How about a trip to Vietnam this Songkran holiday?
Here's a travel plan from Bangkok to Vietnam, covering Sapa and Hanoi, perfect for a 4-5 day long weekend.
Day 1: Fly directly from Bangkok to Hanoi. Skip Hanoi and take a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sapa, which takes about 5-6 hours.
Review of the sleeper bus to Sapa:
- Travel time: 6-7 hours (overnight), arriving in Sapa in the morning
- Cost: around 700 THB
- Cleanliness: quite good, new bus
- Comfort: the bus is not crowded, comfortable for sleeping
Day 2: Arrive in Sapa in the morning. Drag your luggage from the drop-off point to the hotel. We stayed at Chau Long Sapa Hotel, which is great. The hotel is large, with beautiful views and delicious food. Then, take a walk around Sapa town, visit Cong Cafe, which is not far from the hotel and within walking distance. There are many shops along the way. After that, hire a car to Cat Cat Village, rent traditional tribal costumes for photos, and visit the thrilling Rong May Glass Bridge, which has both a glass bridge and a glass elevator. It's a must-visit. Return to Sapa town, visit Sapa Lake, and head back to the hotel (all within walking distance).
Day 3: In the morning, take the cable car to the top of Fansipan Mountain. The air is thin, so be prepared for possible dizziness. Buy tickets at Sun Plaza. There are plenty of winter clothes, shoes, gloves, and hats to shop for along the way. At the top of Fansipan, there are cable cars and trams, as well as restaurants. You can choose to walk up or down if you prefer. We went up to the large Buddha statue and paid our respects. Then, return in the evening, stop by Sun Plaza for some shopping, and travel back to Hanoi.
Day 4: Arrive in Hanoi in the morning, check into the hotel, and rest. Then, explore Hanoi city, including St. Joseph’s Cathedral and Tran Quoc Pagoda, and go shopping in Hanoi.
Day 5: In the morning, visit Cong Cafe in central Hanoi, buy souvenirs, pack your belongings, and head to the airport.