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Vietnam
Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter's street food, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison, with Ha Long Bay and Trang An a day trip away.
Best time to go: Mar–Apr, Dec–JanMonth by monthPick your route
Full day-by-day plans from real creators. Swipe to compare.
Backpacker3 days
Backpacking Hanoi in 3 days
by The Broke Backpacker
$40
est. per person · 2 items unpriced
- Experiences 80%
- Stays 20%
- Food 0%
See the full plan
Budget3 days
3 days in Hanoi, eating your way through
by Will Fly For Food
$34
est. per person · 2 items unpriced
- Food 54%
- Experiences 46%
- Stays 0%
See the full plan
Luxury4 days
Hanoi in style, with two day trips
by Fora Travel
$1,722
est. per person · 9 items unpriced
- Stays 100%
- Experiences 0%
- Food 0%
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What creators agree on
Every spot the creators recommend, most agreed-on first. Tap + to add one to your trip cart. Top picks, ranked
- Experiences
- Food
- Stays
- In your cart
Pins are approximate. Tap one for the exact spot in Google Maps.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences3/3 creators
FreeNarrow residential strip with cafes where trains pass inches from homes.
Officially off-limits: Hanoi has banned business on the tracks since 2019 and cut train services in Feb 2026. The sanctioned view is from the cafe inside Long Bien station.
Ba Dinh · Experiences3/3 creators
FreeGranite mausoleum holding Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body, on Ba Dinh Square.
Mornings only; closed Mondays and Fridays. Cover shoulders and knees.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences3/3 creators
from $1.93Museum in the remaining gatehouse of the French-built prison later called the 'Hanoi Hilton'.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences3/3 creators
FreeCentral lake with Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences3/3 creators
FreeNeo-Gothic cathedral from 1886.
6Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Hoan Kiem · Experiences3/3 creators
from $3.86Theatre for traditional water puppetry, by Hoan Kiem Lake.
Quang Ninh, about 170 km E of Hanoi · Experiences2/3 creators
UNESCO-listed bay of limestone karsts, visited by day trip or overnight cruise.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences2/3 creators
FreeDense grid of trade-named streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hoan Kiem / Long Bien · Experiences2/3 creators
FreeEarly-1900s steel cantilever bridge over the Red River.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences2/3 creators
from $1.16Temple on an islet in Hoan Kiem Lake, reached by the red The Huc Bridge.
Hoan Kiem · Food2/3 creators
from $0.12Old Quarter street of bia hoi stalls and bars around Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen.
Dong Da · Experiences2/3 creators
from $2.7011th-century Confucian temple and site of Vietnam's first national university.
Tay Ho · Experiences2/3 creators
FreeHanoi's oldest pagoda, on a small peninsula in West Lake.
Vietnam Military History Museum
Ba Dinh (old site) / Nam Tu Liem (new site) · Experiences2/3 creators
from $1.55National museum of Vietnam's military history, associated with the Hanoi Flag Tower.
The museum moved to a new building on Thang Long Boulevard in late 2024: check the address before you go.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
FreeOne of Hanoi's oldest temples, on Hang Buom Street.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $1.16Old Quarter stall for steamed rice rolls.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $0.97Small shop for Hanoi-style pate banh mi.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $2.32Shop on Hang Dieu serving bun bo nam bo, a dry beef noodle salad.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $1.93Lunch-only Old Quarter shop for bun cha and crab spring rolls.
Hai Ba Trung · Food1/3 creators
Bun cha restaurant known for the 2016 Obama and Bourdain meal.
Tay Ho · Food1/3 creators
from $0.97Long-running cafe known for yogurt coffee.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $0.97Upstairs cafe off Hoan Kiem Lake, known for egg coffee.
Hoan Kiem (French Quarter) · Stays1/3 creators
from $572/nightOpera-themed luxury hotel near the Opera House.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $4.98Restaurant serving cha ca, Hanoi's turmeric-dill fried fish.
Hoan Kiem (multiple branches) · Food1/3 creators
from $1.74Retro-themed Vietnamese cafe chain, known for coconut coffee.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
FreeHanoi's largest covered market, in the north of the Old Quarter.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
from $17French colonial opera house from 1911; the interior is open only for performances.
Ba Dinh · Experiences1/3 creators
from $1.55Grounds of the Presidential Palace, with the simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived.
31Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Ba Dinh · Experiences1/3 creators
from $3.86UNESCO-listed former royal citadel, including wartime command bunkers.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
from $1Restored 19th-century merchant tube house in the Old Quarter.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
FreeThe last surviving gate of Hanoi's old city walls.
34Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel
Hoan Kiem · Stays1/3 creators
from $4/nightSocial Old Quarter hostel with free breakfast and a free-beer hour.
Ba Dinh · Experiences1/3 creators
FreeSmall 11th-century-origin pagoda raised on a single stone pillar.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
Taproom of a Vietnamese craft brewery.
My Duc, about 60 km SW of Hanoi · Experiences1/3 creators
Buddhist cave-temple complex reached by boat and a short hike.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
Michelin Guide-listed beef pho shop near the cathedral.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $1.55Long-running beef pho shop with a queue-and-pay system.
Hoan Kiem · Experiences1/3 creators
FreeRailway viaduct arches painted with murals of old Hanoi.
Ba Dinh · Experiences1/3 creators
from $0.39Taoist temple near Truc Bach Lake with a large bronze statue.
43Tam Vi
Ba Dinh · Food1/3 creators
One-Michelin-star restaurant for northern Vietnamese home cooking in a vintage setting.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
Old Quarter rooftop bar with city and Red River views.
Hoan Kiem · Food1/3 creators
from $1.55Trackside cafe on Train Street.
46Trang An
Ninh Binh, about 90 km S of Hanoi · Experiences1/3 creators
Karst landscape explored by rowing boat through caves and rivers.
Cau Giay · Experiences1/3 creators
from $1.55Museum of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, with full-size traditional houses outdoors.
Hanoi questions travellers ask
How many days do you need in Hanoi?+
The 3 creator itineraries we compare for Hanoi run from 3 to 4 days. The most common length is 3 days.
How much does a trip to Hanoi cost?+
Typical spend per person per day, including half a double room: backpacker about $23, mid-range about $63, luxury about $187 (checked October 2026).
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?+
The best months for Hanoi are Mar–Apr, Dec–Jan, based on rainfall, temperature and crowds month by month.
What are the top things to do in Hanoi?+
The things creators recommend most in Hanoi: Hanoi Train Street (3 of 3 creators), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (3 of 3 creators), Hoa Lo Prison Relic (3 of 3 creators), Hoan Kiem Lake (3 of 3 creators) and St. Joseph's Cathedral (3 of 3 creators).
Where should you eat in Hanoi?+
The food spots creators recommend most: Ta Hien Beer Street in Hoan Kiem, Banh Cuon Ba Xuan in Hoan Kiem, Banh My Tram in Hoan Kiem and Bun Bo Nam Bo Bach Phuong in Hoan Kiem.
Where should you stay in Hanoi?+
Creators' hotel picks include Capella Hanoi, Hanoi EcoStay and Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel. Popular areas to stay: Hoan Kiem (French Quarter) and Hoan Kiem.
Which eSIM should you get for Vietnam?+
We compare 43 Vietnam eSIM plans from 5 providers. The cheapest is Saily 1GB 7 days at $3.99 for 7 days. Pick by how much data you use and how long you stay.