Perfect 3 Days In Hanoi : Our Top Things To Do, Eat and Stay

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Hanoi is the vibrant capital of Vietnam and offers visitors a wealth of experiences; and thankfully you can do a lot in three days.

We planned eight days to fully explore the city, expecting to feel fatigued after our 2 months in Vietnam. Instead, we fell in love and even returned after our Ha Giang Loop Tour.

For a visitor, Hanoi is a compact city which allows for easy exploring and means that you can do a lot in a short space of time. Read on and we’ll share the things we loved, our favourite places to eat and a few tips to help you make the very most of your 3 days in Hanoi.

Are 3 Days Enough To See Hanoi?

Yes. Three days will give you more than enough time to fall in love with Hanoi just as we did!

We’re kind of relaxed with our travel style; we don’t like to rush and neither of us like shopping.  In three days you can take a walking tour or a cooking class, explore historical sites, indulge in an amazing street food tour and experience the glory of Hanoi at night.

But before diving in do consider when planning your trip :

3 Days In Hanoi : Itinerary Suggestions

My perfect three days may not be your perfect days; for example, I hate shopping and I love cooking classes.  If you want to swap a few things around then take a look at my Things To Do In Hanoi post for more inspiration.

Day 1 In Hanoi

1. Morning Walking Tour

Walking tours are a great introduction to any city and you never have to walk too far.  Not only do you get to see the city from the ground, you also get to hear stories and anecdotes and glean great insider tips from a local expert.

We took a GuruWalk Hanoi The Old Quarter Tour and the guide was excellent and the group not too large. Your tour itinerary may vary slightly depending on the time of day but rest assured you’ll see and learn a lot about Hanoi.

2. Lunch At Cumulus

This is an experience that you shouldn’t miss.  For starters Cumulus Restaurant is tiny but don’t be put off.  The food is amazing and profits go towards helping local children.   You’ll need to walk through a meandering corridor and up a tiny staircase to find the restaurant but don’t judge a book by its cover. 

Just trust us on this and go to Cumulus Restaurant.  The food is amazing and plentiful.  Tip generously as the guy is a hero.

3. Coffee At Hanoi Coffee Station

After lunch, nip across the road and savour the coffee at Hanoi Coffee Station; we felt this was one of the best cafés in Hanoi.  To be fair we only tried around 15 cafes whilst searching for the perfect coconut coffee and Hanoi has hundreds, but this is a good one!

4. Afternoon Visit To Hao Lo Prison Museum  

No visit to Hanoi could be complete without a tour of this infamous prison museum.  Used by the French to imprison the local population, it later became home for POWs in the Vietnam-American war and gained the nickname Hanoi Hilton.

It is now a museum and is open every day from 8:00 to 17:00.  We spent around an hour here.

5. St Joseph’s Cathedral

We walked to the prison from the Old Quarter, it’s a really pleasant walk and we planned a route to take us by St Joseph’s Cathedral.  Do note the Cathedral is closed at lunchtime between 11:00 and 14:00. It’s an interesting building and worth a few minutes to look around.  They do still hold services here if you would like to attend Mass.

Top Tip : If you’re walking back to the Old Quarter for the Water Puppet Show you almost walk by both Loading T Café and The Note Coffee; both are worth a stop but Loading T might be more relaxing.

6. Late Afternoon Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre Show

There are two water puppet shows in Hanoi but the oldest is Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre beside Hoan Kiem Lake.  You must book these tickets ahead as they sell fast.  We booked at the box office but if you only have 3 days I’d be tempted to get them ahead of time.

There are several shows each day; we opted for the 5pm performance as this gave us time to explore in the afternoon and time after the show for dinner and meandering.  The performance is only 45 minutes long.

7. Evening Dinner at Bancong

We visited Bancong Restaurant four times, so it’s safe to say we liked it.  It’s maybe not the highest rated restaurant in Hanoi but it’s nonetheless wonderful.  It was also very close to our Hotel (The San Grand) in the heart of the old town. 

It’s beautifully decorated, the menu is great with a mix of local and western options, the food was good and the service excellent. 

8. Before Bed

Every evening we took a different route back to our hotel. We loved walking through Hanoi at night and we never felt unsafe.  The Old Quarter and the area around Hoam Kiem lake is always busy and lots of shops stay open.

