Let’s get straight to the point, you only need 2 days in Hanoi, Vietnam. We wished we’d known that before we booked a week in Vietnam’s capital city. But our experience allows us to offer you some advice. There’s a lot to see in Vietnam and you might not have that much time.
In this guide we share several reasons why we think you only need a few days in Hanoi. It’s filled with ancient pagodas, history museums and well preserved French colonial buildings, but the good news is many of the top attractions are located very close to one another.
Our Experience
We spent 7 days in Hanoi and we used it as a base to catch up some work including this blog. In truth, Hanoi was battling for the top spot on our big cities list when we first visited in 2018. We had poured over stories and articles waxing poetic about a magically wonderful city with tons of attractions. But when we finally arrived in Hanoi, it wasn’t what we expected at all.
At the end of our trip, we didn’t love Hanoi, but we didn’t hate it either. Vietnam’s capital city took some time to grow on us and we’re not in a rush to revisit anytime soon. Looking back, we’re extremely happy we visited because we do have some great memories as backpackers (Beer street anyone?!). And we’d still recommend Hanoi to travelers, but it’s certainly a chaotic city that wears on you day after day. Read more about us.
We think two days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Hanoi and here are 8 strong reasons why:
1. Low Return Visitors
In modern history, Hanoi was occupied by the French from the late 1800’s until WWII when Japanese forces took control of the capital city in an attempt to block China importing fuel and weapons. Following the end of WWII, the French re-assumed power and so began the French Indochina war lasting 9 years, ultimately ending in the demise of French rule. Unfortunately, war was very quickly upon Hanoi once more just a year later and the Vietnam War would last 20 years until 1975.
Hanoi has even retained much of its French influence, particularly its colonial-era architecture. So much this capital city in Vietnam is often dubbed the ‘Paris of the East.” But Hanoi is not your typical modern, skyscraper heavy, state of the art shopping mall type of city. Far from it.
It’s more like a rat run of thousands of narrow alleyways and passages all intertwined, creating a labyrinthine network perfect for motorbikes. Tired looking two, three and four story buildings filled with restaurants, tour agencies, massage parlors and cafe’s spill out into these streets.
When we visited in 2018, Vietnam was one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world with an increase of 16.2% visitation for 2019. The pandemic stunted growth for a few years, but tourism again saw remarkable numbers in 2023 with an impressive 12.6 million international tourists. There’s certainly a buzz going around in Vietnam and we could feel it when we were there.
But we saved the most important statistic for last. Although the data is a few years old now, but the point remains true and we think it’s extremely thought provoking. As little as 6% of visitors return to visit Vietnam again. Compare that to Thailand’s 60-70% return tourist rate and you find yourself in trouble.
So if you’ve recently traveled to Vietnam, would you return soon? Keep in mind that number represents Vietnam on the whole and not just Hanoi.
2. Effective Time Management
Most foreigners need a visa prior to entering Vietnam. As of August 15th 2023, all countries and territories around the world can apply for an E-visa through an online application process prior to arrival.
Follow the steps below to obtain an E-visa prior to your trip:
- Go to the National Web Portal on Immigration
- Click the selection: “For Foreigners”
- Upload passport data page and passport photo (looking straight without glasses/hat)
- Pay the non-refundable E-visa fee (US $25 for one entry or $50 for multiple entries)
- Look for an email with a registration code to check the status of your E-visa
- Your application will be processed in 3-5 working days (sometimes sooner depending on volume)
- Once approved, print your E-visa and save one copy to your phone
All E-visas are valid for up to 90 days. This is a big improvement from when we visited because we only had 30 days in Vietnam and spending 7 of these precious days in Hanoi was one of our biggest regrets. Even though visitors can now spend more time in the country, it’s important to think about your time management. Underestimating the sheer size of Vietnam can be an easy thing to do.
Personally, we think your time would be better spent in more beautiful parts of the country. We think Vietnam is not the place to visit the big city. It’s a country to get in touch with nature and see unique landscapes. Some of our favorite destinations include Sapa, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An and Phong Nha.
