When it comes to planning your Vietnam itinerary, including an itinerary for Hanoi is a must-do.
Not only is Hanoi the capital of Vietnam, but it was also the place that struck me the most as being such a vibrant and gritty melting pot of culture and Vietnam’s history.
You see the temples and shrines, you also see the French colonial architecture, you also see the scars and remnants of war. The Old Quarter is colourful, chaotic and never sleeps. There are so many historical attractions and things to learn that you could spend a week or more here just hopping from museum to museum.
But if you want to know what to do in Hanoi for 3 days, I've got you covered!
I spent a month living in Hanoi and while you certainly don’t need that long to see it all, I feel like I have a great idea about the best sights to see.
Plus this Hanoi itinerary also includes a Ha Long Bay cruise, which is best visited from Hanoi, either as an overnight trip or multi-night trip depending on how long you have.
Hanoi Old Quarter
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Is a 3 day Hanoi itinerary enough time?
A 3 day itinerary for Hanoi is a really great amount of time to see the city’s main sights and also includes a trip to Ha Long Bay where you can continue your journey or return to Hanoi afterwards.
While I think it’s possible to spend 1 full day in Hanoi city to see the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and maybe a museum, you will definitely be missing some of the main sights and the overall vibe of what the city has to offer - it’s unlike anywhere else in the country.
If you are planning to stay longer than 3 days in Hanoi, I’ve got a few Hanoi day trip and weekend trip suggestions here that you can check out - the perks of staying in the area for a month meant I could trial a few day trips and weekend trips!
How long to spend in Hanoi - my full thoughts!
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
The best time to visit Hanoi is during the dry season (November-April). However this is also their winter season and in particular January-March can be a lot cooler, so many people prefer to visit during April-June which is warmer, with less chance of rain but still fairly humid.
The rainy season in Hanoi is June to August and I would honestly avoid those months if you can. We were there in July and while we had some good weather on some days, it was the hottest I’ve ever been in my life with sweltering humidity and most days would have evening thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Waiting for the train at Hanoi Train Street
How to get around Hanoi
While a lot of Hanoi is walkable, such as around the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the Cathedral area, lots of other places like Train Street and some of the museums and other neighbourhood areas are not really walkable.
Traffic in Hanoi is chaotic, pavements are often obstructed and it’s often not safe to walk, so I highly recommend downloading the Grab app which is Southeast Asia’s version of Uber.
Taxi rides (and scooter rides) are all incredibly cheap and it’s definitely a quicker and often safer way to get around in a car rather than walking if you’re trying to get between locations and stops on your Hanoi itinerary.
How to spend 3 days in Hanoi: the perfect itinerary
Hanoi Vietnam itinerary: Day 1
Try egg coffee
Don’t miss your chance to try egg coffee in the city where it was first invented! In fact you can even try it at the original cafe where it was first made - Cafe Giang.
Egg coffee was first created as an alternative to using milk in coffee as there were shortages of essentials like milk during and after the Vietnam War.
Vietnam has a significant coffee culture and if you enjoy coffee then you can’t miss the chance to try some of their iconic caffeinated drinks. Personally, my favourite is Vietnamese Coconut Coffee.
Egg coffee
Explore the Old Quarter
You will most likely find yourself in Hanoi Old Quarter multiple times during your stay in Hanoi.
It’s a thriving hub in the heart of the city with plenty of cafes, bars, outdoor street seating, colourful French-colonial style buildings mixed with traditional cafes and Bia Hoi stops - Bia Hoi is traditionally locally made beer with a low alcohol percentage served on the street in glass cups and it will cost around 10,000 VND (30p/40c).
The Old Quarter really is somewhere you need to experience during the day and at night too.
Hanoi
Visit Ngoc Son Temple and see Hoan Kiem Lake
Being located right next to the Old Quarter means it’s an easy stop to visit Ngoc Son Temple which is in the centre of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Meaning Welcoming Morning Sunlight, the striking red bridge across to the temple is impossible to miss! The temple is a small but beautiful place to visit in Hanoi and costs just 50,000 VND (£1.60/$1.90) to enter.
Welcoming Morning Sunlight Bridge
See St Joseph Cathedral
A short walk to the west of Hoan Kiem Lake is the St Joseph Cathedral which is a striking grey stone cathedral to see.
I was unable to go inside due to a service happening when I visited but it’s well worth making this stop on your itinerary in Hanoi.
There is also one of my favourite craft breweries in Vietnam located down the very cool and artsy street next to the cathedral. It’s called Pasteur Street Brewing Co and of course craft beer is more pricey than local, cheap lagers but if you’re a craft beer fan like us then it’s worth a stop!
St Joseph’s Cathedral
Visit Hanoi Train Street
Probably one of the most famous attractions in Hanoi is Hanoi Train Street - I really think it’s worth adding to your 3 days Hanoi itinerary!
We found the easiest way to get here was to take a Grab taxi from the area we were in to the entrance of Train Street.
There are a couple of different entrances to Train Street, some more “official” than others!
