10 Days from Imperial Canals to Lantern-Lit Alleys: Saint Petersburg and Vietnam Itinerary
Two destinations, two distinct rhythms. Your 10-day itinerary threads the baroque splendor of Saint Petersburg—palaces, canals, and museums—into Vietnam’s sensory tapestry of scooters, street kitchens, turquoise bays, and lantern-lit lanes. It’s a journey for travelers who crave history in the morning and night markets by evening.
Founded by Peter the Great, Saint Petersburg is Russia’s “window to Europe,” a city of grand avenues and gilded halls. You’ll walk Palace Square, gaze up at mosaics in the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and take a canal cruise beneath elegant bridges. Expect rich soups and dumplings, doughnuts still served the Soviet way, and rooftop dinners with cathedral views.
Vietnam balances the tempo—egg coffee in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, emerald karsts in Ha Long Bay, and sand-between-your-toes afternoons near Hoi An. Practical note: check current travel advisories for Russia, carry sufficient cash as some payment systems may be restricted, and secure e-visas where applicable (Vietnam offers a straightforward e-visa for many nationalities). Pack light, breathable layers; Southeast Asia can be humid, while northern Russia demands a warmer jacket outside summer.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg blends imperial ambition with creative verve. The Hermitage alone could occupy days, while St. Isaac’s golden dome crowns views across the Neva. Summer brings late-night “white nights” and drawbridges lifting after midnight; autumn and winter reveal quiet museums and cozy teahouses.
Top sights include the Hermitage/Winter Palace, the General Staff Building’s Impressionists, Peterhof’s fountains, and Catherine Palace’s famed Amber Room. For dining, look to Rubinstein Street’s lively restaurants, classic Russian pies at Stolle, and hearty pelmeni at Pelmenya.
Where to stay: Search apartments and hotels near Nevsky Prospekt or the Admiralteysky district for easy walks to major sights.
Getting there: For long-haul options and multi-stop tickets, search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If routing via or from Europe, also compare on Omio. Routes and prices vary widely; recent one-stop fares often range $350–$700 each way depending on origin and season.
Day 1: Arrival and Nevsky Prospekt
Morning: Fly in; assume an afternoon arrival.
Afternoon: Check in near Nevsky Prospekt/Admiralteyskaya. Shake off jet lag with pastries at Bushe (butter-rich cakes and good cappuccinos) or classic doughnuts at Pyshechnaya on Bolshaya Konyushennaya—sugar-dusted, served on paper plates since 1958.
Evening: Stroll Palace Square to see the Winter Palace glowing after dusk. Dinner at Severyanin for modern takes on Russian staples—rabbit with buckwheat, borscht with rye—and a shot of berry-infused nastoika. Nightcap at Terrassa, a rooftop with sweeping views of Kazan Cathedral and the city lights.
Day 2: Hermitage, Palace Embankment, and Rubinstein Street
Morning: Enter the Hermitage when doors open. Prioritize the Rembrandt and Rubens rooms, the Peacock Clock, and the Impressionists in the General Staff Building across the square (Monet to Matisse in well-lit halls).
Afternoon: Walk the Palace Embankment and the Neva. Lunch at Market Place (cafeteria-style but fresh—soups, grilled fish, and salads you point to). Explore the Summer Garden’s marble statues and linden alleys.
Evening: Dine on Rubinstein Street: try Bekitzer for Israeli street food (sabich and shakshuka) or Moscow-style pelmeni and vareniki at Pelmenya. Craft cocktails at Dead Poets Bar—bartenders can riff on classics with Russian twists.
Day 3: Cathedrals, Fabergé, and New Holland
Morning: Climb St. Isaac’s Cathedral colonnade for panoramic city views, then step inside to see its malachite and lapis columns. Walk 10 minutes to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood for glittering mosaics that blanket walls and domes.
Afternoon: Fabergé Museum (Shuvalov Palace) for imperial eggs and jeweled objets d’art. Lunch at Stolle: hefty slabs of salmon or cabbage pies, great with kvass. Coffee at Bonch near the Moika—smooth espresso and pastries.
Evening: New Holland Island for galleries, design shops, and an easy dinner at Ferma’s courtyard grills. If you have the energy in late spring/summer, catch the drawbridges lifting after midnight along the Neva on a canal boat—magical during White Nights.
Day 4: Day Trip to Peterhof
Morning: Hydrofoil from the Winter Palace pier to Peterhof (about 40–45 minutes when operating in season; otherwise go by car/bus ~1–1.5 hours). Wander the Lower Park’s chessboard cascades and gilded Samson Fountain.
Afternoon: Continue through the Upper Garden and Monplaisir Palace for sea views. Grab syrniki (cheese pancakes) and tea at a park café.
Evening: Return to the city. Dinner at Mansarda—order the crab pasta or grilled pike-perch and watch St. Isaac’s dome glow at sunset. Turn in early; tomorrow is a travel day.
Hanoi
Hanoi is a collage of pagodas, French-colonial facades, and street corners perfumed with broth. Motorbikes weave like schools of fish; alleyways hide tiny cafés where egg coffee was born during a mid-century milk shortage.
Top stops: Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter’s guild streets, the Temple of Literature, and the Hoa Lo Prison museum. Food is the headliner—pho at dawn, bun cha at lunch, and bia hoi (fresh draft beer) at sunset.
Where to stay: Base in the Old Quarter or French Quarter for easy walks.
