Issue 04 · Destination 12
HanoiVietnam
"Vietnam is not one city. Hanoi for the chaos, Hoi An for the stillness."
Last trip: February 2026 · Hanoi + Hoi An
DisclosureThis guide contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you book — you pay nothing extra. We only recommend things we've personally tried.
02
Should you actually go?
Yes — but pick two cities, not ten. Hanoi (north) for the Old Quarter, pho at 7 AM and Ha Long Bay; Hoi An (centre) for the lantern-lit ancient town and a beach day. Skip the two-week Hanoi-to-HCMC sprint on your first trip.
Climate is split: Hanoi is cool and drizzly Nov–Mar, hot Apr–Oct. Hoi An is dry Nov–Apr, wet May–Oct. February is the sweet spot for both — cool in Hanoi, dry in Hoi An, just after Tet so prices reset.
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The experience
Hanoi rewards the early riser. The Old Quarter at 7 AM belongs to locals — pho at unmarked stools on Bat Dan Street (no English signage, runs out by 9:30), tai chi at Hoan Kiem Lake, the Huc Bridge in soft morning light. By 10 AM the tour groups arrive and the spell breaks. Hoi An plays the same trick with Ancient Town: walk it before 8 AM or skip it.
01 · via Klook
Hanoi Old Quarter night food tour
6–8 dishes, ~SGD 35, 3 hours. Bun cha, banh mi, egg coffee — the local guide gets you past the tourist-priced stalls on Ta Hien.
Book on Klook02 · via GetYourGuide
Ha Long Bay 2-night cruise (boats under 30 pax)
The day-trip version means watching other day-trip boats. Two nights on a sub-30-pax junk gets you kayaking the karsts at dawn before the flotilla arrives.
Book on GetYourGuide03 · via Klook
Hoi An lantern-making + cooking class
Half-day, market visit included. The lantern you make actually works as a souvenir; the cao lau is the dish you'll try to recreate at home and fail.
Book on Klook04
Where to stay
Three picks at three price points. All affiliate-linked to Expedia — same price as going direct, helps keep this site running.
Budget
Hanoi La Selva Hotel, Old Quarter
~SGD 50 / ~USD 37 per night
Tucked off a quiet alley in the Old Quarter, rooms with proper soundproofing and a real espresso machine in the lobby. Free breakfast actually edible.
Check rates on ExpediaMid
Anantara Hoi An Resort
~SGD 220 / ~USD 163 per night
On the Thu Bon riverbank, 5-minute walk to Ancient Town. Colonial-style rooms, river-view balconies, and a pool you'll actually use after the morning lantern walk.
Check rates on ExpediaSplurge
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
~SGD 1100 / ~USD 815 per night
Beachfront pool villas 15 minutes from Hoi An town. Three pools cascading to the South China Sea, the best resort breakfast in Vietnam, and bicycles to the ancient town if you want them.
Check rates on Expedia05
Logistics from SEA
- Visa
- Singapore passport: 30 days visa-free for both Hanoi and Da Nang entry. E-visa available if staying longer; apply online via the official immigration site, not third-parties.
- Flights from SEA
- Scoot and VietJet fly Changi → Hanoi (HAN) in 2h 20m, Changi → Da Nang (DAD) in 2h 25m for Hoi An. Book 4–8 weeks out for SGD 80–160 one-way. Avoid flying around Tet.
- eSIM (Klook)
- Klook's Vietnam eSIM is SGD 9 for 7 days. Viettel network has the strongest coverage in both cities and on the Ha Long cruise. Get the eSIM →
- Money
- VND. Big notes — SGD 100 ≈ 1.85 million VND. Cards work at hotels and tourist restaurants; cash for street food, Grabs and markets. ATMs at Vietcombank and BIDV have the lowest fees.
SGD → VND converter
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06
The honest verdict
Worth it
- Pho on Bat Dan Street, Hanoi, before 9 AM
- Hoi An Ancient Town at 6:30 AM with lanterns still lit and nobody around
- Two nights on a small Ha Long Bay junk, kayaking at dawn
Overrated
- Train Street selfies — it's a pavement next to a railway, framed by Instagram
- Custom tailoring rushed in 24 hours — the fit shows; book a 3-day turnaround
- Day-trip Ha Long Bay — you'll spend more time on the bus than the boat
"Five nights minimum: two Hanoi, one Ha Long, two Hoi An. Vietnam is the country Singaporeans keep underestimating because it's cheap — go for the food and the morning light, stay because it's the kindest country in the region."
Plan & book Vietnam
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Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you book through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend stays and experiences we've personally used. All opinions, photographs and prices are our own. FTC-compliant disclosure.