Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and its most historically layered city - a thousand-year-old metropolis where French colonial boulevards run alongside ancient pagodas, egg coffee is consumed on tiny plastic stools, and the Old Quarter's 36 streets still trade in the same goods they have for centuries. Less polished than Ho Chi Minh City, slower to reveal itself, but more rewarding the longer you stay.
Best Months to Visit
Highlights
What To Do
Places to Visit · 17 spots
Suggested Itineraries
Start at Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn before the crowds. Walk the Old Quarter streets. Hoa Lo Prison takes about 1 hour. Evening beer on Ta Hien Street.
Mausoleum opens 7:30am, closed Mon & Fri. Temple of Literature best in the morning. Train Street - check the schedule, only a few trains daily.
Arrive, drop bags, walk. Hoan Kiem Lake at golden hour. St Joseph's Cathedral area for coffee. Evening beer on Ta Hien.
Start early at the mausoleum (closes 10:30am, closed Mon & Fri). Hoa Lo Prison in the afternoon.
Morning walk around West Lake. Train Street for lunch. Afternoon: day trip to Ninh Binh or Ha Long, or explore Dong Xuan Market.
Arrive and orient. Evening on Ta Hien Street.
Full history day. Start early at the mausoleum.
Ninh Binh: 2 hours by bus or train, doable as a day trip. Ha Long Bay: better as overnight cruise - book in advance.
Slow morning at West Lake. Train Street. Dong Xuan Market before departure.
Getting There
Fly into Noi Bai Airport. Express bus 86 to city centre 45 min (45,000 VND). Taxi ~250,000–350,000 VND.
Overnight sleeper - book a berth. Arrives Hanoi morning.
Overnight sleeper.
Limousine vans run direct from Sapa town. Most drop off in the Old Quarter.
Daily buses and limousine vans to My Dinh bus station.
Budget per Day
Street food meals from 30,000–80,000 VND. Ha Long Bay cruise adds 1,500,000–5,000,000 VND if included.
Plan Your Trip