A Romantic 14-Day Thailand & Vietnam Itinerary: Bangkok, Phuket, Hoi An, and Hanoi

Lantern-lit evenings, island sunsets, and foodie adventures. This two-week Thailand and Vietnam itinerary blends temples, beaches, coffee culture, cooking classes, and a Ha Long Bay cruise—tailor-made for couples.
A beautiful aerial view of a tropical beach with boats and lush greenery, ideal for vacation.
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels

Two cultures, one unforgettable journey. Thailand’s former Siamese capital and lively canals pair beautifully with Vietnam’s lantern-lit towns and limestone bays. Over 14 days, you’ll glide along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, snorkel off Phuket’s islands, wander Hoi An’s golden-age trading streets, and toast sunset on a luxury Ha Long Bay cruise.

Expect spice-kissed Thai curries, wok-fired street noodles, and Vietnam’s layered flavors—herbs, lime, fish sauce—balanced like poetry. Bangkok’s canals were once called the “Venice of the East.” Hoi An still handcrafts silk, while Hanoi famously invented egg coffee to stretch wartime rationed milk. Romance comes easy here: lantern workshops, riverside dinners, and island catamarans at sundown.

Practical notes: Check current visa rules (Vietnam offers an e-visa to many nationalities; Thailand grants visa-free stays to many passport holders). Carry some cash; cards are common in cities but markets prefer bills. Dress modestly for temples, use reef-safe sunscreen for island trips, and book coveted restaurants and cruises ahead—especially in high season (Nov–Apr).

Bangkok

Bangkok dazzles: gilded temples, longtail boats skimming khlongs, and night markets where woks flare like fireflies. It’s a city for couples—sunset ferries, rooftop cocktails, and intimate tuk-tuk food safaris that wind through neighborhoods stacked with history.

  • Sightseeing greats: The Grand Palace, Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha, and Wat Arun’s porcelain spires across the river.
  • Romance factor: A canal cruise through Thonburi’s stilt-house backwaters, then a candlelit dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya.
  • Shopping: Chatuchak Weekend Market for artisan finds; ICONSIAM for design-forward Thai brands and gourmet hall grazing.

Where to stay

Eat & drink

  • Breakfast/coffee: Blue Whale Cafe (butterfly pea lattes by Wat Pho), Factory Coffee (award-winning espresso), Nana Coffee Roasters (signature nitro and slow bar).
  • Lunch: Supanniga Eating Room (Isan-to-Central Thai classics; try moo cha muang), Go-Ang Pratunam (Hainanese chicken rice), Pe Aor (rich tom yum goong with jumbo prawns).
  • Dinner dates: Le Du (modern Thai tasting menu; book ahead), Baan by Chef Ton (refined family recipes), Jay Fai (fiery crab omelet—reserve or queue).
  • Nightlife: Octave Rooftop at Marriott Sukhumvit for 360° views; Sky Bar at Lebua for river panoramas; Tep Bar for heritage cocktails infused with Thai herbs and live music.

Featured experiences

Days 1–4: Bangkok & Ayutthaya

  • Day 1: Arrive and settle by the river. Consider the dinner cruise above for a sparkling first night.
  • Day 2: Grand Palace, Wat Pho massage school (traditional Thai massage for two), Wat Arun at golden hour. Evening tuk-tuk food tour.
  • Day 3: Thonburi canals by longtail boat, then shop ICONSIAM and riverside promenades. Rooftop nightcap at Octave.
  • Day 4: Ayutthaya day trip or Chatuchak Weekend Market browsing and spa time at Divana or Health Land.

Getting to Bangkok: Book international flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From BKK to central Bangkok: 30–45 min Airport Rail Link (~USD 1.50) or 45–60 min taxi (USD 10–16).

Bangkok → Phuket (morning of Day 5): 1h25m nonstop flight; typical fares USD 40–90. Compare times/fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Expect 50–70 min taxi from HKT to most west-coast beaches (USD 20–35).

Phuket

Phuket is all aquamarine coves, Sino-Portuguese shophouses, and barefoot luxury. Spend days island-hopping and evenings wandering Old Town’s pastel streets and lively markets. For couples, sunsets at Promthep Cape and spa rituals seal the deal.

  • Beaches to sample: Kata for soft sand, Kamala for chill, Nai Harn for scenic, and Bang Tao for beach clubs.
  • Old Town flavors: Raya and One Chun serve heritage Phuket cuisine—tamarind-sour fish, crab curry with rice noodles, and sticky black rice desserts.

Where to stay

Eat & drink

  • Breakfast/coffee: 43 Cafe and The Shelter Coffee (specialty pours), Feelsion Cafe (vintage-industrial cakes and Thai milk tea).
  • Lunch: One Chun Cafe & Restaurant (southern Thai hits), Mor Mu Dong (rustic seafood huts over mangroves), Tu Kab Khao (blue crab curry).
  • Dinner dates: Acqua (fine Italian by the sea), Suay Cherngtalay (modern Thai), and a toes-in-sand seafood grill at Bang Tao.
  • Nightlife: Catch Beach Club (sunset DJs), Café del Mar Phuket (Kamala), Thai herbal spa rituals at Oasis or Banyan Tree for a serene end.

Featured experiences

Days 5–7: Phuket Beaches & Islands

  • Day 5: Settle in and stroll Old Town’s Sino-Portuguese streets; dinner at One Chun; nightcap at Dibuk Road’s cocktail bars.
  • Day 6: Sunrise Phi Phi or catamaran day trip. Return for spa time and sunset at Promthep Cape.
  • Day 7: Ethical elephant sanctuary morning; lazy afternoon at Bang Tao beach club; seafood BBQ under the stars.

