Any recommendation?

Hello everyone!

I’m traveling to Vietnam next February for 9 days, but I feel like I booked the wrong place 😭 I booked my flight to Da Nang, but I’ve really been wanting to visit Ninh Binh. Now I’m thinking I should have planned Ninh Binh first instead of Da Nang. Since I’ve already booked my flight to Da Nang, my plan is to go to Ninh Binh as soon as we land. I’m thinking of exploring Ninh Binh first, then going to Hanoi and exploring the city. After Hanoi, though, I’m a bit confused about what would be the best route. Should I go back to Da Nang first and then travel to Phong Nha? Or should I go from Hanoi to Phong Nha, then continue to Da Nang, explore Da Nang and Hoi An, and see if we still have time to visit other places before heading back to Da Nang?

I’d really appreciate some advice! I want to save both money and time while still being able to enjoy the trip. I especially want to avoid those 12–16 hour journeys if possible. Also, if you know any hidden gems or underrated places that we could explore, please share them! I’d also love to visit somewhere where we can rent bicycles and just cycle around a park or a scenic area. What would be the most efficient route for a 9-day trip? Should I skip one of these destinations to avoid spending too much time traveling? Thank you!