Hanoi is one of the biggest cities in Vietnam with a population of 5 million people. It has a bustling, vibrant atmosphere with lots to offer visitors. Spending three or four days in Hanoi is a great start to a Vietnam itinerary. Here are some of the best things to do in Hanoi wrapped up in a 4 day itinerary.
Day 1 in Hanoi
Temple of Literature
This almost 1000 year old temple is extremely well preserved and restored. It is a fantastic place to visit to learn more about Confucius’ values and teachings at Vietnam’s first national university. The complex is composed of sequential courtyards, some with serene gardens, some with ponds.
The Temple costs 30,000 Vietnamese Dong to enter. Audio Guides are available for an extra 50,000 VND but the segments are quite lengthy and many repeat what is written on the information boards so it isn’t essential to the experience.
Ho Chi Minh House and Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh house complex is set around a lake within a large park. It is just next door to the Presidential Palace – a bold yellow colonial building. Whilst the palace is not open to visitors, you can explore Ho Chi Minh’s former home, offices and even see his old cars.
Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt house is across the lake to his yellow office building. It is a modest building – particularly compared to the grand palace next door. The wooden structure is held up on stilts in a traditional Vietnamese style.
Entrance fee: 40,000 VND
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda is an iconic towering red pagoda built on an island. To get to the pagoda you have to walk alongside a fairly traffic-heavy street but once you turn off and cross the bridge to the island, the atmosphere suddenly becomes more serene. The pagoda is a religious site with several shrines.
To go inside the pagoda, you must be dressed appropriately with legs covered. The pagoda is free to enter.
Day 2 in Hanoi
Train Street
Possibly the most famous street in Hanoi! Train Street, as you may have guessed is named for the length of railway that runs through the street dangerously close to the houses and cafes. It became a popular spectacle for tourists to sit and have a coffee so close to a train rushing past.
Unfortunately due to the safety concerns, as of early 2023, the most popular stretch of Train Street has been closed off. Some parts are still accessible to walk along but unfortunately you may be unlikely to sit in a cafe quite so close to a moving train. When we visited in January 2023 the segment with cafes was cordoned off and guarded. If you’re nearby though it is still worth seeing what you can and you never know, it may open up again!
Hoa Lo Prison
The museum set inside the walls of a historic prison tells the stories of its prisoners and their struggles. The prison was first built by French Colonists to house political prisoners – Vietnamese people who opposed their regime. Years after independence the museum was then used by the Vietnamese to hold American prisoners of War during the 1960s and 70s.
It is interesting to see the conditions of the time. What I found most fascinating though was the change in tone and rhetoric when the displays transition from explaining the hardships the Vietnamese prisoners faced to the comfort they provided for the American guests. The museum would have visitors believe that the Vietnamese treated prisoners much better than the French did but if you look up accounts online published from an American point of view the story differs.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake is a lake just south of the Old Town or French Quarter as it is also known. The lake is lovely to walk around and has two islands. The first is inaccessible but houses a structure known as Turtle Tower which can be seen from land. The other can be reached via a bridge for a small fee.
On the island you’ll find a pagoda with the taxidermy remains of two turtles from the lake. These turtles have a very interesting story which you can read about in the exhibit. There is a legend surrounding the lake involving a king, a sword and a turtle. For many years locals believed the turtle to be a mythical creature, akin to a dragon or unicorn. That was until the 1960s when a huge 2m long turtle washed ashore in the lake. This turtle along with another first spotted in the 1990s are displayed on the island.
Entrance fee: 30,000 VND
Water Puppet Show
Water Puppet shows are an art form that has existed for 1,000 years in Vietnam. It originated in waterlogged rice fields but can now be watched in comfortable theatres in the city. There are two water puppet theatres in Hanoi, both nearby to Hoan Kiem Lake. We visited Thang Long which offered a wider range of show times and also a variety of prices dependant on location of the seats. We opted for the cheap seats but still had a great view of the colourful puppets and traditional instruments that created the transfixing music throughout the show. The shows are performed in Vietnamese so whilst we couldn’t understand the words, it was still beautiful to watch and we could pick up some of the story (I think).
Tickets: 100,000-250,000 VND
Day 3 – Day Trip to Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is a fantastic feat of nature and as such has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Across the turquoise waters of the bay you’ll find 1,600 islands ranging in size from the inhabited Cat Ba Island to ones that just look like huge jagged rocks erupting from the sea. The bay is around 3-4 hours drive from Hanoi so well worth a visit while you’re in the area.
Don’t worry about missing out or not fitting everything in to a day trip. We stayed in Ha Long for 3 nights and there really isn’t much to do or see on land, the real spectacle is in the water. The boat trip we took did pick ups and drop offs from Hanoi so it is probably easier to do it in a day from Hanoi anyway.
