Home » Lifestyle » Our Asia Honeymoon Itinerary (2 weeks)

Our Asia Honeymoon Itinerary (2 weeks)

From vibrant street markets to serene beaches, our 16-day honeymoon in Southeast Asia was the ultimate adventure — a journey that combined romance, culture, and natural beauty in unforgettable ways.

Starting our married life in a place new to both of us felt truly special. We tossed around a few different honeymoon destinations; but ultimately decided we wanted to explore Asia together! And gosh, what.a.trip!! Let’s get into it!

9 photo collage including pictures from an asia vacation.
9 photo collage including pictures from an asia vacation.

My Traveler’s Note

We wove through Singapore’s futuristic skyline and world-class cuisine, onto lush jungles and sparkling waters of Phuket, and serenity in Chiang Mai’s temples and mountains. And we concluded our trip in the bustling charm of Hanoi, Vietnam (with a overnight trip to HaLong Bay, Vietnam)!

This wasn’t just a vacation; it was a trip of a lifetime, brimming with awe-inspiring sights, flavors, and moments we’ll treasure forever. If you’re considering SE Asia, I hope this serves as a resourceful and inspirational guide.

husband and wife sitting together on wood boat on teal water.
man and woman sitting in  corner booth of high rise building at a table with appetizers and drinks.
Asian architexture overlayed with a selfie of a man and woman exploring.
two photos of man and woman touching trunk of an elephant.

Working with a Travel Agent

We worked with Emily from @lutz_travel for this entire itinerary. It was our first time working with a travel agent and I fear we’re spoiled now. We couldn’t recommend it enough. Everything was taken care of, well organized, and thoughtful.

By far, the best money we spent with Emily was her organization of transportation at every single spot. It was an inclusive package, so every excursion and flight that was booked with her, we also had transport throughout the whole trip. With the help of our direction, she curated our entire itinerary and ultimately the places we visited!

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Another perk to working with Emily: our entire itinerary was saved in an app, with accommodations, booking confirmations, Visas (Vietnam), any detail she curated for our trip was saved within the app, broken down by day. I’ve showed this to friends and family and they are in awe of the ease of traveling! SO so good.

We greatly appreciated Emily’s extra perks at every hotel. We’re not reward members at any spot we stayed; but she is and those perks usually apply to her customers. It was an extra level of luxury at every hotel: complimentary happy hours, waived mini-bar fees, laundry services, snacks, etc.

slice of chocolate cake on cake stand beside black and white framed wedding photo.
photo of restaurant table with drinks and apps overlooking city skyline.

I’ll be the first to say: I wanted the elevated experience (like little gifts in the room or turn down service) on our honeymoon without having to ask for it. Using a travel agent for booking is a good way to achieve that.

Transportation & Getting Around

In Southeast Asia, Grab is the go-to rideshare app — we used it often in Singapore and we used it in Chiang Mai for a ride to dinner and doordash’ed McDonald’s late one night (lol). Since this was our first time exploring the region, having someone handle transfers and logistics gave us peace of mind. Next time, we’ll definitely do the same for the convenience, safety, and ease it offered!

If you’re up for planning your trip yourself (we usually do too!), I’d still consider using a travel agent for transportation. They can arrange English-speaking guides and drivers, making you feel like VIPs throughout the journey and giving you a piece of mind while exploring a foreign area. I’ll breakdown transport in each location’s section.

Our Itinerary

Since we’ve never been to Asia in general, we used social media to guide the direction we gave to our travel agent. We came up with 3 countries, offering a variety of activities and relaxing options. I’m going to list each day because I think it’s the easiest to see:

  • Monday: Land in Singapore
  • Tuesday: Singapore
  • Wednesday: Singapore
  • Thursday: Fly from Singapore to Phuket, Thailand
  • Friday: Phuket, Thailand (Private boat day to the islands)
  • Saturday: Phuket, Thailand
  • Sunday: Phuket, Thailand
  • Monday: Fly from Phuket to Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Tuesday: Chiang Mai, Thailand (Elephants in the morning, Cooking class in the evening)
  • Wednesday: Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Thursday: Fly from Chiang Mai (layover in Bangkok) to Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Friday: Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Saturday: Drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay, Vietnam (Overnight on the Cruise)
  • Sunday: Drive from Halong Bay to Hanoi, Vietnam (Food Tour)
  • Monday: Fly home!
photo of man and woman touching elephant trunk.
hotel pool surrounded by beautiful greenery.
man in black shorts and shirt beside woman in white dress outside of hotel in asia.

