17 Unique Things To Do In Hanoi, Vietnam With 2 Day Itinerary

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Hanoi is the loud, chaotic and energetic capital city in Vietnam we think you need to visit at least once in your lifetime. With history spanning thousands of years, there’s so much to see including sacred pagodas, interesting museums, a fascinating coffee culture and delicious food scene not to mention the affordable prices.

In this guide we share our favorite things to do in Hanoi including tips for your trip. We also share an example two day itinerary to help you maximize your time in the city.

Our Experience

Photo of Mark and Kristen from Where Are Those Morgans posing with a basket of fruit
Mark and Kristen posing for a photo in Hanoi

We spent 7 days in Hanoi during October 2018 as part of our honeymoon around the world. Prior to this trip, we traveled around Japan for a few weeks so we used Hanoi as a base to catch up on some work. While it was a cheap place to stay, it wasn’t the best place to work when compared other destinations like Bangkok and Siem Reap. It was noisy, busy and more polluted than we expected.

But Hanoi offers unique experiences we think are worth seeing because it’s a fantastic way to learn about the country as a whole. And after spending more time than the average tourist in Hanoi, we’ve checked off most of the attractions on our Hanoi bucket list. Our goal is to help you make the most of your time here. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know Before Visiting

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city located in the northern portion of the S shaped country. It’s the second largest city in Vietnam and has the second largest population after Ho Chi Minh City which is located in the southern region.

Fortunately, Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is one of Vietnam’s two major international airports. This results in an enormous amount of flight options both internationally and domestically. Look out for VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and Bamboo for unbeatable value using Skyscanner. However, keep an eye out for tricky carry on baggage allowances if you’re backpacking.

Passenger Terminal T1 serves all the domestic airlines (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Bamboo) while Passenger Terminal T2 serves all of the international flights (Thai Airway, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, etc.) There’s also a free shuttle bus provided at Noi Bai Airport because the distance between each passenger terminals is quite a distance.

From Noi Bai International Airport, you’ll need to organize onward travel about 15 miles (25km) to downtown Hanoi via one of these methods:

  • Grab – This is essentially the Uber of southeast Asia. With the app and internet inside the airport, you can book a GrabCar straight to town for about 300,000 VND (about US $12.00). If you land at peak times, expect to pay more. You can also take a GrabBike for around 125,000 VND (about US $5.00) if you packed light.
  • Airport Shuttle – Some airlines offer an airport shuttle so it’s work checking. If you fly into Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines (look for the pink and white bus) or Vietjet (look for the red bus), their dedicated shuttle into town is about 40,000 VND (US $1.50) each way.
  • Public Bus – If you’re on a tight budget, the Hanoi city buses travel between Noi Bai Airport and Hanoi city center. Look for bus numbers 7 and 17 near the right side of the terminal exit. It costs 5,000 VND (US $0.20) per person and takes about one hour.
  • Private Shuttle – Prebook a private transfer in an air conditioned car with hotel drop off ahead of time. Here are a few good options:

Traveling by train is another option, especially if you’re beginning your Vietnam itinerary in the south. But journey times up and down the long narrow country can understandably put some people off. For example, if you were to take a train directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, it would take around 35 hours.

More likely you’ll be traveling up from Da Nang, Hue, Dong Hoi or Ninh Binh. Arrival into Hanoi at Ga Ha Noi is about a 20 minute walk from the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. We always like to book with 12Go Asia for the best price and service.

Now that we’ve figured out the logistics, let’s find the best things to do in Hanoi:

1. The Old And French Quarters

Exterior view of Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi's Old Quarter
St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the beautiful Old Quarter

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the commercial heartbeat of the city containing 36 alley-like streets overflowing with shops, restaurants, travel agencies and hotels. Interestingly, property tax in Hanoi is based on width of a building and that’s why this area is filled with high rise but narrow buildings.

An eclectic blend of Chinese, French, Vietnamese and even Russian influences throughout Hanoi’s colorful history have resulted in intriguing architecture. One of the most popular sites is St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Construction began in 1886 and the French government in Indochina based its architectural design on Notre Dame in Paris. The Cathedral is the shining light in Hanoi’s rat-run Old Quarter, especially at night when the Cathedral illuminates yellowy-black.

