3 day Hanoi Itinerary: 72 hours of crazy Traffic, pho, and 50 cent beer
Oh Hanoi… I’ve found that among travelers, this a “you either love it or hate it” kinda city. Now, I get it. I really do. The city seems cramped, noisy, and extremely busy. Chaotic, if you will. You live in constant fear that the next time you attempt to cross the street with be your last and that your phone will get snatched clean out of your hand.
But at the same time, Hanoi is so vibrant. the remnants of French architecture mixed with Southeast Asian pagodas and temples make for the most stunning hodgepodge of a city. Greenery pours out of every square inch of balcony and roof space, silk scarves and handmade baskets are for sale on every corner, and the food is to die for. Not to mention that the average price of beer is 50 cents.
I have been to Hanoi now many times, as most travelers us it as a hub to travel around north Vietnam. Tours to the Ha Giang Loop depart from Hanoi, as do trips to Halong Bay, Sapa, and Ninh Binh - so the chances of you finding yourself back in Hanoi as you travel through Vietnam are very high. Lucky You ;)
When to Visit Hanoi
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Hanoi in both August as well as October, and I can confidently say that you should avoid the summer - and if you’re backpacking around Southeast Asia and only have summer clothes in your backpack, try to avoid the winter as well. Surprisingly, Hanoi does actually get really chilly, dropping down the the 40°s (F).
So many of the best things to do in Hanoi involve simply walking around the city and it’s temples, and to be quite honest there are not that many things to do indoors. When I visited in August, the heat was almost unbearable, leaving us to shelter in restaurants for the majority of the day, only braving the heat when we felt sufficiently cooled off and motivated to tick another thing off of our Hanoi bucket list.
My visit in October was infinitely more enjoyable. I was able to see so much more of the city just because it wasn’t absolutely miserable to walk from location to location. I really think weather plays a big part in how you feel about Hanoi, so make sure you plan your trip accordingly.
Where to stay in Hanoi
The best place for a first timer to stay in Hanoi would be the Old Quarter! This is one of the most beautiful parts of the city, but also the most touristy. The old French architecture makes you question whether or not you’re still in Asia, and you’re in walking distance (or short motorbike taxi ride distance) of most of the popular things to do.
There are so many gorgeous hotel options, and I would love to go back one day and try a few out! A few on my hotel bucket list are the Sofitel Legend Metropole, La Siesta Premium Hang Be, and the AIRA Boutique Hanoi Hotel and Spa.
If you’ve been to Hanoi before, consider staying in the Tay Ho area! This is where a lot of the expats live, and life around the west river is much more peaceful than the old quarter. There are many stunning hotel options here if you’re not worried about being a little farther away from the action!
If you’re backpacking like I was, then never fear - there are AMAZING hostel options in Hanoi. I stayed at Nexy, Buffalo, and Central Backpackers. All of them were absolutely amazing - Nexy for the best sleep of my life, Central Backpackers for the best social scene and pub crawl, and Buffalo for the free breakfast and pool. There are so many new amazing ones I’ve seen popping up on Hostel world, so definitely check those out! (Just avoid Bia Corner hostel like the plague and you’ll be just fine:)
How to get around in Hanoi
While the traffic in Hanoi is daunting (to say the least), getting around is surprisingly easy. The best way to get around during your 3 days in Hanoi is by first downloading the Grab app. This is essentially the Asian version of Uber, and it’s the best thing ever. Make sure you have exact change on you, or be prepared to part with a little more than the app says! The drivers typically can’t break big bills.
And don’t be intimidated by the motorbike option on the app! It seems scary, but it’s often a quarter of the price of a normal car, and with the clogged streets in Hanoi, you’re guaranteed to get to your destination much faster. There are handlebars underneath the back side of the seat for you to hold on to (the way I didn’t know this for a whole week and grabbed onto their waist to stay on like a silly little passenger princess is so embarrassing) - so if you’re worried about the logistics - don’t be!
There’s nothing I wouldn’t give rn to be on the back of a local’s bike, wind in my hair, whipping through the streets of Hanoi, heading for some Bun Cha. It honestly makes the little things like traveling from one sight to another seem like an adventure in and of itself.
