The Perfect 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary

If you’re looking for the perfect 3-day Hanoi itinerary, you’re in the right place. 

In this city guide, I’ll be sharing what to do in Hanoi in the 3 days while also sharing where you should stay, eat, and drink + a few other helpful insights to help you plan your trip.

I recently spent over a week in Hanoi and surprisingly, fell in love with this city! I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did (big, loud cities aren’t usually my thing…) but the beauty of Hanoi is all the small pockets and alleyways where you can escape the chaos. 

Plus the food. You have to go for the food. 

Often referred to as the city of lakes, Hanoi is a great jumping-off point for all of your adventures around Northern Vietnam. You could easily spend weeks eating and exploring your way through Hanoi – but this perfect 3-day itinerary is going to help you see all the highlights. 

If you’re like me and would like to slow down and cafe crawl your way through the city, I recommend extending your stay in Hanoi to 5 days. 

Grab an egg coffee and tuck in, this is a good one! 

Justyn’s Quick Hanoi Recommendations:

🏨 Stay: Hotels in the Old Quarter for your first trip. Or La Casa Di Diciembre for an apartment room that’s quiet, clean, and located minutes away from cute coffee shops and Train Street. 

🍜 Favorite eats: Bao An Vegan Street Food, Phở Chay An Bình – Vegan Pho

⭐️ Tours: Don’t miss out on taking a food tour. It’s the best way to experience the incredible food of Vietnam. There’s even a vegan option in Hanoi! 

🇻🇳 Travel tip: Get connected fast with a Vietnam eSIM.

The Perfect 3 Days in Hanoi Itinerary

Table of Contents

• Things to know before you go
  • Money
  • Language
  • Safety
  • Visas & entry requirements
  • The best time to visit
  • Getting to (and around) the city
• 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary
  • Day One
  • Day Two
  • Day Three
  • My Map of Hanoi
• Where to Stay in Hanoi
• What to Eat in Hanoi
• Is 3 Days in Hanoi Enough?
• Popular Day Trips from Hanoi
• Travel Insurance for Vietnam

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting my blog! 

Things to know before you go

When I told other travelers that I’d spent over a week in Hanoi – they mostly responded with “Why?” and before I came, people even recommended that I skip the city completely. And yes, Hanoi is busy, polluted, and chaotic. But it also has so much charm, history, and amazing food. 

Plus there are so many pockets of the city where you can escape all of the hustle and bustle. 

This Hanoi itinerary will hopefully help you do that. 

Money 

Vietnam uses the Dong (VND). It’s around 25,000 VND to $1 (USD). You can take dong out of any ATM and you’ll usually have to pay a small fee. If you want to get all of your ATM fees refunded to you – open a bank account with Charles Schwab. Each month they literally refund all of your ATM fees. 

We found that the HSBC ATMs usually let you take out the most dong per transaction (whereas some ATMs would limit you to only 200,000 VND which is about $78.)

Language

In Vietnam, they speak Vietnamese along with local dialects and languages that are spoken by ethnic minorities (for example in Sapa!) Some of the largest ethnic groups with their own languages in Vietnam include the Tày, Mường, Hmong, Khmer, and Cham.

However, you’ll likely be learning a few basic phrases in Vietnamese to help your travels. I also highly recommend downloading Vietnamese on Google Translate so that you can always communicate in a pinch. 

Here are some basic phrases for your trip:  

• Hello – Xin chào (sin chao)
• Goodbye – Tạm biệt (tahm bee-et)
• Thank you – Cảm ơn (gahm uhn)
• Yes – Vâng (vuhng)
• No – Không (khom)
• Excuse me / Sorry – Xin lỗi (sin loy)

During our trip, we found an amazing video that helps with pronunciation and her tips will really help you remember each of these phrases. 

Safety

As with all big cities, it’s important to take precautions when traveling – especially when traveling alone! However, I felt so safe in Hanoi (apart from crossing the streets… but you get used to that). Everyone was so kind and outside of the ‘Pub Street’, I really didn’t find anyone being too pushy or in my face. 

It’s definitely a city that I would travel alone to, and overall, I found Vietnam to be a safe and welcoming country. Everyone goes out of their way to say hello and help you with whatever you need. 

Visas & Entry Requirements

As a US Citizen, you will need a visa to enter the country. They have a few options that you can apply for online before you come. The visa is valid for up to 90 days and it’s multiple entry! It costs $25 for the single entry visa and $50 for the multiple entry visa. 

