Hanoi’s main sights fit into two busy days, and the countryside and the bay deserve their own time.
Day 1: The Old Quarter
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Pho breakfast, then Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. |
| Afternoon | Wander the Old Quarter streets, Dong Xuan Market and St Joseph’s Cathedral. |
| Evening | A water puppet show, then a street food tour or bia hoi. |
Day 2: History and culture
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (early), the stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. |
| Midday | The Temple of Literature, then bun cha for lunch. |
| Afternoon | Hoa Lo Prison or the Ethnology Museum, then egg coffee. |
| Evening | Sunset over West Lake. |
Day 3: Ninh Binh
Take a day tour or a driver to Trang An or Tam Coc for rowing-boat rides through karst valleys, plus the Mua Cave viewpoint (about 2 hours each way).
Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay
An overnight cruise lets you kayak, visit caves and wake up among the karsts. See Ha Long Bay from Hanoi.
Itinerary tips
- Check the mausoleum’s opening days before planning day 2.
- Use Grab between sights.
- Book Ninh Binh and Ha Long tours a few days ahead.
- Choose a base from where to stay in Hanoi.
More Hanoi guides
- Hanoi travel guide
- 20 best things to do in Hanoi
- Where to stay in Hanoi
- Ha Long Bay from Hanoi
- Vietnam e-visa and visa-free entry
- Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter
- Best time to visit Hanoi
FAQ: Hanoi itinerary
Is 2 days enough in Hanoi?
Yes, for the city itself (days 1–2). Add time for Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh.
Should I do a Ha Long day trip or an overnight cruise?
An overnight cruise is much better. A day trip means about 5–6 hours on the road for a few hours on the water.
Where should I go after Hanoi?
Sapa for rice terraces, Hue and Hoi An in central Vietnam, or Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Plan your trip to Hanoi
The trusted services we use to plan our own trips.
Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