We like the Old Quarter for accommodation. Because not only will you find cheap options, but it’s close to many of the top attractions in Hanoi. Another option is to stay in the French Quarter which is a classier and more upmarket district than its Old Quarter. Hotels, restaurants and bars are fancier as they cater to a more international clientele. Here are a few popular walking tours:

The French Quarter is the place to be seen and offers a more relaxing evening in comparison to its much wilder sister district, the Old Quarter. Architecture in the French Quarter is early 20th century European. You’ll find that pavements are wider and much less chaotic here which will likely come as a welcome relief.

Both the Hanoi Opera House and the Museum of Vietnamese Women can be found in the French Quarter. You may notice the Hanoi Opera House is quite similar to the Opéra Palais Garnier in Paris. This is no coincidence as the Opera House in Hanoi was built by two French architects. If you’re interested in attending a show, be sure to stop by the front gate to check availability and purchase a performance ticket.

READ: Best places to visit in Vietnam

2. Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Structure in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake
Turtle Tower in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is a relatively large body of water separating the Old Quarter from the French Quarter in Hanoi’s busiest tourist region. It’s a natural freshwater lake that acts as a focal point attracting early morning runners and tourists strolling slowly around a pedestrian footway at the waters edge.

We found ourselves drawn towards the lake a few times each day as though we were magnetic opposites. Walking around the lake will take longer than you think, but it makes for a great walk anytime of the day. In our photo above, you’ll notice a lone grey empty building sitting on a small circular mound of soil and grass positioned in the center of the lake.

It’s called Turtle Tower and was built by the French in 1886 as a memoriam of a centuries old Vietnamese leader known as Le Loi. Today, this tower is seen as a symbol of unity for the Vietnamese as they endured French occupation.

Bridge of the rising sun at Ngoc Son temple
Rising Sun Bridge to Ngoc Son Pagoda

Ngoc Son Pagoda is a temple situated on a small island at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake and the general public can access it. To enter the temple, you must cross the Huc Bridge to Jade Island. The bridge itself is ruby red colored and very photogenic with the lake as a backdrop.

The Ncog Son Pagoda was built in commemoration of Tran Hung Dao, a famous military leader from the 13th century. You won’t need much time for a visit, but it’s always extremely busy. Entry costs 30,000 VND (about US$ 1.30) and it’s open from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily.

3. Hanoi’s Train Street

People waiting for the train to come on a street in Hanoi
Kristen waiting for the train on Hanoi’s famous Train Street

One of the most popular experiences in Hanoi is Train Street. While the railway extends all throughout Hanoi, there are two sections notably renowned for their train tracks. It’s very popular on social media providing a unique experience where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe as the train whizzes past you with only centimeters to spare.

Sadly, train street was closed abruptly in September 2022 by the Vietnamese Government. During this time, it was fully guarded and you could not enter, but it has now fully opened once again. Currently you can visit freely, but you must sit at a cafe along the side of the tracks or you may be yelled at by the guards patrolling the area.

Here are the two addresses you can visit with train times:

  • No 5 Tran Phu, Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi – Located north of the train station sitting on the edge of the Old Quarter. It’s easily accessible and often crowded. Trains scheduled for 8:30am, 9:30am, 11:50am, 3:15pm, 7:50pm, 9:15pm, 9:30pm and 10:00pm Monday to Friday with more trains on the weekends.
  • 224 Le Duan, Kham Thien, Dong Da, Hanoi – Another option south of the train station. We chose to visit here because it was much less touristy at the time. Trains scheduled for 6:10am, 11:40am, 3:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:10pm, 7:50pm and 9:00pm Monday to Sunday.

Many of the coffee shops are two stories and you’ll have to buy something if you want to wait for the train to come. However, tourists have mixed reviews with some reporting bad experiences dealing with locals. You can read recent reivews here and here.