Phuket → Da Nang (morning of Day 8): Most routes connect via Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City; total 4–6 hours including layover, USD 120–220. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Private car from Da Nang airport to Hoi An: 45–60 min, USD 15–25.

Hoi An (with Da Nang day trip)

Hoi An is Vietnam’s postcard: ochre facades, bougainvillea balconies, and silk lanterns reflected on the Thu Bon River. Days drift between tailor shops, rice paddies, and An Bang Beach; nights glow with riverside dining and gentle live music.

  • Signature tastes: Cao lầu noodles (chewy, ash-water tradition), white rose dumplings, and fresh-grilled satay skewers in the market.
  • Nearby Da Nang offers modern beachfront resorts and the whimsical mountaintop Golden Bridge—hands cradling a skywalk above the clouds.

Where to stay

Eat & drink

  • Breakfast/coffee: The Espresso Station (dense Vietnam robusta magic), Reaching Out Tea House (silent tea service supporting the hearing-impaired), Hoi An Roastery (classic phin setups).
  • Lunch: Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen (layers of pate, herbs, and chili), market stalls for cao lầu and mì Quảng.
  • Dinner dates: Morning Glory Original (heritage recipes), Mango Mango (riverside fusion), Miss Ly 22 (home-style classics).
  • Beach sunset: Soul Kitchen or The DeckHouse at An Bang—beanbags, live acoustic sets, and grilled seafood.

Featured experience (Da Nang)

Local gems for your vibe

  • Cooking class: Red Bridge or Green Bamboo—shop the market, then cook a full Vietnamese feast in a riverside garden.
  • Lantern workshop for two: make and keep your own silk lantern (a romantic Hoi An keepsake).
  • Tailoring: Yaly Couture for bespoke pieces in 24–48 hours; bring inspiration photos.

Days 8–10: Hoi An & Da Nang

  • Day 8: Arrive, sunset stroll over the Japanese Covered Bridge, riverside dinner under lanterns.
  • Day 9: Morning cooking class; afternoon beach time at An Bang; cocktails at White Marble Wine Bar.
  • Day 10: Golden Bridge & Ba Na Hills day trip; return for a gentle Thu Bon River boat glide at dusk.

Da Nang → Hanoi (morning of Day 11): 1h20m nonstop flight; typical fares USD 35–90. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi from HAN to Old Quarter: 40–50 min, USD 12–18; Bus 86, ~USD 1.50.

Hanoi

Hanoi balances French-colonial grace with temple courtyards and lakeside pagodas. The Old Quarter’s guild streets still whisper their crafts—silk on Hang Gai, paper on Hang Ma—while aromas of grilled pork, dill fish, and noodle broths drift from doorways.

  • Don’t miss: Hoan Kiem Lake at sunrise, Temple of Literature’s scholarly calm, and a steamy bowl of pho at a tiny, timeworn shop.
  • Romance: Cyclo rides under banyans, egg coffee interludes, and a balcony table overlooking lanterned alleys.

Where to stay

Eat & drink

  • Breakfast/coffee: Café Giang (original egg coffee), Blackbird Coffee (specialty beans), Tranquil Books & Coffee (quiet nooks).
  • Lunch: Pho Gia Truyen (pho bò with deep beefy broth), Bun Cha Huong Lien (Obama’s bun cha combo), Cha Ca Thang Long (dill fish tableside sizzle).
  • Dinner dates: Home Hanoi (refined northern dishes), Quan An Ngon (street-classics tasting in a courtyard), Pizza 4P’s (house-made burrata; if craving a change).
  • Nightlife: Polite & Co (classic cocktails, jazz vibe), The Alchemist (craft drinks); for a casual pint, Turtle Lake Brewing Co.

Featured experiences

Days 11–14: Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

  • Day 11: Old Quarter and French Quarter highlights; afternoon spa; evening Jeep food tour for a fun, foodie first night.
  • Days 12–13: Transfer to Ha Long (2.5–3.5 hours by highway). Board your overnight cruise: kayaking, caves, sunset canapes, squid fishing. Wake to misty karsts, then sail back by midday.
  • Day 14: Back in Hanoi—temple hopping, last-minute silk shopping on Hang Gai, and a farewell dinner.

Travel between cities (summary)

  • International to Bangkok: search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
  • Bangkok → Phuket: 1h25m; USD 40–90; taxi at HKT USD 20–35.
  • Phuket → Da Nang (for Hoi An): 4–6 hours with layover; USD 120–220; private car to Hoi An USD 15–25.
  • Da Nang → Hanoi: 1h20m; USD 35–90; Hanoi airport to Old Quarter USD 12–18 taxi.
  • Hanoi → Ha Long Bay (cruise shuttle): 2.5–3.5 hours; many cruises include transfers.

Budget & timing tips

  • With a strong budget (80/100), mix splurges—private-pool villas, balcony cruise cabins—with value eats like market stalls and noodle shops.
  • Book island and cruise excursions early in dry season (Nov–Apr). Pack light linen, temple-appropriate attire, and motion-sickness bands for boat days.

Trip finale: From incense-swirled temples to neon night markets, from emerald isles to mirror-still bays, this two-country arc is built for romance. You’ll return with new recipes, tailored threads, and a camera roll of sunsets—each one different, each one perfect.

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