What to combine with a Hong Kong and Japan trip?

[QwertyKnowsBest]

Looking for ideas and inspiration.

Have a spring 2024 Hong Kong flight and 4 night stay booked, with cruise around Japan starting 7 days later, returning home from Japan. That leaves 7 days to fill. Was thinking maybe Singapore/Malaysia so could enjoy both city and beach, but whilst only 3/4 hour flight from Hong Kong we would then have a 6 hour plus flight from Singapore to Japan to take the cruise, which is a bit too long. May reduce Hong Kong to 2 nights as know the place well, so to have some time in Tokyo pre cruise.

Vietnam distance/flight time wise is probably workable but I don’t know the country.

Happy with city or beach but would prefer both, or at least some relax time in addition to city time.

Ideas appreciated.

[RK228]

Taiwan, perhaps? Convenient for getting from/to Hong Kong and Tokyo. We enjoyed Silks Place Taroko in Taroko National Park, which has a pool area amongst the mountains.

Okinawa is also off the coast of Taiwan and Naha will have city, beach, and cultural options, while also being very easy to reach, although maybe this is part of your cruise?

[SamG]

Vietnam isn’t a bad idea, not sure what direct flights are up and running yet but Da Nang / Hoi An might work?

[strickers]

Does anyone with more experience of that part of the world know when flight schedules will be released? Most seem to end in October at the moment? I think that might heavily influence your decision of where to go.

[yorkshireRich]

Pre pandemic we flew from Hong Kong to Da Nang. Having had a very quick glance on sky scanner, it shows they do still fly direct, so I wouldn’t rule out that option.
For 7 nights, you could possibly do Hue as well, but most definitely Hoi an and Da Nang. (Or some people stay in the hotel as it’s not far from each other).
No doubt once you have visited, you will probably try and work round going to North and South Vietnam for your next trip.

[QwertyKnowsBest]

Thank you all.

It would be useful to have a ‘like’ or a ‘thank you’ button to acknowledge posts.

[The Original Nick]

If you have Avios you could hit Singapore or Bangkok flying in J with CX with very low Taxes. Chiang Mai was possible years ago but not sure these days.

[Gary]

HKG airport is overall pretty efficient from experience. Assuming BA31 arrives HKG 1420 on time, would catching UO558 departing HKG 1555 to DAD on separate tickets be too ambitious? We will have luggage.

[SamG]

To be honest it’s not Hong Kong that you have to worry about it’s leaving Heathrow on time 😂

But no, not enough time. I would say you will have to go landside and recheck the bags rather than finding someone at HKIA airside to retag them (as BA won’t send through). Immigration at HKIA can take a while at times and it’s quite a bit of distance to cover etc. I’d probably get a cheap hotel or airport hotel, go grab dinner and then take an early flight the next day

[Gary]

Thanks @SamG.

[Rob]

We did HK – Japan – Beijing about 5 years ago, one benefit of which is a) excellent Avios availability home from Beijing, b) no need for a China visa if in transit, c) JAL can get you from Tokyo on Avios.

[masaccio]

Why not just stay in Japan? 7 days nipping into coastal cities is barely touching the country.

[John]

SamG wrote:

But no, not enough time. I would say you will have to go landside and recheck the bags rather than finding someone at HKIA airside to retag them (as BA won’t send through). Immigration at HKIA can take a while at times and it’s quite a bit of distance to cover etc. I’d probably get a cheap hotel or airport hotel, go grab dinner and then take an early flight the next day

There are billboards at HKG on the arrivals side, on the way to immigration, advertising the resumption of the assisted baggage retrieval/recheck service for people transiting on separate tickets.

I would still advise having a plan B in case the BA flight is delayed

[Gary]

Helpful to know @John. Found VietJet who does a 6pm ish direct HKG DAD flight on Fridays which would work better with BA’s ETA. VietJet loads flights 6 months in advance only, hence didn’t see the option initially. Have no idea who they are so fingers crossed.