We went to the one marked as “Hanoi Train Street” on Google Maps (linked here). Here you can only enter the train street area via one of the cafes which line the tracks. A guard is at the tracks crossing to stop you simply walking in.
The good news is that plenty of the cafe owners are waiting at the tracks crossing, waiting for tourists so they can guide them into their cafe. Once you’re in a cafe, you can wander and explore train street as you wish - provided there is no train coming of course!
Prices in the cafes are affordable, around $1 for a drink - beer, coffee or juices.
I have a full guide with more details on how to get to Hanoi Train Street including train times, location and access.
Hanoi Train street during the day
Hanoi Train Street at night
Dinner and Hanoi Beer Street
Head back to Hanoi Old Quarter for dinner and drinks on the famous Hanoi Beer Street!
Although if you’re like me and less interested in the party scene on Beer Street, walking through it is definitely an interesting experience! Instead I would recommend finding a Bia Hoi spot.
Bia Hoi is locally brewed, low alcohol beer which costs around 10p per glass, The seating is on plastic chairs on the side of the streets all over the city! This Google Maps location was my favourite Bia Hoi spot for atmosphere and people watching!
If you visit on a weekend, this area of Old Quarter closes the streets to traffic and they have live music.
If you'd prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle, I recommend grabbing a drink at Northern Soul Rooftop Bar which has epic views of the Old Quarter and beer street but without the crowds!
View of Beer Street from Northern Soul rooftop bar
Hanoi Vietnam itinerary: Day 2
The Note Coffee
Kick off day 2 in Hanoi with another Vietnamese caffeine hit at the insta-famous Note Coffee cafe. This is a really cute coffee shop on the edge of Hoan Kiem Lake with thousands of post-it notes stuck on the walls.
Have your coffee and write your own note to stick on the walls, the windows, the seats - you name it!
If you’re not in that area, I also like Cafe Dinh and Izi Cafe if you’re in the Tay Ho district. I also recommend a visit to the Cong Ca Phe chain in Vietnam which is a Vietnamese staple, always full of people and the decor is inspired by the Communist era - definitely go at least once.
Note Cafe, Hanoi
Hoa Lo Prison Relic
This museum shares the stories of the Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War inside what was the prison at the time.
The stories are harrowing and shocking but I also learnt a lot about the war as it was something I never studied much at school and I’ve only picked things up from movies and documentaries over the years. There’s definitely some elements that seem more like propaganda but overall a really interesting place to visit.
Entrance to the Prison
Temple of Literature
This was probably the busiest spot we visited in Hanoi but I think it’s because it’s the most famous and “Prettiest” temple in Hanoi which is easily accessible to visit so it’s a popular stop on a Hanoi travel itinerary.
I’d recommend going before 10am or right before it closes if you’re able to.
The temple is made up of several courtyards, gardens and the temple itself which is beautiful with a deep red entrance and stunning details on the altar. Don’t miss going upstairs too.
We spent around 1 hour here in total. Entrance is 70K VND (£1.50).
Temple of Literature
Temple of Literature
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
We didn’t actually get to go inside here as we didn’t realise how strict they are with the dress code. I was wearing a skirt below the knee but was turned away because I wasn’t allowed to show my legs at all. Some people have said that they’ve gone in with a skirt on before so the rules seem a bit sporadically enforced! However you will need to make sure you’re dressed respectfully with shoulders, legs and chest covered to visit the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh.
Revered for being the father of Communism and gaining independence from the Japanese before being instrumental in reuniting the north and south of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is affectionately known as Uncle Ho.
He died in 1969 and his body is embalmed and enshrined here for people to visit and pay their respects. In hindsight I’m quite glad we didn’t go, apparently it was not his wish to be preserved but instead laid to rest. However the country voted to embalm him so they could continue to pay their respects for decades to come.
If you do want to visit, opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings 7.30am-10.30am and until 11am on weekends. Mondays and Fridays are closed.
Go early - the queues get HUGE!
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
West Lake for an evening walk, dinner and drinks
During our month in Hanoi, we spent most of the time based here in an apartment in Tay Ho, aka West Lake.
This is an area popular with expats and there are a lot of fun bars, craft breweries and international restaurants to try out. Plus the sunset over the lake is gorgeous and the pollution around the lake is far less than in the city so the area is a bit clearer!
We enjoyed BAO WOW, 7 Bridges Brewery and Chào Bạn Vietnamese restaurant.Nameless Bar, Casahara and The Bottle Shop were great for drinks. Maldives Coffee is by the water and a great spot for beer and sunset views.
Hanoi Vietnam itinerary: Day 3
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
No visit to Vietnam is complete without visiting Ha Long Bay and I’m pleased to say it really did live up to my expectations!
We got super lucky with the weather thankfully and while we didn’t pick a luxury cruise, we did pick a cruise that got us plenty for our money - a room with a balcony, all food included, plenty of excursions and 1 night on board.
I won’t go into loads of detail as you can read my full Ha Long Bay cruise review here.
However this cruise was great as it included pick up from our hotel in Hanoi and return to the same place. All our meals were included (only drinks were extra money), plus we had a private balcony without onboard room which all guests got onboard as it was a lovely small boat that only accommodated up to 20 people - so we had a great sociable group of people who were happy to hang out and chat during our down time.
