5 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

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

   2. Late morning

      Weekend walking street and night market

      Arrive around 7pm for the liveliest atmosphere and keep a close hold on phones in the crowds. (2 hours, free).

   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

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

   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

      Walk it in the morning when shops open and traffic is lighter, and look up to see the narrow façades above the shopfronts. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Long Biên Bridge

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

   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

      Explore the food stalls at the back and the produce sellers in the surrounding lanes in the morning. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Hanoi Opera House

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

3. Day 3: Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square

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

   1. Morning

      Temple of Literature

      Go early on a weekday; graduating students in gowns crowd the courtyards for photos at other times, especially in spring. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square

      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. (1.5–2 hours with the grounds, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chả cá Lã Vọng

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

   4. Afternoon

      One Pillar Pagoda

      Visit it on the same morning as the mausoleum; it takes only a few minutes. (15 minutes, free).

   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. Best for first-timers, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Hanoi

      Dinner: try Bánh cuốn.

5. Day 5: Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long and Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts

   Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts and Hỏa Lò Prison, then Old Quarter bia hơi corners in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long

      Look for the archaeological excavation site across Hoàng Diệu street; many visitors miss it. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts

      Pair it with the Temple of Literature across the road. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bánh cuốn

      Breakfast stalls where you can watch the rice sheets being steamed on cloth over boiling water, common around the Old Quarter.

   4. Afternoon

      Hỏa Lò Prison

      Allow time for the audio guide; the exhibits are grim but give important context to the French colonial era. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Old Quarter bia hơi corners

      Street-corner stalls serving fresh draught beer to locals from late afternoon.

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 5 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 18–21 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Hanoi
• 7 days in Hanoi

Questions travellers ask