This Hanoi Vietnam Travel Guide is designed to help you figure out exactly what to do in Hanoi for 3 days. After reading this Hanoi trip itinerary, you’ll have a better idea of the best things to do in Hanoi, best places to stay, and everything other than crossing the busy streets where traffic stops for no one; you’re on your own for that one.
Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and not only has a rich historical heritage but remains today the political, cultural, and economic hub of Vietnam. Known for its culinary delights, historical sights, and proximity to stunning landscapes, Hanoi is an incredible travel destination.
Tourism continues to gain importance in Vietnam’s economy, but prices of accommodations and food remain very low and affordable to American standards. It is easily a Basic Economy B approved destination.
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What to Do in Hanoi for Three Days: Day 1
Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake is the heart of Hanoi and is perfectly situated in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (full accommodation recommendations below). The lake is the home of legends from ancient emperors of the lands. In the northern end of the lake and reachable only by bridge is the Ngọc Sơn Temple. The temple is a tribute to the Vietnamese defeat of Mongolian forces in the 13th century.
- It is $2 USD to enter the temple, and women must have their shoulders and knees covered. If you do not do this and try to enter, they will stop you and provide an XL men’s shirt to cover your shoulders or a wrap to tie around your knees.
- The lake takes 30-minutes to walk around and is a very pleasant stroll. You’ll see plenty of locals exercising and enjoying the green space. On the weekends, the road around the lake is closed to car traffic, and you’ll feel like you’re joining a block party of locals if you’re lucky enough to be in the area at that time.
- If you listen to one thing I say on this website, it’s that you need to do this Hanoi street food tour, even if you’re in Hanoi for just a day. It was hands down the best organized tour experience we’ve ever had. Our local guide took us to 8 different food stands, and each was better than the next.
- On this tour they do a really nice job of picking different places that are easy on foreigners’ stomachs, within a comfortable walking distance of each other, and totally authentic. I definitely recommend doing this on your first day in Hanoi so that you can reap the benefits of your newfound expertise on the remaining days of your trip.
- I wrote an entire love letter, I mean blog post, on the Hanoi street food tour that you can read here. Ready to take my word for it and skip the 1500 words? Book here.
Wander through the Markets of Old Quarter
- The markets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, such as Dong Xuan Market and the Night Market, are bustling centers of local culture and commerce, offering everything from fresh produce and street food to clothing and souvenirs. Dong Xuan is the largest and most diverse, while Ta Hien Street Market is famous for its vibrant street food scene.
Bia Hơi Corner for Cheap Beer with the Locals
- Located in the middle of Old Town, bia hơi is freshly brewed every day and served for less than $0.50 USD. Enjoy drinking it with the locals on small plastic chairs while you watch the motorbikes zip by.
What do Do in Hanoi for 3 Days: Day 2
One thing we noticed at several places in Hanoi is that a lot of the signs depicting the tourist attractions were not in English, and we really missed out on connecting with the history of the city in several instances.
To get the most out of your time and really understand the history of the city, I’d recommend a half-day guided tour in your Hanoi trip itinerary that includes stops at Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Temple of Literature. Alternatively, you can spend the morning exploring these sites on your own.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum
- After lunch, head to the mausoleum, the final resting place of the influential former president of Vietnam. “Uncle Ho” as he was known to the people, is still a very real fixture in Vietnamese life today. Visits to the mausoleum are meant to be subdued and respectful. Skirts, shorts, and photography are all forbidden.
- Temple of Literature
- The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is nearly 1,000 years old and is modeled after a temple in Confucius’s hometown in China. The temple includes Vietnam’s first university, the Imperial Academy, which was founded in 1076 AD, as well as the Constellation of Literature pavilion.
- Trấn Quốc Pagoda
- Located on an island in Hanoi’s West Lake, it is the oldest pagoda in the city, built in the 6th century. Its standout feature is a beautiful nine-story tower with intricate carvings and Buddha statues, set amidst peaceful gardens and lotus ponds.
After you’ve explored, I would personally go snag some lunch at any of the places you visited on the Hanoi street food tour. Wandering through the winding and narrow markets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, to the point where you’re almost lost, was one of our favorite parts of the city.
