Ten Days From the City-State to Ha Long Bay
March is shoulder season in Southeast Asia — the monsoons have passed, the heat has not yet peaked, and flight prices are reasonable. We are planning a trip that uses Singapore as a hub, adds a short island side trip, then continues north to Vietnam for the cultural and scenic highlights.
Singapore: Two Days in the Future City
Singapore is one of the most impressive cities in the world. It is clean, efficient, safe, and packed with things to do — all in a space smaller than most American cities.
Marina Bay: The skyline here is iconic. Marina Bay Sands (the hotel with the ship-shaped rooftop pool) dominates the view, and the Gardens by the Bay with its Supertree Grove is one of the most visually striking places in any city. The light show at 7:45 PM nightly is free and worth seeing. The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories are excellent, especially in the midday heat when you need air conditioning.
Hawker Centers: Singapore’s hawker centers are the heart of the food culture. Maxwell Food Centre (home to the famous Tian Tian chicken rice), Lau Pa Sat in the financial district, and Chinatown Complex are the top choices. A full meal costs 3-5 SGD (about 2-4 USD). The Michelin-starred hawker stalls (yes, that is a real thing) are worth seeking out.
Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam (the Malay-Arab quarter) each have distinct character and are all walkable. The National Gallery Singapore (housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall) has an excellent Southeast Asian art collection.
Singapore is expensive for a hotel (150-300 USD per night) but incredibly affordable for food and transport. The MRT system is fast, clean, and covers the entire island.
Island Side Trip: Langkawi or Borneo
From Singapore, budget airlines (AirAsia, Scoot) connect to dozens of destinations in 1-2 hours. Two options stand out:
Langkawi, Malaysia: A 90-minute flight drops you on a duty-free island with beautiful beaches, a sky bridge suspended between two mountain peaks, and excellent diving/snorkeling. Two nights is enough for beach time, the cable car to the top of Mount Mat Cincang, and a mangrove kayak tour. Hotels are very affordable (40-80 USD per night).
Borneo (Kota Kinabalu): For something wilder, fly to Malaysian Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to Mount Kinabalu National Park, the Kinabalu hot springs, and island-hopping in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Orangutan sanctuaries are accessible from here. Three days is ideal.
Vietnam: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
From Singapore (or the side trip), fly to Hanoi (about 3.5 hours). Vietnam is one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Asia — chaotic, beautiful, delicious, and incredibly affordable.
Hanoi: The Old Quarter is a sensory overload in the best way — motorbikes weaving through narrow streets, steam rising from pho stalls, and French colonial architecture crumbling alongside modern cafes. Must-dos include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first university, dating to 1070), and Hoan Kiem Lake in the city center.
Hanoi street food is legendary. Pho (the beef noodle soup), bun cha (grilled pork with noodles — the dish Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain), banh mi (the Vietnamese sandwich), and egg coffee (ca phe trung) at Giang Cafe are essential experiences. A full street food meal costs 30,000-60,000 VND (about 1-2.50 USD).
Ha Long Bay: A 3-hour drive east from Hanoi brings you to Ha Long Bay — thousands of limestone karsts rising from emerald water. A one-night cruise is the best way to experience it: sailing through the karsts, kayaking into hidden lagoons, swimming off the boat deck, and watching the sunset from the top deck. Cruises range from budget (80-120 USD per person) to luxury (200-400 USD).
For a less crowded alternative, Lan Ha Bay (adjacent to Ha Long) and Ninh Binh (inland, sometimes called “Ha Long Bay on land”) are equally stunning with fewer tour boats.
Budget Estimate
- Flights: JFK to Singapore — 60,000-115,000 miles depending on airline, or 600-1,000 USD. Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer accepts Chase and Amex transfer points
- Singapore hotels: 150-250 USD per night
- Side trip flights: 50-100 USD round trip on budget airlines
- Singapore-Hanoi flight: 80-150 USD
- Vietnam hotels: 30-80 USD per night for excellent mid-range options
- Ha Long Bay cruise: 80-400 USD per person for 1-2 nights depending on comfort level
- Food: Singapore hawker centers 3-5 SGD per meal; Vietnam street food 1-3 USD per meal
Tips
- Singapore Airlines business class is one of the best in the world — if you have the miles, this is the route to splurge on
- March weather: Singapore is hot and humid year-round (30-32C). Vietnam in March is pleasant (20-25C in Hanoi)
- Vietnam e-visa is available online for most nationalities (about 25 USD)
- Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) works in all three countries and is the easiest way to get around
- Carry cash in Vietnam — many street food vendors and small shops are cash only
- Ha Long Bay cruises vary wildly in quality. Read recent reviews and book with established operators