Vietnam: An Exciting 3 Day Hanoi Itinerary (2025)
Are you planning a Vietnam travel itinerary and wondering how to spend 3 days in Hanoi?
Well, Vietnam’s capital city has lots to offer and I’m sharing the best things to see and do in this 3 day Hanoi itinerary.
Hanoi is a vibrant city full of energy. It’s a cultural centre and a transport hub. I’ve travelled throughout Vietnam and been to Hanoi four times now, and each time, I’ve been excited by the city’s colour and vitality, charmed by the French colonial architecture, the Old Quarter, the colourful lanterns, and the ancient Chinese and Buddhist temples.
Hanoi has a long history and is a fascinating place to visit. With 3 days in Hanoi, you can see the main sights, get a taste of Vietnam’s culture and enjoy the fresh local food, great coffee and friendly locals. Hanoi is one of my favourite cities in Vietnam and my 3 day itinerary in Hanoi will show you the best things to do.
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How to Get Around Hanoi
Hanoi is easy to get around. It’s a flat and walkable city and taxis are inexpensive and plentiful. Motorbike taxis or Xe-Om are also an option and it’s fun to get around like a local especially if you’re travelling alone in Vietnam.
I enjoyed walking in Hanoi and discovered most of the tourist sites on foot. In the Old Quarter, the sidewalk is often inaccessible, full of street stalls and parked motorbikes so I found myself walking along the side of the road and dodging the chaotic traffic a lot of the time.
Hanoi’s streets are busy and the narrow laneways of the Old Quarter can get congested but the shaded pathways around Hoan Kiem Lake offer respite from the chaos and are a pleasure to stroll around.
Like Ho Chi Minh City, crossing the road can also be challenging in Hanoi. The traffic does not stop for you but if you walk slowly and use the pedestrian crossings, the motorbikes will go around you. The traffic operates differently to what I’m used to but it works.
Apps for Getting Around
While researching my Vietnam Hanoi itinerary I used the Google Maps App to help me navigate and it was invaluable, especially in Hanoi’s Old Quarter where I kept getting lost.
I also used Grab taxis for longer-distance trips and sometimes flagged down a taxi on the street.
Taxi or Grab?
Many Hanoi taxis use metres to calculate the fare, but if you flag down a taxi, it’s best to ensure the metre is running or agree on a price before you get into the cab to avoid being overcharged.
I found that local taxis were sometimes cheaper and more available than Grab cars. But there are advantages to using the Grab App where the fare is decided in advance and messages are translated for the driver avoiding communication problems.
TIP: I use 12Go Asia to book my train tickets from Hanoi and you can also book flights, buses and ferries for your Vietnam travel itinerary. It’s easy and convenient. You pay a small booking fee and receive your e-ticket by email.
Vietnam Hanoi Itinerary 3 Days
Here are some of the some of the best things to include in a 3 day Hanoi itinerary.
Hanoi Itinerary: Day 1
Coffee / Old Quarter / Hoan Kiem Lake / Women’s Museum / Street Food + Train Street
Try the Coffee
No Vietnam travel itinerary is complete without sampling the delicious coffee. Vietnam has a thriving coffee culture and it’s a pleasure to hang out with the locals and enjoy the delicious innovations that the Vietnamese have made to a cup of coffee.
Try Vietnamese egg coffee (ca phe trung), salted coffee (ca phe muoi) or coconut coffee (ca phe dua). They’re all delicious and usually served iced, strong and sweet!
For a caffeine fix head to Hanoi Croissant & Coffee in the Old Quarter, Cafe Lam, Cong Caphe for a coconut coffee or my favourite, the cool, retro Hidden Gem Café.
Travelling across Vietnam I found it hard to find a good hot coffee. While you can order a hot coffee it usually comes warm rather than hot. I discovered that the best Vietnamese coffee is iced as this is the way it’s usually enjoyed in Vietnam.
TIP: Many coffee shops in Vietnam only sell coffee and tea so you may not be able to eat when you go for a coffee.
Hanoi Old Quarter
Take a walking tour and explore the Hanoi Old Quarter on foot. Discover the small, narrow shops selling their wares from tin utensils to clothing, gold jewellery, suitcases and kitchen products. The Old Quarter streets are named after the goods that they sell and the street names change often.
It’s easy to get lost here and while researching this Vietnam Hanoi itinerary I relied on the Google Maps App to navigate.