- Thang Long Water Puppet Show
- Water puppetry is an art unique to northern Vietnam and dates back a thousand years. The Water Puppet Show is a must in Hanoi. Don’t let any cranky review on TripAdvisor convince you otherwise. First of all, it’s only an hour. So even if you don’t love it, you’re not sitting through 3 hours and an intermission.
- More importantly, it was very unique and I was thoroughly entertained with this form of art that used to entertain emperors of old. Definitely worth the addition to your Hanoi trip itinerary.
- Do not book any “skip the line” experience on Get Your Guide or Viator; just grab your tickets directly at the theater. You’ll actually save money and time by booking directly.
- Dinner at Banh Mi 25
- It is recommended by a lot of hotels in the area, so you’ll see a lot of tourists there, but it’s also quite popular with the locals. We ate there 3 nights in a row in Hanoi. We tried other stands and Banh Mi 25 always came out #1.
- Enjoy evening drinks on a rooftop bar
- There are so many cool and relatively affordable rooftop bars and cafes that allow you to see the city from up on the skyline. We really enjoyed drinking cocktails in the evening 11 stories up in an open air bar.
- My favorite was the one connected Tirant Hotel and the one connected to La Siesta hotel, both linked above in the accommodations section. They’re each located in the heart of the Old Quarter and very convenient to reach. If you stay at either of those accommodations, you’ll get a discount at their bar.
If you only have two days in Hanoi, I recommend you follow Day 1 and 2 and skip the Day 3 outlined above, but you can mix and match your days based on your interests.
What to Do in Hanoi for 3 Days: Day 3
- Have pho for breakfast
- In Hanoi, you’ll be able to enjoy the northern Vietnamese style, which was incredibly flavorful, and notably less sweet than what I’ve had in the USA. The locals have this for breakfast and I highly recommend you join them. Most bowls will be about $1.50 USD.
- Grab coffee at Vi Anh Coffee
- This was our favorite place for morning coffee in Old Quarter. This cafe has two stories with the top floor having Instagram worthy views. The hot salt coffee was my daily favorite, but the iced coconut coffee was a close second.
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with a Market Visit
- If you can’t tell already, I felt that the food in Hanoi was out of this world good. We had a feeling we’d fall in love with the cuisine and booked this cooking class on that hunch. We are so glad we did as we had a blast.
- The class involved a local market visit where we picked up the fresh ingredients we’d need to prepare our Vietnamese feast. At the end of the class after your bellies are stuffed, you get a link to download their whole Vietnamese recipe book to make when you return home.
- To book the class we loved, book here. Or read my full post on why it’s the best Hanoi cooking class.
- Get a cheap massage or spend time on the rooftop pool
- I’m not going to lie. We went to the hotel spa 3 different times in 5 days. The massages are so cheap compared to US standards (like $25 for 60 minutes cheap at the hotel spas and like $10 for 60 minutes cheap at some of the massage parlors).
- Hanoi’s humidity during the spring and summer months can take a lot out of you and if you’re staying somewhere with a rooftop pool, you very well might want to enjoy that.
- Train Street
- Located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, is the famous Train Street, also known as the Đường Phùng Hưng railway street. The narrow alley is bursting with cafes that cater mostly to tourists who are hoping to get a glimpse of the train running just a few feet away from where they’re sitting and enjoying their drinks.
- We went to the Railway Cafe and ordered $3 mojitos to watch the train. It was a Sunday and the train passed through 3 times in the hour we were there. We only meant to see it one time, but the vibes were great so we hung around longer than we expected we would just chatting with other travelers.
Coolest Hotels in Hanoi
If you’re a traveler on a budget, Hanoi is going to be an absolute delight to find accommodations for. You can stay in really nice, upscale hotels that would cost $300+ in the US for $80-$100 in Hanoi. If you don’t care if your room has a window or not, that cost goes down to $40-$50 for a luxury type hotel. We splurged a little bit since it was our first trip in a while, but our splurge was still substantially less than a Holiday Inn in most US cities.
I recommend you stay in Old Quarter. It’s where the most hotel options are and will situate you really conveniently for many Hanoi tourist attractions. If you’re doing any tours or day trips, most will include a pick-up from Old Town. If you want to stay outside Old Town, check the fine print on any pick-up details.
