3 Days in Hanoi: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready to fall for Hanoi, a city that rewards slow wandering. The capital packs a thousand years of history into a compact centre: a lake with a temple on an island, a tangle of trade streets in the Old Quarter, a royal citadel listed by UNESCO and Vietnam’s first university. This plan suits first-time visitors who want the classic sights without rushing, plus a generous share of street food and happy evening strolls.

The pace is moderate. Each day is built around one area so you walk more and sit in traffic less. Mornings go to the sights that open early, afternoons to museums, and evenings to the lake, the night markets and the food. Prices below are in Vietnamese dong (VND), with rough US dollar values at about VND 26,000 to USD 1 (Vietcombank rate, 22 October 2026).

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter	Ngoc Son Temple, Old Quarter streets, Hoa Lo Prison, water puppets
2	Ba Dinh historic core	Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Temple of Literature
3	Cau Giay and West Lake	Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake sunset

Day 1: Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter

Morning

This is the day to meet Hanoi’s heart. Start at Hoan Kiem Lake, the calm centre of the city. Early morning is the best time to come: locals walk, jog and do group exercise along the shore before the heat and traffic build up. A full loop of the lake on foot takes around 30 to 40 minutes at an easy pace.

On the north-east shore, cross the red wooden bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on its small island. There is a small entry fee paid at the gate; check the current price there. Inside you will find a preserved giant turtle linked to the legend of the lake.

From the temple, walk north into the Old Quarter. Many streets here historically took their names from the goods once sold on them, and you will still see clusters of shops selling the same thing side by side. There is no fixed route; we suggest drifting along Hang Dao, Hang Bac and the lanes around Dong Xuan Market, then stopping for coffee. Allow two to three hours, including a long breakfast of pho or banh mi.

Afternoon

Walk south past the lake to Hoa Lo Prison, about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the southern shore. Built by the French colonial administration, it later held Vietnamese revolutionaries and, during the Vietnam War, American airmen. The exhibits are sobering and well presented. Allow 60 to 90 minutes.

• Opening hours: daily, 8:00 to 17:00, including public holidays (official site).
• Ticket: VND 50,000 per adult (about USD 1.90). Students with a valid card get 50% off, and children under 16 enter free.
• An audio guide is offered on site; check the price at the counter.

On the way back north, pass St Joseph’s Cathedral, a neo-Gothic church a short walk west of the lake. The streets around it are full of small cafes and are a good spot for a mid-afternoon break.

Evening

If it is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and parts of the Old Quarter become a pedestrian zone in the evening, with a weekend night market along Hang Dao and nearby streets. Check current times locally, as they have changed over the years.

Finish with a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on the north-east side of the lake. Water puppetry is a northern Vietnamese folk art, performed in a pool with live music. Evening shows can sell out, especially in the cooler months, so buy tickets earlier in the day at the theatre box office. Check showtimes and prices at the theatre, as we could not verify them on an official page.

Dinner is easy: the Old Quarter is full of street food. Try bun cha (grilled pork with noodles), cha ca (turmeric fish with dill) or a bowl of bun rieu.

Day 2: Ba Dinh historic core

Get ready for the big sightseeing day, packed with royal and scholarly history. Ba Dinh lies west of the Old Quarter, about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing car. The mausoleum area, the citadel and the Temple of Literature are close enough to link on foot, but a short ride between the citadel and the temple saves energy on hot days.

Morning

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Important for autumn 2026: the mausoleum is closed for periodic maintenance from 4 September to 2 November 2026 and reopens to visitors on 3 November 2026, according to the Vietnam News Agency. When open, visits are in the morning only, and the mausoleum is normally closed on Mondays and Fridays. Entry is free. Expect a strict dress code (shoulders and knees covered), silence inside and security checks. Check the latest schedule before you go, as hours change by season.

Even when the mausoleum itself is closed, you can see Ba Dinh Square from outside and visit the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, a tiny temple on a single stone pillar. The Presidential Palace grounds and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house sit next to the mausoleum complex and charge a separate ticket; check current prices at the entrance.

From here, walk to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, about 10 minutes south-east. This UNESCO World Heritage site was the political centre of Vietnamese dynasties for centuries. Highlights include the Doan Mon gate, the archaeological excavations at 18 Hoang Dieu and the underground command bunkers used during the war. Allow two hours.

• Opening hours: daily, 8:00 to 17:00 (official site).
• Ticket: VND 100,000 per person (about USD 3.85), the same price for Vietnamese and international visitors. Students aged 16 and over with a valid card pay VND 50,000. Children under 16 enter free.
• Tickets can be bought at the gate or booked online through the link on the citadel’s official site.

Afternoon

After lunch, take a short taxi ride or walk around 25 to 30 minutes south to the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam). Founded in 1070 to honour Confucius, it later housed the Imperial Academy, often described as Vietnam’s first university. Walk through its five courtyards, past the stone turtles carrying steles that record the names of successful scholars. Allow 60 to 90 minutes.

