⏰ Flight day · Sun 1 Nov
Everyone ready by 5:00 AM
Leave home for the airport 5:30 AM
Z2604 Bacolod → Manila · 8:10 AM
Bag drop closes 7:25 AM
Boarding 7:30 AM
We're already checked in online. Print bag tags at the airport kiosk.
✈️ Our flights
All flights are Philippines AirAsia. Times are local. ⏱️ Vietnam is 1 hour behind the Philippines (Vietnam UTC+7, PH UTC+8) — set your watch back when we land!
🛫 Going · Sun 1 Nov
1h 15m
Land 9:25 AM at Terminal 2 → fly 1:50 PM from Terminal 1 Change terminals!
- 🧳 Our bags are not checked through: collect all checked bags at Terminal 2 baggage claim.
- 🚌 Go to Terminal 1 (the airport has a terminal shuttle, or take a short Grab).
- 🛂 At Terminal 1: international check-in & bag drop again → travel tax counter if needed → immigration (have passports + eTravel QR ready) → security → gate.
- ⏰ Aim to be at Terminal 1 check-in by about 11:00 AM so we're not rushed.
- 🍔 Eat a real lunch after immigration — the flight has no meals included.
- 🧒 Kids: snacks, water bottle (empty for security, refill after), a tablet or coloring book, and a toilet stop before boarding.
2h 30m
🇻🇳 Arrive Da Nang → immigration → bags → our airport pickup to Hoi An at 3:50 PM.
🛬 Coming home · Sat 7 – Sun 8 Nov
2h 30m
Land 8:55 PM at Terminal 1 → fly 6:00 AM from Terminal 2 Change terminals!
- 🧳 Bags not checked through: collect them at Terminal 1 after immigration & customs.
- 🛏️ Where we sleep: to sort (airport hotel near NAIA, or wait at Terminal 2).
- ⏰ Be at Terminal 2 check-in by about 4:00 AM for the 6:00 AM flight.
- 🍜 Dinner after landing; pack pyjamas + toothbrushes in a carry-on.
1h 15m
🧳 Baggage
5 checked bags of 20 kg for the 5 adult tickets (the kids have no checked bag), plus 7 kg carry-on each (1 cabin bag up to 56×36×23 cm and a small personal item together). No meals on board — bring snacks.
💺 Our seats
Yellow ring = kids · W = window · We can swap seats as a family!
Return flights: everyone is checked in. These are our on-board swap plan, so trade seats with each other once you board.
🗓️ Day by day
🏨 Where we sleep
🚐 Tue 3 Nov 2:00 PM · van Hoi An → Nesta
Check out by noon and ask the hotel to hold our bags until the van.
🌙 Da Nang nights & swims
🏮 Thu 5 Nov · Helio Night Market
Open 5:00–11:00 PM daily · free entry · ~130 food stalls + live music · ~15 min Grab from Nesta.
Plan: Grab at 5:45 PM → eat from 6:00 PM → head home by 8:00 PM.
Try: grilled seafood skewers, bánh tráng nướng ("Vietnamese pizza"), mì Quảng, fruit shakes, coconut ice cream (most dishes ~₱12–110).
Strollers OK here. Bring small VND notes and wipes.
🔥 Fri 6 Nov · Son Tra Night Market + Dragon Bridge fire show
Open 5:30–11:45 PM · at the foot of Dragon Bridge (Sơn Trà side) · ~10 min Grab from Nesta.
Plan: Grab at 6:15 PM → dinner 6:30–8:15 PM → find a riverbank spot by the dragon's head at 8:30 PM → 🐉 fire & water show 9:00 PM → Grab home ~9:30 PM.
Try: grilled squid & scallops, bánh xèo, nem lụi, bánh mì, mango sticky rice, sugarcane juice.
Very crowded on show nights, so a carrier beats a stroller. The front row gets splashed! Cover little ears for the fire. Sleepy kids can head home early at 8:00 PM.
