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Here is the ultimate 3 day Hanoi itinerary for 2026. In this article we are going to tell you all of the best things to do in Hanoi, and how to do them step-by-step to have an amazing trip.
We absolutely loved exploring Hanoi – there is so much to do. However, if you only have 3 days it can be hard to work out how to prioritize your time. So we hope that we can help you make the most of your trip to this amazing city.
For each of the activities that we recommend we will share top tips, opening times, prices and all the information you need to plan an independent budget trip to Hanoi. We have tried to include all of the main attractions in Hanoi so that you don’t miss anything. Furthermore, we have also recommended amazing places to eat on your way around. Food is a very important part of the culture and experience of Hanoi, so we’ve tried to find the best places to eat for your itinerary.
The aim of this three-day itinerary is to give you a smooth and seamless trip around the, So that you can see the best things, at the best times and in the best order.
Looking for a splash of luxury? Don’t miss our epic guide to the BEST 5 star hotels in Hanoi
Travelling with kids? Don’t miss our guide on the best things to do in Hanoi with kids
Summary of 3 day Hanoi Itinerary
Day 1
- Take a rickshaw tour of town
- Explore Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Try boating on Truc Bach Lake
- Lunch at Highlands coffee
- Visit Quan Thanh temple
- Explore the Hanoi Botanical Gardens
- Visit Dong Xuan Market
- Dinner: Bahn Mi 25 cafe & Beer street
Day 2
- Explore the The Temple of literature
- Visit the Ho Chi Minh museum
- See The One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit the Stilt house
- See Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
- Visit Thang Long Imperial Citadel
- Lunch: Try soup at Mỳ Phố
- Try a Vietnamese Massage
- Dinner: Street food snails & Vietnamese dessert
Day 3
- Take a Vietnamese cooking class
- Check out Hanoi Train Street
- Visit the Hoa Lo Prison museum
- Visit the Women’s museum
- Hoan Kiem Lake – Ngoc Son Temple
- Water puppet show
- Dinner at Noodle & Roll cafe for Vietnamese Spring rolls
Don’t miss our crazy adventures in Hanoi
What are the best Tours and activities that you can pre-book for Hanoi?
If you would like the peace of mind and reassurance of booking tours in advance in Hanoi, we recommend using Klook. Klook has a wide range of tools available for amazing prices. As long-term travelers we have been very impressed with the quality of the trips they offer, and in some cases you can even save money relative to arranging your trip locally. Here are some of our top pick tours on Klook:
- Book a Hanoi day tour on Klook – English speaking guides can show you all of the BEST attractions
- Use Klook to book a Hanoi cooking class – We have included this in our itinerary
- Take a food tour of Hanoi through Klook – Find the best local places to eat and learn about local cuisine and culture from an expert guide. Save some space for this one!
Is 3 days enough time in Hanoi?
If you are hoping to see all of the main attractions and immerse yourself in the unique heritage, culture and food, then we recommend staying in Hanoi for at least 3 days. Less than 3 days is not enough to see all of the main attractions. If you are purposeful and concise, you can see all of the main attractions of Hanoi in 3 days. This itinerary is fairly high pace but achievable. If you want to go a little slower and really soak it in, then we do recommend 4 or 5 days in Hanoi.
How much does it cost to spend 3 days in Hanoi?
This 3-day Hanoi itinerary is relatively cheap. Many of the attractions around Hanoi are either free of charge or only charge a few dollars for entry. You do not need to pre-book visits to these attractions, and most of them are open throughout the day. We have included opening times to help you plan your trip.
Food in Hanoi is also very cheap, if you’re eating local food is likely to cost 30,000 – 50,000VND dish (a couple of dollars). Even eating in a more upmarket international restaurant is likely to compete with eating out in your home country (especially if you’re from the West).
Don’t miss our guide to THE BEST street food dishes in Hanoi and where to find them
The biggest cost in Hanoi is going to be your accommodation, and even this is amazing value for money! You can find many budget hotels in Hanoi ranging between £10 – £20 per night. If you are looking for hotels in the £20 – £50 You will find a wide range of beautiful mid-range hotels. At this mid-range hotels tend to have a lot of character and offer great services and facilities. You can find very luxurious hotels in Hanoi for as little as £60 per night.
