28 Best Things to Do in Hanoi: Routes, Costs & What to Skip

Featured image: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Plan Hanoi first: days, season and where to stay

Three days is our pick for a first visit. One day covers the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, two days add Ba Dinh, and a third handles West Lake or a day trip. September to November is widely regarded as the best window, with mild temperatures, lower humidity and little rain. March and April also suit sightseeing. May to August runs hot and humid with occasional heavy rain, and December to February can be chilly and damp. Lunar New Year (Tet) shuts many shops and restaurants, so check dates before you book. Stay in the Old Quarter or near Hoan Kiem Lake, where the main sights are walkable. Staying far out means long Grab rides in heavy traffic for every outing. Budget travelers can start with our guide to no-cost sights in Hanoi. Families should read about family-friendly Hanoi days before choosing a route.

Getting around Hanoi: walk, Grab, cyclo or bus

Walk the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, because everything there sits close together. Use Grab for Ba Dinh, West Lake and the outer museums. A Grab bike from the Hoan Kiem area to the Vietnam Military History Museum cost ₫96,000 in one 2026 report, and we'd choose a car over a bike for that ride. Cyclos and tuk tuks give you the Old Quarter at traffic level. Agree the price before you get in, and keep it to one short ride. We'd skip the hop-on bus unless you only have one or two days. It picks up near the Opera House and on the north side of Hoan Kiem Lake.

28 Best Things to Do in Hanoi, Area by Area

Prices and hours checked November 2026, quoted in Vietnamese dong (₫). Stops run from the Old Quarter through history and architecture, Ba Dinh, museums, West Lake and food. Each title carries a tag: must, worth it, or skip if short on time.

1. Hoan Kiem Lake (must)

Hoan Kiem Lake sits at the edge of the Old Quarter and works as the city's orientation point. Walking it costs nothing. Look for the Turtle Tower near the southern shore and the scarlet Huc Bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple.

The name means Restored Sword, from a legend in which King Le Loi returned a magic sword to a giant turtle in the 1400s. Evenings bring live music, exercise groups and street performers. Skip the dusk hour if you want quiet, since this is where the whole city strolls.

2. Ngoc Son Temple (worth it)

Ngoc Son Temple occupies a small island on Hoan Kiem Lake, reached by the red Huc Bridge. You buy a ticket at the entrance before passing through the colorful gates. Inside, the south side gives the best photo angle with the lake behind you.

Manicured orange trees and Chinese-style gate paintwork add color. It does not take long to look around, so pair it with the lake walk. Skip it if you only want views, because the bridge and shoreline are free.

3. Old Quarter trade streets (must)

The Old Quarter dates to the 11th century, when King Ly Thai To moved the capital to this area. Guilds settled here, and each Hang street took the name of its trade. Hang Bac sold silver, Hang Bong cotton, Hang Duong sugar and Hang Non hats. Read the street signs as you walk and see which trades remain.

We'd give it a morning on foot. Pavements fill with parked motorbikes, so you often walk in the road. Skip the midday heat in summer and come back after 4 PM.

4. Dong Xuan Market (worth it)

Dong Xuan is Hanoi's largest covered market, spread over several floors. Stalls sell clothing, cloth, souvenirs, household goods and fresh produce. Look for the bins of star anise and cinnamon sticks.

Bargaining is normal, and the price is not set until you agree on it. One hour is enough, and Long Bien Railway Station is close enough to combine. Skip it if dense crowds wear you down, though you can walk out at any time.

5. Weekend night market (worth it)

On weekend evenings a stretch of Old Quarter streets closes to traffic for the night market. Hours are reported as about 6 PM to midnight, running roughly 3 km north. Stalls sell T-shirts, silk products and handmade toys.

Crowds make it hard to move, so we'd go once and not plan the whole night around it. Skip it if you are short on evenings and would rather eat well.