This trip was a total of 16 days, including our travel days to get to Asia. Depending on where you’re flying from (if from the United States), it takes roughly 20-28 hours. If we were to do it again, we would stay in Phuket longer (and maybe switch hotels half way through simply to change it up) and try to do the same experiences we did in Chiang Mai, in Phuket to avoid another travel day.

We moved around a lot! Though we had days to relax, we also stayed quite busy. Neither of us have ever been to Asia so this was our preference, but I will say, by the end we were ready to go home and relax!

Traveler tip:

Consume longform content before visiting where you’re going!! Use Youtube and watch other traveler vlogger’s document their experiences in the cities you’re going to. Read posts like this to get familiar with each city!

My husband and I did this for every single city on our itinerary and it made us:

  1. familiar with the area
  2. understand cultural uniqueness / oddeties
  3. general tips about the area
  4. excited to explore!

Toss it on after dinner together and get familiar with where you’re headed! I think there is a balance of being surprised and knowing what to expect. You’ll learn something about every city, promise!

Flights & Getting to Southeast Asia (SEA)

We are loyal to Delta Airlines and quickly understood that we would layover in Seoul, South Korea Airport (ICN) as Korean Air is one of their partners. We flew from Detroit to Minneapolis, MN (1hr 25min flight), Minneapolis to Seoul (14hr flight), Seoul to Singapore (6hr flight).

selfie of man and woman on plane.
two passports on lap held by man and woman's hands with wedding rings.

Ideally, we would have flew directly from Detroit to Seoul; however, the layover time between the Detroit flight to Seoul was less than an hour and we wanted more cushion time to get through customs.

Once we were in Asia, we flew: Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines, Korean Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air Asia. Are you ready to be shocked? For 16 days, Jack and I each traveled with one carry-on roller (The Away Suitcase) and a small personal item (my go-to Amazon duffle) and his backpack. I cannot recommend this enough! The last thing you want to do is to pay excessively for bag fees between airlines.

Some airports, the lines to check in were quite long and not having to worry about baggage was great for us!

Best time of year to visit SEA

Busy season for visiting Southeast Asia is between November to April as it’s the best weather season. We got married in September and took our honeymoon one month later (per recommendation from our travel agent).

We were technically at the end of rainy/monsoon season and we did get some rain. Most times it lasted 20-30 mins and clear skies the rest of the day. We only had one full rain day in Phuket.

I’ll go into this in the Chiang Mai section, but there was horrific flooding that ripped through Chiang Mai just two weeks prior to us visiting. We’re so grateful we weren’t there during it, but note that monsoon/flooding season is May to September.

sunset over beautiful water after a rainy afternoon in Thailand.

Traveller Essentials & Recommendations

I cannot recommend these products enough, especially during long travels:

  • Kindle Paperwhite: what did I do before this device? not enough reading. Worth every penny and so easy to travel with
  • Away Carry-On: my husband and I have matching ones; and we both love them. We’ve traveled with them exclusively over the last 3 years? and still in mint condition!
  • Leather Passport Holder: we will both put our passports in one! It keeps it easy and in the same place, every time.
  • Large Duffle that sits underneath the seat in front of you: sits on top of my Away carry-on and holds everything I need it too! Machine washable for optimal cleanability!
  • Portable Charger: insane battery life and minimal charge time, this thing juices my phone at least 4x before I have to recharge it!
  • Adapter: another essential while traveling abroad. We brought 2 total and it was more than enough!

You can always find more outfit links on my ShopMy Page and LTK Page! Don’t see something you’re looking for? Leave a comment and I’ll send it to you.

Singapore

After a 27 hour travel journey, we arrived to our first destination: Singapore! For every destination, I have an Instagram highlight saved if you’d like to visually flip through our trip 🙂

Note: when arriving into Singapore, you need to fill out a form online for Embarcation number. Everyone who enters Singapore must do this. It takes 5-10 minutes and isn’t difficult. Do it on the plane when you land for ease of convenience.

skyscraper buildings attached by a tunnel at the top.

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, in the heart of the Marina Bay Sands area. Everything about this hotel was phenomenal. It was our favorite hotel of our trip because the attention to detail and the staff made it so welcoming.