Don’t expect trains to be on time because they are very inconsistent and sometimes vary throughout the year. You can ask a local about times, but you may have to be patient waiting for a train to finally come. This popular tour has almost 2,000 positive reviews combining a visit to train street with a walking food tour. It’s a good option if you don’t want to be left guessing by the train schedule.

4. Vietnamese Water Puppet Show

Thang long water puppet theatre show
Puppets dancing in water during a live show

A lotus water puppet show is one of the top rated things to do on our Hanoi itinerary. It’s a unique art form originating in Vietnam so we highly recommend booking a show when you’re in town.

For the performance, you’ll sit in a lovely theater watching a number of stories told about Vietnam’s history and culture through the art of puppeteering. We were thoroughly entertained throughout the show as dragons, dancers and drama both underwater as well as above surprised the audience.

There are 2 venues in Hanoi including Thang Long or Lotus. Both locations are right on the lake edge with Thang Long to the northeast and Lotus to the west. Thang Long is more popular and highly rated, you can book tickets in advance below or you can book tickets on site.

>> BOOK: Get Your Guide | Klook | Viator

 

5. One Pillar Pagoda

Side profile of the One Pillar Pagoda
Side view of the beautiful One Pillar Pagoda

The One Pillar Pagoda is a historic Buddhist temple dating back almost a thousand years. The name is derived from its distinctive structure built between 1028 and 1051. A small wooden temple sits atop a single stone pillar measuring 4m in height and just over 1 meter in diameter. The whole structure is located directly in the middle of a small lotus pond in the park behind Ong Ich Khiem Street.

According to the legend, Emperor Ly Thai Tong had a dream about a son being passed to him as he sat on a lotus flower. Because of this fantasy, the emperor commanded the temple to be built from a lotus pond in the shape of a lotus flower. Sadly, the pagoda had to be rebuilt after French forces destroyed it when they withdrew in 1954 following the end of the Indochinese war.

When we visited, we climbed the 13 small stairs representing fertility and posterity to enter the main hall of the temple. It was filled with a Buddha sitting on a wooden lotus surrounded by ornaments, food and candles meant as an offering.

READ: 30 key things to know about Vietnam

6. Eat At A MICHELIN Star Restaurant

Large basket of fried spring rolls, salad and dipping sauce
Our plate of spring rolls at Duong’s Restaurant

If you’re a foodie, Hanoi is the perfect travel destination for you because it has a diverse culinary culture. We were incredibly surprised by the variety of food available, the delicious street food options and the never ending amount of authentic restaurants. TripAdvisor even ranked Hanoi as the “Top Food Destination in 2024” and we very strongly agree.

There are currently 54 Hanoi restaurants on the MICHELIN guide which means they’re highly recommended and you can click here for the complete list. However, there are three official MICHELIN star restaurants including:

  • Hibana by Koki – 14-seat counter experience in the basement of Capella hotel serving teppanyaki dishes
  • Tầm Vị – Northern Vietnamese dishes offering a vintage tea house vibe
  • Gia – A 12-course set Vietnamese menu that changes with the seasons

When we visited Hanoi, we made it our goal to find some of the best food in town. One of our favorites was Duong’s Restaurant in the Old Quarter. The owner and head chef has appeared on both Vietnam Top Chef and Ironchef Vietnam which means you can expect the food to be top notch. It’s MICHELIN recommended and the service was another level. Each food item was described perfectly and it was very affordable even on a backpackers budget.

7. Take A Cooking Class

Another option to indulge yourself in the food scene is to take a cooking class. We didn’t book one because our Halong Bay cruise had a class offered onboard, but in hindsight we would have booked a class in Hanoi for the experience.

Many restaurants in Hanoi will advertise cooking classes on their menu or post advertising boards outside entrances. You can either walk in to ask about availability or book in advance if you’re sure of your dates. If you want to book online, here are popular options:

Make sure you read the descriptions before booking because there are various classes offered. Some will visit the market so you can purchase food for class while others offer a motorbike tour to popular places in town.

8. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Exterior view of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam
Soldiers standing outside of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This mausoleum is the resting place of Revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. It’s another must visit in Hanoi because Ho Chi Minh was a key figure in shaping the country as it is today. His body was embalmed in 1975 before being placed into a glass casket and put on display inside the mausoleum. It’s claimed that Ho Chi Minh’s body is still perfectly preserved even today and photography inside is not allowed.