As of 2024, you cannot get an e-visa to visit Vietnam. 

However, if you’re a British citizen you can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days (my husband is British so that is the other citizenship I always know the rules for). This website is amazing for telling you what visas you need to enter any country in the world. 

The best time to visit

Being in Northern Vietnam, Hanoi gets better seasons than you’d expect in Southeast Asia, with temperatures in the winter occasionally dropping below 10ºC (50ºF). We visited Hanoi in November and the temperature was warm but never too hot! It was a really pleasant time of year to visit. 

Overall (in my opinion), the best time of year to visit Hanoi is during the winter months (October-April), but that’s also the peak season. If you wanted to visit during the mild climate but also during the off-season, I would recommend either October or April. Those months are going to have fewer crowds but the temperature will still be cooler and more comfortable. 

Getting to and around Hanoi

The easiest way to get to Hanoi is by flying into Noi Bai International Airport. We were able to fly into Hanoi from London with a layover in Qatar. Other typical layovers will be across China or Bangkok, depending on where you are coming from. 

You can also travel across Vietnam by train or overnight bus. There are buses that travel up the country from Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh. The VIP overnight buses across Vietnam are amazing and unlike any overnight buses, we’ve used across the region. I highly recommend traveling this way (especially if you are going to Sapa!)

Once you’re in Hanoi, download the Grab App. This will be the easiest way to get around the city. You can use Grab to call a taxi or motorbike to take you anywhere you need to go. I actually found Hanoi to be *fairly* walkable as well, once you get used to crossing the street. 

However, a Grab scooter will probably cost you less than $1 to get across the city – so I recommend always traveling that way.  

For easy traveling around Vietnam, make sure to use 12Go. I found that they have the best prices across Southeast Asia! And they make transport across Vietnam so easy (the easiest I’ve experienced in the world).

How to Spend 3 Days in Hanoi, Vietnam

Don’t forget! This is what I recommend for Hanoi! It involves lots of cafe hopping, eating, and sightseeing. I’ve grouped activities that are close together because that’s how I like to explore – but feel free to take these suggestions to create your own Hanoi itinerary. Here’s a quick overview of my 3 day Hanoi itinerary: 

• Day 1 – Arrival, Explore the Old Quarter, Food Tour, Night Market (pub street)
• Day 2 – Sightseeing, Eating, Water Puppet Show
• Day 3 – Cafe hopping, city tour

Keep reading for details on each day, alternative recommendations, and lots (and lots) of places that you’ll need to eat while you’re in Hanoi! 

Day 1 in Hanoi, Arrival, Explore the Old Quarter, Food Tour, Night Market

Arrival

I’m always a big fan of scheduling day one around what time you are arriving in a new city! You should always give yourself time to acclimate and if you know you’re going to be jetlagged, then make sure that you don’t overbook yourself. 

We arrived very early in the morning and immediately took a Grab to our accommodation. They let us leave our luggage (but if that’s not an option where you’re staying, check out this amazing service I found!) and we headed out for our first Vietnamese coffee. I recommend starting your Hanoi adventure with a walk around the Old Quarter. Get yourself familiar with the neighborhood and your new local coffee shops. 

This is a great time to get our SIM card sorted (if you don’t already have an E-SIM) and take cash out. Vietnam is very cash-heavy (I don’t think we paid for anything by credit card in Hanoi!). This is the normal “first-day” stuff that my husband and I always do when we arrive at a new destination. Once you get these jobs done, treat yourself to your first Vietnamese coffee! It’s very touristy, but you could even start your trip at Note Coffee.

Food tour

One of the things that I was most looking forward to in Vietnam was the food! One of the best ways to get familiarized with the food and traditions around food is with a food tour. Hanoi has so much amazing food that it can be overwhelming! That’s why I recommend starting your trip with a food tour. I’ve done food tours around the world – but this one in Hanoi is one of the best!

Choose from my favorite Hanoi food tours:

• Hanoi Food Tour with Stop at the Famous Train Street
• Hanoi Food Tour with Secret Hidden Gem
• Vegan Street Food & Stories of Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake

This is the small lake that sits right along the edge of the Old Quarter in Hanoi. It’s best to visit on the weekends (Friday-Sunday) between 7 pm-12 am when the street is closed to traffic and the whole area becomes a fun fair. 