With our booking, we had access to their Haus65 lounge on Level 21. It included complimentary: daily breakfast, daily mini-bar restock, personal laundry, and daily happy hour and or’derves.

four photo collage of beautiful plats of colorful food.
four photo collage of a modern restaurant with tasty food.

Our room had a panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands (the famous “Boat Hotel”) and the skyline. The infinity pool and state-of-the-art fitness center are two amenities we took advantage of each day!

hotel pool surrounded by palm trees and lounge chairs.
striped lounge chairs on hotel pool deck.

Every morning and afternoon, the waitstaff would ask us about our day and give us recommendations. They felt like our friends and took such lovely care of us during our entire stay.

man and woman in beautiful indoor garden.
skyline with beautiful sunset behind plant wall.
girl in red skirt posing on sidewalk surrounded by greenery.

Top Experiences & Must-see Attractions

  • Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Mall, and surrounding area – super easy to walk around and enjoy the architecture
  • Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – our personal favorite! Be sure to check the hours as sometimes it’s closed.
  • Supertree Grove
  • Lau Pa Sat (a very nice Hawker) – highly recommend this location for tourists. Some of the other ones recommended on YouTube didn’t look as appealing to us.
  • For Canning Park Tree Tunnel – such a lovely stroll around. There will be a line when you walk down for photos but it’s easy to pass and explore the other neat viewpoints.
  • Chinatown
  • The Pinnacle @ Duxton – Recommended to us by a friend. It’s a cool view but the entrance is really hard to find. You must buy a ticket (in cash) to then take the elevator to the top, see the view, then return the ticket before leaving.
  • Arab Street – we weren’t super impressed with this area but the architecture/culture is different than what you experience
  • The Airport!! Sound silly but it’s the nicest airport in the world!! How can you pass that up?!
man walking on sidewalk in front of shrub wall.
selfie of man and woman in front of skyline.
gorgeous indoor garden with plants climbing up wall.
two plates of asian takeout food.
four photo collage of beautiful indoor garden.
indoor garden with window ceiling and walls with many beautiful plants.

Food Highlights

Lau Pa Sat should be on your list. In the heart of the business district, it’s a very nice Hawker. A Hawker refers to a vendor serving affordable food in an open-air food center. It’s like a bustling food court in America but semi-covered & outdoor.

Hawkers are known for their diverse, high-quality meals at affordable prices. We went during lunch hour (quite busy) but it was so neat! Something we learned from watching youtube videos about Singapore is most locals reserve their tables with anything: a phone case, lip balm, wet wipes, etc. Hawkers also don’t have napkins or wipes, so helpful to have a few on hand.

three photo collage of restaurant and dishes enjoyed.
girl reaching for shared dish at dinner table with big smile on her face.

We also did dinner at Birds of a Feather one evening and Spago (restaurant on top of Marina Bay Sands). Both of these places recommended reservations so we grabbed the morning of and we were fine.

The food at our hotel was also so great. Especially for breakfast – it was a full spread every morning and this food blogger was loving it!!!

Transportation Tips

We weren’t expecting our pre-arranged car transfers to be anything special. If fact, I think the agent said Toyota equivalent. When our guide took us to our driver and we saw this, we were pleasantly shocked:

inside of boujee car with luxurious seats and center counsel.

We did utilize the Grab app (that I’ve mentioned in this post before) a few times. If you want to call a taxi, this is the app to do it. It’s very rare to hail a taxi (and they charge you an additional fee if you do it this way).

Other than a few Grab rides, we walked everywhere. We clocked in over 30 miles in 2 days. Definitely an active way to start off our honeymoon 😌🤣!

Our favorite memory in this city

After our first full day exploring Singapore, we caught the sunset for dinner up on Marina Bay Sands restaurant and then walked the boardwalk back to our hotel. We poured glasses of wine, sat in the luxurious hotel robes, and watched the nightly light show on the water from our room. It was so lovely.

We also LOVED the Cloud Forest, which is adjacent to the Flower Dome and hosts the indoor waterfall. It was magical and so cool?!

Overall, we loved Singapore so much because of how wonderful the Mandarin Oriental was on every level. Because Singapore was more expensive that the other countries we visited, we took advantage of everything our stay included. We will seek to stay at Mandarin’s around the world now.

waterfall over greenery at indoor garden.
man and woman standing in front of gray cement wall.
man standing in front of sign that says 'Jack's Place'.

