How many days · Hanoi · Vietnam
How many days do you need in Hanoi?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Hanoi, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two full days covers the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ba Đình sights. Four days adds the Museum of Ethnology, West Lake and a day trip to Ninh Bình; allow two more nights for an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.9 h (Dec) to 13.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple, Old Quarter guild streets, Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square |
| 2 days | Good | Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square, Water puppet show and One Pillar Pagoda |
| 3 days | Good | Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, Hỏa Lò Prison and Vietnam Museum of Ethnology |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Ha Long Bay |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Ha Long Bay and Ninh Bình (Tràng An and Tam Cốc) |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Hanoi add up to roughly 16–20 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Old Quarter guild streets (Half a day), Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (2–3 hours) and Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple (1–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple | 1–2 hours | Hoàn Kiếm Lake |
| Old Quarter guild streets | Half a day | Old Quarter |
| Temple of Literature | 1–1.5 hours | Ba Đình |
| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square | 1.5–2 hours with the grounds | Ba Đình |
| Water puppet show | 1 hour | Hoàn Kiếm Lake |
| One Pillar Pagoda | 15 minutes | Ba Đình |
| Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long | 1.5 hours | Ba Đình |
| Hỏa Lò Prison | 1 hour | French Quarter |
| Vietnam Museum of Ethnology | 2–3 hours | Cầu Giấy |
| Trấn Quốc Pagoda | 45 minutes | Tây Hồ (West Lake) |
| Long Biên Bridge | 1 hour | Old Quarter |
| Vietnamese Women's Museum | 1.5 hours | French Quarter |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple and Old Quarter guild streets |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Water puppet show |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Ha Long Bay and Ninh Bình (Tràng An and Tam Cốc) |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.4 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Hanoi with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang | About 408 km | 4 days |
| Da Nang | About 606 km | 4 days |
| Hoi An | About 630 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Hanoi?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two full days covers the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ba Đình sights. Four days adds the Museum of Ethnology, West Lake and a day trip to Ninh Bình; allow two more nights for an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise.
+Is a week too long in Hanoi?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Ha Long Bay and Ninh Bình (Tràng An and Tam Cốc).