I should add that we are in our 30's, pretty experienced travelers, who are looking for a mix of adventure/culture/food and for me some beach time.

I wouldn't be against only doing Vietnam if I could find some great beaches for 4 days.

looks decent to me...

you can fly vietnam air quite cheaply to bkk..

i would spend my whole time in hanoi.. there is plenty to do in that # of days.. skip halang bay this time.. i think you will like VN, so you will be back there..

hotel: there are a number of 3* vn owned hotels around the old city which are quite nice.. pick their top rooms. i will look up where we stayed ..

most people prefer the metropole (its lux and perfect for the start of a honeymoon)..---at least i think that is the hotel name.. many will chime in here for you with the proper name...

Hanoi, Bangkok and a beach would be a great honeymoon. I'd skip the cruise. It would take up the better part of 2 days and at that time of year the weather isn't that great. Note that in Hanoi it can also be chilly and rainy.

The hotel that rhkkmk is referring to is the Sofitel Metropole, which would be a great place to start a honeymoon. It was one of our favorite hotel stays ever. Get a room on the Club Floor of the Opera Wing - those are the best.

So is Hanoi the place we should go to in Vietnam? Then from Hanoi to Bangkok to Karabi?

I will definitely skip the cruise...

Thanks for the hotel suggestion-looks great!

yes do that...btw it is spelled Krabi

use air asia to fly to krabi from bkk... you can use them to bkk from hanoi too---severe luggage restrictions

Yes, you can do it, but it will be tight.

I would spend less time in Hanoi...unless you like crowded, polluted, loud cities. I do second the sofitel recommendation. I think 2 nights in Hanoi is enough to eat some good pho, & see some of the main tourist attractions. I'm not sure how much time you've spent in Asia, but I'm from NYC as well and to me, SE Asian cities are hardly relaxing. I'd also spend a day less in Bangkok. I don't love Chiang Mai, but a lot of my friends who have recently gone to Thailand from the US adore it. You could go there instead of Bangkok. From Chiang Mai, there's a direct to Phuket on AirAsia...not Krabi though. Both have some great beaches/resorts.
Krabi is a bit prettier though..... I stayed at the Tubkaak in late 2010 and loved it.

tansmets is not a lover of cities. Bangkok was described the same way. If you love cities (I do) you'll want at least that much time in Hanoi. We spent a week there, with a full day trip outside the city but found plenty to see and do (and we didn't do some of the things most people think you have to do, like visiting Uncle Ho and seeing the prison called the Hanoi Hilton).

The idea of substituting Chiang Mai for Bangkok doesn't really work logistically. And I find I'm bored after two days in Chiang Mai. If tansmets complains about the pollution in Bangkok, it's worse in Chang Mai in terms of particulates in the air.

I think your itinerary is a good one. Enjoy!

I am from New York (which I love and miss) and not "not a lover of cities"....I adore Hong Kong, and many cities in Asia and Europe. In fact, I don't think I could live outside a city. I spent some time in suburban Boston and that was enough.

I'm just presenting my view on Bangkok, and views of some people I know in the same age group as the poster who liked Chiang Mai over Bangkok. I don't dislike Bangkok and Hanoi, they are both interesting places with a lot to do, but when someone is looking for beach time, or on a honeymoon, I'm just offering a suggestion to maybe look elsewhere. Maybe I just had a bad time in Hanoi, I don't know. To each their own....