Currency Exchange / Tips

Before leaving the airport, we exchanged $150 USD for Singapore currency. This was enough as most places take credit card (we love our Chase sapphire card for travel). We always had Google’s currency converted on hand and easily managed our funds.

Anything we’d do differently

If my husband were writing this section, he may say not walk a full marathon in 2 days! Overall we really enjoyed Singapore and we were excited to get to our next destination (more beach R&R time).

And we were very happy with the duration of time in Singapore. It felt doable and by third day, we were on our way to Thailand!

man and woman posed at table with dessert in front of them.

Phuket, Thailand

The ultimate lounge-and-unwind destination of our trip. Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and one of it’s most beloved. Sandy beaches, clear waters, lush jungle landscapes, and vibrant culture, it’s a place that blends relaxation with adventure.

Whether it be exploring hidden coves by boat, indulge in world-class dining experiences, or simply soaking up the sun, Phuket delivers on all accounts. It’s a tropical paradise that feels both luxurious and laid-back – perfect for a honeymoon escape.

man and woman kissing on front of boat over bright blue water.

Where we stayed

Rosewood Phuket was the dreamiest place to stay in Phuket. Nestled right along the coastline with stunning views, the resort had everything we needed: beautiful design, private beach access, top-tier service, and just the right mix of laid-back luxury.

We had a few passing rain showers each day, but the sun always made an appearance and cultivated the ultimate sense of relaxation during our stay!

plants and water ways inside zen hotel lobby.

Top Experiences / Must-see Attractions

Our one big adventure was a boat day exploring Monkey Beach and the famous Phi Phi Islands. We wandered through a quaint coastal town and enjoyed a picnic lunch on a quiet stretch of sand – honeymoon core memory activated! Let’s just say, we were feeling extra relaxed one afternoon, thanks to a local delicacy in Thailand 😉

Our private boat tour was incredible. When we were out at sea, we realized we had a boat similar to those that were charting up to 40 people (another example of how we were well treated while booking with Lutz Travel!!). By far our favorite part was snorkeling with SO MANY FISH!! Best snorkeling we’ve ever done. It’s one of my husband’s favorite things to do and a bucket list item off Monkey Beach.

man and woman in water with red life jackets with snorkels on head.
small yacht driving through bright blue water.

This was SUCH a treat. While we were out at sea, our crew provided fresh pineapple and other snacks, along with excellent company. We felt really grateful for this organized excursion.

Other things to do:

  • Visit the Big Buddha: another thing our list that was actually closed due to recent rains. It’s a massive white marble statue with panoramic views of the island. It’s peaceful, spiritual, and worth the drive (according to others)
  • Island hop: Phi Phi Islands, Monkey Beach, Phang Nga Bay and more.
  • Take a Thai Cooking Class: we did this in Chiang Mai, but if you’re only going to Phuket, make sure you learn how to make the classic dishes (like pad thai, green gurry, and mango sticky rice!)
  • Get a Thai Massage: every corner you look, there are numerous Thai massage places. People love them!
  • Explore the markets: We heard good things about the farmers market in Old Town Phuket but ultimately skipped it in favor of staying poolside and less commuting. Street food, souvenirs, and live music!
two photo collage: one image of dish on blue plate and other of man overlooking dark restaurant.
two photo collage with one photo of girl eating on beach and other of crew of four people after swimming.

Food Highlights

Other than our boat day excursion, we stayed on Rosewood Phuket’s property for meals. Though we did drive through downtown Phuket, we felt more comfortable dining at the resort.

In the evenings, we dined where the cast of White Lotus Season 3 was filming (!!!!), which made each meal feel like a behind the scenes moment.

picnic basket full of fresh fruits and salads.
room service spread including shrimp salad, breads, and spring rolls.

Transportation Tips

We had private transportation arranged (again, Lutz Travel did all of this for us). Our hotel (Rosewood Phuket) was roughly an hour away from the airport. Traffic can get pretty heavy so it did take us a bit longer. We were relieved to have arranged transport to/from hotel and to/from our boat day excursion.

The Grab App (this is key for SE Asia), it’s Thailand’s version of Uber. Tuk-tuks and scooter rentals are also options. Be sure to negotiate fare before riding!

