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Hanoi is an unmissable city on any Vietnam itinerary, this crazy capital is full of culture, history, vibrant nightlife and some of the best food in Vietnam. This guide includes a list of 11 of the best things to do during one week in Hanoi, travel tips for first-time visitors to Hanoi, and suggestions on where to stay.
As of 2022 Hanoi is home to 5,067,000 people, yes the streets are busy but don’t let that turn you off. There are so many good reasons why 5 million people call Hanoi home. Some love it, some hate it, but Hanoi is a city you need to experience for yourself.
How Many Days in Hanoi?
Basing yourself for one week in Hanoi would be perfect, as this will also give you time to do day trips to Halong Bay or Ninh Binh.
Although if you just wanted to experience Hanoi and then move on to your next destination, 4-5 days in the city would be awesome. This would give you time to see all the Hanoi highlights.
Must-Do’s During One Week in Hanoi
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a complex of historic buildings, built in the 11th century by the Vietnamese Ly dynasty.
Located in the heart of the city, it’s easy to reach by walking and entry will cost 30,000 VND.
The main gate and the Hanoi flag tower are two of the highlights. Plus there’s also a museum and underground meeting rooms you can visit. Those rooms were used for planning during the Vietnam war.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Water puppet theatre has been around since 1969. This wasn’t originally on my list of things to do in Hanoi until a friend mentioned it to me. And, I figured if she liked it I should give it a go.
I’m so glad I went as this was such a beautiful cultural experience and also very unique. The narration is in Vietnamese, so I couldn’t exactly follow along but I got the gist of the storyline and always stayed entertained by the traditional music and all the colourful puppets.
Tickets for the shows should be purchased in advance from the theatre, which is located next to Hoan Kiem lake. The ticket prices cost between 100,000 – 200,000 VND, the most expensive seats are closer to the stage.
I purchased seats in the middle section of the theatre, although this was reasonably close to the stage, the theatre isn’t on much of a slant, so being short I saw a lot of the back of people’s heads. So depending on your height it may be worth paying extra and getting seats up the front.
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake is the most relaxing place you will find in Hanoi. And, it’s located right in the middle of the city, making it easy to stop by at any time of day.
This freshwater lake is somewhat of a mythical place for locals, I had read that since their school days they learn stories about the most revered heroes, a giant turtle, and a magic sword in Hoan Kiem Lake.
Also, the roads surrounding the lake are closed every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. So people can walk with ease, and during my time in Hanoi, there were also a number of markets set up around the lake.
At the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, there’s a beautiful red bridge (called Cau The Huc) connecting to Ngoc Son Temple. This is actually the most visited temple in Hanoi and entry will cost 30,000VND.
Explore Old Quarter on Foot
Soak up the best Vietnamese culture by exploring Old Quarter on foot. This is the best way to explore the area and take in all it has to offer. This cramped area has all the best bits of Hanoi, such as food, nightlife and original architecture.
But if exploring by foot and weaving through the traffic & narrow streets isn’t an option for you. There are plenty of local rickshaw drivers that could take you around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The price would depend on how long you want to be gone, just make sure you haggle for a price you’re both happy with.
Best Food in Hanoi
Eating while in Hanoi should go without saying but make sure you try a number of different restaurants while in the city. It’s all so delicious, one of my favourite things about Vietnam was how diverse the food in each region is. Some of the most authentic things to try in Hanoi are; Pho, Bun Cha, Egg Coffee, Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls), Sticky Rice and Banh Mi.
One of the most popular places in Hanoi for a Banh Mi is Banh Mi 25. This restaurant is very popular with tourists, so the prices are slightly higher but they make the best Vegan Banh Mi.
And two other Vegan restaurants to try during your one week in Hanoi are Huong Viet and Banh My Vegan.
One of the unique things about dishes in Vietnam is they often come with multiple plates and it’s hard to know what to dip in what or what to wrap in what. So a way to solve that problem is by joining a food tour with a local who will explain everything.
There are many food tours available on Viator, so doesn’t necessarily have to be a vegan one.
Beer Street Hanoi
Cities all over Southeast Asia have walking streets, which close off to traffic and come alive after dark. Ta Hien Beer Street is the classic place for travellers to take a seat on tiny plastic chairs and enjoy a drink with a fellow foreigner.
Located in the Old Quarter, Ta Hien Beer Street in Hanoi is jam-packed with bars, local restaurants and street vendors. The street is less than 300m long but there is no shortage of places to drink. The street starts to get busy from 5 pm.
Dong Xuan Market (wholesale)
If you want to do shopping during your stay in Hanoi, this is definitely the place to go. Dong Xuan Market is indoors and absolutely jam-packed with products, if it’s available in Vietnam you’d definitely find it here!