Ho Hoan Kiem translated to the Lake of the Restored Sword. Legend has it that in the mid-15th century, Emperor Le Loi received a magical sword from heaven which he used to drive the Chinese from Vietnam. After the war, a giant golden turtle took the sword and disappeared into the lake to restore the sword to heaven. 

I’ve even heard that locals practice t’ai chi on the shore every morning at 6 am. 

Make sure to cross the beautiful red bridge to visit Jade Island and the Temple of Jade Mountain.

Explore the Old Quarter, Night Market & Visit “Pub Street”

The last two things that I would recommend on your first day in Hanoi would be a wander around the Old Quarter, Night Market, and *if* you’re feeling up for it – a drink on pub street. I will put a lot of emphasis on the “if you’re feeling up for it” because pub street in Hanoi is a lot. It’s the busiest, loudest, and most crowded corner of the city. 

So why am I recommending this? Because it can be a fun place to grab a beer and people-watch! We spent one night having exactly 1 drink on Pub Street just to see what it was like. 

On the other hand, I did love exploring the Old Quarter and Hanoi has a huge night market. It’s the perfect chance to do any shopping that you’d like to do and there are tons of restaurants and cafes in the Old Quarter where you can relax and just watch the city go by. 

Depending on where you’re coming from and what time you arrived, you might just be exhausted by 8 pm (I know I was!) Feel free to end this first day and get a good night’s sleep for the rest of this Hanoi itinerary.

Day 2 in Hanoi, Sightseeing, Water Puppet Show

I hope you’re not too jetlagged because today we’re sightseeing around Hanoi. There is so much to see and do around Hanoi – and honestly, you’ll want to make time for all the amazing restaurants to try, so it’s important to pick and choose the things you want to do.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

You could spend an entire day exploring the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex and surrounding sights. It’s home to the mausoleum (of course) but there you’ll also have a chance to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace, and surrounding gardens.  

I recommend starting early, I got there at about 09:00 and moved through the line to enter the mausoleum fairly quickly. You need to dress modestly, shorts and tank tops will not be permitted. You may also be asked to hand over your larger cameras until after you exit the mausoleum. 

(I was able to take my Sony RX100 in, but know that you can’t take any pictures inside.)

You then walk in a double line around and through the mausoleum. The time spent inside the mausoleum is probably less than 5 minutes. When it spits you back out the other side, you’ll have the chance to explore the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, or the museum. 

I recommend visiting the museum where you’ll get the chance to learn about the life of Ho Chi Minh through interactive exhibits. There are museum tour guides that can walk you through the exhibits as well. 

Once you’ve finished I recommend taking a Grab Scooter across town to the Women’s Museum. 

Important information: 

• Location: 1 Hùng Vương, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
• Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Ticket Cost:
  • Mausoleum: Free
  • Ho Chi Minh Museum: 40,000₫
• Recommend Stay: 2 hours

Women’s Museum

This was my favorite place in Hanoi. It’s a museum dedicated to helping you learn about the role that women have played in Vietnam’s history. Each floor takes you through a different aspect of Vietnamese culture or history, all from the women’s perspective. 

Important information: 

• Location: 36 P Ly Thuong Kiet, Hà Nội, Vietnam
• Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Ticket Cost: 40,000₫
• Recommend Stay: 1.5 hours

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070 and dedicated to the philosopher Confucius. It’s often referred to as the oldest school in Vietnam, and it’s one of the best places to see preserved Vietnamese architecture and history. It’s a peaceful place to visit in an otherwise chaotic city. 

Important information: 

• Location: 58 P. Quốc Tử Giám, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam
• Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Ticket Cost: 30,000₫
• Recommend Stay: 1 hour

Other Sights of Interest in Hanoi

There are a few more places that I had on my list but didn’t have a chance to explore on this trip. If you’re looking for even more things to do in Hanoi, check out these options.  

• Hoa Lo Prison Museum
• Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
• National Museum of Vietnamese History

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Once you’ve finished a full day of sightseeing, rest your legs at the Water Puppet Theater show at Thang Long. The show lasts for 50 minutes and it’s a cultural specialty of Vientma’s wet rice farmers. While a lot of countries in the world have their variations of puppet shows, only Vietnam has Water Puppetry. 