Overall this Hanoi itinerary is likely to be pretty cheap – especially if you find somewhere relatively cheap to stay in Hanoi.
Don’t miss our FULL guide to the BEST hotels in the Hanoi old quarter
Important things to know before this Hanoi itinerary
DON’T MISS our ultimate guide to travelling in Vietnam
Here are a few important tips and things to know before you start this 3 day Hanoi itinerary:
- The pace of this itinerary is pretty high- we have included a lot so you don’t miss any of the biggest attractions in Hanoi. Most things we recommend take less than 1 hour. However, if you just need to slow down and chill out – it is easy to cut things out.
- Throughout this itinerary we have recommended that you visit a number of temples and pagodas. It is very important to dress respectfully when you visit these attractions. In general we recommend that you cover up your knees and shoulders.
- Most of the activities in this itinerary are fairly close to the old quarter and Hoan Kiem lake. Therefore, we recommend booking a hotel in this area for convenience.
- Many of the attractions and activities in Hanoi are historical and cultural. If you’re more interested in wild adventures then we recommend exploring some of the awesome wilderness outside Hanoi.
Day 1 in depth
Summary: Day one of this Hanoi itinerary involves a rickshaw bicycle tour, and exploring some of the awesome attractions located around Truc Bach lake to the north. Once you get to Tran Quoc pagoda it is possible to walk between most of the attractions. We recommend packing a day bag including water, sun protection and also remember to dress respectfully because you will be visiting some temples. It is important to keep knees and shoulders covered when you are visiting temples in Hanoi.
Looking for more inspo? Don’t miss our self-guided walking tour of Hanoi
1 Take a rickshaw tour of town
This epic Hanoi itinerary starts with a rickshaw tour of the Old Town. This is the perfect way to get your bearings and get a feel for the geography and sites around Hanoi. Furthermore, if you see anything that grabs your interest, you will be able to visit it over the next few days. It is likely that a rickshaw tour of the Old Town will take you past some of the attractions that we have also included in this three-day itinerary. So the rickshaw tour is kind of like an appetizer for this itinerary. This is also a very relaxing and enjoyable way to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the Hanoi old quarter.
The best way to organize a rickshaw tour is to take a walk around the old quarter (north of Hoan Kiem lake). You will see plenty of rickshaw drivers waiting around ready to offer a tour. A rickshaw tour of a Hanoi old quarter should cost around 200,000VND – 300,000VND for an hour. However, it is worth being aware that some rickshaw guides try to charge a lot more than this. Therefore, you will need to be able and willing to barter.
2 Explore Tran Quoc Pagoda
After the Rickshaw tour we recommend grabbing a taxi to one of the most beautiful temples in Hanoi. Alternatively, you could arrange with your rickshaw driver to finish the Tour at this temple. Tran Quoc Pagoda is an impressive multi-level pagoda located on a small island on Ho Tay lake. It is free to walk on to the island and explore the beautiful temple. This temple has a lovely calm ambiance and has several shrines, statues and plenty of beautiful artwork. Tran Quoc is also one of the oldest temples in Hanoi. We recommend allowing around 15 – 20 minutes to explore this temple.
3 Try boating on Truc Bach Lake
After visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda why not hire a paddle boat on Truc Bach lake? This is a fun and relaxing way to take in the scenery. The paddle boats are only a 5 – 10 minute walk from Tran Quoc Pagoda. To rent a paddle boat go to Highlands coffee on the south side of Truc Bach lake (Hồ Trúc Bạch). From here you can rent a pedal boat for 100,000 VND per hour.
4 Lunch at Highlands coffee
After enjoying the pedal boats we recommend stopping for lunch at Highlands coffee. This coffee shop also offers a delicious and tempting range of fresh food. For example you can get Vietnamese salads, sandwiches and don’t miss the delicious selection of cakes. Highlands coffee is a great place to enjoy views over the lake on an old boat that has been repurposed as a coffee shop and cafe.
