How many days in Hanoi? 4 days: the Old Quarter, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Hanoi is two things: a 1,000-year-old capital with some of the best street food in the world, and the gateway to Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, Vietnam's two great limestone landscapes. Four days works: two in the city (the Old Quarter, the lakes and the French quarter, the mausoleum and the Temple of Literature), one in Ninh Binh by river boat, and one night on the water in Ha Long or the quieter Lan Ha Bay. Crossing the road in Hanoi takes practice: walk slowly and steadily, and the scooters will flow around you.
Short answer
Three days covers two city days and one bay. Four days lets you see both Ninh Binh and Ha Long without racing.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Morning. Start at Hoan Kiem Lake at 6:00, when locals do tai chi and dance aerobics on the shore. Cross the red Huc Bridge to the Ngoc Son Temple (a small fee), then breakfast on pho at a street stall (VND 50,000-70,000).
Afternoon. Wander the Old Quarter, the '36 streets' each once named after a guild: Hang Bac (silver), Hang Ma (paper offerings), Hang Gai (silk). Visit Hoa Lo Prison, the 'Hanoi Hilton' (a small fee), used by the French and later for American pilots.
Evening. See a water puppet show at the Thang Long theatre by the lake (about VND 100,000-200,000), a northern Vietnamese art performed on a water stage. Then street food on Ta Hien ('beer street') with fresh bia hoi for a few thousand dong a glass.
From Friday to Sunday evening, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake close to traffic and become a walking street with buskers and families.
Day 2: Mausoleum, Temple of Literature and the West Lake
Morning. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free; open mornings only, closed on Mondays and Fridays, and for maintenance for about two months a year). Dress respectfully and keep silent. Next to it are Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda.
Afternoon. The Temple of Literature (about VND 70,000), founded in 1070 as Vietnam's first university, has stone tablets on tortoises listing doctoral graduates. Then the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (25 minutes by Grab), the best museum in Hanoi, with full-size village houses in its garden.
Evening. Watch the sunset at West Lake from the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in the city, then have dinner in Tay Ho.
Try egg coffee (ca phe trung), egg yolk whipped with condensed milk over coffee, invented at Giang Café in 1946 (about VND 35,000-45,000).
Day 3: Ninh Binh
Morning. Go to Ninh Binh (about 1.5-2 hours by bus or car). At Trang An (UNESCO), a woman rows you in a sampan for 2-3 hours along rivers and through caves between limestone peaks (about VND 250,000 per person).
Afternoon. Climb the 500 steps of Hang Mua for the view over the rice fields and the river, or cycle through Tam Coc. Visit Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital.
Evening. Return to Hanoi, or stay a night in a Tam Coc homestay and continue to Ha Long the next morning.
The rice fields are greenest from April to May and golden in late May-June and September-October.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay
Morning. Take the expressway transfer (about 2.5 hours) to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise among 1,600 limestone islands. Cruises range from simple boats to luxury ships (from about US$120-300+ per person for one night, including meals and kayaking).
Afternoon. Kayak into lagoons, visit a cave such as Sung Sot, and swim from the boat. For fewer boats, choose a cruise in Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay, next to Ha Long.
Evening. Dinner on board under the karsts, then morning tai chi on deck and the transfer back to Hanoi by early afternoon the next day.
Day trips to Ha Long are possible but spend 5 hours on the road for 4 hours on the water. One night is much better.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, combine the two city days into one and keep Ninh Binh and Ha Long, or keep the city and choose one of the two landscapes.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the night train or a bus north to Sapa for the rice terraces and hill-tribe villages, or fly south to Hoi An and Hue.
Where to stay in Hanoi
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Old Quarter guesthouses | Cheapest rooms, street food outside the door. | VND 400,000-700,000 |
| Mid-range | Old Quarter / Hoan Kiem | Walk to the lake, the markets and the water puppets. | VND 900,000-1,800,000 |
| Mid-range | French Quarter | Leafy boulevards, quieter, near the Opera House. | VND 1,200,000-2,500,000 |
| Comfort | Historic hotels (Sofitel Metropole) | Colonial-era grand hotels. | VND 5,000,000-12,000,000 |
Getting around
Walk the Old Quarter and use Grab (cars or scooters) for longer distances: most rides cost VND 30,000-80,000. Cross roads slowly and predictably. From Noi Bai Airport, Grab takes about 45 minutes, and the public bus 86 reaches the Old Quarter for about VND 45,000. Most nationalities need an e-visa, applied for online.
What to eat in Hanoi
Hanoi's essentials: pho bo (beef noodle soup, the city's breakfast), bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles and herbs; Huong Lien became famous after a 2016 visit by Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain), cha ca La Vong (turmeric fish fried with dill at the table), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) and bun rieu. Street meals cost VND 40,000-80,000. Sit on the tiny plastic stools: that is where the best food is. Try bia hoi, fresh draught beer, and the coffee: drip, with condensed milk, with egg or with coconut.
Best time to visit
October to December (around 22-28°C, dry) and March to April (spring) are best. Summer (May-September) is hot and humid (above 32°C) with heavy rain. Winter (January-February) is cool and grey, with highs of 17-20°C; Tet, the Lunar New Year, is festive but many businesses close for a week.
Month-by-month weather for Hanoi →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | VND 300,000 | VND 700,000 | VND 2,500,000 |
| Food & drink | VND 250,000 | VND 500,000 | VND 1,200,000 |
| Sights & tours (excl. cruise) | VND 150,000 | VND 500,000 | VND 1,200,000 |
| Local transport | VND 80,000 | VND 200,000 | VND 500,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about VND 780,000 | about VND 1,900,000 | about VND 5,400,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Vietnamese dong (very roughly VND 27,000-28,000 to €1). The Ha Long Bay cruise is extra. Vietnam has no hotel tourist tax; hotels may add service and VAT.
Before you go
Common questions
Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
Lan Ha Bay is part of the same landscape, with fewer boats and better kayaking and beaches; Ha Long has the famous caves and more cruise options. Both are 2.5-3 hours from Hanoi.
Is Train Street open?
Access to the cafés on the railway has been restricted by police at times for safety. Respect any closures and never stand on the tracks.
Is Hanoi safe?
Yes. The main risks are traffic and petty theft, such as phone snatching from passing scooters, so hold your phone away from the road.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities need an e-visa, applied for on the official government portal. Some nationalities have visa-free stays; check before travelling.
Should I book tours in advance?
For Ha Long cruises in high season, yes. For Ninh Binh and city tours, booking a day or two ahead in Hanoi is fine.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Vietnam trips. Prices are approximate for 2026 in dong; confirm mausoleum hours, cruise prices and visa rules on official sites before booking.
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