Vietnam for Couples: Our Romantic Hanoi to Hoi An Itinerary (From One Desi Couple to Another)#

So, me and my husband had this random idea during chai one evening – “Why not Vietnam?” We’d already done the usual honeymoon style stuff in India (Goa, Udaipur, Manali types), and we wanted something international but still affordable, safe, with good vegetarian options and ya, Instagram friendly also. Vietnam just kept popping up on reels, you know, lanterns in Hoi An, coffee in Hanoi, that dreamy Ha Long Bay... and we were like bas, yahi chahiye.

If you’re an Indian couple planning your first international trip together or even a second honeymoon types, this Hanoi to Hoi An route is honestly perfect. It’s romantic but not cheesy, budget friendly but still feels fancy, and very easy to navigate even if you’ve never stepped out of India before.

Quick vibe check: Why Vietnam works so well for Indian couples#

Just to quickly sum it up before I start full story mode:

  • Visa is pretty smooth now with e-visa system (single or multiple entry). The online process is straightforward, but do it atleast 10–12 days before flying so you don’t panic like us.
  • Costs are actually reasonable. For two people, mid-range hotels, internal flights, food, activities – around 6–8 days can be done in roughly ₹90k–1.3L (excluding international flights) if you don’t go too crazy on luxury.
  • Safety wise, it felt VERY safe. Even late night walks in Hanoi Old Quarter were chill. Usual pickpocket caution, but nothing major.
  • Food is surprisingly Indian-friendly. You get veg, egg, halal, plus a lot of rice, noodles, breads. In big cities, Indian restaurants are literally everywhere now.

Also post-covid travel has fully bounced back. Tour operators are running at full capacity, Ha Long Bay cruises are back in full swing, and lot of Indians are coming in nowadays – we kept bumping into desi couples everywhere, felt like mini Goa at one point.

Best time to do this Hanoi–Hoi An couple trip#

Vietnam’s weather is a little confusing because it’s long and thin, so north and central parts behave differently. For this particular route (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An):

  • Best months: roughly from November to April for pleasant weather. Cooler in Hanoi, less rain in Hoi An/Da Nang.
  • Avoid heavy rains & storms: Around September–October central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An) can get hit by typhoons and flooding sometimes.
  • We went end of Feb: Absolute sweet spot. Light jackets in Hanoi evenings, warm enough in Hoi An for beach and pool.

If you’re planning for early 2026 or whatever upcoming season, just check once for any monsoon or storm warnings, especially around Hoi An because the river can flood and then lantern town becomes more like Venice 2.0.

Our Romantic Hanoi to Hoi An Itinerary (7 Days of Pyaar + Pho)#

We did 7 days. You can stretch to 9–10 if you want more slow, relaxed honeymoon vibe. Here’s how we roughly broke it down:

Day 1–2: Hanoi – Coffee dates, street walks & that old-world romance#

Hanoi hits you with traffic first, romance later. Scooters everywhere, people crossing like they have 9 lives, and we were standing at the zebra crossing like confused tourists. But once you get into Old Quarter, it’s just… wow. Old French buildings, tiny cafes, lanterns, and couples sitting by Hoan Kiem Lake like it’s Marine Drive.

We stayed near the Old Quarter in a small boutique hotel. For couples, I’d say look for:

  • Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem area – everything walkable, lots of food places.
  • Price wise: decent 3–4 star hotels range around ₹3,000–₹6,000 per night if you book early. Plenty of newer hotels, clean rooms, often breakfast included.

Our room had a cute little balcony. Not much of a view, just rooftops and water tanks, but we still had chai (okay, Vietnamese coffee) there and pretended it’s some European old town. Couples imagination is wild I swear.

Romantic things to do in Hanoi (that we actually enjoyed)#

1. Hoan Kiem Lake evening walk – Simple but so nice. Lights, couples, street performers, random uncles doing tai chi. We grabbed coconut ice cream and just walked in circles talking about life. Super filmy.

2. Egg coffee date – Please don’t leave Hanoi without trying egg coffee. Sounds weird, tastes like dessert. Try Giang Café (the original one) or any cosy cafe in Old Quarter. The two of us shared one because we weren’t sure at first, then immediately ordered another. Typical.

