Quasi-brittle materials fail when strains localize in narrow bands. A common numerical strategy consists in introducing a strong or weak inter-element or intra-element discontinuity. In the framework of the discrete crack models, the authors proposed an advancement of the Augmented-FEM strategy [1], where the common zero-thickness interface element (ZTI) was substituted by an interphase element (IPH), adding internal stresses and strains to the contact ones [2]. Unlike ZTI models, IPH does not require a specific traction-displacement jump constitutive law since the constitutive behavior can correspond to that one of bulk material, thus reducing the number of constitutive parameters. In this work, a hybrid FEM-VEM approach is proposed, exploiting some advantages of the virtual element method. The VEM [3] is more flexible than standard FEM, since the element can be a polygon characterized by any number of edges, with the ability to accurately deal with complex geometries, no need of a parent element, easy polynomial degree elevation, very good performances for distorted meshes. Starting from a full FE discretization, the proposed numerical procedure introduces a partial crack in those elements with a average damage above a fixed threshold, and a full crack in those elements with a average damage over a critical value. As a consequence, cracked elements will present sub-elements with three, four, five or seven nodes. These are modelled as VEs. The main features of the adopted strategy are illustrated through benchmark examples.