater, shared, return) ~₹500. Ancient Town ticket ₹400: the Japanese Covered Bridge, old houses and yellow lanes.
Dusk–8:00 PM
Optional Sampan boat and floating lantern on the Thu Bồn River ~₹330. Dinner: cao lầu, white rose dumplings, bánh mì Phượng.
~9:00 PM
Back in Da Nang. Walk along the Han River to see the lit-up Dragon Bridge. The fire show only runs on weekends.

Day 8Tue 9 Mar

Ba Na Hills (optional) and My Khe Beach

Top of Ba Na ~15°C

7:30 AM–3:30 PM
Optional Ba Na Hills: cable car, lunch buffet and Fantasy Park ~₹4,100, plus a shared car ~₹650. Go to the Golden Bridge first, then the gardens, French Village and Fantasy Park. Plan for 6–7 hours on the mountain, and bring a light jacket.
If you skip it (saves ~₹4,750): spend the morning on Son Tra Peninsula (Lady Buddha, viewpoints, monkeys) with a shared Grab, about ₹300, then have a slow lunch and café time. Day 9 morning is then free for the beach.
4:30 PM
My Khe Beach (free): swim and stay for sunset. The water is cool but fine for swimming.
Evening
Seafood dinner at Bé Mặn or Hải Sản Năm Đảnh (ask the price per kg first), or bánh xèo at Bà Dưỡng. Then Son Tra Night Market or a rooftop bar.

Day 9Wed 10 Mar

Da Nang → Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc 25–32°C · best season

7:00–9:00 AM
Lady Buddha at Linh Ứng Pagoda, Son Tra (free; shared Grab about ₹150).
9:30–10:30 AM
Han Market for coffee, dried mango and souvenirs. Coconut coffee at Cộng Cà Phê.
~11:00 AM
Check out and go to the airport. Flight Da Nang → Phu Quoc around 12:00–14:00.
Afternoon
Transfer to the resort (shared) ~₹250. Pool time.
~6:15 PM
Sunset on Long Beach.
7:30 PM
Phu Quoc Night Market (free entry): grilled sea urchin, scallops, bún quậy, coconut ice cream, and Sim wine.

Day 10Thu 11 Mar

Phu Quoc: islands, cable car, Sunset Town

8:00 AM–3:30 PM
Optional 4-island snorkel tour + Hon Thom cable car (Aquatopia water park usually included) ~₹4,000
- Snorkel around the An Thới islands.
- The cable car is about 8 km across the sea, one of the longest in the world.
4:00–6:30 PM
Sunset Town and sunset at the Kiss Bridge (free).
Evening
Optional "Kiss of the Sea" show ~₹2,000. Check show days and times in advance. Seafood dinner in An Thới.

Day 11Fri 12 Mar

Phu Quoc: free beach and resort day

NEW

Morning
Sleep in, long breakfast, pool and beach.
Options
Pick any, or none:
- Optional Sao Beach: white sand on the southeast coast, half a day by shared Grab ~₹400
- Optional Vietnamese massage or spa (1–1.5 hrs) ~₹1,200
- Optional VinWonders theme park in the north of the island (a full day out) ~₹3,100
Evening
Sunset at a beach bar, last seafood dinner.

Day 12Sat 13 Mar

Phu Quoc → Mumbai

Morning
Last swim. Souvenirs: Phu Quoc pepper, cashews, Trung Nguyên coffee, dried fruit.
Before you leave
Spend or change your leftover dong.
3+ hrs before
Transfer to the airport (shared, about 15–20 min) ~₹250. If you're connecting, check your bags are tagged to Mumbai.

Don't pack fish sauceAirlines in Vietnam generally don't allow it. Buy pepper instead. Buy pearls only from reputable shops.

Costs: choose what to keep

Tick or untick each Optional item and the total at the bottom updates. The Suggestion column is my view. You can also type in your real flight fares once you've found them. All prices are per person, estimated at 100,000 VND ≈ ₹330.