6. Train Street (worth it, with caveats)

Train Street is a working rail line with cafes inches from the track. Authorities closed it to tourists in 2019 over safety, and cafe owners later petitioned for reopening. Cafes now manage who sits where, and visitors are admitted as seated customers. Two sections are known: the Old Quarter stretch and the Le Duan stretch.

When the siren sounds, tables are cleared and you stand against the wall. Drinks cost more here, and one coconut ran ₫70,000 in a 2026 report. Local crackdowns recur, so check its status that day and skip it if cafes are turning visitors away.

7. Ta Hien bia hoi corner (worth it)

Ta Hien Street is the Old Quarter's beer corner, with customers on tiny plastic stools. Bia Hoi is a light beer made fresh daily, and a glass runs about ₫10,000 to ₫15,000. Order a plate of street food alongside it.

Our after-dark Hanoi route shows how to sequence the rest of the evening. Skip it if crowded street seating is not for you.

8. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre (must)

Water puppetry traces back more than 1,000 years to the Red River Delta, and this theatre has staged it since 1969. It stands on the northeast side of Hoan Kiem Lake, so you can walk the shore afterward. A show lasts about an hour with a short intermission, with live music and singing.

In busy periods tickets can take days to get, so buy ahead. Showtimes and prices are on the theatre's official site. Skip it if you would rather spend that hour at the lake.

9. Heritage House on Ma May Street (worth it)

This restored house on Ma May Street, listed as no. 87, shows how a Hanoi family lived in the late 19th century. Antique furniture and ceramics fill the rooms, and quiet courtyards let in light. It opens around 8:30 AM, and an early arrival often means having it nearly to yourself.

Narrow street frontage hides a deep interior, a classic Old Quarter tube house. Tickets are cheap, and a visit is short. Skip it if you are short on time and have already seen the streets.

10. Hanoi Opera House (worth it)

The Opera House was built between 1901 and 1911 in French colonial style, modeled on the Palais Garnier in Paris. Its 900-seat hall stages opera, ballet and classical concerts. You can attend a performance or tour the building.

Outside, the Square of the August Revolution is named for the uprising that ended French rule. Hop-on buses stop here too. Skip the interior if you only have an hour, because the yellow-and-white facade is the main photo.

11. St. Joseph's Cathedral (worth it)

St. Joseph's Cathedral stands less than 300 meters from Hoan Kiem Lake. The French built it in 1886 in neo-Gothic style, using local terracotta bricks and stone. Walk around the back, where fewer people take photos.

Keep quiet inside, and light a candle if you wish. Trà chanh nhà thờ, a cafe beside the church, is a good place to watch the street. Skip it if you are tight on time, since the exterior tells most of the story.

12. Hoa Lo Prison (must)

The French built Hoa Lo to hold political prisoners, and American prisoners of war were held here during the Vietnam War. Entry was ₫50,000 and an audio guide an extra ₫100,000 in a 2026 report. Allow 1 hour 15 minutes at a steady pace, and up to 2 hours if you read every panel.

The guillotine in the middle of one room stops most visitors. Do not miss the memorial outside, with human forms carved into the wall. Skip it if graphic history is a problem for anyone in your group.

13. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (must, check status)

The mausoleum was inaugurated in 1975 on Ba Dinh Square, and entry is free after an airport-style security check. Cover your shoulders and knees, leave bags at the check-in, and take no photos inside. You walk past the glass casket in a quiet line and cannot stop.

It is closed Mondays and Fridays, and for annual maintenance from about June 15 to August 15. It has also closed for renovation, so confirm current status before building a day around it. Skip the queue if it is shut, because the square and its guards are still worth seeing from outside.

14. Presidential Palace and Stilt House (worth it)

The yellow palace with green shutters was built between 1900 and 1906 as the French Governor-General's residence. Ho Chi Minh refused to live in it and chose a simple stilt house in the grounds. A combined ticket costs ₫40,000 at the gate.