5 Visit Quan Thanh temple
After lunch there is a lovely little temple located very close to Highlands coffee. We highly recommend a short visit to Quan Thanh temple. This is an ancient Taoist temple, one of the oldest temples in Hanoi. The temple has a large Courtyard with trees, statues and artwork. It is free of charge to visit this Charming temple, we recommend spending around 10 to 20 minutes exploring this beautiful place.
6 Explore the Hanoi Botanical Gardens
Depending on the time and your energy levels you could also take the chance to explore the Hanoi botanical gardens. This is a great way to get out into some green space and see some beautiful tropical plants and flowers. Don’t miss the vibrant Đền Núi Sưa temple located in the centre of the Hanoi botanical gardens.
7 Visit Dong Xuan Market
After exploring the botanical gardens we recommend heading back towards the Old quarter. This would be a great opportunity to visit the Iconic Dong Xuan Market. This historic local market dates back to the French colonial era. This market sells a range of local fruit, vegetables, spices and clothes. It is likely to take around 30 – 45 minutes to explore this market. It is free to enter the market, if you wish to buy something we recommend bartering.
8 Dinner: Bahn Mi 25 cafe & Beer street
Now you’re back in the old quarter, this is the perfect opportunity to embrace the chaos, culture and buzzing atmosphere of this vibrant part of town. We recommend trying Bahn Mi (a french baguette) from the famous Bahn Mi 25 cafe. This is one of the best places to try Bahn Mi in Hanoi.
After this head to the famous Hanoi beer street. This is a narrow street packed with street food, BBQ places and of course plenty of bars serving local beer.
Day 2 in depth
Summary: The second day of this Hanoi itinerary involves exploring some of the most culturally and historically significant landmarks in Hanoi. Pack an umbrella or suncream as many of these attractions are very exposed. We recommend walking between these landmarks as they are relatively close together and this also allows you to take in the sights and sounds of the city. We have also recommended finishing day 2 on a relaxing note with a massage and a less relaxing note with some snails!
1 Explore the The Temple of literature
The second day of this epic Hanoi itinerary starts with a visit to the temple of literature. This is one of the most significant and prominent attractions in Hanoi and is well worth a visit. The beautiful temple of literature is situated in expansive grounds with trees and grass lawns. This Confusian temple dates back to the year 1070 and stands as a monument dedicated to Confusion philosophers and scholars. We recommend allowing around 30 to 45 minutes to explore the Temple of literature. The Temple of literature is open daily from 8am to 5pm and costs 30,000VND to visit.
2 Visit the Ho Chi Minh museum
From the Temple of literature it is a short walk to the Ho Chi Minh Museum. This is one of the BEST places to learn more about the culture and history of Vietnam and about Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam. This museum has artifacts from the American-Vietnam war and other cultural relics. The Ho Chi Minh museum is located right next to the one pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. We recommend allowing around 1 to 2 hours to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
TOP TIP: It is slightly cheaper to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum on weekdays. On Monday to Friday it costs 150,000VND for adults and 100,000VND for children. On weekends it costs 200,000VND for adults and 150,000VND for children. The Ho Chi Minh museum is open daily from 8am until 11:30am and 2pm until 4pm.
3 See The One Pillar Pagoda
After visiting the Ho Chi Minh Museum visit the one pillar Pagoda which is located right next to the museum. The one pillar Pagoda is an impressive Pagoda supported by a single pillar in a small pond. This is genuinely a very unique and remarkable Pagoda. Right next to the one pillar Pagoda don’t miss a the Chùa Diên Hựu temple – a small Buddhist temple with impressive colorful artwork and statues. It is free to visit the one pillar Pagoda, and we recommend allowing 10 or 15-minutes to explore this beautiful area.
4 Visit the Stilt house
After seeing the one pillar Pagoda walk up to the stilt house. This is located around a 5-minute walk from the one pillar Pagoda and is part of the Presidential Palace complex. The stilt house is a celebrated monument and the former residence of Ho Chi Minh. It costs 40,000VND to enter the stilt house and see this beautiful and relatively simple and humble home. The Stilt house is open from 7.30 – 11am and 1.30 – 4pm.