• Opening hours: daily, 8:00 to 17:00.
• Ticket: VND 70,000 per adult (about USD 2.70). Students at Vietnamese schools and some other groups pay VND 35,000. Children under 16 enter free.
• Dress respectfully: it is a place of worship.

Evening

On Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the Temple of Literature runs a night tour from 18:30 to 22:00, with the courtyards lit up. It has its own ticket; the price is not listed on the official page, so check when booking through the temple’s site.

Otherwise, head back to the Old Quarter or the lake for dinner. The area around Ta Hien and the streets near the cathedral are lively in the evening.

Day 3: Ethnology museum and West Lake

Morning

Your last day brings culture in the morning and a golden lakeside finale. Take a taxi or ride-hailing car west to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Cau Giay district, roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the Old Quarter depending on traffic. It is one of the best museums in Southeast Asia for understanding Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The indoor galleries cover clothing, crafts and rituals, and the outdoor garden has full-size traditional houses, including a tall Bahnar communal house and Ede longhouse.

• Opening hours: 8:30 to 17:30, closed on Mondays (Vietnam National Authority of Tourism).
• Ticket: VND 40,000 (about USD 1.55).
• Free water puppet performances are held twice daily in the garden. If you skipped the theatre show on Day 1, this is a good alternative.

Allow two to three hours. If your trip falls on a Monday, swap Day 3 with Day 1.

Afternoon

Head east to West Lake (Ho Tay), the city’s largest lake, around 20 to 30 minutes by car. Start at Tran Quoc Pagoda, on a small peninsula off Thanh Nien road, often called the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. Cover shoulders and knees. Across the road is Truc Bach Lake, quieter and lined with cafes.

A short walk south brings you to Quan Thanh Temple, a Taoist temple with a large bronze statue. From there you can continue on foot along the West Lake shore, or rent a bicycle where available.

Evening

Save the best view for last: West Lake is the best place in Hanoi for sunset. Find a lakeside cafe along Thanh Nien road or on the Tay Ho side and watch the light fade over the water.

For your last dinner, return to the Old Quarter or stay in the Tay Ho area, which has a wide range of restaurants. If you still have energy, take a taxi to the foot of Long Bien Bridge, a historic steel bridge over the Red River, and walk out on the pedestrian side path for river views at dusk.

Getting there and getting around

Entry and visas

Entry rules depend on your nationality and change from time to time. Check the official Vietnam National Electronic Visa portal at evisa.gov.vn before booking, and apply only through that government site.

From Noi Bai Airport to the city

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) lies north of the city. The airport’s official site lists these public bus routes from Terminals 1 and 2:

Route	To	Fare (one way)	Hours	Frequency
86 (express)	Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Ha Noi)	VND 50,000	7:00 to 22:05	every 25 to 30 min
17	Long Bien	VND 15,000	5:10 to 22:00	every 10 to 15 min
90	Kim Ma	VND 15,000	6:40 to 22:30	every 20 min
07	Cau Giay	VND 12,000	5:00 to 22:30	every 10 to 20 min
109	My Dinh	VND 12,000	5:00 to 22:00	every 20 to 30 min

For most visitors, route 86 is the simplest: it is the express airport service and runs to Hanoi Railway Station, on the western side of the central area. Route 17 to Long Bien is the budget option for the northern edge of the Old Quarter. Journey times depend heavily on traffic, so allow plenty of time, especially when going back to the airport.

Hai Van also runs airport buses (NB01 and NB02) at VND 90,000, every 45 minutes, according to the airport site.

Taxis and ride-hailing: licensed taxi companies serve the airport from the first to the last flight, and fares follow a published table on the airport’s site (shown as an image, so check it there). Contracted cars pick up at designated points on Level 1 of each terminal.

Getting around the city

• On foot: the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake area are best explored walking. Cross roads at a steady pace so drivers can predict you.
• Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to link the three areas in this plan.
• Hanoi Metro runs two lines: Line 2A (Cat Linh to Ha Dong) and Line 3 (Nhon to Ga Ha Noi), both from 5:30 to 22:00. Tickets are sold at station counters and in the official Hanoi Metro app. Fares are published on the operator’s site; check there before you ride. For this itinerary the metro is mostly useful for reaching the western districts.
• City buses are very cheap but slower; Transerco’s Tim Buyt app helps with routes.

Where to stay

• Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem): the most convenient base for first-timers. You can walk to the lake, the night market, water puppets and countless food stalls. Expect noise and narrow, busy streets.
• French Quarter (south of Hoan Kiem Lake): wider, tree-lined streets, grand colonial buildings and a calmer feel, still within walking distance of the lake. Suits couples and travellers who want quieter nights.
• Ba Dinh: close to the citadel, the Temple of Literature and the mausoleum area. Good if you prefer early starts at the historic sights and a more residential atmosphere.
• Tay Ho (West Lake): relaxed, with lakeside cafes and international restaurants. Better for longer stays or repeat visitors, since it is a taxi ride from the Old Quarter.