Keep	Item	Suggestion	₹ per person
Flights (type in real fares)
–	Mumbai → Hanoi (Akasa, 20 + 7 kg)
–	Hanoi → Da Nang (incl. 20 kg)
–	Da Nang → Phu Quoc (incl. 20 kg)
–	Phu Quoc → Mumbai (incl. 20 kg)
Fixed trip costs
–	Vietnam e-visa (US$25)		2,200
–	SIM / eSIM		700
–	Travel insurance		1,500
–	Hotels, your half of each room: Sapa 2 nights (~₹3,500), Hanoi 3 (~₹2,800), Da Nang 2 (~₹3,200), Phu Quoc 3 (~₹5,000)		18,400
–	Food, coffee and drinks (~₹2,000/day × 12)		24,000
–	Other Grab rides (Hanoi airport × 2, local trips)		3,000
–	Tips and small extras		1,000
Day 1 · Hanoi
–	Ngoc Son Temple		165
–	Water puppet show		500
–	Night bus Hanoi → Sapa		2,000
	Day-use hotel room in Hanoi (half of ~₹1,800)	Keep shower before the bus	900
	Sunset drink at Terraço Sky Bar	Keep	500
Day 2 · Sapa
–	Car with driver for the day (shared by 4)		1,250
–	Silver Waterfall		70
	Sapa room from Night 1, ready at 6 AM (half of ~₹3,500)	Keep highly recommended	1,750
	Mong Village Alpine Coaster	Your call	1,000
	Rong May Glass Bridge entry	Keep	2,000
	Rong May: Death Swing	Your call	600
	Rong May: Zipline	Your call	600
	Rong May: Rope Bike	Your call	600
	Rong May: Bridge through the Clouds	Your call	600
Day 3 · Sapa
–	Fansipan (monorail + cable car)		5,300
–	Cat Cat Village entry		500
–	Motorbike taxi back up from Cat Cat		170
	Fansipan funicular (instead of about 600 steps)	Your call	400
	Rainbow Slide at Cat Cat	Keep cheap fun	330
	Red Dao herbal bath	Keep	650
Day 4 · Sapa → Hanoi
–	Daytime limousine bus Sapa → Hanoi		1,500
–	Local taxi in the morning		150
	Moana Sapa	Your call pick one of these two	400
	Ta Van / Lao Chai village walk	Your call pick one of these two	400
Day 5 · Ha Long Bay
–	Ha Long day cruise (check bay fees, lunch and kayak are included)		4,000
	Drinks on board and a tip for the guide	Keep	500
Day 6 · Hanoi
–	Presidential Palace & Stilt House		130
–	Temple of Literature		230
–	Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, St. Joseph's, Dong Xuan, mural street, night market		free
	Train Street café drink (needed to get a seat)	Keep	200
Day 7 · Da Nang & Hoi An
–	Marble Mountains (entry + elevator + Am Phu cave)		250
–	Hoi An Ancient Town ticket		400
–	Grab to Hoi An and back (shared 7-seater)		500
	Sampan boat and floating lantern	Keep highlight	330
Day 8 · Da Nang
–	My Khe Beach		free
	Ba Na Hills: cable car + buffet + Fantasy Park + shared car	Your call biggest saving if skipped; similar to Fansipan	4,750
Day 9 · Da Nang → Phu Quoc
–	Lady Buddha (Grab share), Han Market, night market		150
–	Phu Quoc airport → resort (shared)		250
Day 10 · Phu Quoc
–	Sunset Town, Kiss Bridge		free
	4-island snorkel tour + Hon Thom cable car (+ Aquatopia)	Keep best thing to do in Phu Quoc	4,000
	"Kiss of the Sea" show	Your call	2,000
Day 11 · Phu Quoc free day
	Sao Beach half day (shared Grab)	Keep	400
	Vietnamese massage or spa	Keep	1,200
	VinWonders theme park (full day)	Skip loses your rest day	3,100
Day 12
–	Resort → airport (shared)		250

Must-do costs (incl. flights)–

Optional items chosen–

Total per person–

Per couple–

All 4 travellers–

Shopping isn't included. Keep a 10% buffer for surprises.

Food & coffee checklist

Where	Must-try food	Coffee & drinks
Hanoi	Phở bò, bún chả, bánh cuốn, chả cá Lã Vọng, nem rán, bún đậu mắm tôm (for the brave), bánh mì 25	Egg coffee (Café Giảng, Café Đinh), bia hơi, lemon tea by the cathedral
Sapa	Salmon hotpot, grilled skewers, cơm lam, grilled eggs and corn at the night market, thắng cố (adventurous H'mong stew)	Hot ginger tea, Sapa apple wine
Ha Long	Seafood lunch on board, chả mực (squid cake)	–
Da Nang & Hoi An	Mì Quảng, bánh xèo, bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo, bún chả cá, seafood. In Hoi An: cao lầu, white rose dumplings, bánh mì Phượng	Salt coffee, coconut coffee (Cộng Cà Phê)
Phu Quoc	Grilled sea urchin and scallops, bún quậy, gỏi cá trích (raw herring salad)	Sim wine, fresh coconut

Eat at busy stalls with high turnover, drink bottled water, and carry stomach tablets just in case.

Important tips

Weather & packing

Place	Early March	Pack
Hanoi	17–23°C, grey, drizzle, humid	Light jacket, layers, small umbrella
Sapa / Fansipan	7–17°C; summit near 0°C, foggy	Thermals, a down jacket, gloves, a beanie, warm socks
Ha Long Bay	17–22°C, misty	Jacket for the deck
Da Nang / Hoi An	21–27°C, dry, sunny	Swimwear, sunglasses, light jacket for Ba Na
Phu Quoc	25–32°C, best season	Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, flip-flops

Pack warm clothes in one compressible bag. Leave your big suitcases at the Hanoi hotel while you're in Sapa.

Money

Change USD on Hà Trung street in Hanoi, where rates beat banks and the airport.
The 20,000 and 500,000 notes are both blue, so check each note before you pay.
Use cash for street food, markets and buses. Cards work at hotels and most restaurants.
Bargain in markets: start at about 50% of the asking price and settle around 60–70%.

Getting around

Use Grab or Xanh SM everywhere, and book a 7-seater for 4 people with luggage.
Crossing the street: walk slowly and steadily, without stopping or running.
The Sapa road winds a lot, so take motion-sickness tablets if you need them.

Safety & scams

Hold your phone away from the road side, because motorbike snatching happens in busy areas.
Avoid shoe-shine boys and "free" photos with fruit baskets, since they'll ask for money afterwards.
Confirm the seafood price per kg before they cook it.
Book Ha Long and other tours only with well-reviewed operators.

Other things to know

Plugs: Indian 2-pin plugs usually fit. Bring a universal adapter.
Temples and the Mausoleum: cover your shoulders and knees, and carry a scarf.
Day 1 is long: sleep on the flight and the bus, and don't skip the morning rest in Sapa.
Flexibility: move Fansipan to the clearest morning. If the Ha Long cruise is cancelled, swap it with Day 6.

Prices, opening hours and schedules change, so confirm each one when you book.