3 Day Hanoi Itinerary
Walk around the old quarter
A good first thing to add to your 3 day Hanoi Itinerary is to walk around the old quarter! This will not only help you get your bearings, but also help you ease into Hanoi.
The old quarter is stunning, with the colonial-style buildings piled high and overflowing with plants. This is also an excellent place to do your shopping - and don’t be afraid to haggle! Every time I’m in Hanoi, I can’t help but buy a new silk scarf to use as a shoulder covering or a sarong; the colors and patterns are so stunning.
If I had room in my backpack I would’ve brought home pottery, a tea set, baskets, and more - the options are just SO GOOD.
It is a bit tricky to walk around Hanoi, as the sidewalks are typically used as motorbike parking and the streets are crazy, but just be patient! Wait for a slight break in traffic, and then walk with a purpose. Don’t stop and try to avoid bikes on the road, they will drive around you!
Take a Tour
If wandering aimlessly around a city isn’t quite your jam, consider taking a walking tour of old quarter! You’ll get much more context and probably find a few hidden gems that only the locals know about. I absolutely love the insight into a city that a walking tour gives.
A popular thing to do in Hanoi that’s a little more fun then just a regular old walking tour is to take a motorbike tour. I was SO tempted to splurge on this after reading Salt in our Hair’s experience with it, but since I was on a backpackers budget, I’ll just have to save it for next time!
Imagine whipping through the streets of Hanoi on the back of a local’s vintage Minsk bike where they take you to all the best sights and markets the city has to offer - I don’t think it gets much better than that!
The Note Coffee
If I could bring one thing from Vietnam to the United States, it would be the coconut coffee. Straight up - I am absolutely addicted to these. Image a mountain of creamy, frozen coconut ice covered in shots of espresso - it is 100% the best way to beat the heat in Vietnam, and no better place to try it out than the Note Coffee.
This sweet little cafe overlooks Hoan Kiem Lake, and is very centrally located! They have all sorts of pastries and drinks, but the most notable (HA) thing about this cafe is that literally every surface is covered in notes from customers of years past! Your drinks will be served to you with a little note from the barista (literally SO cute), and sticky notes and pens are available at every table for you to leave your own.
If you look on the underside of the stairs on the third floor, you might see mine!
Hoan Kiem Lake
After you leave The Note, take a lazy little lap around Hoan Kiem Lake! There are plenty of things to see around the circumference of the lake, and this area of town is overall just really beautiful. There’s street vendors selling trinkets (the first time I was there I bought a fan - I was DYING of the heat and it was honestly one of my best purchases ever), people offering rides on bicycle-chair contraptions, and lots of opportunities to buy an ice cream to cool off from the heat. If you fancy coming at 6 am, you’ll catch locals practicing their Tai Chi all over the perimeter of the lake.
IDK about you, but I simply won’t be getting up at six. y’all stay safe though.
Legend has it that after an ancient sea god lent a Vietnamese king a sword that would bring peace to their country, the king was required to return the sword to a turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake. In tribute to this turtle deity, there is a small pagoda called Turtle Tower floating in the middle of the lake. There is no way to get to this pagoda, but it does add a sense of curiosity to the ambience.
Ngoc Son Temple
Another pagoda floating in the middle of Hoan Kiem lake that you actually CAN get to is called Ngoc Son Temple. Connected to the mainland with a gorgeous, cherry red bridge, Ngoc Son Temple was originally dedicated to a famous Chinese General, but has since been transformed into a temple dedicated to Buddha. While you do have to pay a small entry fee, it is really nice to walk around and take in the sights!
There’s even a statue of the legendary immortal turtle I mentioned earlier, if that helps incentivize you.
St. Josephs Cathedral
A super unique sight in Hanoi is St. Joseph’s Cathedral, located in the old quarter. This cathedral seems so out of place, but it’s a remnant of French colonization, and a must-see while in Hanoi. Try to arrive to the cathedral around lunchtime, as the location is gorgeous and there are lots of restaurants around the square that have balconies with picturesque views of the cathedral!
If you want to pop in, entry is completely free to visitors!
