How Many Days in Bangkok and Hanoi? 7-12 Days are the Best!

7-12 Days are the best tour lengths for Bangkok and Hanoi tours. For first-timers, at least 7 days are recommended to explore the highlights of both cities. If your schedule allows, extend your stay by another 5 days to tour their surrounding regions.

Beyond Bangkok and Hanoi, there is so much more to discover in Thailand and Vietnam. Add Phuket, Hoi An, and Saigon to the list of 16-day tour Thailand Vietnam itinerary destinations to make your tours perfect. Keep reading to know more about different tour itineraries for Bangkok and Hanoi from our experts.

Bangkok vs Hanoi: Which One Needs More Time?

Bangkok needs more time than Hanoi to experience the highlights of each city. It should be no surprise that Thailand’s vibrant capital is over twice as big as Hanoi. Visiting its temples and attractions, trying local specialties, and enjoying the shopping and nightlife takes at least three days. Hanoi is a place of history and culture that can be seen in two days, but adding one or two extra days to visit the nearby Halong Bay is highly recommended.

Three days will let you see the best of Bangkok without feeling rushed. Take your time to explore things to do in Bangkok, starting with the Grand Palace, the city’s most famous attraction. You can wander through the complex of royal buildings, beautiful gardens, and Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, for a deep dive into Thai culture.

Visit temples like Wat Arun and the Temple of the Dawn, and hop on a traditional longtail boat for a tour of the Chao Phraya River and canals running through the city. Bangkok also has countless markets to explore and unique cuisine that includes everything from delicious street food to world-class fine dining.

Wat Arun is one of Bangkok's most iconic Buddhist temples.

Two days will give you a good experience of Hanoi, but consider adding an extra one or two days so you don’t miss out on Halong Bay. The best immersion into the city’s culture is a walking or cycling tour of the Old Quarter. You see iconic old buildings and have the opportunity to stop in boutique shops and sample famous Vietnamese coffee and street food.

It is a historical city with attractions like the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Natural sites within Hanoi, like Hoan Kiem Lake, are oases of tranquility and places connected to legends.

Things to do in Hanoi also include exploring the nearby Halong Bay. Only a short trip from the city, you can take a cruise on the emerald waters of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and marvel at the towering limestone karsts. Halong Bay can be enjoyed on a day trip from Hanoi, but spending two days so you can join an overnight cruise is the best choice.

Halong Bay is a must-visit sight for Hanoi tours.

7 Days Bangkok and Hanoi: Ideal Tour Itinerary

Three days in Bangkok and four in Hanoi combine for an ideal tour itinerary. You’ll travel between the two capitals, soaking up the culture while seeing grand historical attractions and sampling the local cuisine. Nearby sites like Samut Songkhram and Halong Bay will let you see the beautiful countryside and breathtaking natural wonders. A 7-day Bangkok and Hanoi tour is a fantastic experience of these two Southeast Asian countries.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance:
Day 1-3: Bangkok Exploration
Day 4-5: Hanoi City Discovery
Day 6-7: Halong Bay Cruise

Day 1-3: Bangkok City Exploration
Arrive in Bangkok and jump right into exploring the city. Take a tuk-tuk ride to experience traveling like a local and visit sites like Wat Pho Temple and the Grand Palace, and cruise the river to visit other famous sites like Wat Arun and the Royal Barge Museum.

Venture outside the city limits to catch a glimpse of Thai countryside life. At Samut Songkhram, you can see the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, a traditional marketplace for farmers selling local produce. There’s also the Railway Market famous for the train that passes directly through it.

Spend your evenings taking a food tour of local street Thai food or visiting night markets. For something more exciting, you can see a traditional Thai boxing match at Rajadamnern Stadium.

The delicious variety of Thai cuisine.

Day 4-5: Hanoi City Discovery
After a short flight, you’ll arrive in Hanoi ready to dive into the culture of Vietnam’s capital. The historic sites of Tran Quoc Pagoda on the shores of West Lake, the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature are a grand experience of Vietnamese history.

The traditional markets like Dong Xuan Market and the winding alleys of the Old Quarter offer endless opportunities for exploration. Along the way, you can sample all the classic local food like pho noodles and banh mi sandwiches.

Day 6-7: Halong Bay Cruise
Halong Bay is best experienced on an overnight cruise. If you set out early, you can be on board before lunch and enjoy a meal on the emerald waters. Halong Bay Cruises provides lots of activities like kayaking and swimming, as well as the chance to go island hopping to famous stops like Titov and Tuan Chau Island.

