12 days in Chiang Mai and Hanoi: hills then lakes itinerary
Walk the moat, leave at 07:00 for Doi Suthep, then fly CNX to HAN. Add one Ha Long or Ninh Binh day, not both rushed, and file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) for the Thai half.
Chiang Mai hills and Hanoi lakes share one trip for people who skip Thai beaches. Start in Chiang Mai for six nights using where to stay or Mae Rim. Doi Suthep at 07:00 is 30 THB plus songthaew 60 to 100 THB. File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
The hop to Hanoi is a separate international ticket. Book the CNX to HAN hop on Trip.com or with your airline. City and bay notes sit on Hanoi on Vietnam TravelGuide. Keep Phuket off this pair.
Day by day
1 Land CNX
Old City or Nimman. Wat Chedi Luang.
2 Doi Suthep 07:00
30 THB plus songthaew 60 to 100 THB.
3 Sanctuary half-day
Named ethical park, no riding.
4 Mae Rim or Inthanon
Terraces or a cooler peak.
5 Walking street
Saturday Wua Lai or Sunday moat if the calendar lines up.
6 CM buffer
Pack. Confirm official Vietnam entry steps.
7 Hop to Hanoi
International ticket. Sleep Old Quarter or a quieter lake ward.
8 Hanoi city day
Walk the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoi walking notes.
9 Ha Long or Ninh Binh
Pick Ha Long Bay or a Ninh Binh limestone day so you are not rushing both.
10 Second Hanoi day
Food and a museum hour.
11 Buffer
Confirm the long-haul. No extra Thai island.
12 Exit HAN or CNX
If you return to Thailand, file TDAC again and read official pages.
Lanna wats, then a Hanoi lake week
White Temple is 200 THB since 1 January 2026 and is optional only if you drop a Mae Rim day. Vietnam planning lives on Hanoi on Vietnam TravelGuide.
| Block | Sleep | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Nights 1 to 6 | Chiang Mai | 70 to 75 minutes from BKK if needed |
| Hop | CNX to HAN | International ticket on Trip.com or your airline |
| Nights 7 to 11 | Hanoi | One bay or Ninh Binh day |
Keep going
Book
Combine Thailand & Vietnam: Nonstop Flights & 2-Country Routes
Bangkok and Chiang Mai sit under two hours nonstop from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Pair your Thailand itinerary with our sister guide Vietnam TravelGuide.
Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City & Phu Quoc
Pair 4 days in Bangkok with District 1 rooftop bars, Thao Dien dining, and a short hop to Phu Quoc Island on the same Gulf of Thailand weather window.
Search flights Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh CityBangkok to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Ninh Binh
Combine Bangkok or Phuket with 36 streets in Hanoi Old Quarter, an overnight limestone-karst cruise on Ha Long Bay, and rowboat caves in Ninh Binh.
Search flights Bangkok to HanoiBangkok to Da Nang, Hoi An & Hue
Fly nonstop from Bangkok to Central Vietnam for My Khe Beach resorts in Da Nang, lantern-lit tailor lanes in Hoi An Ancient Town, and the imperial citadel in Hue.
Search flights Bangkok to Da NangChiang Mai to Hanoi, Sapa & Hoi An
Link Lanna temples and mountain coffee in Chiang Mai with Northern Vietnam rice terraces in Sapa and the UNESCO merchant houses of Hoi An.
Search flights Chiang Mai to HanoiCommon questions
- Where do I check Vietnam entry?
- Use the Vietnam e-visa portal. File TDAC and read Thai Immigration before you enter Thailand.
- How do I book Chiang Mai to Hanoi?
- Search CNX to HAN on Trip.com, or fly via Bangkok if the direct board is thin.
- Add Pai?
- Only if you drop Hanoi days. Route 1095 is 3 to 4.5 hours and needs a night.