Day 2 In Hanoi

1. Morning Visit To Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum should be on your itinerary but it is only open in the morning and is closed on Monday and Friday so plan accordingly.  There will be queues, so the earlier you get there the better.  We walked from our hotel but you might prefer to order a taxi via GRAB as it’s some distance from the Old Quarter.

Allow a few hours at the Complex as it also includes the Presidential Palace, the stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda.

Also remember that the mausoleum is a place of deep reverence for the Vietnamese and security here is strict :

2. Ho Tay : West Lake

The Mausoleum is not far from West Lake; a 15 minute walk.  If you have time (and the energy) we would  recommend a stroll to visit this huge, beautiful, natural space.  And there’s a great restaurant here too. 

Top Tip : Don’t confuse this lake with Hoan Kiem Lake on the edge of the Old Quarter.

3. Lunch At Fabrik

A good reason to visit the lake is to have lunch at Fabrik.  This was a great find, close to West Lake and also the Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda (although you may not have time to visit those).  It’s a fusion restaurant with a heavy French influence, very nice food and worth reserving a table for lunch. 

I’d recommend a GRAB taxi to take you back to your hotel after your meal.

4. Afternoon Cooking Class At Rose Kitchen

This is the best cooking class in Hanoi.  Hands down you won’t find a better one.  You’ll be cooking, not watching, it’s very informative, super organised and you can take the recipes home after.  The best bit, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour with a glorious dinner. 

And Rose Kitchen will collect you and return you to your Old Quarter Hotel too.

5. Before Bed

We probably walked around Hoan Kiem Lake every day.  It’s wonderful at all times of the day, but the Old Quarter and the lake come alive at night.

Opposite the lake there are a few cafes with high terraces or you could opt to visit a Skybar (we’ve loved Skybars ever since our time in Kuala Lumpa).  A night cap here always feels a little indulgent but it’s also is a great way to see the city at night.  If you’re staying at the San Grand Hotel then you can stop off at their Sky Bar on your way to bed, if not visit the Lighthouse SkyBar in the Old Quarter.

Day 3 In Hanoi

1. Temple Of Literature  

We would recommend another earlyish start, although not quite as early as HCM’s Mausoleum.  However, the Temple of Literature is a popular destination and does get busy.  Going early means it’s quieter and cooler in the morning too.

The temple is 1000 years old and was Vietnam’s first national university; it’s also a Confucian temple.   You’ll find lovely quiet courtyards and beautiful peaceful gardens to explore.

It’s a bit of a walk from the Old Quarter so you may prefer to call a GRAB Taxi.  You purchase tickets at the entrance of the Temple and can opt for an audio guide if you like more details about what you’re seeing. Allow an hour or two to see the Temple and gardens.

2. Fine Art Museum

If you have time and you enjoy Art Galleries, then just a minute from the Temple of Literature is Vietnams Fine Art Museum.  We spent an hour here wandering the exhibits and as a bonus it was cool inside too.

3. Lunch At Koto

We love community restaurants (Kitchen with a Cause in Jaipur and the Dusty Road in Zimbabwe spring to mind).  At KOTO the philosophy evolves around Know One, Teach One (KOTO) in that learning and knowledge should be shared.   Incidentally, we heard this again recently at Robben Island in South Africa and I only remembered now writing this post.  The philosophy there, for and by the prisoners was Each One Teach One.

You should visit KOTO and I’d recommend that you book your table in advance.   It’s within walking distance of the Temple so perfect for a lunchtime visit.

4. The Vietnam Museum Of Ethnology (Or An Afternoon Off)

If you’re anything like us, at this stage we’d be looking for an easy afternoon.  Maybe wander the streets of the Old Quarter or sit by the lake and people watch.  This wouldn’t be a bad idea, not a waste of time. 

However, if you wish to fill every minute whilst in Hanoi, then take a taxi to the Museum of Ethnology.  This is a great choice and offers you an historical walk through Vietnamese ethic groups and their history within the country.  It is a museum but feels like a tourist site with indoor and outdoor areas.  You’ll need a few hours to see everything and pretty much everyone who goes, loved their visit.

Top Tip : If this doesn’t appeal try the Vietnam Woman’s Museum instead.

5. Evening Street Food Tour (Including Train Street)

We loved our street food tour.  It started at 17:30 and it would be the perfect way to end your 3 days in Hanoi.  I’d really recommend that you make room in your schedule for this tour.

It is an excellent way to explore Hanoi Old Quarter at night, to try food and visit restaurants that you might not have found alone (or had the confidence to try alone) and you end your evening at Train Street.