They have several shows throughout the day – but it’s a nice way to sit down and relax after a full day of sightseeing. I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. I waited in line for over an hour just to be told all of the shows were sold out by the time I got to the front. 
Find tickets to the Hanoi Water Puppet Theater.

Day 3 in Hanoi, Cafe Hopping, City Tour, Train Street

Cafe Hopping

I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are enough sightseeing activities in Hanoi to fill an entire week – but personally, I find sightseeing to be pretty tiring, so I always love to balance it with backstreet cafe hopping. 

Coffee shops or “ca phe” are a huge part of life here and Hanoi is a great place to dip your toes into the world-famous coffee culture of Vietnam. Apparently, the French introduced coffee in the mid-19th century, and it has since become a huge part of Vietnamese culture – and Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world!

One of my favorite things about Hanoi was all of the alleyways and backstreets where you can find the cutest cafes serving the best coffee in this part of the world. Grab a book or your journal and hit the town for some cafe hopping. 

Here are some of my favorite cafes in Hanoi:

• Citta Café & Végé
• Fuku Coffee & Matcha
• Lermalermer
• The Note Coffee (touristy but actually a cute spot for a coffee)
• Aroids – HaNoi train cafe (great place to watch the trains go by!)
• Gạt Tàn Coffee
• Sonder Coffee Bar Lý Thường Kiệt

Vietnamese Coffee Drinks to try:

• Egg Coffee
• Coconut Coffee (hot and cold)
• Salt Coffee (hot and cold, my personal favorite!!)

Hanoi City Tour

Sometimes you just want someone else to take you around, show you the best of their city, and teach you about its history. It can be tiring to be your own tour guide! That’s why if you really want to get to know Hanoi, I recommend this free walking tour of Hanoi. It’s a great way to spend half a day – learning about the history of Hanoi. 

This tour specifically takes you to the infamous train street as well where you can get your own “Hanoi Souvenir.” You’ll explore the French Quarter and see the Hanoi Opera House, try some Vietnamese coffee, visit the cathedral, Hanoi Tower, and more. The best part? It’s a free walking tour! 

If you want to cover a wide range of sites in Hanoi with a knowledgeable tour guide, this is your best option! 

Train Street

End your night with a beer along Train Street. It’s such a unique experience – unlike anywhere else in the world. You can walk along the train tracks to find your favorite spot to sit. I recommend visiting around 7 pm and staying for at least 2 hours. Most people only come for about 30 minutes to see the train, but the people-watching is almost even more entertaining. 

We ended up enjoying several beers over about 3 hours one night, talking with a local about Vietnam and Hanoi. All while people watching and enjoying the trains. If you’re not in a hurry, really take your time here and enjoy the unique experience. 

My Hanoi Map

Here’s a map of how you can spend three days in Hanoi, including all of the attractions, cafes, and activities mentioned in this Hanoi itinerary. You can click here to see it in full on Google Maps. 

Where to Stay in Hanoi

If it’s your first time in Hanoi, stay around the Old Quarter. We stayed just across the train tracks (technically outside of the Old Quarter) and it was perfect. I couldn’t believe how quiet our apartment was, especially given how noisy the streets in Hanoi are. 

Where I stayed: La Casa Di Diciembre (9.1⭐️)

This is the hotel we’ve stayed at all three times we went to Hanoi – and it is 100% where I would stay again. The location is perfect, it’s so quiet and it honestly has everything you need for your stay. 

Also, the host is amazing with check-in and check-out – and they’ll go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need. I can’t recommend them enough! You’ll also love the alleyway behind the apartment, it has some of the best cafes I visited in Hanoi. 

Other Great Accommodations in Hanoi

What to Eat in Hanoi: The Best Dishes to Try

As I’ve mentioned, Hanoi is a mecca for incredible Vietnamese food, and as a vegetarian – I was blown away by the sheer number of incredible restaurants to choose from. There are so many traditional dishes that you can try that are being prepared with fresh, vegetarian ingredients! 

Don’t miss Phở and Bánh Mì (obviously), which can be found as vegan versions at Bao An Vegan Street Food, Phở Chay An Bình – Vegan Pho. They are both incredibly delicious. However, if that’s as far as your knowledge of Vietnamese food goes, you are in for a treat! 

Other must-tries are: Cơm Tấm, Bún Riêu (my husband’s favorite dish!), Bún Chả, and Gỏi Cuốn which you can even make yourself. There is so much incredible food in Hanoi, I might just do a second post dedicated to where we ate. 