3. Train Street (but do it safely) – The famous spot where the train passes literally next to your table. It’s become more regulated, some parts shut down, but locals still guide you to legal cafes along the track. Be careful, listen to locals, don’t stand like idiots on track just for reel. But watching the train pass while you’re squeezed next to each other is oddly romantic.

4. Water puppet show – Honestly, I thought it would be boring. It’s not exactly “romantic” but very unique, very Vietnamese. We went to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Book tickets online or via hotel. We were holding hands like kids while watching tiny puppets dance on water. Cute memory.

Food wise, Hanoi is heaven if you like noodles, soups, and coffee. For Indian couples:

  • You’ll find proper Indian restaurants around Old Quarter (names change but Zomato / Google Maps reviews are fairly updated).
  • Veg options: fried rice, veg pho, spring rolls, tofu dishes almost everywhere.
  • If you’re JAIN level strict, carry some theplas, ready-to-eat stuff. Vietnam is veg-friendly but not that custom friendly everywhere.

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Private moments on the water#

Now, this is where the romance level goes from 7/10 to full 11/10. Ha Long Bay is that classic emerald water + limestone rocks combo you see in wallpapers. It’s very touristy, yes, but still magical, especially if you pick a good cruise.

You can do:

  • Day trip from Hanoi – cheaper, but rushed. Good if you’re low on time.
  • 1-night cruise – ideal for couples. Sunset, sunrise, kayaking, proper chill time.

We did 1 night on a mid-range cruise. Price was around ₹8,000–₹12,000 per person including meals, kayaking, cave visits etc. There are cheaper options, but honestly for a couple, spend a bit more and take a nicer boat. Room with balcony, private bathroom, rooftop deck – totally worth it.

The most romantic moment for us? Standing on the upper deck at night. It was just dark water, distant lights from other boats, soft music in the background, and cold breeze. Nobody else was there at that time, and we just stood quietly, no phones, no reels, nothing. Just that peaceful silence together. Sounds cheesy, who cares.

Latest trend wise, Ha Long and nearby bays (Lan Ha Bay, Bai Tu Long) have become super popular for “luxury but affordable” cruises. Many new boats, better safety standards, proper life jackets, clear instructions. Just book with a reputed company through your hotel or trusted site, don’t randomly pick the absolute cheapest option at the last minute.

Day 4: Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang, then head to Hoi An#

After we came back from Ha Long and spent one more night in Hanoi, we took a morning flight to Da Nang. Domestic flights in Vietnam are VERY convenient – VietJet, Bamboo, Vietnam Airlines etc. Flight time: around 1.5 hours. Cost: roughly ₹3,000–₹6,000 per person one way if you book in advance.

From Da Nang airport, Hoi An is about 45 mins by car. You can:

  • Book a Grab (their version of Uber, works well in big cities).
  • Or ask your hotel to arrange pickup (costs slightly more but hassle-free).

The drive is beautiful, by the way. Clean roads, river views, sometimes glimpses of the sea. We kept saying “Arre why our highways can’t look like this only?” at least ten times.

Day 4–6: Hoi An – Lanterns, riverside romance & slow living#

Hoi An is just… another level. If Hanoi is chaotic charm, Hoi An is soft, dreamy, like a movie set. Old yellow buildings, colourful lanterns everywhere, a river in the middle, couples taking photos in ao dai (traditional dress) and even pre-wedding shoots every corner.

We chose to stay a little outside the Ancient Town, in a homestay style hotel with pool. For couples, two options:

  • Stay near Ancient Town if you want to walk everywhere. Slightly pricier but super convenient.
  • Stay between Ancient Town and An Bang Beach. Many resorts and villas here, very peaceful, you can cycle both sides.

Price range: decent couple-friendly hotels or villas start around ₹3,500–₹7,000 per night. You can go full luxury also, like ₹10k+ per night with huge pools and private gardens if budget allows. But even mid-range feels fancy here since the vibe is so pretty.

Romantic Hoi An things we loved (and you shouldn’t skip)#

1. Lantern-lit evening in Ancient Town – This is THE scene. After sunset, the whole place glows. Lanterns hanging above streets, lanterns on boats, lanterns in shops. You walk hand in hand, eat street food, click 200 photos, and then still feel like it’s not enough.

