Itinerary Feedback Vietnam - HK - Taiwan

Hey all, seeking some feedback on my itinerary for a trip to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Day 0: 10:30 pm flight out ✈️

Day 0: flying ✈️

Day 1:📍 land at 4 pm Vietnam time. Transfer to hotel. Rest. Pho 🍜.

2: Hanoi

- 8-12:30 Guided Jeep Vietnam Backstreet Tour

- 6 PM: Guided night food tour.

3: Hanoi

- Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple

- Walk through Old Quarter

- Temple of Literature.

- Maybe Tran Quoc Pagoda or Train Street if we weren’t able to see a train pass during the tour.

- Water puppet show.

4: Ha Long Bay (overnight cruise) head out around 9 am via private transfer.

- Orchid cruises premium balcony suite.

5: drive from Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh via private transfer

- Rest, eat, enjoy sunset.

6: Ninh Binh

- Trang An boat ride 8-9 am (3 hours)

- Hang Mua Viewpoint for sunset go around 430

7: Ninh Binh

- Sunrise bike ride through countryside

- Bich Dong Pagoda

- golden hour bike ride through countryside

8: AM, head back to Hanoi (2.5 hours), fly south to Da Nang. Car transfer to Hoi An. (45 minutes)

9: Hoi An

- Tailor clothes

- Photo shoot with traditional clothing rental at golden hour. Co. Sweet Hoi An.

- Night time lantern boat ride and walk old town.

10: Hoi An

- Hai Van Pass, private driver and marble mountains.

- Night market.

11: Hoi An

- Pick up tailored clothes, final shopping.

- Possible sunset at a bang beach (grab or bike).

12: Transfer to Da Nang Airport, Fly to Hong Kong arrive in afternoon 🇭🇰

- Harbor promenade (stay until sun goes down)

- Star Ferry to HK Island

- Walk around Central District

- Walk Wellington Street

13: Hong Kong

- Dragons Back Hike (2-3 hours)

- Montane Mansion (photography) (keep it tight on time to make it to the peak on time)

- Victoria’s Peak (get there before sunset and expect lines of we’re taking the peak tram, or uber)

- Walk Lugard Road Loop

- Head to Mong Kok

14: Hong Kong

- By 9 am: Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau Island via Tram (Ngong Ping 360)

- Rest

- Mong Kok

- Sneaker Street

- Fa Yuen Street

- Tung Choi Street

- Women’s Market

- Dinner: ladies Street Sik Faan Co

15: Fly to Taipei around 12-3

- Rest after check in.

- Daan Forest Park if we have the energy.

- Dinner at Raohe Night Market.

16: Taipei

- Explore.

- Sunset at Taipei 101 (must reserve)

- Xinyi District

17: Taipei

- day trip to Jiufen and Shifen. Can do public transportation or private driver. Still undecided about this.

- Arrive to Jiufen around 4:30 and explore Old Street.

18: Taipei

- Possible elephant mountain hike if we have the energy.

- Yongkang Street

- Ningxia Night Market

19: Transfer to Jiaoxi for Mountain Hot Spring

20: Jiaoxi rest in hotel

21: Transfer back to Taipei, fly home

Seeking general feedback on the itinerary and have the following questions:

- should I arrange for a private driver for the day trip to Jiufen and Shifen or is it easy to manage on our own with public transportation?

- is dragons back hike worth it?

- anything missing that you’d consider a must do?

- anyone been to Jiaoxi and is it worth staying in a hotel with the tub that runs water from the hot spring? I’m aiming for a relaxing end to the trip but debating if it’s worth another location or if I should just plan a spa day in Taipei.

Thank you!