To shop for silk, head to Hang Gai Street and go to Ton That Tung Street and Dong Xuan Market for souvenirs. In January the Don Xuan Market has extra stalls selling red lanterns and decorations for the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) ) in the streets outside.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Hanoi is a picturesque place to stroll and people-watch. The lake area is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the bustling city and a popular place for locals to relax and exercise. Wander along the shaded pathways, watch some early morning Tai Chi and see Vietnamese girls dressed in traditional clothes taking photos by the lake. (You can’t miss them, they’re everywhere)
The Hoan Kiem Lake area is very popular on weekends and the pleasant surroundings are a big contrast to the mayhem on the streets of the Old Quarter.
Ngoc Son Temple
The 19th-century confucian Ngoc Son Temple or the Temple of the Jade Mountain, sits on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake. The small Vietnamese shrine has a grand entrance and is connected to the shore by an elegant red wooden bridge. The temple is very photogenic and an easy addition to your 3 day Hanoi itinerary.
Tickets cost VND50,000 (US$2) and the ticket office is on the right as you pass through the main entrance.
St Joseph Cathedral & the French Quarter
To the west of Hoan Kiem Lake on Nha Chung Street in Hanoi’s French Quarter, is St Joseph’s Cathedral, a large neo-gothic Roman Catholic church with an imposing blackened exterior. The cathedral’s architecture resembles Notre Dame in Paris and the building is a remnant of French Indochina and dates back to 1886.
Mass is celebrated regularly at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Vietnamese Women’s Museum
Nearby, on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum celebrates women in Vietnam and their roles within the family and in society. The museum tells the female story throughout Vietnamese history. It has a fascinating display of clothing from the hill tribes in the mountains in the north of the country along with artifacts, photos and other items from their daily lives.
I was moved by the stories of the women who fought during the Vietnamese war and enjoyed the personal stories on display. The museum has 4 floors of well-documented exhibits and is a fascinating way to learn about Vietnamese culture.
The Women’s Museum is a short, easy walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and I spent around an hour here enjoying the exhibits. A ticket to the museum cost VND40,000 (US$2)
Street Food tour in the Old Quarter
A Street food tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter was one of my favourite experiences in Hanoi. I joined a small group tour on New Year’s Eve and our local guide took us to 5 different street food shops to sample the delicious local food.
We tried Ban Xiou pancakes that were crunchy and fresh, Banh Cuong Nong, a rice dumpling with pork and mushroom, Pho Ga noodles with chicken and soy sauce, fried banana, and grilled quail eggs cooked on hot coals.
The Street food tour ended at Train Street, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi.
Hanoi Train Street
Visiting train street is a novel experience to include in a Hanoi itinerary. Passenger and freight trains pass through a narrow alleyway with tiny coffee shops and bars decorated with colourful lanterns on either side of the track. The trains pass by very close to the cafes and there’s a sense of anticipation when a train is approaching. The narrow train street can get quite crowded before a train is due to arrive
Although visiting Train Street is very touristy, I had fun there and saw 3 trains passing at close quarters. The second train arrived unexpectedly just 5 minutes after the first and around half an hour later a third train passed by.
TIP: Visiting Train Street with a local guide is a good idea. A few years ago, Train Street closed after a fatal accident. Authorities tightened access to the train track and there are now tighter restrictions for visitors. I went there on a Hanoi Street Food & Train Street tour. Our guide timed our visit perfectly and reserved a spot in a café with a great view of the trains coming and going.
Hanoi Itinerary: Day 2
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum / Presidential Palace / Tran Quoc Pagoda
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Start the second day of your 3 day Hanoi itinerary with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It’s fascinating to see how Vietnamese people idolise the dead communist leader who reunited the north and the south of the country. Busloads of people including large groups of schoolchildren queue for hours to pay their respects to Ho Chi Minh.
I joined a queue that spilled outside the complex and stretched around the corner and down the road. I waited with thousands of locals for over 2 hours to see the embalmed body of the former Vietnamese leader.
Eventually, I was inside the mausoleum in a single-file queue filing slowly past Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body. It was a sombre and bizarre cultural experience and the first dead body I had ever seen.
Outside the mausoleum, I watched the changing of the guard from the large square. Security is tight here and cameras are not allowed. A strict dress code is enforced so wear long sleeves and a full-length skirt or pants or you will be turned away.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is about a half-hour walk from the Old Quarter so consider taking a taxi or Xe-Om. Get there early to beat the crowds.
