4 days in Hanoi

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple and Weekend walking street and night market

   Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple, Weekend walking street and night market and St Joseph's Cathedral, then Water puppet show in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple

      Allow 1–2 hours (low cost). Walk the 1.7 km circuit at about 6am to see morning exercises, then return on a weekend evening for the car-free streets.

   2. Late morning

      Weekend walking street and night market

      Families play traditional games, buskers perform, and a night market of clothes and snacks runs north along Hàng Đào towards Đồng Xuân Market.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Beef phở

      Specialist phở shops in the Old Quarter, especially around Bát Đàn and Lý Quốc Sư streets; most open early and close once the broth runs out.

   4. Afternoon

      St Joseph's Cathedral

      Allow 30 minutes (free). The interior is usually open around Mass times; outside those, enjoy the façade from a café across the square.

   5. Evening

      Water puppet show

      Book a show a day ahead in busy periods and sit a few rows back; the front rows can get splashed.

2. Day 2: Old Quarter guild streets and Long Biên Bridge

   Old Quarter guild streets, Long Biên Bridge and Đồng Xuân Market, then Hanoi Opera House in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Quarter guild streets

      The restored tube house at 87 Mã Mây shows how merchant families lived, and Ô Quan Chưởng is the last surviving gate of the old city walls.

   2. Late morning

      Long Biên Bridge

      Allow 1 hour (free). Walk out to the middle at sunset and watch a train pass; stay on the pedestrian walkway and watch for motorbikes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bún chả

      Street-side grills across the Old Quarter at lunchtime, and on Lê Văn Hưu street south of the French Quarter, where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate it in 2016.

   4. Afternoon

      Đồng Xuân Market

      Inside are wholesale stalls of clothes, fabric and household goods, with a food section serving bún, bánh and coffee to traders.

   5. Evening

      Hanoi Opera House

      Check the programme for an evening performance; it is the best way to see the auditorium.

3. Day 3: Bạch Mã Temple and Temple of Literature

   Bạch Mã Temple, Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square, then Tạ Hiện and Lương Ngọc Quyến in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bạch Mã Temple

      Allow 20 minutes (free). Dress modestly and leave a small donation; photography is usually allowed without flash.

   2. Late morning

      Temple of Literature

      Its five courtyards hold lotus ponds, gateways and 82 stone stelae mounted on turtles that record the names of doctoral laureates from the 15th to 18th centuries.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chả cá Lã Vọng

      Restaurants on and around Chả Cá street in the Old Quarter.

   4. Afternoon

      Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square

      Allow 1.5–2 hours with the grounds (free). Arrive early in the morning, dress with shoulders and knees covered, and leave large bags at the check-in; the mausoleum closes on some days and for maintenance periods, so check before you go.

   5. Evening

      Tạ Hiện and Lương Ngọc Quyến

      The Old Quarter's 'beer street', packed with low stools, bars and street food, especially on weekend nights.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Ha Long Bay

   About 2.5–3 hours each way by road each way. Getting there: Tour bus or private car via the expressway, then a boat.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Ha Long Bay

      About 2.5–3 hours each way by road (Tour bus or private car via the expressway, then a boat); about 170 km.

   2. Day

      Ha Long Bay

      Some 1,600 limestone islands and islets rise from the emerald water of this UNESCO-listed bay, with caves such as Sửng Sốt and kayaking among the karsts. A day trip spends more time on the road than on the water, so an overnight cruise is the better option.

   3. Evening

      Back in Hanoi

      Dinner: try Bánh cuốn.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Water puppet show before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Old Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Hoàn Kiếm Lake ($$$) suits first-timers, families and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hanoi
• 2 days in Hanoi
• 3 days in Hanoi
• 5 days in Hanoi
• 7 days in Hanoi

Questions travellers ask