April 2 — April 16 · 2026
Three cities. One trip. No filler.
DEPARTURE FROM SFO
APR 02, 2026 · 22:50 · VN99 → VN601
Apr 4 – Apr 8, 2026
Golden temples, rooftop bars, street chaos.
Land at Suvarnabhumi (VN601 from SGN). Head to Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok in Lumphini — a 30-min taxi from the airport.
Riverside stalls near the Grand Palace. Boat noodles, pad see ew, fresh coconut. First proper Thai meal.
The non-negotiable. Dress code enforced — bring a sarong. Go in the afternoon when morning crowds thin out.
46-metre golden Buddha, 5 min walk from the Grand Palace. Book a traditional Thai massage on-site.
River taxi or dinner cruise. Golden hour on the river is unreal after a long-haul flight.
That Hangover Bar. Dress up. ฿800 minimum spend. Worth it for the view on night one.
The non-negotiable. Sacred, golden, unmissable. Dress code enforced.
World's largest weekend market. Saturday & Sunday only. Go early.
Sky Bar on 64F — the Hangover rooftop. Dress up, ฿800 min spend, zero regrets.
Open-air rooftop on Thailand's tallest building. Glass tray floor over 78 floors.
New 61F rooftop at One City Centre. Stunning 360° views, less crowded than Lebua.
One of Bangkok's best traditional Thai spas. Book the 2-hr herbal compress massage.
Premium skincare clinic inside Siam Paragon. Facials, treatments, and products.
Curated boutique shop. Local accessories and gifts — a nice break from the malls.
Must order: Grilled tiger prawns
Classic Yaowarat seafood. Plastic chairs, loud, outrageously good. Cash only.
Maps →Must order: Pad thai wrapped in egg
Bangkok's most famous pad thai. Queue around the block. Non-negotiable.
Maps →Must order: Chef's tasting menu
Modern Thai in Park Lane Ekkamai. Refined, creative, and far from tourist traps.
Maps →Must order: Pink milk tom yum mama
Cult late-night noodle spot near Chula. Famous for the pink tom yum — chaotic, brilliant.
Maps →Must order: Hainanese chicken rice
Legendary chicken rice stall open since 1960. Queue at peak hours. Worth every minute.
Maps →Must order: Curry crab
Bangkok institution. The curry crab here is iconic — order it before anything else.
Maps →Must order: Signature cocktails at sunset
55th floor Centara Grand CentralWorld. Open-air rooftop, sweeping 360° city views. Classic BKK.
Maps →Must order: Peruvian-Japanese bar bites
33rd floor Fraser Suites Sukhumvit. Nikkei-concept rooftop with killer Sukhumvit views.
Maps →Must order: CHAR-grilled wagyu
25-26F Hotel Indigo on Witthayu Road. Sleek, modern grill with panoramic Lumphini Park views.
Maps →Must order: Beef boat noodles · rice noodles
Iconic boat noodle chain. Dark, rich broth — the best version of this Bangkok classic.
Maps →Must order: Grilled seafood platter
Another Phadung Dao Rd favourite right next to T&K. Equally packed, equally delicious.
Maps →Must order: Fishball noodle soup
Song Sawat Rd, Chinatown. Handmade fishballs, generations-old recipe. Lunch only, sell out fast.
Maps →Must order: Shibuya honey toast
Thailand's cult dessert chain. The honey toast is iconic. Siam Paragon branch is most convenient.
Maps →Must order: Crab fried rice · tom yum
Bangkok's most reliable seafood chain. CentralWorld branch great for post-shopping. Consistent quality.
Maps →Must order: Mango sticky rice
Bangkok's most famous mango sticky rice stall. Thonglor institution — perfectly ripe mangoes year-round.
Maps →Must order: Thai iced coffee
Old-school Thai coffee inside ICONSIAM. Charcoal-drip style, rich and strong. Budget-friendly.
Maps →Must order: Crab omelette · tom yum
Legendary Bangkok seafood spot. The original branch — always packed, always worth the wait.
Maps →Must order: Crab omelette · seafood fried rice
Same legendary seafood, mall-convenient. Easier to get a table than the original.
Maps →Must order: Grilled seafood platter
Popular Thai seafood restaurant. Fresh, flavourful, and well-priced. Great for groups.
Maps →Must order: Boat noodles · braised beef
Beloved noodle shop with rich, herby broth. Massive portions, cheap prices. Local favourite.
Maps →Must order: Bird's nest soup
Old-school Chinese specialty restaurant. Known for bird's nest and traditional Chinese dishes.
Maps →Must order: Signature blend
Trendy ice cream and smoothie spot in CentralWorld. Perfect for cooling down between shopping.
Maps →Must order: Pork noodle soup
8,800+ reviews and still 4.4 stars. The pork broth is deep, clear, and addictive. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Maps →Must order: Mookata set (grill + soup)
Thai-style BBQ hot pot — grill meat on top, cook soup below. Fun, interactive, very local.
Maps →Must order: Chef's omakase course
4.9-star omakase with 1,250 reviews. Premium Japanese dining — worth the splurge. Book ahead.
Maps →Must order: Thai milk tea
Authentic Thai tea brewed the traditional way. CentralWorld branch — grab one while shopping.