READ: Best places to visit in Vietnam
3. Relentless Honking
There is an electric atmosphere in Hanoi. The city is an assault on your senses. At first, we remember the chaos to be exciting. But it can get old fast, especially if you’re attempting to work remotely.
Thousands of scooters honking all day every day breaks you down very quickly. The inescapable cacophony is loud and irritating. It’s the never ending stream of honking that begins to make you question your sanity.
They will honk as they turn corners, they will honk as they overtake and they will honk if they are overtaken. They will honk at pedestrians, they will honk at the sun and they will honk at their own reflections in the wing mirrors. It will come as no surprise that they also honk before they even start the damn motorbikes just to check if the horn is working. You get the point.
After spending some time in Hanoi, you’ll begin to wonder why horns were ever put on motorbikes in the first place as you begin to dream about honking in your sleep. This is what our time in Hanoi began to look like:
Grabbing a quick coffee in the morning? Honking.
Walking to the next museum on the itinerary? Honking.
Eating in a restaurant? Honking.
Asleep at 3am? Nope. Honk Honk.
After just a few days of this our ears were bleeding. So going back to our point, you can easily take the relentless honking in Hanoi if you minimize your time to around 2 days.
4. Ridiculous Traffic
We couldn’t decide which adjective best describes Hanoi’s traffic. Our shortlist consisted of ludicrous, farcical, preposterous and absurd. We went with ridiculous. But it’s all of those things. People might say something like “it’s all part of the fun” or “you just have to be confident, walk slowly and they’ll go round you.” These are both correct statements but nothing can prepare you for the bedlam.
And it’s fine for a few days, until even those with the patience of a saint will find themselves with irrational feelings of hostility. The best way to tell if a tourist is new to Hanoi or if they’ve been in town a few days is watching to see how they cross roads:
- Exhibit New Tourist: A newbie will nervously but excitedly attempt to put the first foot forward but then pull back as there’s a motorbike coming 10 feet away. With head turning on a swivel to take note of every incoming scooter and calculating the exact moment to strike then stopping half way across and panicking.
- Exhibit Hanoi Veteran (just 2 days in): The experienced tourist will walk up to the road and simply begin to cross without even looking, knowing that all motorbikes will maneuver around said tourist.
Jokes aside, traffic in Hanoi is annoying, frustrating and induces anxiety. For the locals, this is their way of life. But the truth is it can be overwhelming. Constantly weaving through motorbikes becomes tiresome very quickly.
5. Being Ripped Off
We had read northern Vietnam could be hostile for tourists at times. And while this was true on occasions, most people were great. But sometimes all it takes is one to have a bad taste in your mouth. During our time in Hanoi, we met several tourists who had told us the locals blatantly ripped them off in in the markets. We also had our fair share of locals trying to take advantage with photo opportunities.
The worst incident came when we were sat on a bench near West Lake when two women appeared behind us and just plonked a bamboo stick with a hanging fruit basket on our shoulders. They demanded we instantly pay them for the photo opportunity and started aggressively yelling at us in the street.
After a few similar experiences, we began to feel like a walking dollar sign. We were constantly asked to pay a much higher price compared to the locals or the prices would drastically increase as it was time to pay. It wasn’t every time, but when it happens everyday, it’s not a nice feeling.
The best advice we can give you to help address this problem is to understand the Vietnamese currency in depth. Do a little research and see how much a taxi ride should cost from point A to B before you get in the car. Knowledge is power and if you stand your ground, you’ll have a much better time in Hanoi.
READ: Tips to know about Vietnam before visiting
6. We Were Robbed
Unfortunately, after traveling to over 40 countries, the only place we’ve ever been robbed is Vietnam. Now this isn’t meant to scare you but to prepare you. An employee at the hotel we were staying at snuck into our hotel room and stole money straight out of our luggage when we were at the pool.
