FIRST international trip to Vietnam (7–16 Dec) – Is our 9-night itinerary too rushed? Need honest suggestions!
Hey everyone!
My wife and I are planning our first international trip together to Vietnam this December. We're travelling from India and would love some feedback on our itinerary before booking domestic flights and hotels.
We arrive in Da Nang on 7 December 2026 (morning) and fly back from Hanoi on 16 December at 7:30 AM.
Here's our current plan:
| Date | Destination | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 7 | Da Nang | Arrival, beach and city exploration |
| Dec 8 | Da Nang | Ba Na Hills, anniversary celebration |
| Dec 9 | Hoi An | Marble Mountains, Ancient Town and lanterns |
| Dec 10 | Ninh Binh | Fly Da Nang → Hanoi, transfer to Tam Coc |
| Dec 11 | Cat Ba | Trang An + Mua Cave, transfer to Cat Ba |
| Dec 12 | Cat Ba | Lan Ha Bay cruise and kayaking |
| Dec 13 | Phu Quoc | Transfer to Hai Phong Airport and fly to Phu Quoc |
| Dec 14 | Phu Quoc | Beaches, Hon Thom cable car and Sunset Town |
| Dec 15 | Hanoi | Fly from Phu Quoc, explore Old Quarter |
| Dec 16 | Departure | 7:30 AM flight to Bengaluru |
A few questions:
- Is this itinerary realistic, or are we trying to cover too much in 9 nights?
- Is one night each in Hoi An and Ninh Binh sufficient?
- Is it practical to explore Trang An and Mua Cave before transferring from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba on the same day?
- Are there convenient flights from Hai Phong (HPH) to Phu Quoc (PQC) on 13 December? Would travelling via Hanoi be easier?
- How is the weather in Da Nang, Hoi An and Cat Ba during early/mid-December? Are Lan Ha Bay cruises generally operating?
- Would you recommend dropping or replacing any destination to make the trip more enjoyable?
We're travelling on a moderate budget, prefer private accommodation (around ₹2,000–3,000 per night), and eat vegetarian food.
We're particularly excited about Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay and Phu Quoc. We'd love a combination of nature, beaches, culture and local experiences.
We know it's a packed itinerary, but since this is our first international trip, we're hoping to make the most of it without spending the entire holiday in transit.
Any advice from locals or travellers who have done a similar route would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!