Our favorite memory in this city

We’ll hold onto our memories of Phuket forever! It was the perfect blend of peace and awe – wrapped in the warmth of Thai hospitality. Rosewood Phuket felt like our own private slice of paradise. The staff (Nan our butler) was more than accommodating, views were breathtaking, and even the rain couldn’t steal the magic.

Our private boat day – just the two of us, a few kind-hearted guides, and the endless blues of the Andaman Sea. Jack was in his element snorkeling off Monkey Beach, surrounded by vibrant coral and schools of fish. I smile thinking about the homemade Thai picnic they set up for us on the beach while an incoming rain storm threatened. It was one of those days where time felt suspended, it all felt right, and sharing it with my husband made it unforgettable.

selfie of man and woman after swimming on boat over bright blue water.
lounge chair beside private pool at hotel.
girl posed with two thumbs up on beach.
girl in all white posed on boat floating on gorgeous waters.
man and woman posed on beautiful beach.
two people snorkeling with life jackets in beautiful sea.

Currency Exchange / Tips

Cash is king; in all of these cities/countries other than Singapore. We didn’t exchange at the airport and we wish we had (simply so we didn’t have to stop at a 7-Eleven ATM). ATMs are EVERYWHERE. Our driver stopped twice for us to exchange. We ended up pulling approx. $400 USD for our time in Phuket.

For me personally, I get nervous to use an ATM in a foreign country I’m not used to. I’d prefer to get it easily at the airport and not have to worry about it. Everything is very cost effective in Thailand (other than the resorts you physically stay at).

man in shorts and white tee operating ATM in asia.

Anything we’d do differently

We really enjoyed Phuket. It was relaxing, rejuvenating, and simply lovely! If you read our itinerary, we did the boat day the day after we landed in Phuket which made for some heavy back-to-back travel. We would have moved this to be in the middle of our stay (but that’s pretty minor).

After you read our Chiang Mai experience, you’ll know that we wish we would have stayed in Phuket and maybe switched hotels (just to switch it up) and visit an Elephant Excursion and take a Thai Cooking Class in the area (instead of adding another travel day to our agenda).

two women and a man posed in a hotel lobby.
lounge chairs beside hotel pool.
two slices of pineapple on a plate being held up on a boat.
wood walkway over pool inside of hotel.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tucked into lush mountains of Northern Thailand, this city offered a slower pace and lovely blend of culture, nature, and adventure. We wandered trhough centries-old temples, took a Thai Cooking class (our favorite), dined at a multi-course dinner (another incredible experience), and visited an ethical elephant sanctuary! And of course, you can’t miss the buzzing night markets.

Where we stayed

Originally we were planned to stay at the beautiful 137 Pillars House, but due to an unexpected flood right before our arrival, we had to pivot (again, thank goodness for our travel agent here), and we ended up at the Meli Chiang Mai.

While the location was convenient (right by night markets), this hotel felt the most basic of all our accommodations during the trip. It was packed and resembled a spring break Marriott. If you’re planning a honeymoon or more boutique-style stay, we’d recommend other options.

Generally speaking, most of the excursions for Chiang Mai are actually outside of the city and in the mountains. If we were to go back, we’d try to find a boutique hotel in the mountains and take a ride into the city for dinner & exploration.

fun fruity cocktail held in hand by hotel pool.
gorgeous hotel pool surround by beach chairs.

Top Experiences / Must-see Attractions

  • Visit an Elephant Sanctuary: be sure it’s an ethical one! We visited Kanta and it was lovely. A 3 hour experience where we fed, bathed, and played with the elephants! Roughly a 40 minute drive from our hotel, it was a morning experience. They had a professional photographer documenting our time and we purchased a few photos from the excursion.
  • Take a Thai Cooking Class! Ours was at Grandma’s Home Cooking School where you start with a grounds tour and see where many of the ingredient’s you’ll cook with are grown. SUCH a lovely experience here! They had a professional photographer documenting our culinary journey. I also think they offer transportation to/from your hotel making it so convenient.
  • Have dinner at B Samcook Home 16. I go into more detail under ‘Food Highlights’ but its an experience within itself.
collage of food photos from a cooking class.
two photos of elephant sticking out its truck as people feed it.
man and woman participating in cooking class.

Food Highlights

By far our highest recommendation is having dinner at B Samcook Home 16. It’s a 13 course meal with unlimited wine and phenomenal food. It was a recommendation from another influencer and it was AMAZING! We booked a reservation a few days before through their Facebook Page. We took a Grab ride there and then they drove us home (the Thai culture is so wonderful!)

four photo collage of girl eating different meals.