5 See Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
After visiting the stilt house, make sure you pay a visit to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. This is a very impressive and grand building and the resting place of Ho Chi Minh. It is not possible to enter and explore the mausoleum, but you can go to the front of the building. Many people visit this prominent site to pay their respects to Ho Chi Minh.
6 Lunch: Try soup at Mỳ Phố
On your way back to the old quarter we recommend stopping for lunch at Mỳ Phố. This is a local cafe that serves some of the best Pho in town.
7 Visit Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Depending on the time and your energy levels, this would be a good opportunity to visit the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This is a great place for nature, a historical site, a museum, and a park. Don’t miss the underground bomb shelter and the museums inside the buildings – they’re easy to miss. You can buy snacks and drinks here too. We recommend allowing around 1 or 2 hours to visit this beautiful place. It costs 30,000VND to enter. It is open daily from 8am – 5pm.
8 Try a Vietnamese Massage
After a long day of exploring historical landmarks we highly recommend relaxing to a Vietnamese massage. There are plenty of small massage spas around the old quarter, offering massage therapies for a very good price. One of the best spas around is La Belle Vie Spa Massage. You can get massage therapies and treatments for around £10 – £20 at this outstanding spa.
9 Dinner: Street food snails & Vietnamese dessert
If you’re feeling brave and really want to embrace Vietnamese culture, why not try street food snails for dinner? We absolutely loved trying snails in Hanoi. This is a very unique dish resulting from the French colonial influence in Vietnam. Although it sounds gross, snails are actually quite good (once you get through the Slime!)
Snails tend to be boiled and served with a spice sauce to dip. You generally use a sharp wooden stick to pull the snails out of their shells. One of the best places to try snails in Hanoi is at ốc nóng hà trang on Dinh Liet street in the old quarter. A portion of snails normally costs 60,000VND – 90,000VND (roughly £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4.00). If snails don’t do it for you then there are plenty of other cafes, restaurants and street food stalls around the area.
ALSO we definitely recommend stopping for some Vietnamese desserts. Vietnamese dessert shops are open late into the evening and serve fascinating concoctions of jellies, beans, ice, coconut cream and other toppings.
Day 3 in depth
Summary: The final day of this Hanoi itinerary is a more relaxed day exploring some attractions in the Hoan Kiem lake area. It is possible to walk between these attractions. The day finishes with the strange but wonderful water puppet show and dinner in a traditional Vietnamese cafe.
1 Take a Vietnamese cooking class
The final day of the Hanoi itinerary starts with a Vietnamese cooking class. This is a great way to learn about Vietnamese food. We recommend taking a cooking class with Hanoi Apron up. Classes cost around $30. They include hotel pick up, a visit to a local market to buy fresh ingredients, cooking 5 courses, eating your culinary delights and a complementary cook book and certificate. There are several time slots available throughout the day.
2 Check out Hanoi Train Street
After your cooking course, head over to the Hanoi train street. This is a narrow street with shops and cafes. The train line runs along this street. There are a few trains a day. We recommend trying an amazing Vietnamese coconut coffee at train street. This is a fun and unique experience in Hanoi. Train street is FREE to visit. If you stop for a coffee it is likely to take 30 to 45 minutes to enjoy a train Street.
3 Visit the Hoa Lo Prison museum
After train street, take a visit to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum. This prison was originally constructed in the French colonial era to detain political prisoners. More recently it was used as a prisoner of war camp during the US-Vietnam war. The gate house is now a museum with original artifacts, uniforms, models and statues. Tour guides and audio tours are available. The museum shares the sad stories of some of the prisoners who suffered here. Entrance costs 30,000VND. The museum is open daily from 8am – 5pm. We recommend spending around 30 minutes here.