Maps →Must order: Thai milk tea
Same great Karun Thai tea, Siam Paragon branch. Higher rated (4.4★) than Central World.
Maps →Must order: Pad krapao · som tum
Popular spot near Chulalongkorn Uni. Cheap, authentic Thai food. Student-crowd pricing, real flavours.
Maps →Apr 8–12 · Returns Apr 15
Neon harbour, dim sum mornings, mountain trails.
Kowloon or Central hotel. Octopus card from the airport MTR.
Tim Ho Wan or Luk Yu Tea House. Har gow, siu mai, egg tarts, char siu bao. Go at opening.
Take the historic tram up. Views over the harbour are the postcard image of HK.
Mid-Levels escalator. Gallery hop, coffee, boutiques. Wander Sheung Wan for vintage finds.
Avenue of Stars at night. Best view of the HK skyline. Symphony of Lights at 8pm.
Fortune tellers, Cantonese opera, street food. Classic old HK energy.
The classic HK ride — steep, dramatic, iconic. Summit views of the harbour and skyline.
Giant bronze Buddha on Lantau. Ngong Ping cable car for the aerial approach.
Star Ferry crossing at dusk. Symphony of Lights at 8pm from the TST promenade.
Fortune telling, incense clouds, mosaic pavilions. One of HK's most active temples.
$3 Star Ferry to TST. Best cheap view in Asia. Take it at golden hour.
HK's premier bar district. Open-air drinking, packed crowds, electric energy after dark.
Must order: OZONE Signature Cocktail
118th floor ICC tower, Ritz-Carlton. World's highest bar. Go on a clear night for mainland views.
Maps →Must order: House cocktails + sunset
32nd floor East Hotel, Quarry Bay. Chill, less touristy than OZONE. Great harbour panorama.
Maps →Must order: Weekend brunch cocktails
Knutsford Terrace rooftop, TST. Low-key crowd, solid drinks, stunning harbour skyline.
Maps →Must order: Omakase + Negroni
Dual-concept restaurant — aqua roma + aqua tokyo — 29th floor TST. Panoramic harbour views.
Maps →Must order: Wagyu ribeye
Wan Chai waterfront, open-air terrace. Australian-style steakhouse with serious harbour views.
Maps →Must order: Saturday brunch + cocktails
Excelsior Hotel rooftop, Causeway Bay. Legendary HK party brunch. Book Saturday in advance.
Maps →Must order: Sunset cocktail flight
Ovolo Southside, Wong Chuk Hang. Industrial-chic rooftop. More local crowd, exceptional views south.
Maps →Must order: Signature gin & tonics
30th floor iSQUARE, Nathan Rd TST. Wraparound harbour views. Open late, great vibe.
Maps →Must order: Chef's weekend set menu
33 Wyndham St, Central. Stylish bar-restaurant hybrid. Popular after-work crowd, good wine list.
Maps →Must order: Dry-aged prime rib
Plaza 2, Lockhart Rd, Causeway Bay. Classic steakhouse feel — dark wood, proper cuts, strong martinis.
Maps →Must order: Weekend set brunch
Causeway Bay rooftop at 280 Gloucester Rd. Laid-back atmosphere, harbour-adjacent. Good pre-dinner drinks.
Maps →Apr 12 – Apr 15, 2026
Tropical heat, turquoise water, pure island mode.
Flights HKG ↔ SYX and hotel not yet booked. 6 travellers total — Carl & Rachel, Carl's parents, Rachel's parents. Coordinate rooms and seats together.
Check into resort. Yalong Bay or Sanya Bay area recommended.
China's answer to the Maldives. White sand, clear water, calm waves. Full decompression mode.
Golden hour on Yalong Bay is elite. Grab a fresh coconut from a cart.
Pick your own live seafood from tanks. Priced by weight. Go big on the lobster.
The best beach in mainland China. White sand, calm turquoise water.
Best snorkelling near Sanya. 15-min ferry from the mainland.
"End of the Earth" — dramatic rock formations and ocean panoramas.
108-metre sea Guanyin. Powerful location, striking architecture.
Main activity beach. Jet ski, parasailing, banana boats.
Tax-free luxury goods. Big savings vs mainland prices.
Must order: Live lobster, garlic crab
Walk the tanks, negotiate, they cook it. Classic Sanya experience.
Must order: Wenchang chicken + rice
The original Hainanese chicken rice. Tender poached chicken, fragrant rice.
Must order: Dragon fruit, coconut milk
Fresh tropical fruits cut to order. Dirt cheap. Try everything.
Must order: Fresh catch of the day
Most 5-star resorts have great open-air sea view restaurants. Worth it once.
Must order: Grilled squid, lamb skewers
Street BBQ near Sanya Bay. Cold beer, plastic tables, perfect tropical night vibes.
Must order: Coconut milk pudding
Hainan is famous for coconut. Coconut coffee, jelly, rice — try them all.
Must order: Coconut broth chicken pot
Hainan's iconic dish. Whole free-range chicken simmered in fresh coconut water. Served with rice and dipping sauces.
Must order: Full seafood spread for the table
The cluster of seafood restaurants around Haitang Bay cater to groups. Perfect for 6 — order family-style.
Must order: Hainan beef noodles
Massive international mall with a solid food hall. Grab a quick Hainanese meal between duty-free runs.