We loved this tour and 100% recommend it for all visitors to Hanoi.

Top Tip : Don’t forget Walking Street and the Night Market.   If you’re in Hanoi on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday make sure that you allow time in the evening walking the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. 

Best Area To Stay In Hanoi

We’ve been asked a number of times where is the best area to stay in Hanoi.  I took ages to decide for us and booked several hotels and cancelled them, trying to choose.  I read a lot about the Old Quarter and quite a bit of negative reviews and it concerned me. But, in the end we opted for the Old Quarter and just like booking District One in Ho Chi Minh, it was absolutely the right choice for us.

It’s the best location if you are short on time. You’re in the heart of the Old Quarter, making it easy to explore. The hotel rooms will not be as spacious as elsewhere in the more modern part of town but it is the location which makes it perfect. And there are some great hotels to choose from.

Our Choice Budget Stay : La Renta Hotel & Spa

Our Choice Comfort Hotels : San Grand Hotel & Spa

Another Great Comfort Hotel : Solaria

Our Top Choice Luxury Stay : Peridot Grand

Best Way To Get Around Hanoi

As we mentioned Hanoi is very walkable.  We pretty much walked everywhere but we had over a week so nothing was rushed for us.  For a shorter timeframe during your stay, using GRAB taxis makes more sense. 

GRAB

GRAB is the Asian equivalent of UBER.  We’ve used this extensively across Asia and never had a problem.  If you are able, download the app and set it up before you leave home; it will be ready to use when you arrive at the airport. 

Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuks don’t exist in Hanoi.  Instead you’ll find the traditional three-wheeled bike.  They look fun (although we never took one).  It could be a convenient way to explore the city if you’re feeling a bit tired.

You see them on the streets and you can hail one like a taxi but do make sure you agree your price in advance and do agree where you’re going.  You may need to haggle a little as they’ll be keen to make a few dollars; but tip well as they work hard.

If you love the idea of the bike ride, there are Cyclo Tours that allow you to see the city from a different perspective.  I definitely recommend that you book in advance rather than stop someone on the street.  The tour below has the highest ratings and for less that 10€ it seems a great idea.

Hop On Hop Off Bus

I’d read about the hop on hop off buses before we arrived.  They’re good in that they stop at major attractions, but my worry would be you could spend more time waiting for the bus than exploring.

However, they are inexpensive and a convenient way to explore and you can get a 24 hour ticket for around 22€ per person.

Exploring Beyond Hanoi

Most folks visit Hanoi as part of an extended trip to Vietnam.  From Hanoi people often head to Sapa or Ninh Binh but we’d recommend that you take a look at Ha Giang and Ha Long or Bai Tu long too.

Ha Giang Loop

You’ll need a few days to explore the Ha Giang region but for us it was perhaps one of the most amazing places that we’ve visited.  We took the bus to Ha Giang (which takes a day) and we had a 4 day tour but shorter tours are available.  Many folks complete the loop on a motorbike but we opted for a car and we LOVED it.

You can take the night bus back to Hanoi but we opted to travel during the day to see the sights.

Ha Long Bai (Bai Tu) Cruise

Ha Long Bai is famous for it’s iconic Limestone Karsts, which are known around the world.  With that fame comes tourists and there are a lot of tourists in Ha Long Bai. 

After considerable research we opted to visit Ha Long’s little sister Bai Tu.  We booked a 2-Day Bai Tu Long Bay Luxury Cruise, although we still navigated first through Ha Long to reach Bai Tu. We LOVED this tour.  It was so much better than we expected, and the accommodation and food was first class.  We only booked one night on board and that was enough but also so worth it. 

Our tour collected us from Hanoi and took us back after the tour ended for a small extra fee.

Final Thoughts : Enjoy Your 3 Days In Hanoi

We loved Hanoi and we weren’t expecting that.  The city offers a remarkable blend of history and vibrant street life, all wrapped up in a city that’s easy to explore.

Wander through the Old Quarter, indulge in a little of the renowned street food, or just people watch around Hoan Kiem Lake.  Whatever you choose, Hanoi is wonderful.

Three days may seem short, but with careful planning, you can experience the best of Hanoi without feeling rushed.   Plan ahead and be flexible and wear a comfortable pair of shoes and I am confident that you’ll love Hanoi as much as we did!

Travelling Across Vietnam? 

We spent 2 months exploring Vietnam.  If you’re travelling through Vietnam we have many posts including :