You can walk around the stilt house, preserved as he left it in 1969, but you cannot enter. The palace itself is a working government building, so view the exterior only. Skip it if the Mausoleum is closed and you are not interested in architecture.

15. Ho Chi Minh Museum (worth it)

The museum is designed in a modernist style to resemble a lotus flower. Eight chronological sections trace his life through photographs, letters and personal belongings. Hours were reported as 7:30 to 11 AM and 1:30 to 4 PM in summer, with a midday break, and it closes Monday afternoon.

Go in the morning so you are not caught by the lunch closure. Pair it with the Mausoleum square and the Stilt House for a half day. Skip it if you do not want a detailed political history.

16. One Pillar Pagoda (skip if short on time)

Emperor Ly Thai Tong built it after a dream of the Bodhisattva handing him a son on a lotus. The 1954 destruction by a French Army lieutenant led to a stone-by-stone rebuild. It is free and open daily from 7 AM to 6 PM.

The pagoda is small and sits above a pond with lily pads. Visitors climb a few steps to pray, and lines can be slow. It is one of the less impressive stops, so we'd see it only because it is next to the Ho Chi Minh precinct.

17. Temple of Literature (must)

Emperor Ly Thanh Tong founded the temple in 1070, and it is dedicated to Confucius. The long, narrow complex runs through gateways such as Khue Van Cac and several courtyards. Look for the Stelae of Doctors, stone tablets carried on large stone turtles.

Allow about an hour and a half to see it without rushing, and up to two hours if you linger. Ponds and red-roofed buildings make it one of the calmer places in the city. Skip it only if you have already seen several temples this trip.

18. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (worth it)

The Citadel became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010 and was the political center of the country for over 1,000 years. Entry was ₫30,000, and hours were 8 AM to 5 PM daily. See the Doan Mon south gate, the Kinh Thien Palace remains and the D67 Revolutionary House.

The 1960s General Command Headquarters bunker is the most vivid stop. Give it about an hour, and combine it with the Ho Chi Minh precinct nearby. Skip it if you want grand ruins, because much of the site is subtle.

19. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (worth it)

The museum covers the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, with about 42,000 photos on file. Outdoors, you can walk into bamboo houses and see how people lived. Entry was ₫40,000, with a ₫50,000 charge to use a camera.

Allow two and a half hours for indoor and outdoor exhibits, so treat it as a half-day block. Our museum-by-museum guide compares it with the other options. Skip it if you are short on days and want the central zones only.

20. Vietnamese Women's Museum (worth it)

This museum covers the role of women in culture, society, politics and nation building. It has five floors and three permanent collections: Women and Family, Women and Society, and Women's Fashion. Photographs of women during the war are the standout display.

Current hours and fees are on the museum's website. Skip it if you only have one museum slot and prefer the Ho Chi Minh Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

21. Air Force and Air Defence Museum (worth it for aviation fans)

It opened to the public in 2004 and mixes outdoor aircraft and tanks with indoor displays. Helmets, radios and debris from downed planes fill the indoor rooms. The outdoor exhibition is open all day, but the indoor hall closes from 11:00 to 13:00.

Allow about an hour inside, and double it if you read every panel. Confirm the location on the museum's own page before you set out. Skip it if military history leaves you cold.

22. Vietnam Military History Museum (worth it)

B-52 wreckage and other aircraft sit outside the building. Inside, a large screen anchors four rooms, ending with the period from 1975 to the present day. The second room covers French colonialism and the third covers American effects on Vietnam.

A Grab bike from the Hoan Kiem area cost ₫96,000 in a 2026 report, so take a car for safety. Skip it if you have already done Hoa Lo and want a lighter afternoon.

23. West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda (must)

West Lake covers 500 hectares and is far larger and quieter than Hoan Kiem Lake. Tran Quoc Pagoda dates to the 6th century and sits on a small island. Inside, a 15-meter stupa holds six niches, each with an Amitabha Buddha statue.

