Things to do in Hanoi: top sights and where to go
Hanoi keeps its sights in two clusters: Hoan Kiem Lake with the Old Quarter, St Joseph's Cathedral, Hoa Lo Prison and the water puppet theatre on one walking loop, and two kilometres west the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Thang Long Citadel and the Temple of Literature. Walk the centre on day one and finish at Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake at sunset; keep a full second day for a Ha Long Bay cruise.
Sights
Hanoi itineraries
Hanoi travel guide
Before you go: the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Train Street, Ha Long Bay, the airport, money and weather.
Hanoi on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 3–4 days: the city and Ha Long
- When to go
- October–December and March–April
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — visa-free or e-visa
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Vietnamese dong (VND); cash for street food
- Airport
- Noi Bai (HAN) ≈ 30 km — bus 86 and Grab
- Taxis
- Grab — cash or a linked card
- Ha Long Bay
- ≈ 2.5–3 h away; day cruise or overnight
- Winter
- Cool and damp, ≈ 17–20° by day
- Crossing streets
- Walk slowly and steadily through the scooters
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Hanoi”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Temple of Literature, Hanoi”Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 672Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 1328Things to do in Hanoi
The top things to do in Hanoi are Hoan Kiem Lake and the lanes of the Old Quarter, St Joseph’s Cathedral, the Temple of Literature, the Thang Long citadel, Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake (Ho Tay), Train Street and the water puppet theatre. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on Ba Dinh Square opens in the mornings. Ha Long Bay makes a day trip or overnight cruise. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Old Quarter | Hoan Kiem, cathedral, puppets | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| West of centre | Temple of Literature, Train Street | 2–3 h |
| Ba Dinh | Mausoleum, citadel | ½ day |
| West Lake | Tran Quoc Pagoda | sunset |
| From Hanoi | Ha Long Bay | 1–2 days |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–3 days, with places in a sensible order.
Ha Long Bay from Hanoi
Ha Long Bay from Hanoi is ≈ 2.5–3 hours by expressway. Most people go on a tour: a bus or limousine van picks up from Old Quarter hotels around 8 am, followed by a cruise among the karst islands for a day or overnight on board.
| Day tour | Transfer, boat, cave, lunch | ≈ 12 h |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight cruise | Cabin, kayaks, sunrise | 2 days |
| Limousine van | To Tuan Chau or Bai Chay port | ≈ 2.5–3 h |
The bay entry fee is either paid separately or included — check when you book.
Where to stay in Hanoi
For a first time in Hanoi, stay in the Old Quarter or near Hoan Kiem Lake — the sights, cafés and street food are on your doorstep, and Ha Long tours pick up there. The French Quarter south of the lake is quieter; West Lake (Tay Ho) suits longer stays.
| Old Quarter | First visit, food, tours | Noisy, scooters |
|---|---|---|
| French Quarter | Quieter, grand hotels | Pricier |
| West Lake (Tay Ho) | Cafés, calm, longer stays | ≈ 15 min to the centre |
Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter
Noi Bai International (HAN) is ≈ 30 km north of the centre. City bus 86 runs to the Old Quarter in about an hour, and a Grab takes 45–60 minutes.
| Bus 86 | Old Quarter, station | ≈ 1 h |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | Centre | ≈ 45–60 min |
| Transfer | Your hotel | ≈ 45–60 min |
Bus 86 takes cash in dong — change a little money at the airport.
Hanoi weather by month
Hanoi is not tropical: winters are cool and damp at ≈ 17–20 °C by day, summers hot and rainy at ≈ 32–33 °C. The best time to visit is October–December and March–April. Ha Long Bay can see typhoons in summer.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 20° | 21° | 23° | 28° | 32° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 31° | 29° | 26° | 22° |
| Night | 14° | 16° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
| Rain | 9 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: March–April and October–December
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 9 days
About 20°, damp and grey.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 11 days
About 21°, Tet — Lunar New Year.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 15 days
About 23°, drizzle.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 13 days
About 28° — a good time.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- rain 14 days
Hot, ≈ 32°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 15 days
Heat and downpours.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 16 days
Hot, rainy season.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 17 days
Downpours; typhoons at Ha Long.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 14 days
About 31°, easing.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 23°
- rain 9 days
About 29° — the best month.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 7 days
About 26°, dry.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 6 days
About 22°, cool evenings.
Hanoi has no beach: for the sea head south to Nha Trang, Da Nang or Phu Quoc.
What to eat in Hanoi
Hanoi is the home of pho and street food on tiny plastic stools. Try pho bo, bun cha with grilled pork, banh cuon rice rolls and egg coffee in an Old Quarter café.
- Pho bo — beef noodle soup, a breakfast dish.
- Bun cha — rice noodles with grilled pork and herbs.
- Banh cuon — steamed rice rolls with pork and mushroom.
- Egg coffee — whipped yolk over strong coffee.
Hanoi ticket prices
Hoan Kiem Lake, the cathedral, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Train Street and the mausoleum are free. You pay for the Temple of Literature, the Thang Long citadel, the water puppets and the Ha Long Bay fee. Prices are in dong, and ticket desks usually take cash.
| Hoa Lo Prison | 52 | 1 h 15 min | 50,000 VND, under-16s free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Literature | 43 | 1 h | 70,000 VND, under-16s free |
| Imperial Citadel of Thang Long | 39 | 1 h 30 min | 100,000 VND |
| Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre | 38 | 1 h | 100,000–200,000 VND |
| Ha Long Bay | 32 | 4 h | Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more |
Free — 5 places: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Train Street, St Joseph's Cathedral, Hoan Kiem Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Tips
- The streets around Hoan Kiem become a walking zone from Friday evening to Sunday — the best time to stroll.
- Cross streets slowly and steadily; scooters flow around you if you don’t stop suddenly.
- Cover shoulders and knees and remove hats in temples.
FAQ
Is Hanoi worth visiting?
Yes, for the Old Quarter’s street life, centuries-old temples, superb food and Ha Long Bay a few hours away.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport: some nationalities are visa-free for a set number of days, others apply for a 90-day e-visa online. Check the official rules for your passport.
What to do in Hanoi in one day?
The Temple of Literature and Ba Dinh in the morning, Hoan Kiem Lake, the cathedral and the Old Quarter in the afternoon, and the water puppets in the evening.
How do I get from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?
On a tour by bus or limousine van, about 2.5–3 hours to the port, then a cruise among the islands.
What is the weather like in Hanoi in December?
About 22 °C by day and 16 °C at night, dry — bring a light jacket.
Where should I stay in Hanoi?
The Old Quarter or around Hoan Kiem Lake for a first visit; the French Quarter for something quieter.
How do I get from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter?
By bus 86 in about an hour, or by Grab in 45–60 minutes.
Can you still visit Hanoi Train Street?
Yes, by the lanes near Hanoi station, though access to the tracks is sometimes restricted — follow local rules.
What to eat in Hanoi?
Pho, bun cha, banh cuon, banh mi and egg coffee.
Is Hanoi safe for tourists?
Generally yes; watch for scooter traffic and bag snatching, and use Grab rather than street taxis.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, Nos. 672 and 1328
- Wikipedia, “Hanoi”; “Temple of Literature, Hanoi”; Hanoi climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Hanoi People’s Council Resolution 16/2023 — monument prices
- Noi Bai International Airport — official website