🏊 Swim times (skip 10:30 AM–3:00 PM sun)
🌴 Nesta pool: outdoor palm-garden pool, about 1.2 m deep, open 6:00 AM–8:00 PM. No separate kids' pool, so bring arm floaties and keep one adult in the water per toddler. 🏖️ My Khe Beach is across the road, with lifeguards until about 6:30 PM. Red flag = no swimming.
• Tue 3: pool 4:00–5:30 PM after check-in
• Wed 4: Ba Na Hills day · optional dip 5:30–6:15 PM
• Thu 5: pool 7:30–9:00 AM · nap 12:30–2:30 PM · My Khe 3:00–5:00 PM
• Fri 6: My Khe 6:00–7:30 AM · nap · pool 3:30–5:00 PM
• Sat 7: last swim at the pool 7:30–9:30 AM · check out by 12:00 PM · airport ~2:00 PM
🎒 What to bring (so we don't forget!)
Your ticks are saved on this phone only.
💡 Good to know
🌧️ Weather (early Nov)
It's the rainy season in Da Nang & Hoi An: warm (about 25–28 °C) but expect showers most days, and sometimes storms. The sea is often rough with red flags — red flag = no swimming. Kids stay ankle-to-knee deep with an adult in arm's reach. Bring ponchos and check the weather each morning.
💸 Money
1 PHP ≈ 400 VND (approx, rate checked 31 Oct 2026). Quick trick: knock 3 zeros off a VND price and multiply by 2.5 → PHP. E.g. 100,000 VND ≈ ₱250. Carry small VND notes for street food and tips; cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants.
🚗 Grab tip
Grab works great in Da Nang & Hoi An. For 8 of us, book a GrabCar 7-seater plus a second car, or two cars. Check the plate number before getting in, and pay in the app or with cash in VND.
🗣️ Useful Vietnamese
| Xin chào | Hello (sin chow) |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you (gahm uhn) |
| Xin lỗi | Sorry / excuse me (sin loy) |
| Bao nhiêu tiền? | How much? (bow nyew tee-en) |
| Ngon quá! | So delicious! (ngon kwah) |
| Không cay | Not spicy (khom kai) |
| Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? | Where's the toilet? (nyah vay sing uh dow) |
| Một, hai, ba, dô! | 1, 2, 3, cheers! (moht, hai, bah, yo) |
🔌 Plugs
Vietnam uses type A and C sockets (220 V). Our flat-pin PH plugs usually fit A; bring a universal adapter for round-pin C sockets.
🚐 Getting around
✅ Sun 1 Nov, 5:30 AM · Grab from home to Bacolod airport · booked
✅ Sun 1 Nov, 3:50 PM · minibus from Da Nang airport to Hoi An Historic Hotel · booked
✅ Tue 3 Nov, 2:00 PM · van from Hoi An to Nesta Da Nang · booked
🚡 Wed 4 Nov · van to Ba Na Hills and back · not booked yet (about ₱2,500)
🏮 Thu 5 Nov, 5:45 PM · Grab to Helio Night Market (~15 min) · home about 8:00 PM · about ₱150–250 per car
🔥 Fri 6 Nov, 6:15 PM · Grab to Son Tra Night Market (~10 min) · home about 9:30 PM · about ₱100–180 per car
🏖️ My Khe Beach (Thu 3:00 PM, Fri 6:00 AM) · just walk across the road
✅ Sat 7 Nov, 2:00 PM · minibus from Nesta to Da Nang airport · booked
🌙 Sat 7 – Sun 8 Nov · Manila overnight and ride to Terminal 2 · to sort
Grab nights: book two GrabCar 7-seaters in the app on the day. Expect higher fares right after the fire show, so walk a block away from the bridge before booking.
🆘 Emergency numbers in Vietnam
Our travel insurance details are in the family Drive folder. Agree a meeting spot if anyone gets separated.
🏡 Flying home
Sat 7 Nov · Z2825 Da Nang → Manila 5:25 PM–8:55 PM
Sun 8 Nov · Z2603 Manila → Bacolod 6:00 AM–7:15 AM
Overnight in Manila between flights