There is also a fascinating story you can learn about if you choose to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum just a few minutes walk away. The mausoleum sits 22 meters high and can be found in Ba Dinh Square which is a huge open area filled with plants and flowers. It’s free to enter and here’s the official location. You can visit from 7:30am to 10:30am April to October and 8:00am to 11:00am November to March.

Travel Tip: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is about a two minute walk from the One Pillar Pagoda. It’s also very busy on weekends because many locals come to show their respects so visit during the week if possible.

9. Visit The Museums In Town

An exhibit showcasing prisoners at Hoa Lo Prison
Prisoner exhibit at Hoa Lo Prison

Visiting all of Hanoi’s museums was something we truly enjoyed because they offer a wealth of information. There are several different options in town so we’d recommend prioritizing the ones you want to see first and then visiting the others if you have time. Or you can book this museum tour because it features most of the museums we’ll discuss.

Here are popular museums in Hanoi:

  • Hoa Lo Prison – An old prison showcasing stores about the POWs from the Vietnam War (open 8:00am-5:00pm daily)
  • National Historical Museum – Two story building showcasing Buddhist art and ancient artifacts (open 8:100-12:00pm and 1:30pm to 5:00pm daily, closed Mondays)
  • Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum – Artwork from Vietnam throughout various periods in time (open 8:30am-5:00pm daily)
  • Vietnam Military History Museum – Showcasing Vietnamese military history with numerous artifacts and displays (open 8:00–11:30am and 1:00pm to 4:30pm daily, but closed Mondays and Fridays)
  • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – Featuring the various ethnic groups all throughout Vietnam
  • Vietnamese Women’s Museum – A collection dedicated to women’s history, culture and fashion in Vietnam (open 8:00am-5:00pm daily)

We visited the Hoa Lo Prison and the Vietnam Military History Museum. Both were good offering many displays in English, but several exhibits at the military museum were closed which was disappointing. It also seems the tanks, helicopters and planes have since been relocated to another museum.

Travel Tip: Prices to enter the museums range from 40,000-50,000 VND (about US $1.50-2.00) and many will charge an extra fee to take photographs.

10. Beer Street

Lots of visitors enjoying a beer on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam
People scattered on Beer Street during a busy night

A visit to Hanoi wouldn’t be complete without drinking a beer at one of the many vendor bars along Ta Hien Street, colloquially known as Beer Street. In essence, this is the place to party in Hanoi. However, there are also restaurants offering cheap food and beer during the day.

Beer street is always teeming with fun loving backpackers. Local craft breweries often sell their own beer to thirsty tourists from all over the world. It’s such a sight to see everyone revel together on tiny plastic chairs congregated around tiny plastic tables. We had a few fun nights on Beer Street meeting both locals and tourists.

Man drinking a Hanoi beer at a table
Mark enjoying a beer in town

After grabbing a few beers, you can then head to one of Hanoi’s many sky bars. To the northeast of Hoan Kiem Lake, you’ll find 3 in close proximity including:

Prices here are a little higher than the street level bars but that’s to be expected with a rooftop bar, often inside the swankiest hotels in the Old Quarter. The suggestions above are more for those travelers with a healthy budget.

For backpackers and low budget visitors an alternative is Legend Beer which is a bit cheaper and cheerful. It’s not a rooftop bar but it still offers elevated views over the pedestrian area on the northern edge of Hoan Kiem Lake. If you visit, grab a seat on the second story overlooking the streets below. It’s a great spot to watch the traffic unfold from above.

11. Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long

Exhibit at the Imperial citadel of thang long in Hanoi
The famous flag tower constructed in 1812

Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a complex of buildings constructed in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty. It was built from the remains of an older Chinese fortress dating back to the 7th century. The Citadel played an essential role in Vietnam’s political dominance and was the center of regional political power for almost 13 centuries.