I’d highly recommend the tour we did with Tonkin Travel. Our guide was delightful and a joy throughout the day. Once we all boarded the boat we began with a huge spread for lunch. It was actually one of the nicest meals I had in Vietnam and the food just didn’t seem to stop, even when we thought the table was full, another dish would be served.
The first stop on the tour was at Titop island, a small island with a short hiking trail to the peak. From there and at various viewpoints on the way up, you can soak in marvellous views over the bay. There is also a beach on the island but it was warm enough for sunbathing in January.
The second stop allowed us to explore a cove either by kayak or bamboo boat. We chose to kayak and spend half an hour paddling around and looking out for monkeys on the nearby cliffs.
The final stop was a Sun Pot or Surprise Cave. Turns out it is very aptly named. The cave was enormous! There is an illuminated route laid out inside to guide you through whilst the boat sails on to pick us up on the other side.
Day 4 in Hanoi
Imperial Citadel
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an expansive site filled with ancient buildings and cultural and historical exhibits. These range from archaeological excavations to war bunkers. There is a lot to explore, you could easily spend hours here! The entrance fee is only 30,000 VND and you certainly get a lot for this!
Hanoi Old Town
The vibrant, bustling old quarter of Hanoi is a must visit. Explore the ancient streets and markets and try some Vietnamese street food. Just be weary of mopeds speeding through the narrow streets!
Beer Street
Beer Street itself isn’t necessarily somewhere to linger but its worth passing through to see the commotion before moving on to other bars and restaurants in the old quarter. Walking down the short bar-heavy street we were bombarded with requests and suggestions to visit each bar, waiters thrust menus towards us and exclaimed their happy hour deals. Not my cup of tea but an interesting circus to see.
There are actually pleasant places to visit around the corner. I would recommend Balcony Beer if you fancy a drink slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the streets and if you want to get even further away, visit the SkyLine Lounge. You’ll have a great view over the city but the drinks are more expensive. For something a little more chill, try Hanoi Social Club which offers great food and drinks plus live music in the evenings.
Vietnam Travel Posters
Best Time to Visit Hanoi
In winter (December – February), Hanoi is dry and cool with temperatures around 15-20ºC (60-68ºF). Whilst not very warm, this is a great time to go if your trip to Hanoi ties in as part of a wider itinerary visiting southern parts of Vietnam or neighbouring countries in South East Asia as these places will likely be much hotter.
Summers in Hanoi (June-August) are hotter with temperatures around 30ºC (86ºF) and wetter. Perhaps the best time to visit is Autumn and Spring for a happy medium in terms of temperature and rainfall.
Where to go after Hanoi
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh was one of my favourite places in Vietnam. Its super easy to get to from Hanoi with a short 2-3 hour train journey (for only around £5), yet it is such a contrast. Looming skyscrapers are replaced with luscious green mountains. Moped clogged streets replaced with winding rivers and row boats. It is a beautiful rural escape, definitely worth spending a few days there after Hanoi.
Sa Pa
Sa Pa is a rural town north of Hanoi. It is surrounded by a valley of ancient rice terraces. You can travel to Sapa by train from Hanoi, this is 9 hours so overnight might be best. Strangely, buses are much quicker, taking only 3-5 hours. Some tour companies also offer day trips to Sapa from Hanoi.
Hoi An
Hoi An is a stunning ancient town in the centre of Vietnam that has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along its many canals you will find a mixture of french colonial architecture and traditional wooden buildings. Hoi An is also famous for the Banh Mi – a tasty Vietnamese sandwich.
You can reach Hoi An by train from Hanoi. This is a long journey, taking 17 hours but overnight trains are available. If you want to get there quicker, there are also regular flights.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s biggest city. Whilst it has a lot of similarities to Hanoi it is still well worth visiting. The War Resistance Museum is a must in Ho Chi Minh City – it offers a fascinating insight into life during the Vietnam War. The city also has great access to day trips around the Mekong Delta. As a bonus, the weather is usually warmer in the south too!
To get to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi, you can get fairly cheap domestic flights with multiple times offered throughout the day. Alternatively there is a train but this is a staggering 32 hours! You could break this journey up with a stop over in Hue or Hoi An and take the trains overnight.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang is a beautiful town in Laos surrounded by stunning scenery and plenty of natural sites to explore. Whilst it looks fairly close to Hanoi on a map it is a long journey to reach there by land. If you started in the south of Vietnam and made your way up to Hanoi or want to try another country, consider adding a flight to Luang Prabang to your itinerary.
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