Eat
I won’t lie - eating is my absolute favorite thing to do in Hanoi. If I had the chance to get on an 18 hour flight for just ONE day of eating in Vietnam before coming right back to the United States - I would do it in a heartbeat. I would honestly go to the ends of the earth for Vietnamese food.
Now the most common thing that comes to mind when you hear Vietnamese food is, of course, pho. And the pho in Vietnam is obviously to die for. One of the most Iconic places to eat pho in Hanoi is called Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su (pictured below), and it’s so renowned that they have a sign outside remarking on how so many other pho shops in Hanoi have copied their name in an attempt to get more business, but there is only one true Pho 10.
There are only a few things on the menu, but you truly can’t go wrong with anything. Throw some garlic and a few chili peppers in from the communal bowls on the table, and enjoy the most authentic pho experience you’ll ever have.
To be honest, though, you can get really good pho just about anywhere in the world. In light of this, MY priority whenever I go to Hanoi, is to eat as much Bun Cha as humanly possible. My favorite Bun Cha restaurant that I’ve tried is called Bún chả Hương Liên, or simply “Bun Cha Obama” - either one works.
If you’re confused about the name at all, Anthony Bourdain famously took Obama here during their food tour through Vietnam, and they have turned the booth they ate at into a plexiglass-enclosed shrine to Barack himself.
Let me just tell you - it is absolutely life changing. I’m so obsessed with it I eat it for lunch and dinner every day I’m in Hanoi if I can.
Banh Mi is another famous Vietnamese dish - and the best place to get it in Hanoi is Banh Mi 25. it’s Vietnamese flavors inside the crustiest French Baguette, and it’s absolutely divine.
As far as brunch goes, my favorite brunch in the city goes to Lifted Coffee and Brunch! They have incredible western options, and as much as I love Asia, they simply don’t do breakfast?? And if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love my breakfast.
Alternatively, if you’re staying over in Tay Ho or if you find yourself around the West Lake, try Ma Xo Cafe - they have a gorgeous rooftop with views of the lake, and their brunch is actually to die for.
As with most cities in Southeast Asia - make sure you have enough cash to pay for your meal! Card is not widely accepted (as Victoria and I so gracelessly discovered).
Train Street
One of the most iconic things to do in Hanoi is to visit the world-famous train street. Nestled in the middle of Hanoi is a narrow street full of residences, restaurants, and cafes. What makes this street so special, however, is the train that runs straight through it! Multiple times a day, cafe and restaurant owners have to rush out and bring all their tables and chairs indoors so that the train can come through.
Tourists come from all over to watch the train pass within inches of where they’re enjoying their egg or coconut coffees, and it is a truly unique experience! Be sure to time your visit with the train schedule, which you can find with a simple google search.
Occasionally, there are incidents regarding reckless tourists, and whether or not train street is open during your time in Hanoi is dependent on when the last accident was! I was lucky in that every time I’ve been to Hanoi, train street has been open and I’ve been able to snag a few really cool photos, but definitely make sure to check before ordering the Grab taxi to take you there.
Beer Street
While not quite as wholesome as train street, some of you will be thrilled to learn that there is also a BEER street that lives in the center of Hanoi’s old quarter.
Here, beer with cost you about $.50 a glass; and honestly it does NOT get better than that. There are lots of pubs with outdoor seating, as well as some fancier clubs and bars that cater to tourists. The most popular of these is called Tom’s bar - where you can order nitrous oxide balloons at the bar while you refill your beer (if that’s your kind of thing…?) as well as cigarettes (and ~special~ cigarettes, AGAIN. If that’s your thing, Tom’s bar is the place for you).
While not my favorite place to get my party on, Beer Street is undeniably a quintessential Hanoi activity, and I simply couldn’t write a 3 day Hanoi Itinerary without including at least one night out on the town.
Pha Dinh Phung Street
If you have a little spare time in your day, one of my favorite things to do is to walk down Pha Dinh Phung street. While it’s not a museum or an activity, it is a lovely street for a walk! Pha Dinh Phung street is chock full of mansions leftover from French occupation, and if the weather is good during your time in Hanoi, it’s a fun street to walk down! Victoria and I made a game out of pointing out the ones we would choose and simply marveling at the stunning architecture.