Like any busy & crammed market in Asia, you need to be in the mood to barter and constantly be hustled. Thankfully this market opens every day from 6 am – 6 pm, so you’ll have plenty of shopping opportunities during your time in Hanoi.
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House is an impressive building located in Central Hanoi. Built by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911.
The Opera House is impressive from the outside but is located on a very busy road. If you wanted photos of the opera house without all the traffic, it’s recommended you visit early in the morning.
The absolute best way to experience this stunning Opera House is by booking tickets to one of the shows held there. Check out this website to see what shows are on during your time in Hanoi.
St Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi
St Joseph’s Cathedral, located on Nha Chung Street in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi. This gothic-style Cathedral is amazing and definitely worth stopping by for a closer look. It also might look familiar to some, this cathedral is very similar to the Notre Dame in Paris.
The front view of St Joseph’s cathedral is available all the time, but to visit the inside of the cathedral, travellers are only permitted inside during ceremonial practice.
Check out this website for mass schedules.
Entrance to the Cathedral is free and dressing modestly is required.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
This mausoleum is where you can see Vietnam’s former President Ho Chi Minh’s body laying at rest in a glass box and he is always surrounded by 4 guards.
Visiting the mausoleum is free but there’s a dress code, no short skirts or revealing tops. Then once inside visitors can’t talk, point fingers or take photos. Also, backpacks aren’t allowed inside but there’re lockers where you can leave your bag.
Train Street in Hanoi
So this was actually my favourite place to visit in Hanoi, the cafes which lined the train tracks were all decked out in their own unique way. They offer plenty of food & drink, and of course, awesome viewpoints to see the local train rush past. It’s insane how close the train gets, the photos don’t do it justice.
Train street did close in mid-2022 after a tourist was injured, but this has since reopened and is still a very popular place for tourists today.
Many of the cafes will display the train schedule so you can plan a visit around that. I suggest arriving at least half an hour prior, this will give you the opportunity to take photos on the tracks and get a good table at one of the many cafes.
Railway Cafe is the “original” cafe along train street. This was the cafe that started it all but I would recommend it because it really does have the best viewpoint. Just after the bend in the tracks so there’s an awesome view of the train approaching, plus they have seating along both sides of the track.
If you have enough time, visiting Train Street during the day and night is well worth it as well.
Day Trips From Hanoi
Hanoi is located in Northern Vietnam, which is a massive area but there are still some incredible places you can visit for just one day. Providing a great option for those who wanted to minimize packing up and moving to a new city.
Day Trip to Ninh Binh
After a month in Vietnam, Ninh Binh was one of my absolute favourite places. I do recommend spending at least one night in Ninh Binh but if that’s not an option for you, a day trip from Hanoi will still be amazing.
This day tour generally has a duration of 10-11 hours and includes an early morning pick-up.
Ninh Binh is a rural area in Vietnam, also known as the inland Halong Bay. And, is a great place to escape the bustling streets of Hanoi.
Some of the best things to do in Ninh Binh are a bamboo boat ride, Mua Caves, Bich Dong Pagoda and Van Long Nature Reserve.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam and for good reason, Halong Bay is absolutely stunning.
During my recent trip to Vietnam, I did a 1-night cruise on halong bay. I definitely think this is worth the time & money, but if it’s not an option for you a day trip would still be totally worth it.
A day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi will still allow you to experience many of the highlights including visiting Titop island & Luon cave. And, time for swimming and kayaking. Without the hassle of packing your bags and moving to new accommodation.
Where to Stay in Hanoi
Hanoi is a crazy city with a lot of unique areas and as a first-time traveller, it can be difficult to know where to base yourself.
I did find Hanoi to be a very walkable city, but if needed booking a Grab is a cheap & reliable option. If you were to stay in Hanoi for a week, I wouldn’t recommend switching locations as you’d still have easy access to all the best things to do in Hanoi.
Below are 3 neighbourhoods I suggest looking at when booking accommodation in Hanoi.
Old Quarter
The congested streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter are a sensory overload. So much traffic, different smells, food stalls and local people happily enjoying a beer after work. Once you get the hang of crossing the road (no one will stop and let you pass, so take a deep breath and walk straight), you’re spoilt for choice.
Small locally run restaurants around every corner, beautiful buildings that date back hundreds of years, markets and a fun nightlife scene. Old Quarter is, in my option, the best neighbourhood in Hanoi, you will never run out of things to see or do here.
French Quarter
The French Quarter sits to the south and east of Hoan Kiem Lake and is a nice change of pace from Old Quarter. There are actually footpaths in this neighbourhood! The architecture in the French Quarter is one of the highlights and staying close to Hoan Kiem Lake would be perfect for those wanting a nice & open area for a morning walk.