2. Boat ride on Thu Bon River – Yes it’s touristy, yes you’ll bargain for price, but do it. We went just after sunset, the sky still a bit pink, lanterns reflecting in the water. Our boat aunty even took our photos, slightly tilted, but still cute. You can light a small paper lantern and leave it in the water (eco debates aside, it’s a local tradition).

3. Cycling together through rice fields – Many hotels provide free cycles. We took them in the morning and just rode with no plan. Small houses, buffalos, tiny cafes, locals saying hello. Very simple, very real. For once we didn’t open Google Maps and just kept going till we realised we’re fully lost and hungry.

4. Cooking class date – This was unexpectedly fun. Lot of places offer half-day Vietnamese cooking classes – they take you to the local market, show you fresh herbs, then back to kitchen for hands-on cooking. We tried one slightly outside town in a family-run place. Ended up laughing like idiots trying to roll perfect spring rolls. Couples who cook together, you know the dialogue.

5. An Bang Beach sunset – Hoi An’s beach side is surprisingly chill, not too crowded especially on weekdays. Beach shacks, cocktails, bean bags, fairy lights. We just lay there, feet in sand, sharing one big coconut, listening to waves and some random English/Vietnamese remix music.

Right now Hoi An is having a big boom in boutique stays, wellness retreats, and “couple friendly” experiences – sunset cruises, lantern making workshops, spa packages. A lot of new Indian travelers are choosing Hoi An + Da Nang instead of typical Bangkok–Pattaya kind of trips, and honestly, good decision.

Food, money & small India-specific tips#

Let’s talk practical stuff a bit because romance bhi zindagi hai but budgeting is also reality.

Food cost: Local places – you can eat a nice meal for ₹200–₹400 per person. Slightly touristy cafes – ₹500–₹800. Fancy dinner with drinks for two – around ₹2,000–₹3,500 depending on how wild you go.

Local dishes to try (even if you’re vegetarian, some can be customised):

  • Pho (noodle soup) – ask for veg or egg version
  • Banh mi – Vietnamese sandwich, lot of places have veg filling
  • Cao Lau – specialty of Hoi An, thick noodles, can be done veg too
  • Fresh spring rolls – light, tasty, great starter
  • Vietnamese iced coffee (Ca phe sua da) – fully addictive

Money & SIM:

  • Most places accept cards in big cities, but keep cash (Vietnamese Dong) for markets, small shops, taxis.
  • We grabbed a local SIM at Hanoi airport itself. Data is super cheap and fast. Better than depending only on hotel WiFi.
  • UPI obviously doesn’t work there, but a lot of Indian banks’ debit/credit cards work fine. Inform your bank before traveling to avoid random blocking.

Safety for couples: Honestly, Vietnam felt safer than many Indian cities at night. We walked back to hotel at 11 pm in Hanoi Old Quarter, no creepy vibes. Still, basic common sense: keep valuables close, don’t flash cash, avoid super shady alleys late night. Also traffic is wild, so cross roads with confidence, steady pace – don’t run, don’t suddenly stop in middle.

Where I’d tweak the itinerary if we went again#

If we do this trip again, I’d probably:

  • Add one extra day in Hoi An just to do nothing – pool, spa, coffee, reading, cuddling, that’s it.
  • Spend maybe one day in Da Nang proper – check out Ba Na Hills (the Golden Bridge), My Khe Beach, and some rooftop bars.
  • Maybe upgrade to a slightly higher-end Ha Long Bay cruise. The mid-range was fine, but once you see the fancy boats passing by, a small part of you cries.

But even how we did it – 2 nights Hanoi, 1 night Ha Long, 3 nights Hoi An – felt nicely balanced. Enough sightseeing, enough romance, not too rushed.

Final thoughts: Is Vietnam really “romantic enough” for couples?#

Honestly, yes. Don’t expect Maldives-style overwater villas, but expect real memories. Street-side banh mi instead of candlelight seven-course dinner, lantern-lit boat rides instead of private yacht, small balconies instead of infinity pools. But it feels real, not manufactured.

For Indian couples especially, Vietnam just works – budget wise, food wise, vibes wise. You can mix culture, nature, beaches, cafes, night walks, all in one trip. And you won’t come back broke and traumatised.

If you’re planning your own Hanoi to Hoi An romantic escape and want more itineraries, budget breakdowns, or just desi-style travel ideas, keep stalking AllBlogs.in. That’s where we keep finding new places to add to our never-ending couple bucket list.