Hong Kong or Hanoi (going to Vietnam)

[itcouldhavebeenme]

So, we have a stopover in HK and I've always wanted to experience it and thought we'd stay there for 2 nights (enough?) for a layover before heading to Hanoi.

From Hanoi we are doing Halong Bay and then Hoi An before a flight home.

Question is - should we allow 2 nights each in HK and Hanoi or would it be better to either to go for (a) 1 night HK and 3 nights in Hanoi, or (b) 3 nights in HK and 1 night in Hanoi?

Looking to chill in Hoi An for 5-6 days.

Help!

No more than 2 nights in HK. We went for 3 before heading to Mainland China, and it was too much. Actually I didn’t like it much at all. Just back from Vietnam. You can easily spend 2 or 3 nights in Hanoi. Lots to see and do. Have fun!

I'd say you'd struggle to do halong bay and see anything of Hanoi in two nights. Stretch that out if you can.

I recently spent 3 days in Hanoi. Loved it. Then one night on a boat in Ha Long Bay. Also good although slightly chilly in January! Hoi An is wonderful - I’m sure you’ll fill your days.

it’s been years since I went to HK (spent a month there once and 3 days another time). I’d probs ky check weather and be guided by that. Or do 2 in each.

We had 3 nights in Hanoi and loved it!

They are both fantastic imo. I lived in mainland China for 12 years and love HK, however, if this is mainly a Vietnam trip then I would spend more time in Hanoi.

A day trip to Halong Bay?

I love Hong Kong but why not research both cities and decide what you want to do and decide.

I don’t think the OP is doing Halong Bay in her Hanoi time - I am reading it that it is in addition. Having done both, I would stick with 2 & 2

Hong Kong is absolutely amazing it’s one of my favourite cities, there is so much to do but I agree with a PP this trip seems to be about Vietnam so I’d focus there and enjoy it for everything it can offer.

1 night in HK I’d focus on central - depending when you land spend the afternoon exploring Hollywood Road, Tai Kwun, Man Mo temple, the escalator etc. Take the Aqua luna harbour cruise for cocktails and eat in Central somewhere with a roof terrace. Next day dim sum for brunch and head to airport. Obviously there are a lot of other things you could do but that would be a good taster.

Hong Kong is nicer than Hanoi.

correct

Thanks all. I don't mind mixing HK with Vietnam, seeing it as a dual country holiday.

We have no option but to do a layover in HK - both going out and coming back - so wondered which would be best to spend more time in.

And Halong Bay is not part of the Hanoi stay, that's in addition / after.

Hong Kong is fantastic. It’s my most favourite place to visit. I’d spend as long as I could there. So so simple to get around too.

At least 2 full days is ok for Hanoi.

I would do less time in Hoi An. It's a lovely place to visit but that's quite a long stretch to spend there.
I love Hanoi!

There are lots to do in Hong Kong. You can easily spend 4 days if you wish. It really depends on whether you fancy it more than Hoi An. It's very easy to get around with public transport. Download the city mapper app. Google for some ideas. It depends on your interests and budget. (I am sure HK is much more expensive). The most obvious tourist attractions are the Big Buddha, Disneyland and the Peak.

But if you like something more off the beaten tracks, it depends on what you like. There are a lot of countryside, so if you can manage the heat, you can find a lot of trail information online. For example, I would recommend hiking down from the Big Buddha instead of taking the cable car. You'll end up in a little village. Another 10-15min walk from there will take you to a main road with very frequent buses back to the MTR network. It has 5G everywhere, so you won't get lost with Google maps and citymapper.

There are lots of beaches too on the southern side of the island. You can just chill obviously but I'm not a beach sort of person. I did a walk from Shek O beach up to a headland with amazingly views over the South China Sea.

If you like temples, there are many beside the Big Buddha like Ten Thousand Bhuddas Monastery and Wong Tai Sin Temple. The former is a lovely walk up a hill on a path lined with gold coloured buddist statues.

Another suggestion is Tai O with its stilt houses on a river. You can get on a boat cruise there too. Or the markets around Mong Kok which is very busy and 'local'.

I'm in Hong Kong right now.
It is tremendous.

Thanks for all the help and useful insights, much appreciated.

I'm actually now thinking to perhaps fly out from London via Doha for a short stopover and go direct to Hano airport, then transfer from there direct to Ninh Binh - is that too ambitious?

It's just that I have a limited number of days so want to limit the number of hopping around and stops.

Then going via Hong Kong (for 2-3 nights) on the way back from HoiAn/Danang.

I went via Doha and it went well. Nin Ninh is in easy reach of Hanoi.

I disagree Hoi An is amazing and there is so much to do you could easily do a week or more there. I probably wouldn’t do more than 2 nights in Hanoi but I’d make sure you do a street food tour while you are there. Really hones in on the places to go and some amazing food! Saw parts of the city we never would have seen otherwise.

re Hoi An - cycle up to the “locals” beach and spend a day at one of the beach bars eating wonderful food and drinking cocktails, watching goats being herded along the beach! One of the best days we had in Vietnam.

If you can also try to be in Hoi An over ver a full moon for their lantern festival. Magical!

I have never been to Hong Kong but loved Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Hoi An!

I agree with this, longer in Hanoi and less time in Hoi An

After all the helpful advice here, I'm now after more insight.

Have 12 nights in Vietnam and have opted for 2 x nights in Hanoi, 2 x Ninh Binh, 1 x Halong Bay (on boat) and 5 nights in Hoi An.

However, we as a family like slow travel and I was thinking maybe to skip Halong or is that sacrilegious??

The cruise in Halong Bay is slow and very picturesque and the caves are stunning and that’s being said by some who doesn’t like caves. They are cavernous and actually feel very light and airy. The views over the bay from the outside of the caves are stunning and we were there on a more cloudy day. Personally, I’m so glad we did the overnight cruise, it was one of my favourite bits of our Vietnam tour.

Thanks, interesting to hear. I'm not a big cave person, done quite a few in my time so that wouldn't particularly interest me. I don't love crowds either but guess on the boat /water there is some tranquillity once all the day-trippers have gone.

Just feel I need to remove one stop from the itinerary somewhere!