We also had fun at the night markets. Food and drinks are cheap (equivalent to $3 USD for a beer and a plate of pad thai cheap)!! It was a fun city to explore and to embrace the fun while doing it! Pictured above: all of the good and yummy eats we tried.

At our cooking class, we made Khao Soi, the most iconic dish of Northern Thailand. It’s a rich and creamy coconut curry noodle soup with soft egg noodles, crispy noodles on top, and usually a protein. Tangy, spicy, and SO satsifying!

photo of menu beside wine glasses at restaurant.
photo of two fancy cocktails with edible flowers as garnish.
box of pizza and mcdonalds take out boxes.

Transportation Tips

Similar to the other cities, the Grab app is going to be the best way to get around (other than foot). Tuk-Tuks are also ideal for short trips. It’s a three-wheeled motorized cart used as a taxi. It’s kind of a hybrid between a motorcycle and tiny open-air car. We never took one as we aired on the side of caution. But a general tip: always agree on the fair before starting the ride!

Our favorite memory in this city

We loved both excursions: Thai Cooking Class and visiting the Elephant Sanctuary! By far my favorite way to enjoy local culture is through cooking (fitting that cooking is my job :P)!

Our top Chiang Mai recommendation: dinner at B Samcook Home 16. A 13-course meal with unlimited wine, unforgettable food, and the kindest hospitality. Book through their Facebook page—you won’t regret it!

man and woman participating in a cooking class.
selfie of man in cream button up shirt and woman in green dress.
girl in green dress on the side walk in thailand.
photo of architecture in thailand.
girl with two thumbs up in black apron.

Currency Exchange / Tips

Similar to Phuket, we utilized cash for local places. Withdrew $150 USD equivalent at the airport and it was enough for our time while in Chiang Mai.

Anything we’d do differently

This was the one city that fell short for us. It was a combination of pivoting hotels last minute and the fact the city experienced a catastrophic flood a few days before we arrived and the entire city was muddy. We LOVED the excursions/experiences we did though!

We had to take a connection through Bangkok, Thailand to get to Chiang Mai (from Phuket) and that ate up a whole day. In hindsight, we would have preferred to switch hotels in Phuket and try to book a cooking class & elephant excursion nearby.

three selfies of husband and wife in beach chairs, on the beach, and at dinner.

Hanoi

Hanoi was the perfect finale to our grand Southeast Asia honeymoon. An energetic yet charming city where culture, history, and incredible food collide. Everything from the buzzing streets, to the rich blend of Vietnamese and European influences, and the unbelievably good food scene, captured our hearts to this city. We fully indulged on everything the city had to offer.

Where we stayed

Our stay at the Capella Hotel Hanoi made our time in the city wonderful. Nestled in the heart of Old Quarter, just steps from Hoan Kiem Lake, the hotel’s location was ideal for exploring Hanoi on foot.

Every detail at the Capella Hotel felt intentional, from the rich decor to the personalized service and the impressive breakfast spreads each morning! The Capella team and our travel agent worked together to make us feel extra special throughout the duration of our stay.

inside of fancy asian restaurant.
streets of Hanoi with hanging lanterns off the store front awnings.

Top Experiences / Must-see Attractions

Hanoi is a city full of energy, history, and great experiences. Here are some recommendations on what to do:

  • Wander through Old Quarter
  • Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (Ngoc Son Temple – pay for admission)
  • Experience Train Street! It’s packed with tourists but the concept is cool. We grabbed a Coke Zero and watched it with others while it passed by. I think the train comes twice a day (11:30 am sounds familiar) but check the timing so you can grab a spot before the train rolls through
  • Try the Street Food (yes this is literally one of the best things to do in the city!) Pho, Bahn Mi, Bun Cha, Egg Coffee
  • Watch a Water Puppet Show – not something we were interested in but most guides will recommend it so wanted to note it.
  • Explore French Quarter. I was so surprised how much French influence there is in Hanoi (especially the architecture)
  • Take a trip to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh. Another excursion our agent organized. The thing we we didn’t realize is that it’s roughly a 3 hour drive to get to the water. Then we took a water taxi to the overnight boat… Overall, gorgeous, but it’s a commitment. If you’re only going to be in the city for a few days, we may recommend skipping and finding other local excursions to fill your day with!