4 Visit the Women’s museum
After a visit to the prison museum, pay a visit to the Vietnam Women’s museum. This is located a few blocks south of the Hoan Kiem Lake (around half a kilomete from the Hoa Lo Prison museum). The Vietnam women’s museum is a commemoration and celebration of the vibrant Vietnamese women’s culture. This museum includes fashion exhibits such as tribal dresses, elegant classic dresses and under-stated working dress. Learn about the art, culture and lifestyle of Vietnamese women throughout history. The Women’s museum is open daily from 8am – 5pm. It costs 30,000 dong to enter the museum. For an additional 30,000 dong you can also take an audio tour and learn about the inspirational history of women in Vietnam.
5 Water puppet show
Walk north around the Hoan Kiem lake to the Thang Long water puppet theater. In the Hanoi water puppet show, small puppets perform scenes over a pool of water. Smoke, lighting and live music are used to enhance the experience. Across a language barrier it is very hard to work out what’s going on – but the experience is unique, fun and quirky.
There’s no need to book in advance. Just arrive a little before show time to buy your tickets. Water puppet shows start at 5.20pm and 6.30pm, with an additional 8pm show on fridays and saturdays. The show takes around 1 hour. There is also an early show on Sundays at 4.10pm. Tickets can be purchased from the office at the theater. Prices range between 100,000 – 200,000VND depending on your choice of seat.
6 Hoan Kiem Lake – Ngoc Son Temple
After the spectacle that is the water puppet show – why not explore the iconic Jade island temple in Hoan Kiem lake. Known locally as Ngoc Son Temple – this beautiful attraction is located on a small island on Hoan Kiem lake. To access the temple cross a beautiful ornate bridge. This is not a very big temple – a short stroll and it is only likely to take 10 – 15 minutes to explore. It costs 30,000VND to cross the bridge and visit Ngoc Son Temple.
7 Dinner at Noodle & Roll cafe for Vietnamese Spring rolls
Wander up into the Old Quarter for dinner. Alternatively try the Noodle and Roll cafe. This is one of the best places in town to try Vietnamese Spring rolls.
What is the best way to get around in Hanoi?
The best way to get around this Hanoi itinerary depends on your desire for convenience and comfort. We have designed this Hanoi itinerary to reduce inefficient travel routes around the city.
1 Walk around Hanoi
The cheapest way to get around in Hanoi is walk. This is a great way to take in the sights, sounds and smells of this unique city. Most of the attractions in this Hanoi itinerary are grouped together so that you can walk from place to place. Be aware that the streets in Hanoi are quite busy and at times it can be challenging to walk around safely.
2 Rent a bike and ride around Hanoi
A fun and exhilarating way to get around in Hanoi is to rent a motorbike and ride. However, we do not recommend this to new riders, and it is a very busy and hectic city and you need a certain amount of experience and confidence to ride a bike around Hanoi. Furthermore, make sure that you are fully experienced, qualified and insured to ride a bike in Vietnam. Bike rental in Vietnam is relatively cheap and a good way to get around, especially if you are planning to travel further afield. As an alternative, consider renting a bicycle. This is cheaper, slightly safer and still a lot of fun.
3 Take a taxi around Hanoi
The most convenient way to get around Hanoi is to take a taxi. If you’re old school you can just stand at the roadside and flag a taxi (either agree to a price or ask them to use the taxi meter). However, the most common and convenient way to get a taxi around Hanoi is to use one of the taxi apps. In Hanoi you can use a Grab taxi app or the Gojek taxi app (Gojek is slightly cheaper). We use both apps together to compare prices and get the quickest responses.
In order to use a taxi app in Hanoi you will need to get hold of a local SIM card including mobile data in your deal. Download the taxi app from your app store and then register an account on your phone using your local phone number and email address. Once you have an account, the taxi app should use your location and allow you to order taxis online, and you can even select a pay with cash. On average taxis arrive within 5 to 10 minutes. A massive advantage of taking a taxi online is reputation, transparency and price. The price is set by the taxi app and drivers are very keen to stick to it in order to maintain good ratings and reviews. So overall this is a low stress and fair way to get a good price for a taxi in Hanoi.
What other things are there to do near Hanoi?
Here are some other places to visit in North Vietnam.