- Tirant Hotel – a great option in the heart of the Old Quarter. I would describe it as affordable luxury, as you’ll feel fancy as soon as you step in the lobby, but you’ll pay only $100 a night for a room with a window. It’s one of the taller buildings in Old Quarter, so views from the rooftop pool and bar are phenomenal.
- La Siesta Premium Hang Be – upscale hotel with a wonderful rooftop bar. Rooms with windows are around $75 per night and rooms without are under $50. This place books out a couple of months in advance so don’t wait!
- Le Chanvre Hanoi Hotel & Spa – new luxury hotel with gothic architecture. The staff were above and beyond friendly and seem like they’d be genuinely delighted to help you with anything. A bit more expensive than the other two choices.
Day Trips from Hanoi:
If you have 4 days in Hanoi, you have the luxury of time to explore more of Northern Vietnam. Even more time? Check out my perfect Northern Vietnam travel itineraries for 7, 10, or 14 Days. Below are the best day trips from Hanoi:
- Ninh Binh: Tam Cốc, Hoa Lư & Mua Caves (Halong Bay on Land)
- Join a multi-part 1-day adventure. The day includes a unique rowing boat trip where you’ll go through not one, not two, but three caves, biking to traditional villages, and a visit to Hoa Lư, an ancient capital. You’ll also get the chance to climb up a truly heinous number of stairs (I’m talking 486, but the views are somehow worth it) at Mua Cave, and enjoy panoramic views of the countryside and Ngo Dong River.
- In case anyone needs to know, this was the day in our trip where the Vietnamese humidity was in full-force. But even with that, we had a great time on this day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.
- Perfume Pagoda Tour
- Explore the Perfume Pagoda complex on a day trip that picks up from your hotel in Hanoi in the morning. The day includes a ride on a bamboo boat down Yen Stream to the base of the pagoda mountain and a visit to the Huong Tich cave.
- Halong Bay
- Technically travelers can attempt to do this as a day trip, but I advise against it. Read my Hanoi to Halong Bay post to learn why I recommend at least a one night stay instead of a day trip.
Getting Around Hanoi
The biggest thing to know about Hanoi is that crossing the streets is going to be one of the more insane traffic experiences you’ve ever had. There are no crosswalks that are actually used, no stop signs, and very few traffic lights that are actually followed. If you want to cross the road, and you’ll need to, you just have to walk confidently out into oncoming traffic. Don’t balk or skid; just walk confidently into the oncoming army of mopeds. They won’t hit you.
You can walk to many of the top Hanoi tourist attractions from the Old Quarter. If the streets get to be a bit much for you, however, it’s really affordable to get around elsewise. Download the Grab app if you’d like to use a ride-sharing service to see some of the further away parts of the city. It’s basically Uber but under a different platform, so if you’re used to using that, Grab shouldn’t be an issue.
Another option for getting around Hanoi is a Cycle. These three-wheeled bicycle taxis are abundant in the Old Quarter and manned by locals ready to offer you a ride. They can be a good way to navigate through the winding streets, but be sure to negotiate the price before you agree to a ride, otherwise you run the risk of getting upcharged.
Visa Requirements for Traveling to Hanoi
You must apply for a visa ahead of time. This can be done digitally through the link from the US State Department website. The website doesn’t look as official as you might expect, but trust me that it’s the correct one. The cost of the visa is $25 USD and is good for up to 30 days of entry. Bring 2 printed copies with you (one as a backup). If for some reason you are unable to apply in advance, it is possible to apply on arrival if you’re entering by air. I’d strongly recommend doing the e-visa ahead of time.
Best Time to Travel to Hanoi
The best time to travel to Hanoi is during the fall months of October and November or the spring months of March and April. In all of these months, the weather is generally more mild than in other months. You should run into pleasant temperatures ranging from 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll notice somewhat drastic temperature differences thanks to the 1,150 kilometers between them.
Hanoi is a city of substantial cultural significance in Vietnam and this Hanoi travel guide is meant to help you plan your next vacation. From the incredible food scene to the ancient temples within walking distance, you will never be bored. Food and accommodations are especially cheap in Hanoi compared to other destinations, and you will really be able to maximize your budget while still enjoying the city to the fullest.
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