2 days in Hanoi: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 7 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:52 each day
- Start and finish
- Tran Quoc Pagoda → Ha Long Bay
- On foot
- ≈ 41 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 21 min
- Lunch
- around 13:02
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- October to April. Summer typhoons can cancel cruises.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Hanoi09:30–16:52 · 6 places · 7 h 20 min
Tran Quoc Pagoda
· 30 min · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Temple of Literature
· 1 h · 70,000 VND, under-16s free
- 11 min on foot
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
· 1 h 30 min · 100,000 VND
- Lunch · 1 h
- 18 min on foot
St Joseph's Cathedral
· 20 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Hoan Kiem Lake
· 1 h · Free
- 6 min on foot
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
· 1 h · 100,000–200,000 VND
Day 2 · Hanoi09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Ha Long Bay
· 4 h · Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 7 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Tran Quoc Pagoda | 42 | 30 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Temple of Literature | 43 | 1 h | 70,000 VND, under-16s free |
| 3 | Imperial Citadel of Thang Long | 39 | 1 h 30 min | 100,000 VND |
| 4 | St Joseph's Cathedral | 49 | 20 min | Free |
| 5 | Hoan Kiem Lake | 46 | 1 h | Free |
| 6 | Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre | 38 | 1 h | 100,000–200,000 VND |
| 7 | Ha Long Bay | 32 | 4 h | Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more |
| Total | 9 h 20 min | 3 of 7 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Tran Quoc Pagoda. Hanoi's oldest pagoda, 6th century, on an islet in West Lake: an 11-tier red stupa. Free; most reliable 8:00–11:00.
- 2
Temple of Literature. A Confucian temple from 1070 and Vietnam's first university: five courtyards and 82 stelae on stone turtles. 70,000 VND.
- 3
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The heart of the old capital, a UNESCO site: Doan Mon gate, the palace platform with stone dragons and the dig site. 100,000 VND.
- 4
St Joseph's Cathedral. Neo-Gothic from 1886 with twin towers. Free; you enter through a side gate in the morning and afternoon.
- 5
Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoi's heart: a 1.7 km lakeside walk, the red The Huc bridge and Ngoc Son Temple on its island — 50,000 VND.
- 6
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. A 50-minute show of puppets gliding over water to a live band. 100,000–200,000 VND, several shows a day.
Day 2
- 7
Ha Long Bay. Nearly two thousand limestone islands, a UNESCO site. 2.5–3 hours from Hanoi, a 4–6 hour cruise; entry fee 250,000 VND.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Hanoi
- City and Ha Long
- A day tour or a car
- An overnight boat in Ha Long is a separate programme
- Ninh Binh needs another day
October to April. Summer typhoons can cancel cruises.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Hanoi itinerary. Day two is a full-day trip: transfer from Hanoi in the morning, the cruise and the drive back by evening.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi
A day tour from Hanoi costs unofficially 35–120 dollars depending on the boat and lunch. Boats leave from dawn and, from November to March, return by 19:00. The entry fee is 250,000 VND and is often in the tour price.
Is 2 days in Hanoi enough?
For Hanoi and Ha Long, yes. Add Train Street if it is open that day, and the Old Quarter for street food in the evening.
How to do it right
- Book the Ha Long tour the day before and check whether the fee and lunch are included.
- Bring a windbreaker: it is breezy on the water.
- Pagodas and temples want shoulders and knees covered; shoes come off at the door of the halls.
- Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.
- Watch the forecast in typhoon season — cruises get cancelled.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Hanoi?
Day one: Tran Quoc, the Temple of Literature, the citadel, the cathedral, Hoan Kiem and the water puppets. Day two: Ha Long Bay.
How far is Ha Long Bay from Hanoi?
2.5–3 hours each way.
How much is a Ha Long trip?
The fee is 250,000 VND; a day tour is unofficially 35–120 dollars.
Can I go to Ha Long independently?
Yes, by bus or car to the pier and a boat, but a tour is easier.
How long is the cruise?
4–6 hours on the water.
Is 2 days enough?
For Hanoi and Ha Long, yes. Ninh Binh needs another day.
How much does it cost?
About 300,000–400,000 VND in tickets on day one, plus the tour on day two.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; boats provide life jackets.
When is the best time?
October to April.
What currency is used in Vietnam?
Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Ha Long Bay Management Board: fees and rules
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