Sapa (hilltown located to the north of Hanoi)
This is a MUST DO area if you love mountains and nature. There are so many amazing things to do in Sapa. We highly recommend trekking in Sapa, dreamy Sapa homestays, luxurious hotels in Sapa, and don’t miss the Cat Cat village for it’s unique H’mong culture and lush green rice paddies. Sapa really is an amazing place to visit. You can also take a luxurious sleeper train to Sapa.
Halong bay (located on the coast to the east of Hanoi)
Don’t miss the iconic Halong bay with its myriad of small steep islands and bays. You can even do all inclusive luxurious cruises in Halong bay. If you have time this is seriously worth the experience.
Trang An area (located to the south of Hanoi)
The landscape in this area has been awarded status as a UNESCO world heritage site. We recommend a visit to the impressive Mua Cave (Ninh Binh) – this is located on a steep dramatic mountain, with a temple and a viewpoint overlooking a panoramic green valley. Well worth a trip. Also don’t miss the Perfume Pagoda (Huong Pagoda) – striking Chinese temple located amongst jungle and mountains. Hoa Lu (the ancient capital), Tam Coc river caverns, Bai Dinh pagoda.
What are the BEST places to stay in Hanoi?
The best area to stay for this Hanoi itinerary is in or around the Hanoi old quarter. We are very impressed by the quality and character of hotels in Hanoi. And the prices are pretty impressive – you get a lot for your money here. These are our TOP PICK hotels in Hanoi – everything from low budget to classy 5 star hotels:
Golden Time Hostel
This is one of the cheapest hostels in Hanoi. All rooms at The Golden Time Hostel are private with, A.C. and ensuite bathrooms. Rooms are pretty small but they are comfortable. Golden time offers affordable, comfortable and secure accommodation
Kingdom Hotel Hanoi
Looking for quality for great prices? Kingdom hotel is great value for money. Rooms are well decorated and offer comfortable and secure accommodation. Kingdom hotel has a family room with two double beds which can sleep up to 4 people. This is a relatively central but quiet location.
Hotel Emerald Waters Classy
Hotel Emerald Waters is a beautiful hotel excellently located in the Hanoi old town. We love the elegant interior design and use of stylish art in this hotel. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable. They offer a connecting Family Suite that can sleep up to 4 people. This hotel is AMAZING value for money if you can snatch up a great deal.
Royal Holiday Hanoi Hotel
One of the most glam and stylish Hanoi hotels – The Royal Holiday Hanoi hotel is a luxurious and regal hotel with grand and comfortable decadent furniture. Royal Holiday is beautifully situated next to the Hoan Kiem Lake – some rooms offering a lake view. If you’re looking for a hotel with an aristocratic colonial vibe – then Royal is the choice for you.
Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique hotel
Check out this luxurious hotel! The Peridot Grand has a fusion of regal, eclectic and classic 1900 interior design. There is also a rooftop swimming pool here – a very unique feature for Hanoi. This is one of the most luxurious hotels around. We are amazed how far your money can go in Vietnam.
The Oriental Jade Hotel
This is genuinely one of the most impressive hotels in Hanoi. The Oriental Jade hotel in Hanoi is a luxurious 5-star hotel with a rooftop swimming pool. Rooms and suites at the Oriental Jade hotel are spacious, luxurious and well furnished. You can choose your view and select rooms with large outdoor terraces.
Grand Mercure Hanoi
The Grand Mercure is one of our favorite 5-star hotels in Hanoi. This superlative property has a luxurious, light and vibrant east Asian interior design theme. Comfortable and decadent furniture is used throughout the property to create the ultimate relaxing environment. As a high rise hotel, the Mercure offers amazing city views. We love the use of large windows to give plenty of natural light and allow excellent views over the city.
Capella Hanoi
The Capella Hanoi is one of the most impressive (and expensive) hotels in Vietnam. This exquisite hotel utilizes a bright vibrant colonial vintage interior design theme. Asian furniture and artwork celebrate the unique culture of North Vietnam. The Capella Hanoi really is a dreamy property. There is an indoor swimming pool, 3 restaurants on site, a decadent spa offering luxurious treatment and the rooms are absolutely amazing.
