Hanoi, Vietnam

Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phi Phi Islands, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand

Vietnam

Thailand

The Ultimate Thailand & Vietnam Itinerary

This guide will help you hit all of the top highlights of both countries to explore as much as you can when you're limited to a few weeks. Included with each location are lodging recommendations, activity choices, and local dish recommendations. 

You will visit Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, and Chiang Mai in Thailand. From Chiang Mai, you'll head over to Hanoi and Sa Pa in northern Vietnam. 

Day 3 - Fly to Phuket & take boat to Koh Phi Phi

Day 6 - Speed boat back to Phuket & fly to Chiang Mai

After landing at BKK and making it through customs, the first thing you will want to do is head to an ATM to get out some cash for the cab ride and your first day in Thailand. You can also get a SIM card for your phone. 

Once you have gotten the essentials together, you will head down to the bottom floor to get a taxi or Grab. Grab is Asia's Lyft/Uber service. We found that the taxi could be cheaper. But you have to know how to negotiate and be prepared for a negotiation at the airport and when you arrive at your hotel. In hindsight, I would have rather done Grab after 23 hours of traveling. 

This is your day to explore the city and get acclimated to the new time zone. There are lots of different options in Bangkok with something for everyone. I'd recommend these places:

Traveling to Koh Phi Phi will take a bit of time, but it is 100% worth it!

I'd recommend catching an early flight to Phuket from Bangkok (BKK airport). We flew Bangkok Airways and had a great experience.

I would recommend taking the ferry on the way there if the weather is nice. There are food and beverages on board, and you will get to enjoy the view. This will take 3 hours. It is a trek! The other option is taking a speed boat, this will be an enclosed area with no food options and it is LOUD from the motor. However, it is much faster, you will arrive in just under 2 hours. 

Now you get to enjoy everything the island has to offer. We spent one day just wandering the town, got a foot massage, coconut ice cream, and lots of great food. There are so many fun bars and shops to find. 

Having two days will also give you time to pick the best day to do a long boat tour through the sea cliffs where you can snorkel and go to Monkey Beach. 

Our trip dates were November 20 to December 6, including travel days. This was planned around being in Chiang Mai during the Loy Krathong Festival (more commonly known as the lantern festival). This was a perfect time for Thailand, however, northern Vietnam was much colder and we were not prepared clothing-wise. Sa Pa is very cold during these months! Bring a lightweight puffy jacket, a rain jacket, and pants. If we had done that it would have been perfect. If you want to plan your trip around being in Sa Pa during the perfect time, September the rice fields turn gold and the weather is warmer. 

You can always add on more if you have more time! If you can stay longer, I would recommend spending a full day in Phuket, heading to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, and visiting Ho Chi Minh in southern Vietnam. 

Once you arrive in Phuket it is about a 45-minute drive to the Rassada Pier Terminal where you will either catch a ferry or speed boat to Koh Phi Phi. Don't worry about booking your ticket beforehand, you can purchase it when you get there. They also have lots of food options in the pier waiting area.  

Amara Bangkok

MBK Center

Floating market Bangkok tour

Patpong Night Market

Bangkok

The Grand Palace

Raan Jay Fai

Patom Organic Living

Eat Sight Story Deck

Issaya Siamese Club

Phi Phi Islands

Rassada Pier/Rassada Harbour

Phi Phi CoCo Beach Resort

Ae fish bbq

The Ultimate Thailand & Vietnam Itinerary

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