The pagoda closes at midday and reopens at 13:30, so plan your arrival. Sarong rental for covered knees was ₫30,000. Skip it if the weather is wet, since the best part is walking outdoors.

24. Phu Tay Ho (worth it)

Phu Tay Ho is a Taoist temple on West Lake that dates to the 17th century. Incense and bell sounds make it feel far from the Old Quarter. Local worshippers come to pray and meditate, so keep voices low.

A Grab bike from the Old Quarter gets you there. Pair it with Tran Quoc Pagoda in a half day. Skip it if you have already visited Tran Quoc Pagoda and want to save time.

25. Skybars (skip if short on time)

Hanoi has several rooftop bars with city views. Solar Sky Bar charged ₫189,000 for a ginger tea in a 2026 report, plus tax and a 5% service charge. Cloud Sky Bar has a round cushioned seat and looks over Hoan Kiem Lake.

Go at sunset for the best light. Expect prices well above street level. Skip them if you are on a tight budget, because the lake walk gives similar views free.

26. Pho (must)

Hanoi pho uses thin rice noodles in a light, clear beef broth. A bowl runs about ₫40,000 to ₫60,000, depending on the shop. Order the fried dough sticks on the side and dip them in the broth.

Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan in the Old Quarter draws long waits, so go early. Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su and Pho Khoi are other names to try. Skip nothing here, but vegetarians should ask for pho chay.

27. Bun cha (must)

Bun cha pairs charcoal-grilled pork and pork patties with rice noodles in a sweet-sour fish sauce. Herbs and vegetables come on the side. Bun Cha Huong Lien charged ₫65,000 per dish in a 2026 report.

Go before 1 PM, since locals eat it at lunch. Skip restaurants that cater mostly to Western tourists, where the same dish costs more. Vegetarians will find fewer options.

28. Egg coffee (must)

Egg coffee whips egg yolks with sugar and robusta coffee into a thick cream. It tastes closer to dessert than a cappuccino. Cafe Dinh serves it with a balcony view over the lake.

Cong Cafe on Cau Go is another Old Quarter option. Order it once, then switch to regular coffee. Skip it if you avoid raw egg or heavy sweetness.

Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay: which day trip to pick

Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay both sit about two hours from Hanoi by road, though reported times shift with traffic. Pick one, not both. Ninh Binh is a land-and-river day, and Ha Long Bay is a boat day that can stretch overnight.

Hanoi in 1, 2 and 3 days

Traffic decides how much you fit in. Each Grab hop between zones eats time, so cluster stops by area.

Mistakes to avoid and rules to know

At the Mausoleum and pagodas, cover your shoulders and knees. Expect bag checks, no photos inside the Mausoleum, and no stopping once you are in line. Midday closures catch many visitors out.

• Staying outside the Old Quarter, which turns each outing into a Grab ride in heavy traffic.
• Arriving at midday closures: the Ho Chi Minh Museum breaks around 11:00, the Air Force indoor hall closes 11:00 to 13:00, and Tran Quoc Pagoda reopens at 13:30.
• Skipping the dress code at the Mausoleum and pagodas.
• Not agreeing a tuk tuk or cyclo price before you get in.
• Going to Train Street without checking whether cafes are admitting visitors.

A 3-Day Hanoi Plan by Area

Keep each day compact. Hanoi traffic makes crossing the city more time-consuming than the map suggests. On day 1, walk the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Book the water puppet theatre for evening; the show lasts about 1 hour.

On day 2, use a Grab to cover Ba Dinh and the nearby historic sites. Start early at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, then continue to the Presidential Palace, Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda, Imperial Citadel and Temple of Literature. Allow about 1½ hours for the Temple of Literature, rather than trying to rush every courtyard.

On day 3, choose a museum or West Lake. The Museum of Ethnology needs about 2½ hours, while Tran Quoc Pagoda reopens at 13:30 after its midday closure. West Lake covers 500 hectares, so pair it with Phu Tay Ho rather than attempting another central sightseeing circuit.