Sadly, when Hanoi was controlled by the French as the capital of Indochina from 1902–1945 many buildings were demolished. Then under Japanese control in 1945, about 4000 French colonial soldiers were briefly imprisoned inside the citadel. But in 2009, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was officially added one of Vietnam’s ten special national heritage sites and it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

It has since undergone extensive renovations and visitors can see various points of interests including Doan Mon (main gate), Cua Bac (northern gate),  Hanoi Flag Tower, Lady Pavilion, D67 Revolutionary House, Kinh Thien Palace and some archaeological sites. The Citadel costs 30,000 VND to enter and it’s open from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily.

READ: Our Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour from Hue to Hoi An

12. Temple of Literature

An ancient temple and flag in Hanoi
An intricate white stone temple with dragons

The Temple of Literature is one of many temples dedicated to Confucius. Built in 1070 during the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông, the temple can be seen on the back of the 100,000 VND banknote. It’s located south of the Imperial Citadel and also hosts the Imperial Academy which is Vietnam’s first national university.

We think the Temple of Literature is a stunning place to visit because it’s nestled amidst beautifully landscaped grounds. It’s common to see students praying for good grades at the various alters. You can also visit the various halls, ponds and gardens with extremely picturesque courtyards. The Temple of Literature costs 30,000 VND to enter and it’s open 8:00am to 5:00pm daily.

13. Tran Quoc Pagoda

Exterior view of Tran quoc pagoda
The gorgeous exterior of Tran Quoc Pagoda

The oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi is the Tran Quoc Pagoda and it’s located about 3km (about 1.8 miles) from the Old Quarter. It was originally built in 548 on the banks of the Red River to the east and it’s extremely photogenic.

However, this Buddhist structure was relocated to its current spot on a small island within Hanoi’s west lake once the river began to get a little too close for comfort. Tran Quoc stands at 15m tall and consists of 11 levels gradually getting smaller in circumference the higher they go. A red bricked path must be followed through a canary-yellow gated entrance to reach the pagoda.

You can expect the area surrounding the temple to be busy, especially on the 1st and 15th of the lunar calendar when incense is offered. It’s free to visit with opening hours from 7:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-5:30pm daily. We walked to the pagoda, but you can easily take a Grab and it took about 30 minutes to visit.

Travel Tip: If you choose to visit, it’s important that your shoulders are covered. There will be many people outside the pagoda trying to sell you items to cover up.

14. Visit Hanoi’s Markets

Flowers for sale outside a shop in Vietnam
Flower arrangements outside a shop

There are a few different markets in Hanoi if you want to do a little shopping when you’re in town. Like all markets in southeast Asia, you’ll need to bargain hard to get the best price so make sure you come prepared.

The most popular is Hanoi’s Night Market. However, it’s only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Reviews are mixed, but we enjoyed our time at the night market. It’s located in the center of the Old Quarter with many vendors selling Vietnamese products and souvenirs. If you make the most the atmosphere, it can be a fun time in Hanoi.

Another option is the Dong Xuan Market. It’s Hanoi’s largest indoor market, but we were hugely underwhelmed. We thought it was difficult to find anything unique or interesting having visited several other markets around the world. The alleyways are extremely narrow and vendors only seemed to sell at certain times. We also ran into a few tourists who were upset because they had been cheated by the weighing scales.

15. Egg Coffee And Egg Waffles

Two egg waffles and an egg coffee
Our egg coffee and waffles from Take Eat Easy

In Vietnam, egg coffee (Cà Phê Trung) is a delicacy originating in Hanoi. Egg yolks were used in place of milk, which was scarce due to short supply as a result of the post Vietnam war trade embargo. It’s contains the yolk of eggs, condensed milk, sugar and coffee. Sometimes you’ll be served a small coffee mug placed above a candle with a hollow bottom to allow air to pass through like you can see in our photo above.

Our top recommendation for coffee is Dream Beans Coffee which you’ll find nestled in the Old Quarter. It’s always high rated and for good reason. The care and effort they put in to create the perfect cup of coffee each time is completely worth their number one rating.

If you’re interested in learning about Vietnamese coffee, this workshop is very popular. You’ll learn how to make 5 different types of coffee including egg coffee, coconut coffee, iced coffee with milk, pour over coffee and signature coffee.