Flight from Saint Petersburg to Hanoi: Morning departure recommended. Expect 13–18 hours total with one stop via hubs like Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai; typical fares $500–$900 one way. Compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
Day 5: Fly to Hanoi and Settle In
Morning: Depart Saint Petersburg for Hanoi.
Afternoon: Arrive in Hanoi. Check in and take a gentle loop around Hoan Kiem Lake. Visit Ngoc Son Temple via the red bridge if time allows.
Evening: Dinner at Quan An Ngon (curated stalls serving regional Vietnamese dishes—try banh xeo crepes and grilled pork skewers). Dessert and a signature egg coffee at Café Giang, the Old Quarter institution that invented it.
Day 6: Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, and Street Food
Morning: Pho breakfast at Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan—rich broth and tender slices of beef (queue moves fast). Walk the Old Quarter’s former guild streets (silk on Hang Gai, paper on Hang Ma). Stop into The Note Coffee for lake views and sticky-note love letters on the walls.
Afternoon: Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university (11th century courtyards, turtle steles). Swing by the Train Street area during posted times from a designated café for a safe glimpse as trains pass. Lunch at Bun Cha Ta—charcoal-grilled pork with herb-laced noodles and dipping broth.
Evening: Guided street-food walk or DIY: Banh Mi 25 for crusty baguettes stuffed with pate and herbs; che (sweet soups) from a streetside vendor. Finish with bia hoi on Ta Hien Street or craft pints at Turtle Lake Brewing in Tay Ho.
Day 7: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise
Morning: Hotel pick-up around 7:30–8:00 a.m. for a 2.5–3-hour drive to Ha Long. Board a mid-range day boat (4–6 hours on the water). Expect a seafood lunch, limestone karsts, and stops like Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or Ti Top Island for panoramic views.
Afternoon: Kayak or bamboo-boat through quiet coves if offered. Return to the pier by late afternoon; shuttle back to Hanoi arrives ~7:30–8:30 p.m. Day trips usually cost $55–$120 per person depending on inclusions.
Evening: Quick, casual dinner near your hotel—Xoi Yen for savory sticky rice bowls or Cha Ca Thang Long for turmeric-dill fish, a Hanoi specialty cooked at the table.
Hoi An (via Da Nang)
Hoi An’s Ancient Town glows amber at dusk—timber shop houses, Japanese bridges, tailors, and lanterns reflecting in the Thu Bon River. Outside the old town, rice paddies and coconut forests invite slow bicycle rides; 10 minutes further, An Bang Beach delivers golden sand and easy surf.
Food is distinctive: cao lau noodles (made with well water and ash-cured noodles), white rose dumplings, and herb-packed rolls. The best evenings end with a lantern workshop or live music by the sea.
Where to stay: For atmosphere, choose Ancient Town or riverside. For sand and space, stay near An Bang Beach and taxi in.
Flight Hanoi → Da Nang: Morning flights are frequent (1h 20m). Expect $35–$95 one way on major carriers. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Transfer Da Nang Airport to Hoi An by taxi or car in ~45 minutes ($12–$20).
Day 8: Fly to Da Nang, Beach Time, and Ancient Town
Morning: Fly to Da Nang; private transfer to Hoi An. Drop bags and grab a light brunch at Rosie's Café—smoothie bowls, avocado toast, Vietnamese iced coffee.
Afternoon: An Bang Beach for a swim and a lounger. Late afternoon, wander into Ancient Town (ticketed heritage zone) to see the Japanese Covered Bridge and Assembly Halls.
Evening: Dinner at Morning Glory Original (Ms. Vy’s classics—white rose dumplings, cao lau, smoky barbecue pork). Sip a herbal lemongrass drink at Mót Hội An on Tran Phu, then end with a lantern-lit boat glide on the Thu Bon River.
Day 9: Village Cycling, Basket Boats, and Lantern Workshop
Morning: Bicycle to Tra Que Vegetable Village (flat, quiet lanes). Join a farm-to-table cooking class or herb garden tour—learn to make crispy banh xeo and tamarind fish sauce.
Afternoon: Head to Cam Thanh coconut grove for a basket-boat spin through nipa palms; it’s touristy but fun, and guides share wartime history and ecosystem stories. Late lunch at Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen for crunchy baguettes stuffed with herb salads and chili jam.
Evening: Try a lantern-making workshop—assemble a silk shade to take home. Dinner by the beach at Soul Kitchen or The DeckHouse (fresh grilled squid, mango salads). For a nightcap, Q Bar mixes creative cocktails in a moody heritage shophouse.
Day 10: Last Sips and Departure
Morning: Slow coffee at Reaching Out Teahouse—an elegant, quiet-space café run by the hearing-impaired, with delicate teas and viet phin coffee. Pick up last-minute souvenirs from Reaching Out’s craft shop or a reputable tailor.
Afternoon: Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your onward flight. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; if connecting through Europe later in your journey, also compare on Omio.
Evening: Flight home.
Extra tips:
- Money: In Russia, some foreign cards may not work; bring sufficient cash (USD/EUR) to exchange. In Vietnam, cash is king at small shops; ATMs are plentiful.
- Packing: A light rain jacket for Hanoi/Ha Long and beachwear for Hoi An. In Saint Petersburg, layers and comfortable shoes for cobblestones.
- Etiquette: In Vietnam, a slight bow or nod is polite; in churches and temples across both destinations, dress modestly.
From tsarist halls to street-side charcoal grills, this route pairs culture and cuisine in satisfying contrast. You’ll return with museum highlights, island panoramas, and a lantern you made yourself—plus recipes and stories worth retelling.