South to north in three weeks: a short city start, two slow weeks on an island, and a moody finish in Hanoi.

At a glance

• How long: 3 weeks
• When we went: February
• Route: Bangkok → Ho Chi Minh City → Phu Quoc → Hanoi
• Best for: Combining city culture with real island downtime
• Pace: Fast at both ends, very slow in the middle

Ho Chi Minh City (3–4 days)

1. French colonial buildings next to skyscrapers.
2. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.
3. Sticky pork belly for breakfast.
4. Cocktails at a rooftop bar.
5. To cross the street, walk at a steady pace and let the scooters flow around you.

Phu Quoc (2 weeks)

1. Stay in one place and settle into a routine.
2. Fresh seafood dinners on the beach and sunsets every evening.
3. Rent a scooter to find quieter beaches.
4. Take the cable car to Hon Thom, one of the longest over-sea cable cars in the world.

Hanoi (3–4 days)

1. Get lost in the Old Quarter.
2. Street food on tiny plastic stools.
3. Try the local tiramisu.
4. Walk by the lakes in the morning or evening, when locals exercise and dance.
5. Bring a light jacket for the evenings.

Tips from our trip

• Half a week in Ho Chi Minh City is enough.
• If you have more time, add Ha Long Bay or Sapa to the Hanoi leg.
• Expect grey skies and some air pollution in Hanoi in February.