It’s a lovely street for a walk. One thing I love about Hanoi is the amount of nature and greenery that coexist with the crowded buildings, and this street is no exception. It reminded me of the way that the streets in Paris are sometimes lined in massive trees.
West LAke
For a little less touristy action and a little more tranquility, try heading over to the area surrounding the West Lake. There are so many cute cafes that make for the perfect place to watch the sunset or to simply take a break in your afternoon. Put in “Santorini Vibes” into your maps, and this will lead you to the perfect stretch of road for you to find a café that suits your fancy!
You can also rent peddle boats or stand-up-paddleboards if you want something a little more fun than just enjoying a coffee! It’s also the perfect place to watch the sunset, if you want to find a restaurant and end your day here.
Quan Thanh Temple
In the area surrounding the West Lake, there are so many other photo-worthy pagodas and temples that are worth a visit. I won’t lie - while all the holy sites have significant meaning, it doesn’t take that long to breeze through them and take a few photos.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Again - A Buddhist temple that’s really pretty to look at but doesn’t take much time to speed through. This one is also in the middle of the West Lake, so stopping by doesn’t throw a wrench in your 3 day Hanoi itinerary whatsoever! Like I mentioned previously, a lot of the attractions in Hanoi are absolutely beautiful to look at, but most don’t go further than that. There are so many adventures to be had in Vietnam, however, and Hanoi is an excellent base to book those bigger adventure.
Take a Day trip
There are ENDLESS things to do in the north of Vietnam, and Hanoi is so perfectly located in the center of it all, which makes it the perfect place to plan a day trip or an overnight to some of the best things to do in the whole of the country.
The best DAY trip (the others on this list are definitely overnights - sorry I can’t help myself, Vietnam is just so good) is Ninh Binh! It’s about an hour and a half south of Hanoi, and while two days there is definitely ideal, you can do all the best things in a day.
Take a boat tour through Tam Coc, hike up the Mua Caves, and take an epic photo by Bich Dong Pagdoa. You can book day tours through Viator so that everything will be arranged for you, which I would recommend. It’s totally do-able to book the shuttles yourself but getting around Ninh Binh does require either a bicycle or a motorbike, and finding transportation for the day can eat into your precious time.
My very favorite - although not necessarily a ~day~ trip (more like a 3 day trip) - is the Ha Giang Loop. This is my favorite adventure that I’ve had in my entire lifetime so far, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Trips to the Ha Giang Loop leave from Hanoi on overnight busses, and then deposit you right back at the hotel or hostel you were staying at. It’s exceedingly easy to plan a trip around the Ha Giang Loop from Hanoi, and I’m begging you to do this on your next trip to Hanoi.
Another incredible adventure you can have is a 1-2 night cruise through Halong Bay! Victoria and I booked through Viator, and it was the perfect trip. We were picked up from our Hostel in a super comfortable bus and driven to the Bay. We stopped at a pearl farm before getting on our boat, and from there it was 36 hours of emerald waters, cooking classes, squid fishing, kayaking, (Italian) Karaoke, caves, and swimming.
Honestly, I feel like I could do a whole week on a boat in Halong bay and not be bored. Those are, without a doubt, some of the very best landscapes I’ve ever seen in my life, and a cruise through Halong Bay is an absolute MUST DO while visiting Hanoi, even if you only have 3 days in your Hanoi Itinerary.
That concludes our 3 day Hanoi Itinerary!
I’ve spent probably a grand total of a week and a half in Hanoi, and I’ve never been at a loss for what to do. The city is absolutely stunning, the chaos is riveting, the food is heavenly, and the people are kind. I have quite a few friends who live there that even managed to convince me to look into moving there to teach English - and I seriously considered it!
Hanoi IS very different than what most people are used to, but if you embrace the craziness, I promise you that you’ll have the best time.
Have you been to Hanoi? What are your thoughts?
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How many days should you spend in Hoi An? Vietnam is such a big country, so it’s important to manage your time well. Keep reading for all the best things to do in Hoi and and find out how many days are enough!