Then to the east of the lake, there are heaps of awesome restaurants, all cheap and very authentic Vietnamese food. Make sure you try Pho & Sticky Rice.
Ba Dinh
This district is to the west of Old Quarter and where most of the historical monuments are found, such as; Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Temple of literature and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Unlike Old Quarter there are plenty of wide footpaths and pedestrian crossings, so exploring the area by foot is very comfortable.
Also, the botanical gardens are found in Ba Dinh and are the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city streets.
How to Get to Hanoi From the Airport
Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) is approximately 25km from Hanoi Old Quarter. This airport is very busy and upon exiting there will be a lot of drivers hoping for your business.
The cheapest option to get to the city from the airport is the express bus number 86. But this option can be very time-consuming and they don’t always leave on time.
There’s also a metered taxi rank at the airport, so the prices will depend on your exact destination but generally, the fare is around 250K VND.
By the time my husband and I got to Hanoi we had been backpacking for a few weeks in Thailand & Cambodia and were a little tired of the local transport options so decided to book a private transfer.
This actually wasn’t that expensive, we paid 17USD for two people and the service was awesome. The driver met us in the terminal, loaded our luggage into the car and dropped us out the front of our hotel, such a seamless process.
How to Get Around Hanoi
When it comes to Hanoi’s Old Quarter I would recommend walking. Walking on the roads, alongside the hundreds of bikes, cars and street vendors is an experience in itself. Plus, walking will allow you to see unique buildings & restaurants you may otherwise miss.
For journeys a bit further, Grab is very popular in Hanoi. This ride-share app is basically the same as Uber and trips are very cheap. I would also choose this option over hailing a taxi purely for convenience.
If you wanted to explore the streets but preferred not to walk, Hanoi is also full of rickshaws (or ‘Pedicab’). Drivers will set a price and can also give you a tour of the best sites in the city.
For longer journeys from Hanoi, sleeper buses or trains are the best options. Trains are generally more comfortable but buses are the cheapest. Visit 12Go for timetables and ticket purchases.
In Conclusion
Hanoi is one of my favourite cities in Vietnam, although it’s quite big I never felt overwhelmed by the chaos and I would spend each day exploring one neighbourhood at a time.
Here you will find ancient architecture, incredible authentic food, fun nightlife and historical sites that will broaden your knowledge of Vietnam.
In this guide, I have listed 11 of the best things to do in during one week in Hanoi, travel tips and suggestions on where to stay in Hanoi. I hope you have found all of the above helpful in planning your trip to Hanoi.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
If you’d like more tips on visiting Hanoi and other parts of Vietnam check out the below guide. Which is jam-packed full of helpful information on travelling in Vietnam.
Vietnam Travel Guides: Important Things To Know Before Traveling To Vietnam
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
I’ve never been to Vietnam but this itinerary really has something for everyone! The market, great food, and history really look like they’d make for a great adventure. I’ll definitely be referring back to this as I plan my next trip.
Thank you so much for your comment Chelsea, it’s definitely an amazing city
Hi, we’re beginning to plan a trip to Hanoi and we’re wondering if it’s worth doing a two night cruise in Halong Bay?
If you have the time and budget a two-night cruise would be great, that would give you more time to relax but also not overly necessary. A 1 night / 2 day trip still gives you the chance to see heaps.
On the travel wish list! Would love to visit Vietnam and plan some time in Hanoi. Your post shows there are lots of things to see and do if we planned to see the highlights in 4-5 days. I would certainly use Hanoi as a base to explore places like Halong Bay.
Hanoi is an awesome place go visit. I had the chance to stay there for three days a couple of years ago and then headed to Halong Bay for a few nights. Both are must see places while in Vietnam.
I used to live in Hanoi for nearly 3 years so this post brought back so many memories! It’s great you got to spend one week here as there are just so many things to do in Hanoi. Love your photos as well!
Aww thanks so much Fiona. It’s an awesome city and I’m very keen to go back again, I’m sure there’s even more things to see there
I would love to visit and see all the sites! This is a cool itinerary.
Vietnam is very high on my bucket list, so I’m definitely saving this guide for Hanoi. Definitely super excited about going on a food tour and great to see that they have a vegan option!
I’ve not been to Vietnam, but certainly, this itinerary inspiration shows there’s something for every curious traveller to enjoy- from the market, history, culture and the food! Hanoi looks to be a great home base to stay for a few days and explore this city and beyond.
Vietnam is being mentioned more and more. I have to admit it was never high on my wish list but more I read about it more I want to go there and visit it. Love the itinerary you provided.
Yeah it’s a very naturally beautiful country with heaps to do. Thanks so much for your comment
Thank you so much for this perfect guide! I would love to visit the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre – sounds so unique!
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