We blame ourselves on this occasion because we had gotten too comfortable and trusting by leaving money in the room. But our money wasn’t in plain sight and it was hidden extremely well in a suitcase. Someone had to give our suitcase a good rummage to find the cash.
Our hotel did not have a safe and the other option was to bring our money to the pool which also isn’t a great idea. So we now always carry master locks to put our suitcases for an extra layer of security when there is no safe. The moral of the story is that no matter how comfortable you feel, try to remember you’re still in a foreign place. Don’t let you’re guard down because things may not always be what they seem.
READ: How much did we spend for one month in Vietnam?
7. Hanoi Isn’t A Walkable City
We’re avid hikers and we always try to walk anywhere we visit. It’s the best way to get your bearings and understand the city like a local plus build up your own internal map. But Hanoi isn’t a fun city to walk around. In fact, Hanoi is a complete pain in the butt to discover on foot. This isn’t just the Old Quarter we’re talking about either.
There’s a constant juggling act of concentrating hard on not being run over, dealing with the incessant honking, avoiding scams and melting in the humidity. We walked miles every day when we stayed in Hanoi which in hindsight, we might have been better off booking a tour or using Grab. Depending on what you what to do in Hanoi, just understand walking to all of the top attractions may not be the most comfortable option, but it’s doable.
Here are popular tour options if you want to avoid the headache of getting around yourself:
8. Infrastructure Problems
The infrastructure in Vietnam needs to be improved for the country to continue growing at this rate. Interestingly, Vietnam is no longer viewed as a developing country and its economy has been growing at an astonishing rate. But while Hanoi receives huge tourism numbers, it doesn’t appear to be making any obvious improvements in waste, cleanliness, tourist safety or transport.
Hanoi’s infrastructure certainly does not correlate with the positive financial impact on their economy from dramatically increased tourism. Even Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the focal point of tourism splitting the Old and French Quarter as the gravitational heart of Vietnam’s capital city, is quite dull and tired. But it’s the only place you can remotely escape the traffic so there are regularly masses of people congregated.
A report from September 2022, discusses why Vietnam’s infrastructure is crucial for economic growth. Demand in the tourism sector has been increasing year after year but there are no building blocks being put into place to support that demand. The key takeaway is that infrastructure is severely lagging behind. Continued growth requires stability and Vietnam has yet to implement this. Here’s a great article on how Vietnam can achieve global prominence.
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: The low cost of living in Hanoi is great for budget travelers. There are many unique attractions along with an endless amount of delicious food ranging from MICHELIN star options to cheap street vendors. Hanoi is also seamlessly connected with other parts of the country so it’s easy to get around and it has decent internet compared to other rural locations.
What we didn’t like about Hanoi: The traffic is difficult to wrap your head around and the drivers don’t really care about anyone else on the road. The streets are often extremely busy, filled with trash and lots of pollution. It can also be difficult to get to know the locals because it’s hard to tell if they’re being genuine or just being nice because they want your money.
Our overall thoughts: We think Hanoi is definitely worth seeing, but don’t spend all of your time in the city. There’s an energy in Vietnam’s capital city, but you only need a few days to experience it. Hanoi can also be a culture shock for travelers new to southeast Asia. Two days is plenty of time to see the top sights in Hanoi if you plan well. We think you’re time should be spent exploring the other beautiful regions in Vietnam.
More From Vietnam
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- Unique attractions in Hanoi you can’t miss
- How to spend a few days in Sapa
- Hanoi to Halong bay transportation guide
- The perfect Ninh Binh itinerary
- How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An
- What to see in adventurous Phong Nha
- Why we always recommend Hoi An
- Our popular 10 Vietnam itinerary
- How to spend 3 weeks in Vietnam
- Guide to booking a Halong Bay cruise
- How to drive the Hai Van Pass by motorbike
- Tips for getting into Hue’s abandoned waterpark
Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.
We hope our honest opinion about how to spend your time in Hanoi helps you finalize your Vietnam itinerary!
Please let us know if you have any questions about Hanoi or Vietnam in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.