The cruise included:
Hotel pick up and drop off in Hanoi (2 hour bus journey each way)
1 night and 2 days cruising
1 night accommodation in private room with ensuite and balcony
Tour guide
Welcome drink
All meals each day (lunch on arrival, snacks and dinner. Day 2 - breakfast and lunch before disembarking)
Park entry fees and cave entry fees
Kayaking excursion
Beach and hiking trip
Sunset party
Spring rolls cooking class
Squid fishing (optional evening activity)
Karaoking (optional evening activity!)
Whether you pick this cruise or another one to suit your itinerary, a day or two in Halong Bay and Cat Ba island is definitely worth it!
Have longer than 3 days in Hanoi?
Here are a few more of my suggestions if you’re in Hanoi for longer than 2 or 3 days:
Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
Explore the Tay Ho neighbourhood
Visit the Vietnam Military History Museum
Have sunset drinks at the Top of Hanoi on the roof of the Lotte Center - the 2nd tallest building in Hanoi
Visit Bat Trang Pottery Village
See the weekend markets when the streets are closed around Hoan Kiem Lake
Vietnam Military History Museum
Tran Quoc Pagoda
View from Top of Hanoi rooftop bar
Hanoi FAQs:
Where to eat in Hanoi?
There are countless restaurants in Hanoi to choose from, whether it’s street vendors or established brick and mortar restaurants. I definitely recommend trying Pho, Banh Mi, Banh Xeo and egg coffee while you’re there.
In the Old Quarter I liked the Pho at Timeline Coffee and Restaurant. MẸT Vietnamese Restaurant also had some great vegetarian choices if you’re veggie.
Don’t miss the famous Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su if you’re a fan of Pho.
We stayed in the Tay Ho area and loved a lot of the cafes and restaurants in that area, for Vietnamese we loved Chào Bạn. There’s also great breweries, Mexican food at Anita’s Cantina, vegan food at Gon Bites and Veggies and Bao buns at BAO WOW.
Banh Xeo
Where to stay in Hanoi?
If you’re only in Hanoi for 3 nights, I’d recommend staying in the Old Quarter for ease of getting around the city.
We started in the Old Quarter for our first few days then moved to Tay Ho for the rest of the month we were there. Tay Ho is great but you need to take a Grab taxi to get to the city, it’s not walkable. So rather than wasting time on a taxi, I’d suggest staying close to the action!
Is Hanoi safe?
I felt extremely safe the whole time we were in Vietnam (around 4 months total). We never had any incidents where we felt unsafe due to crime etc. I honestly felt most unsafe due to the crazy traffic in the country and Hanoi in particular!
Of course that doesn’t mean there isn’t any crime, we heard of people getting pickpocketed or other petty crimes and of course it can happen anywhere in the world. Vietnam has a very low crime rate but still take proper precautions when taking care of your belongings.
Also if you’re worried about the traffic, I’ve got more tips for crossing the road in my Vietnam travel tips guide, but the general rule is keep moving forward slowly. The motorbikes will avoid you but only if you’re predictable and keep moving forward, if you step back or hesitate, you risk getting hit by a motorbike.
Is it worth travelling to Hanoi?
Absolutely yes! I think it’s the most gritty, culturally vibrant, chaotic melting pot of everything that Vietnam has in its history and still represents today.
I sometimes recommend people start in Ho Chi Minh City or Hoi An and build up to Hanoi as it is very overwhelming if it’s your first destination in Vietnam - but don’t skip it - it’s well worth experiencing.
Is English widely spoken in Hanoi?
In general, English is widely spoken in Vietnam but I would say slightly less so in Hanoi which is more traditional than other cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
That being said, in the Old Quarter, most people speak English as it’s the main tourist area of Hanoi and staff in hotels and guides have good English too. Someone will be happy to help you, even if they don’t speak English, they will find someone who does.
Also, Google Translate should be your best friend! You can speak into it and translate it into spoken Vietnamese and vice versa to help you understand each other.
How many days in Hanoi is enough?
I think two days in the city itself is enough to see the main sites but allow 3 days if you want to use Hanoi as your base to get to Ha Long Bay or take any other day trips.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling onwards to Ninh Binh or Sapa, many people have their return flights booked out of Hanoi and complete a loop so you can come back to Hanoi at the end of your trip if you prefer.
Summary: your Hanoi 3 day itinerary
I hope this 3-day Hanoi itinerary has given you all the inspiration you need to plan where to visit in Hanoi on your Hanoi trip itinerary.
I’ll be totally honest and say that Hanoi is probably one of the most chaotic places I’ve ever visited and I feel like a lot of people love it or hate it! I definitely felt overwhelmed by it (especially as it was our first stop in Vietnam) but ultimately I loved the vibrant energy, culture, history and of course the food.
There is so much to see and do, plus it’s a great jumping off point for other stops on a northern Vietnam itinerary such as Sapa, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay.
Pin for later to plan your trip!
