🇻🇳 Vietnam · Hà Nội

Hanoi: what to see, where to stay, 2026 tips

Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital, Hanoi charms with its Old Quarter of 36 guild streets, Hoan Kiem Lake, legendary street food (pho, bun cha, egg coffee) and day trips to Halong Bay and Ninh Binh. Here's how to enjoy it in 2 to 4 days.

📍 See 📅 When to go 🗺️ Itinerary

Hanoi at a glance

Population

8.5 M

Airport

HAN (Noi Bai)

Ideal stay

2 to 4 days

Budget / day

€25-120

Flight Paris

~12h direct

Time diff

+5h / +6h

Current climate

Best season

Photo : Shubham Singla / Unsplash

In brief

Hanoi in brief

1

The gateway to North Vietnam

Count 2 days for the city itself, then 2 to 3 days for Halong Bay, Ninh Binh or Sapa departing from here.
2

The Old Quarter is best on foot

The 36 guild streets form a dense maze. Stay inside or on its edge to do everything without transport.
3

Some of the best street food in Asia

Pho for breakfast, bun cha for lunch, egg coffee in the afternoon: the table is everywhere, on the sidewalks.
4

Crossing the street is an art

The flow of scooters never stops. Walk slowly and steadily, they will go around you. Do not run.
5

A climate with four real seasons

Unlike the tropical South, Hanoi has a cool, damp winter (Dec-Feb) and a hot, stormy summer.

Must-see

What to see in Hanoi?

★ #1 📍

Old Quarter (36 guild streets)

A maze of lanes where each street once bore the name of a trade. The beating heart of the city.

⏱ Half-day 💰 Free Must-see

★ #2 📍

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

The Lake of the Restored Sword and its red The Huc bridge leading to the temple on the islet.

⏱ 1 h 💰 50,000 ₫ Must-see

★ #3 📍

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The embalmed body of Uncle Ho. Proper dress required, closed in autumn for maintenance.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 Free In the morning

★ #4 📍

Temple of Literature

Vietnam's first university (1070). Five peaceful courtyards dedicated to Confucius.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 70,000 ₫ Must-see

★ #5 📍

Train Street

A railway runs through an alley inches from the cafés. Train passes twice a day.

⏱ 1 h 💰 Coffee 50,000 ₫ Photo spot

★ #6 📍

Water Puppet Theatre

Thousand-year-old art of the Red River delta. A 50-min show at the Thang Long theatre.

⏱ 1 h 💰 100,000 ₫ In the evening

★ #7 📍

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Neo-Gothic from 1886, nicknamed the Notre-Dame of Hanoi. Trendy café district around it.

⏱ 30 min 💰 Free Photo spot

★ #8 📍

Dong Xuan Market

The city's largest covered market. Night market on weekends in the surrounding streets.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 Free Fri-Sun evening

★ #9 📍

West Lake (Tay Ho) & Tran Quoc Pagoda

The city's largest lake and Hanoi's oldest pagoda on its shore.

⏱ 2 h 💰 Free At sunset

★ #10 📍

Hoa Lo Prison

Memorial from the colonial and war eras, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by prisoners.

⏱ 1 h 💰 50,000 ₫ Off the beaten path

Choose your district

Where to stay in Hanoi?

Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)

The tourist heart, lively day and night. Everything on foot, hundreds of hotels and hostels. From €8/night.

★ Recommended

Around Hoan Kiem Lake

Quieter in the evening, near the cathedral and cafés. A good comfort compromise. From €30/night.

Charm

French Quarter

Wide avenues, opera house, historic colonial hotels (Metropole). From €90/night.

Luxury

Tay Ho (West Lake)

Expat district by the lake, greener and airier. Ideal for a long stay. From €35/night.

Authentic

Getting around

Getting around Hanoi

🚶

On foot

The Old Quarter is best covered entirely on foot. Most sites are within 2 km of the lake.

🚖

Grab (car & bike)

The go-to app. Prices shown in advance, no haggling. The Grab motorbike is fast and cheap.

🛺

Cyclo (pedicab)

Tourist loop of the Old Quarter. Negotiate and fix the price before getting on.

✈️

Noi Bai Airport (HAN)

27 km to the north. Express bus 86 to the center, or Grab. Official metered taxi at the exit.

Climate & crowds

When to visit Hanoi?

Ideal Fair Avoid

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Autumn & spring

Oct-Nov & Mar-Apr · 22-28°C, mild skies · Ideal: the two best windows of the year

Winter

Dec to Feb · 13-20°C, grey and damp · Fair: cool, drizzle, bring a jacket

Summer & monsoon

May to Sep · 30-38°C, storms, humidity · Avoid: heavy heat and strong rains

How much

Hanoi budget (per day)

Backpacker

€25

per day

🏨 Dorm: €7
🍜 Street food: €5
🚖 Grab bike: €2
🎫 1 site

Recommended

Comfort

€70

per day

🏨 3-4★ hotel: €40
🍽️ Mixed restos: €18
🚖 Grab car: €6
🎫 Activities

Premium

€180

per day

🏨 Metropole 5★: €140
🍽️ Fine dining: €45
🚖 Private driver
🎫 Private tours

Our tested itinerary

Hanoi in 2 days

Day-by-day program.

Day 1: Old Quarter & lake

8am Pho for breakfast in the Old Quarter
9am Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple
11am Stroll through the 36 guild streets
1pm Bun cha for lunch
4pm Train Street + egg coffee
8pm Water Puppet Theatre

Day 2: History & culture

8am Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (in the morning)
10am Temple of Literature
12pm Lunch near the cathedral
2pm Hoa Lo Prison
4pm West Lake + Tran Quoc Pagoda
7pm Dong Xuan night market (weekend)

Detailed itinerary →

Around

Tours from Hanoi

📍

Halong Bay

2h30 away · Karst pinnacles, junk cruise

📍

Ninh Binh (Trang An)

2h away · The inland Halong Bay by sampan

📍

Sapa

5h away · Terraced rice fields and ethnic minorities

📍

Perfume Pagoda

2h away · Pilgrimage by sampan then cable car

FAQ

Hanoi FAQ

How many days to visit Hanoi? +

Two days are enough for the city and its must-sees (Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Mausoleum, Temple of Literature). Count 4 days total to add a day trip to Halong Bay or Ninh Binh, which both depart from Hanoi.

What's the best neighborhood to stay in Hanoi? +

The Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem) to be in the heart of the action and do everything on foot. The French Quarter for quiet and colonial charm. Tay Ho by West Lake for a longer, airier stay.

How to reach the center from Noi Bai Airport? +

The airport is 27 km to the north. Express bus 86 reaches the Old Quarter in 50 min for 45,000 ₫. A Grab ride costs around 300,000 ₫ (€12). Avoid the taxis touting in the hall, take the official queue.

Is Hanoi a good base to explore the North? +

Yes, it is the ideal gateway. Halong Bay (2h30), Ninh Binh (2h) and Sapa (5h by night train or bus) are all done as trips from Hanoi. Most travelers combine the city with at least one of these destinations.

Do you need a visa for Hanoi? +

French nationals enjoy a visa exemption for stays under 45 days. Beyond that, the online e-visa is required. See our Vietnam visa guide.