After enjoying a cup of egg coffee, we also highly recommend you try some egg waffles or eggettes. These are a delicious street snack originating out of Hong Kong but you’ll find them all over southeast Asia and they’re ridiculously moreish. There’s a brilliant little place close to St. Joseph’s Cathedral called Take Eat Easy where you can double up on trying egg coffee with an eggette together.

16. Book A Tour

We’ve covered a lot of things to do in this Hanoi guide and we know if can be really overwhelming trying to figure out what to see. So why not book a tour to meet like minded people or experience attractions in the city you might have missed.

Here are some of the most popular tours in Hanoi:

Make sure you read tour descriptions and recent traveler reviews before booking.

17. Lotte Observation Deck

The last Hanoi attraction on our list is one you typically don’t see on round up lists. We actually missed it during our visit because we didn’t know about it. Only after visiting Lotte World Tower in Seoul, we learned about the observation deck located on the 65th floor of the Lotte Center in Hanoi, Vietnam. Two high speed elevators bring you from level B1 to the 65th floor in just 50 seconds.

At the top, you’ll experience a large sky walk with glass floors and various themed zones. On a clear day, you can see most of Hanoi from Lotte Observation Deck. But if you visit on a rainy or smoggy day, you won’t be able to see much. It costs 200,000 VND (about US$ 8.00) and you can purchase tickets here.

Two Day Hanoi Itinerary

Streets filled with shops and motorbikes

We think you can hit Hanoi’s major highlights in 2 days. Many attractions are located close to one another so you can see a lot in two days if you plan well. After visiting, this is how we would’ve done it had we known all of this information first.

For this itinerary, we used the Old Quarter as a home base. We’ve also included times, but these serve as a baseline so you can adjust as needed. To get the most out of this itinerary, we highly recommend getting an early start each day. We also walked most of this itinerary, but you can motorbike or Grab too. It’s likely you’ll land the day before so take the night to relax before getting started the next day.

Hanoi Itinerary – Day 1

  • 8:00am – Take a leisurely stroll around the Old Quarter and stop at Dream Beans Cafe for an amazing robusta or egg coffee. Check out St. Joseph’s Cathedral on the way to Hoan Kiem Lake.
  • 10:00am – Once you arrive at the lake book your ticket for the 5:20pm puppet show (or skip if you’ve booked online). Walk clockwise around to Ngoc Son Pagoda and continue to half way around Hoan Kiem Lake, taking stops at regular intervals to see Turtle Tower in the center.
  • 11:00am – Walk into the heart of the French Quarter stopping first to quickly look at the Opera House before heading west to enter the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.
  • 1:00pm – A short walk to the west in the French Quarter is Hoa Lo Prison. A tour of the museum won’t take long. Grab some lunch before or after visiting.
  • 2:00pm – Head to Train Street for the 3:15pm or 3:30pm depending on the tracks you choose. Alternatively, you can use this time to visit another museum or head to the Lotte Observation Deck.
  • 4:00pm – Back to hotel to freshen up.
  • 5:00pm – Catch the 5:20pm Water Puppet Show you booked earlier.
  • 7:00pm – Duong’s Restaurant for an amazing dinner.
  • 9:00pm – Beer Street for a wilder night or a rooftop bar for a much more relaxing evening.

Travel Tip: Depending on how much time you wanted to spend at Train Street, you could book the 4:10pm show and then head to Train Street after.

Hanoi Itinerary – Day 2

  • 8:00am – Start the second day early. Take either a motorbike or GrabCar to Tran Quoc Pagoda. It’s a fair way up and would mean walking back on yourself otherwise.
  • 8:30am – Have a quick look around the pagoda. Head south along the road splitting the lake. There are great photo opportunities of boats and high rise buildings reflecting on the still surface. Before you reach Bai Dinh square you’ll pass a huge 1900’s yellow French colonial mansion.
  • 9:30am – Arrive at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and hopefully the line isn’t too bad.
  • 11:00am – You’ll find One Pillar Pagoda a short walk from the mausoleum. The Ho Chi Minh Museum is a few minutes walk from here for those who are interested.
  • 11:30am – Head southeast towards Old Quarter. Make your next stop at Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
  • 1:00pm – Right next door is the Military History Museum and iconic Hanoi Flag Tower.
  • 2:00pm – Make your way over to the Tower of Literature and head back to the Old Quarter when you’re finished.
  • 3:00pm – Use this afternoon to take a tour, cooking class, visit an additional museum or book a massage.
  • 7:30pm – Try some eggettes for dessert after your cooking class and visit the Hanoi Weekend Market if you’re visiting during the weekend.