Budget

Item	Typical cost
Airport bus 86 (one way)	VND 50,000 (about USD 1.90)
Airport bus 17 or 90 (one way)	VND 15,000 (about USD 0.60)
Hoa Lo Prison (adult)	VND 50,000 (about USD 1.90)
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long	VND 100,000 (about USD 3.85)
Temple of Literature (adult)	VND 70,000 (about USD 2.70)
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology	VND 40,000 (about USD 1.55)
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum	Free (when open)
Water puppet show, Ngoc Son Temple, stilt house area	Check at the venue

The headline sights in this plan add up to roughly VND 260,000 (about USD 10) per adult over three days. Not included: flights, visas, accommodation, meals, taxis, metro fares, night tours and guided tours. These vary widely, so set your own daily budget for them once you have chosen where to stay and how you will get around.

Practical tips

• Dress code: the mausoleum enforces covered shoulders and knees strictly. Pagodas and temples, including the Temple of Literature, also ask for respectful dress. Carry a light long-sleeved layer.
• Closing days: the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology closes on Mondays. The mausoleum normally closes on Mondays and Fridays and is shut for maintenance until 2 November 2026. The citadel, Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison are listed as open daily.
• Weather: Hanoi has four seasons. Summers are hot and humid with heavy rain, while winters can feel chilly and damp. October to April is generally the most comfortable time for walking.
• Money: Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Cards are accepted in many hotels, museums and restaurants, but carry cash for street food, small shops and markets. Notes look similar, so check the zeros when paying.
• SIM and eSIM: you can buy a local SIM at the airport or in the city with your passport, or set up an eSIM before you fly. Compare data plans on the operators’ own sites.
• Traffic: motorbikes are everywhere, including on pavements. Walk steadily, make eye contact and avoid sudden stops when crossing.
• Heat and pacing: in hotter months, plan outdoor sights for early morning and late afternoon, with museums in between.

Heads-up: what to watch out for

Hanoi is a joy to explore, and a few simple habits keep it that way.

• Taxis and transfers: metered taxis from the larger firms are generally reliable, and the official ride-hailing apps such as Grab or XanhSM supply licensed cars. Easy to avoid trouble: book the whole journey in the app, check that the driver identifies themself before setting off, and be wary of people who only claim to work for these companies or offer free bus transfers to hotels that you did not arrange in advance.
• Bag snatching from motorbikes: thieves on motorbikes snatching bags is common in Vietnam. Good to know: if it happens, hand your valuables over rather than risk getting hurt in a struggle.
• Scooters and road rules: compliance with road laws is poor, so stay alert on busy streets. We don’t recommend renting a scooter unless you hold a valid licence, have third-party insurance (driving without it is illegal) and wear a helmet, which is compulsory for drivers and passengers alike.
• Vapes are banned: vapes and related products are banned in Vietnam, and you cannot buy them there or bring them into the country. Easy fix: leave them at home.
• Drinks and methanol: there have been deaths and serious illness in Vietnam from alcoholic drinks containing methanol, and drinks can be spiked. Good to know: buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
• Drugs and military sites: drug offences carry very severe penalties, up to the death penalty in serious cases. Photography is also restricted near military bases, so keep your camera down near them.
• Air quality and mosquitoes: check local air quality data and plan your outdoor time around it, and avoid mosquito bites, especially during the day, as dengue occurs in Vietnam. A light long-sleeved layer and repellent cover both the temples and the bites.
• Mausoleum closure: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed for maintenance until 2 November 2026, so plan Day 2 around the citadel and the Temple of Literature until it reopens on 3 November.

FAQ

Is three days enough for Hanoi?

Three days covers the main city sights comfortably: the lake and Old Quarter, the citadel and Temple of Literature, and a museum plus West Lake. Add extra days if you want an overnight trip to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh.

Can I visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in October 2026?

No. The mausoleum is closed for periodic maintenance from 4 September to 2 November 2026 and reopens on 3 November 2026. You can still see Ba Dinh Square from outside and visit the nearby One Pillar Pagoda.

How do I get from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter cheaply?

Take bus 86 (VND 50,000) to Hanoi Railway Station, then a short taxi ride, or bus 17 (VND 15,000) to Long Bien on the northern edge of the Old Quarter. Ride-hailing cars and licensed taxis are faster but cost more.

Which sights should I book in advance?

Water puppet tickets are the main one, especially for evening shows in the cooler months. The Imperial Citadel offers online booking through its official site, and the Temple of Literature night tour can be booked on the temple’s site.

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

It depends on your passport. Check the official e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn and apply only through that government site.

When is the weekend walking street on?

The streets around Hoan Kiem Lake become pedestrian areas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with a night market in the Old Quarter. Exact times have changed over the years, so check locally.