7 Days Short Thailand and Vietnam Highlights Tour

Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Saigon - Hanoi

Add More 5 Days in and Around Bangkok and Hanoi

With just a few more 5 days, you can take advantage of Bangkok and Hanoi’s central locations to explore more top sites in and around each country. Enjoy all the key highlights of Bangkok and Hanoi, and use the extra days to relax on the beach, visit historical sites, and trek through pristine natural settings.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance:
Day 1-3: Bangkok Exploration
Day 4: Ayutthaya Day Trip
Day 5-6: Pattaya Beach Relaxation
Day 7-8: Hanoi City Discovery
Day 9: Sapa Trekking
Day 11-12: Halong Bay Cruise

Add a day trip from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. The former ancient capital 80 km to the north of Bangkok is home to iconic temples like Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. You can try local delicacies like traditional boat noodles, and learn how the spun sugar dessert roti sai is made.

Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom.

Take two days to relax in Pattaya before heading to Vietnam. The world-famous beach destination is one of the best places to enjoy the sun, sand, and fresh seafood that Thailand is famous for. Visit sites like the Bug Buddha Temple and Naga Stairway, or find endless hours of water activities like snorkeling, diving, and swimming on Pattaya Beach.

After exploring Hanoi, the night train will take you Sapa to add visiting the mountainous north to your tour. Sapa is a trekking paradise with routes that will take you through the beautiful Vietnam terraced rice fields to ethnic villages like Cat Cat Village, Sin Chai Village, and Y Linh Ho Village. Each destination is the home of ethnic minority people like the Hmong and Red Dao people, where you will get a glimpse of their traditional life.

Trekking through stunning terraced rice fields in Sapa.

12 Days Best of Thailand and Vietnam Tour

Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Saigon - My Tho - Saigon

Need Extra 4 Days to Explore Highlights of Thailand and Vietnam

Packing in the best highlights of Thailand and Vietnam without feeling too rushed takes an additional four days. Start in Hanoi, explore the historic attractions of the city, and take a cruise to Halong Bay before leaving the north of Vietnam.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance:
Day 1-3: Hanoi city discovery
Day 4-5: Hoi An UNESCO ancient town exploration
Day 6-8: Saigon city tour with Mekong Delta discovery
Day 9-10: Bangkok city exploration
Day 11-12: Chiang Mai Elephants wellness and skywalk
Day 13-16: Phuket island beach relaxing

The 16 Days Vietnam Thailand Highlights Tour adds a trip to Hoi An in central Vietnam. The charming city preserves the sights and atmosphere of an ancient trading port town. Explore the countryside on a bamboo basket boat ride and see the traditional fishing techniques.

You’ll also visit Saigon and the Mekong Delta while visiting southern Vietnam. Saigon is the hub of the south, with its iconic colonial architecture and historic sites from the Vietnam War, such as the Cu Chi Tunnels. Discover the Mekong Delta by boat, visiting floating markets and seeing the cottage industries that thrive along the riverbanks.

Viet Cong soldiers used the tunnels to hide during the fighting time.

Thailand starts with Bangkok and the host of wonders the city has for travelers. Then, head to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand to see the natural beauty of the region. You will visit Elephant Nature Park and see the magnificent animals while learning about the conservation efforts.

The final stop is Phuket, where you can spend a few days with nothing to do but relax. Famous beaches like Kata and Karon Beach await with fine white sand and gentle waters. Spend the days sunbathing or doing exciting water activities like kayaking and diving.

16 Days Vietnam and Thailand Highlights Tour Package

Hanoi - Halong Bay – Hoi An - Saigon – Bangkok – Chiang Mai - Phuket

Conclusion

Bangkok and Hanoi have an endless list of highlights to immerse you in the culture and history of Thailand and Vietnam. Travel to Thailand and Vietnam together, or use them as gateways to explore the surrounding region with its natural wonders, beaches, and traditions.

Popular combined tours have picked out some of the best attractions to visit or contact us to personalize your experience. Explore pristine natural settings, take a deep dive into history, or focus on the fun side with food, shopping, and nightlife. No matter what adventure you’re looking for, our professional travel consultants can put together the perfect itinerary to give you an unforgettable experience of Bangkok and Hanoi.