And there you have your action packed 2 day Hanoi itinerary! As long as you follow the itinerary and our interactive map below, you’ll easily be able to see everything. It’s a busy itinerary so cut some things if you want to go at a slower pace.

Where To Stay In Hanoi

A large bed and bathroom inside a hotel room
Our large hotel room in Hanoi

Now let’s take a look at our top rated places to stay in Hanoi. We stayed at a hotel that had good ratings at the time, but it seems the owners have not taken good care of the property so we can no longer recommend it. But the goos news is there’s an enormous amount of affordable accommodation all over the Old Quarter.

Here are popular hotel options by price range:

  • Rising Dragon Legend (budget) – A 2 minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake on the north side including buffet breakfast and excellent rooms
  • Sunline Central Hotel (budget) – Amazing location with modern rooms, bike rentals and restaurant on site
  • Eliana Premio Hotel (budget) – 4 star option with a terrace and restaurant featuring some rooms with a balcony
  • Solaria Hanoi (mid-range) – Less than a 1 minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake on its northwest side with gorgeous rooms, a business center and rooftop terrace
  • Oriental Jade Hotel (mid-range) – Excellent location in the middle of town with restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, terrace and bar
  • Peridot Grand Hotel (luxury) – Located a little further from the lake but more peaceful and offering 2 restaurants, 3 bars, amazing rooftop pool, fitness center plus spa

If you want to see more hotel options, click here and search by “Wonderful 9+” hotel stays in the Old Quarter. Many hotels offer breakfast in the room rate so check before booking.

Our Interactive Map

Use the interactive map above to help orientate yourself when you visit Hanoi. Click to activate the map. We’ve included the best things to do that we already mentioned in this guide. Or you can access our map via this link here.

Map Key:

  • Red – Our top attractions
  • Yellow – Restaurants and bars
  • Dark Blue – Hotel Recommendations
  • Black – Transportation hubs

Follow the itinerary as outlined above and plot your route using our map.

The Morgan Conclusion

Mark and Kristen Morgan taking a photo on Hanoi's train street
Mark and Kristen walking along the track at train street

What we like: The attractions such as the Water Puppet show, Temple of Literature, Ho Loa Prison and Hoan Kiem Lake are very unique. We enjoyed many of our meals because there’s such a great selection of street food and restaurants if you know where to go. We also highly recommend you sample several different coffees.

What we didn’t like: After spending 7 days in Hanoi, we got really sick of the relentless honking and traffic. It became a production just to cross the road and we had too many close calls. The aggressive street vendors also target tourists so you have to learn very quickly how to ignore them or tell them no. Like many cities, the pollution and cleanliness is better in certain parts of town.

Is Hanoi worth visiting? Yes, we think Hanoi is worth visiting because it showcases unique architecture combining southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. It’s also one of the oldest capital cities in the world featuring numerous historical sites that are thousands of years old. To enjoy it here, you have to appreciate the city for what it is and know what you’re getting into.

More From Vietnam

Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.


We hope our list of things to do in Hanoi helps with planning your visit to Vietnam’s capital city!

Please let us know if you have any questions about traveling through northern Vietnam in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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2 thoughts on “17 Unique Things To Do In Hanoi, Vietnam With 2 Day Itinerary”

    • Hi Denis, In September 2022, the Vietnamese government closed down all of train street due to safety concerns. A few of our readers have recently told us as of Jan 2023, there are now barricades to block visitors from visiting the various sections along train street. We have also seen reports of tourists being overcharged to enter other sections of the tracks.

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