Food Highlights

four photo collage from food tour Hanoi.
decorated streets of Hanoi with railroad running through middle.

I want to shout it: “Our food tour was the BEST thing we could have done”!! A local expert who took us to SEVEN (7)!! different food spots in one evening. It was our last night and raining; the odds were stacked against us. It was one of our favorite memories of the whole trip!

Our guide was ‘Buffalo Joe’ and the reason he goes by Buffalo Joe is because he was quite literally born on a buffalo (while his mom was trying to get to the local hospital). He was spirited, knew the best spots, and such a joy to walk around with! We dream about this food often.

three bowls of pho with lots of fresh herbs added.
four photo collage of food eaten on an asian food tour.
two photos of asian restaurant front windows.

Transportation Tips

Getting around Hanoi is an adventure in itself, thanks to the sheer chaos of mopeds dominating the streets. There are more motorbikes than you can even imagine, weaving through traffic with impressive(?) but also terrifying precision. It truly feels like madness. Lanes are optional, traffic lights are suggestions, and as a pedestrian, you’re expected to just walk into the flow of oncoming bikes and TRUST that they’ll move around you.

It’s pretty overwhelming, but somehow it works. The KEY to walking across the street: walk slowly and steadily – the mopeds will adjust around you (as long as you keep it low and slow). It’s uncomfortable at first and unlike anything I’ve experienced in the states (and even Europe), but by the time we left, we felt confident.

For getting around via taxi, you’ll need to download the Grab App (SEA version of Uber). Super easy and affordable. We didn’t ride any mopeds while we were in Hanoi as we didn’t trust them (imagine that).

three photo collage of people posing in streets of asia.

Our favorite memory in this city

The food tour with Buffalo Joe! It was pouring rain and his knowledge along with the destinations along the tour made it so memorable for us! We also loved how much European influence we observed, through the architecture and way of life.

Local kids interviewed my husband as they were practicing English. They thought he looked like Lionel Messi and they were loving it! It was a cute, simple interaction.

Currency Exchange / Tips

Exchange at the airport or a local ATM. Everywhere uses local currency. The official currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese đồng, abbreviated as VND. We withdrew roughly $150 USD equivalent to 3 million VND (LOL). Vietnam is incredibly cheap and this lasted us the entire time. Adjust as needed & best for your travels!

Anything we’d do differently

My husband gets motion sick and at times, the overnight boat excursion in Ha Long Bay was tough. If we go back, we wouldn’t do it again. We loved being on the water, but the trip to get there (3 hour drive one way) wasn’t worth it to us. This was also the last thing we did and after 14 days away, we were simply tired.

picture from viewpoint of sitting on a bike, biking through mountains beside a stream.
wood balcony overlooking beautiful water view.

Cost Breakdown

I could pull the receipts, but since we paid for this trip over the course of a year, it was more spread out than one lump sum. Our international flights over to Asia were about $7k total, hotels were $12kish (I thinkkk?), excursions & transportation were another $6k, then we spent maybe $1.5k-ish while over there?

Surely there are ways to be more cost effective, but this is what worked for us! We thought the transportation package was phenomenal and an added luxury to never have to search for a ride. It was all planned out perfectly!

In short: The Trip of a Lifetime

From the sparkling skyline of Singapore to the infinite blue waters of Phuket, the cultural richness of Chiang Mai, and the vibrant energy of Hanoi, our honeymoon was truly the adventure of a lifetime. Every stop brought something new: foods we’ll dream about, people who made us feel at home, and experiences that left us in awe.

We explored temples, devoured authentic dishes, sipped tea with locals, soaked up the sunshine, and even cruised through wild waters! It was unforgetable in every way. If you’re planning a Southeast Asia honeymoon – or just dreaming about it – trust us when we say: book the ticket! You’ll come home with full hearts, full bellies, and memories that will last forever.

To my husband, thank you for making every moment of this adventure even more special. From morning coffees in bed to late-night laughs in hotel lobbies, exploring the world together is everything I dreamed it would be..and more. We go all in and we have FUN. Thank you for making life so special. Yours forever, CP!

More places to visit

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to share about traveling that can aid your experience or be shared with others. Let me know if you have any questions; happy to answer them below! Safe travels and thanks for reading! XO Courtney Paige

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