One Pillar Pagoda
Just behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist temple built on a single stone pillar in a design that resembles a lotus blossom. The unassuming One Pillar Pagoda dates back to 1049 AD. It’s small but nice to visit. Entrance is free.
The Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace sits beside the Mausoleum and a lush green garden surrounds the imposing yellow building. You can explore some of the grounds but the palace itself is off-limits to visitors as it’s the residence of the President of Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh spent much of his life living in the Palace and you can visit some of the outer buildings such as the Stilt House, located inside the mausoleum complex.
The grounds are heavily guarded.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Another pleasant place to visit on a Vietnam Hanoi itinerary is the Tran Quoc Pagoda. It’s around a 10-15 minutes walk from the Palace. The ancient pagoda is is more than 1500 years old and the oldest Buddhist shrine in Hanoi, dating back to the sixth century. The temple sits on the banks of West Lake and is cared for by a community of monks.
The views at sunset are delightful and the pagoda on the lake is a peaceful place to visit although there’s a very busy road just outside.
Across the road is another pretty Chinese Temple accessed by a wooden footbridge over the lake. Stroll down Thanh Nien Road separating the two lakes to the 11th-century Den Quan Thanh Temple not far from the presidential Palace.
Hanoi Night Market (Friday – Sunday)
In the evenings from Friday to Sunday, Hang Dao Street in the Old Quarter is closed to traffic and a bustling night market takes over the street. Stalls selling clothing, souvenirs, homewares and much more spring up and you can buy anything from a new backpack to a North Face jacket.
There are plenty of bargains at the market and lots of “first copies” and fakes as well. I bought 5 pairs of cotton socks for just a couple of dollars, a suitcase and a Gore Tex Jacket.
Browse the stalls of the night market and sample some street food as well.
The Hanoi Night Market opens around 6 pm, is in full swing by 7 pm and closes around 11 pm.
Hanoi Itinerary: Day 3
Imperial Citadel / Museum of Art / Temple of Literature / Hanoi Opera House
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Start the last day of your 3 day Hanoi itinerary exploring the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. For almost 13 centuries the Imperial Citadel has been a centre of power. The buildings that remain today were built in the 11th century by the rulers of the Ly dynasty on top of the ruins of a 7th-century Chinese fortress.
Much of the UNESCO World Heritage site has been destroyed but the impressive city gates remain.
Tickets cost VND100,000 (US$4)
Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum
Not far from the Imperial Citadel, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum is worth a look and has an interesting collection of Vietnamese art from every era. The gallery has 3 levels of artworks, artifacts and sculptures to enjoy.
Stop to rest your weary legs at Le Art Café next to the Art Gallery. I had my first fresh fruit juice of the trip and an iced tea with lotus seeds at this pleasant upmarket café.
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is one of the prettiest temples in Hanoi and should not be missed on a Hanoi travel itinerary. Also known as Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam, the ancient Confucian shrine is dedicated to teachers and scholars and was the first university in Vietnam. The entrance gates are impressive and inside the temple are many alters, pavilions, halls and statues surrounded by a lovely landscaped garden.
The Temple of Literature is a peaceful place to escape the busy Hanoi streets. Respectful dress is required with knees and shoulders covered.
Tickets cost VND70,000 (US$2.75)
Hoa Lo Prison
A gruesome reminder of the dark side of French colonialism, the Hoa Lo prison was built in 1896 to house Vietnamese revolutionaries and has now been converted into a museum. The museum takes visitors inside the lives of the prisoners and the atmosphere is brooding and oppressive.
The conditions were harsh and there was a lot of suffering. On display is a French Guillotine used to execute inmates.
Relax with a Spa
One of the pleasures of travelling in Vietnam is relaxing with a massage & Spa and in Hanoi there are many opportunities to have your tired feet and aching legs rubbed, enjoy a facial or a full body massage for a very reasonable price. Some hotels offer this service but it’s easy to find a massuese in the Hanoi Old Quarter.
The Lotte Centre
In the afternoon head to the top of the Lotte Centre, the second tallest building in Hanoi for sweeping views over the city. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset over the city.
Hanoi Opera House
Spend the last evening of your Hanoi itinerary watching a performance at the Grand Opera House. The Hanoi Opera House is a beautiful French colonial building with a fascinating history. It was built in 1901 in the neo-classical style and has witnessed many key events in Hanoi’s history.
I saw a dazzling local circus performance at the Hanoi Opera House but you can watch an opera, a ballet or a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show if you prefer. It’s a great way to end a 3 day Hanoi itinerary.