Is 3 days in Hanoi enough?

Now for the million-dollar question – is 3 days in Hanoi enough? In my honest opinion, no way! 

I would stretch this itinerary out over at least 5 days, giving you a chance to see everything you want to see, while also slowing down to enjoy some of the quieter parts of the city. This way you could add a massage appointment into your schedule, maybe get your nails done and also just relax by the pool of your fancy hotel. 

However, if you’re on limited time, this 3-day Hanoi itinerary is the best way to pack your days with everything this vibrant city has to offer. 

Popular Day Trips from Hanoi

Hanoi is a great jumping-off point for exploring the rest of Northern Vietnam! There are a few day trips you can take from Hanoi (though I recommend turning them into overnight stays to really enjoy each one.) 

Ha Long Bay: Taking a cruise along the picturesque Ha Long Bay is surely one of the things on your Northern Vietnam bucket list. While I recommend traveling the Cat Ba and exploring Han La Bay, you could also embark on a cruise or one-day trip to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi. 

Ninh Binh: This was one of my favorite places in Vietnam. It was so peaceful and beautiful. Once again, I would recommend spending at least one night here. It’s also a common day trip from Hanoi. If you do decide to go to Ninh Binh for a couple of days, I recommend staying in Trang An Village. The Trang An Family Homestay is a good choice with its lovely pool and motorbike rental. It’s also walking distance to the main street full of shops and restaurants – but it’s much quieter than Ninh Binh village or Nam Coc village. 

Travel insurance for Vietnam

Take it from me, having travel insurance pays off! If you’re a full-time traveler or digital nomad, I recommend exploring SafetyWing. They offer the most comprehensive insurance for digital nomads on the market. I’ve used and recommended them for years. It works just like your Netflix subscription. Use the insurance for the periods when you’re traveling and pause it whenever you need! Learn more about SafetyWing for your trip to Vietnam.

Vietnam Travel Essentials

After exploring Vietnam, here are some of the essentials that you’ll need when planning your trip to Hanoi. You can also explore my blog for more tips and travel hacks! 

Flights: Find affordable flights to Hanoi on Kiwi.

Travel Insurance: I never travel without travel insurance! As a full-time digital nomad, I highly recommend SafetyWing. Learn more and get insured. 

Airport Transfer: In cities across Asia, I always make sure that I had Grab downloaded on my phone. You can easily get a Grab Taxi from the airport to your hotel. Many hotels in Hanoi also offer free airport transfers!

Accommodation: After traveling for 10+ years, I always find the best hotels on Booking.com. It’s my go-to for accomodation. Find hotels in Hanoi for your trip.

Vietnam Guidebook: Get your copy of the new Lonely Planet Vietnam travel book. I love how these books detail the various regions to inspire you to get off the beaten track. The updated versions have replaced the huge chunks of accomodation with incredible tips about each place.

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5 Things to Pack for Vietnam

Walking shoes. If you’re on the islands, you probably won’t ever wear your walking shoes! But Thailand is home to many incredible national parks, hikes and temples – so it’s important to have a comfortable pair of shoes for exploring. 

Modest, lightweight clothing and a scarf for visiting the temples and memorials. It’s very important to dress modestly when you’re visiting any palaces or temples in Hanoi. You are going to want flowy, lightweight pants, lightweight tops with sleeves, and a scarf that you can use to cover your shoulders. Keep in mind that for some temples, simply covering your shoulders with a scarf won’t be enough. You’ll need to wear modest clothing. 

A reusable water bottle. Vietnam definitely suffers from plastic pollution. Make sure that you bring a reusable water bottle. I love this water bottle because it comes with a lid for coffee or a smoothie, which means you can get smoothies without the excessive plastic cup, straw and bag! 

Entertainment for long travel days. It’s usually 50/50 if I’m going to get motion sick on a long bus or ferry ride. Luckily, I always travel with motion sickness drops and tablets so that I can spend long journeys reading. My Kindle has explored more countries than most American adults! I love using the Libby App to borrow Kindle books even while I’m abroad. 

Wet wipes and tissues. Bathrooms across South East Asia don’t usually have toilet paper, so I like to keep wet wipes and tissues in my purse. It also doesn’t hurt to carry hand sanitizer. 

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