Things to Do Near Hanoi
Halong Bay
Just a few hours away from Hanoi is Vietnam’s most famous natural landscape. Ha Long Bay is a natural wonder and a world heritage site that you don’t want to miss.
An overnight cruise to Halong Bay is the most popular way to enjoy beautiful Ha Long Bay and it’s worth factoring this into your Hanoi trip itinerary. Most cruise packages include hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi so I suggest allowing extra time in Hanoi if you also plan to visit Halong Bay (and you should)
To include an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in your Hanoi itinerary, allow 5 days in Hanoi. If you’d like to spend 3 days & 2 nights on a cruise allow 6 days and and even more to visit lovely Cat Ba Island.
If you’re short of time you can see Ha Long Bay on a day trip from Hanoi. For this, put aside 4 days in Hanoi.
TIP: Ha Long Bay is 3 hours away from Hanoi by bus and the scenery is truly stunning. If you’re a nature lover you’ll want to spend more time on the boat than you’ll get on a day trip so I recommend allowing at least 2 days for a Ha Long Bay cruise from Hanoi or plan to stay in the area on Cat Ba Island or Halong City. A day trip from Hanoi is not long enough but it’s better than nothing.
Ninh Binh
Also known as Vietnam’s “Ha Long Bay on Land”, Ninh Binh is just 2 hours away from Hanoi and can be visited on a day trip from Hanoi. But again, the scenery is truly stunning and to do it justice it’s worth spending at least a couple of days or more here.
I caught the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and enjoyed a ride in a row boat surrounded by stunning karst mountains, ancient temples and picturesque rice fields at Trang An and Tam Coc.
Where to Stay in Hanoi
If you’re visiting Hanoi for a few days, the Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake is the best place to stay.There are many small hotels to choose from that are within easy reach of Hoan Kiem Lake and other attractions.
The French Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake or West lake are other central areas of Hanoi where you can stay but most tourists head to the Old Quarter.
TIP: Be aware that some cheaper rooms in small hotels in Hanoi may not have a window so be careful when you book.
Mid-Range: I’ve stayed at the Hanoi Graceful Hotel in the Old Quarter several times and can recommend this hotel. The location is central and the rooms are decorated with traditional Vietnamese carved wood. The Hanoi Graceful is in a quieter part of the Old Quarter with coffee shops and restaurants nearby and is just a 10 -15 minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and the city centre.
The West Hotel & Spa is another solid midrange choice in Hanoi. I had a comfortable stay here and enjoyed the breakfasts and the spa. This hotel is in a busy, noisy street in the Old Quarter with the Hanoi night market literally on the doorstep on weekends. (This hotel is good but I preferred the décor and the quieter location of the Hanoi Graceful)
Luxury: The Oriental Jade Hotel is an upmarket choice with an excellent location in the Old Quarter. This small boutique hotel offers a pool and personal touch. The reviews are exceptional.
Where to Eat in Hanoi
Hanoi is the perfect place to discover the local cuisine and I especially enjoyed eating street food and drinking the local coffee. Here are some of my favourite places to eat in Hanoi.
Ban Xiou 22 Hang Bo Street
This tiny street food restaurant serves fresh pancakes with shrimp, beef and bean shoots. Wrap your pancake with fresh lettuce and herbs in a rice paper roll. DELICIOUS!
Banh Mi 25
As the name suggests, this small shop in the Old Quarter serves traditional Banh Mi baguette with pork and pate. It’s very popular at lunchtime so expect long queues at peak times.
Little Bowl – 46 Lang On Street
My favourite dessert spot in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, “Little Bowl” serves delicious rich and satisfying desserts that are not overly sweet. Try the caramel mixed bowl with ice cream…YUM!
New Day Restaurant – 72 Ma May hang Buom
This restaurant has a great value set menu with spring rolls, Pho Bo (beef noodle soup) stir-fried chicken and cashews and a crème caramel for dessert.
Luc Thuy Restaurant & Lounge
In a prime position beside Hoan Kiem Lake, this upmarket restaurant is the place to be seen in Hanoi. It’s a lovely spot to relax and is popular with well-dressed locals enjoying a meal or a coffee. I stopped here for lunch but if you’re feeling decadent, order a dessert or a cocktail. They look fabulous!
Favourite Hanoi Cafes
If you’re wondering where to go for a coffee in Hanoi, there are good cafes everywhere. Here are a few of my favourites:
Café Lam is a traditional Vietnamese coffee shop with small wooden tables, stools and historical black and white photos on the wall. It’s one of Hanoi’s oldest coffee shops and has been serving coffee since 1952.
Café Lam is very popular and was full of locals enjoying a mid-morning coffee when I was there. I ordered a hot egg coffee (ca phe trung). It was rich and creamy and was served with a cup of warm water.
Hidden Gem Café
This quaint and quirky café and bar is a groovy place to enjoy a coffee or a beer and is worth adding to a Hanoi itinerary. The Hidden Gem café is hidden away above a busy street and has a funky retro décor and a cool vibe. Climb the stairs and pass through the shop to discover several levels of nooks and crannies with colourful stools, antique chairs and recycled decorations.
This café has a hippy, vintage feel with recycled doors, bus seats and coloured bottles. Choose from many cool places to sit relax, and socialise. The Hidden Gem café was one of my favourite cafes in Hanoi and I enjoyed a delicious salted coffee here.
Croissant & Coffee in Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a great spot for breakfast. I enjoyed sitting on the upstairs balcony with a coffee and croissant and watching life go by on the busy street below where women with bicycles were selling fresh flowers to passers-by. It’s an area full of local colour, especially in the early morning.
Bon Mua Four Seasons Café has a lovely location beside Hoan Kiem Lake in the French Quarter. It’s an upmarket café and popular with Hanoi locals. The décor is colourful with umbrellas and pink flowers hanging from the ceiling. I enjoyed lunch (fresh spring rolls) and a hot Saigon coffee (with condensed milk).
Café 4U has a pleasant outdoor setting on a side street across the road from the north gate of the Imperial Citadel. I enjoyed a strong coffee and a hot peach tea at this café. The coffee was served with a complimentary cup of warm black tea.
Cong Ca Phe is one of the most famous cafes in Hanoi and has a great location across the road from Hoan Kiem Lake. Sit on the top-floor balcony and marvel at the crazy traffic below while you sip Cong Caphe’s popular iced coconut coffee.
There’s a lot of hype about this café but I think the best thing about it is the location. The coffee was served in paper cups. Watch your step on the steep, narrow stairs.
When to Go
The best time of the year to go to the north of Vietnam is in the shoulder season. Plan your Hanoi itinerary for March to April or September to November.
Avoid May to October when the weather is hot and humid. I enjoyed comfortable winter weather in Hanoi in January with high temperatures around 20 – 25°C (68 – 77°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F).
FAQs
Is 3 days in Hanoi enough time?
3 days in Hanoi is enough time to get a taste of the city and enjoy the highlights, Hoan Kiem Lake, Train Street, the Temple of Literature, the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, (a UNESCO world heritage site), the quirky cafes, great coffee, delicious local Pho (noodle soup) and Banh Mi (bread roll with pork).
Is it better to start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?
It’s better to start a holiday in Ho Chi Minh City if you’re visiting the south of Vietnam and in Hanoi if you want to spend time in the north. Ha Long Bay is near Hanoi. Phu Quoc Island and the Mekong Delta are near Ho Chi Minh City.
It’s also worth considering the time of year that you’re visiting because the weather is quite different in north, south and central Vietnam
How do I go from Hanoi to Hoi An?
You can travel from Hanoi to Hoi An by taking a plane, train or bus to Danang and a taxi or bus to Hoi An. Danang is the largest city in Central Vietnam and has an international airport and a train station.
Is English widely spoken in Hanoi?
Yes, English is widely spoken in Hanoi, especially in the tourist areas. I found communicating with local people easy. Those with poor English used Google Translate to help with communication.
Final Thoughts: Vietnam Hanoi Itinerary 3 Days
My 3 day Hanoi itinerary outlines the best things to see and do in Vietnam’s capital city. I had a great time exploring the local sights and loved the vibrant and colourful Old Quarter, the delicious food and the strong sweet coffee.
At times I found the chaotic traffic, noise dust and pollution overwhelming and needed to retreat to a quiet place for a while to recharge. But Hanoi is a fascinating place to visit, a historical and cultural centre with with international and domestic travel links around the country and overseas. It’s impossible to miss if you’re travelling in north Vietnam and a must on a Vietnam itinerary.
There are lots of fun ways to spend time in Hanoi and I hope my 3 day Hanoi itinerary has given you lots of ideas.
I loved visiting Hanoi and I think you will too.
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