THE TOP 15 Things To Do in Hanoi [UPDATED 2025]
Things to do in Hanoi dragging you in between maze-like streets, a never-ending sea of traffic, and crowded marketplaces, Vietnam’s ancient capital can be overwhelming and full of things to see at first. Beneath the surface, Hanoi’s rich heritage and proud cultural traditions await discovery.
Highlights in Hanoi city tour is the atmospheric Old Quarter, where countless craft shops & food stalls line dozens of narrow “trade streets.” Around Hoan Kiem Lake, beautifully restored, French Colonial buildings, including the Grand Opera House and the Presidential Palace, flank wide, stately boulevards, and a painted footbridge leads to the antique Ngoc Son Confucian temple on the lake.
Highlights in Hanoi including a visit to Ho Chi Minh complex where you’ll learn more about Vietnam’s most influential leader, see “Uncle Ho’s” former house-on-stilts, as well as his earthly remains (housed in the mausoleum). Don’t miss the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as the Vietnam’s first university, or the excellent Museum of Ethnology. Take a tasting tour to sample some of Asia’s best street food, which might include classic bun cha (slow-roasted pork served with rice vermicelli, herbs, and lettuce), followed by thick, sweet, and highly addictive Vietnamese coffee.
Enjoy a traditional water-puppet show and a cyclo (three-wheeled rickshaw) ride, and you’ll soon feel right at home in Hanoi. Check luxury Vietnam Tours visiting Hanoi
Top 15 Things To Do & Attractions in Hanoi
Halong Bay (Best for overnight trip)
Beyond the attractions, it’s easy to think Halong Bay couldn’t possibly be real. After all, beauty like this only exists in movies, where high-tech equipment can create a landscape that is mesmerizing, awe-inspiring and perfect. Not only is Halong Bay real, however, but it’s a convenient side trip from fast-paced Hanoi that should be on the itinerary of any traveler passing through North Vietnam.
Halong Bay is ~3 hours from Hanoi. Many visitors choose to spend either one or two nights cruising on a traditional junk, which not only allows more time for exploring things to do, but also allows for the unforgettable spectacle of limestone islets piercing the mists as the sun rises over the bay.
Check out Best Things To Do in Halong Bay
Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is the cultural heart of Hanoi, where the pulse of life has been beating for nearly 2,000 years. Daily routine starts early & builds to a friendly bustle, while streets have distinct character and are named after the crafts once made there: silver, ladder, silk, paper.
Hanoi Old Quarter is a triangular area of approximately 36 streets centered next to Lake Ho Hoan Kiem. Areas by the lake itself are more touristy and expensive, head into its heart to find true local gems. The Old Quarter gets very busy on weekends, so why not do as the locals do and start early to avoid peak crowds?
Ninh Binh & Tam Coc (Best for day trip)
One of the popular excursions from Hanoi – A 3 hours ride takes you to Ninh Binh, a small town located in the Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam, is a famous base for exploring the nearby limestone karst scenery, particularly at Tam Coc 4 miles (6 kilometers) away. At Tam Coc, or “three caves” in English, limestone formations tower above verdant rice paddies in what is considered one of Vietnam’s most spectacular places & lots of things to do. The area is best experienced by sampan on the river meandering through the landscape.
Also close by to Ninh Binh are the Trang An Grottoes, a series of caves similar to those at Tam Coc an easy bike ride outside of town. Bich Dong Pagoda, located just west of Tam Coc, dates back to the 15th century with temples built directly into the limestone caves. Phat Diem Cathedral, located a bit farther afield, was built during the late 19th century using typical Vietnamese temple architecture. History lovers should make time for a visit to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam 9 miles (15 kilometers) outside of Ninh Binh town.
Hanoi Opera House (Nhà hát lớn Hà Nội)
The Hanoi Opera House (Nhà hát lớn Hà Nội) is a 100-year-old performance hall with architecture modeled on the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris. Nhà hát lớn was erected by the French colonial administration at the turn of the 20th century and is a landmark building in center of Hanoi. It was built in a typical French style with classic gothic features.In 1997, the modernization and repair of the building was undertaken by Vietnamese French architects, and the decorative designs on the ceilings, arches, walls, and doors were renewed.
Home to the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, the Opera House also hosts the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Ballet, plus both traditional and modern local productions. Things to do including photography as No tours of the building are offered but the exterior makes for some good photo opportunities.
In terms of atmosphere, the Opera House is best seen at night when it is illuminated by lights.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
This is a very popular site for locals and tourists, expect busy queues. Full respectful attire and attitude is essential.
At this mausoleum the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh, founder of unified Vietnam and the country’s liberator from Western colonialism, lies in a glass case for public viewing. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex was built with assistance from the USSR and the austere and impressive architecture is recognizably Soviet/Communist in design.
Around the building lie 240 ordered squares of manicured grass cut with concrete walkways. This dedication to ‘Uncle Ho,’ as he is affectionately known, is unsurprisingly one of the nation’s most revered sites and as such this is a moving, and eerie, experience. Nearby is the popular Ho Chi Minh Museum dedicated to his life and work.
Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)
The Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) was originally built as a Confucian Temple in 1070 AD. Six years later on the same grounds was founded Vietnam’s first university to educate the administrative and military warrior Mandarin classes. Over the years buildings have been added and renovated but much of the architecture dates back to the Lý (1010 – 1225) and Trần dynasties (1225 – 1400).
The university operated for more than 700 years but today you can experience the tranquility without its warrior students, with its beautiful gardens and pavilions in a series of courtyards.
Long Bien Bridge
Designed by Parisian architects & built between 1899 and 1902, Hanoi’s Long Bien Bridge was the first steel bridge spanning the Red River and has long been a point of pride for the Vietnamese. During the war against the French in 1954, the bridge served as a vital transportation link for moving food into Northern Central Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War, American air attacks bombed the bridge, yet today it still stands as a testament to the nation’s tumultuous history. Apart from its historical significance, the bridge has a pedestrian path where vendors often set up stalls selling some of the city’s tastiest street foods. It’s also one of the best spots in Hanoi for watching a sunrise or sunset, and it’s not unusual to see young couples having their wedding pictures taken on the historic structure.
The Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake
The lake is among the top things to see & is located in Hanoi’s historical center between Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Thai To. It’s easily accessible via local buses, including the 9 and 36.
The Hoan Kiem Lake holds as big a place in local folklore as it does in Hanoi’s city culture. According to local legend, an ancient emperor was once floating along the lake when the Golden Turtle God requested his magic sword. It’s an age-old story that locals still tell to curious tourists who wander the lake’s scenic shores. It marks the divide between Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Opera house and is also home to an endangered species of massive soft-shell turtles that gave nearby Turtle Temple its name.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Don’t leave Hanoi without seeing a Thang Long Water Puppet Theater show. These musical stories portrayed are of historical legends and folk tales. These ever-popular performances are given by a troupe of talented actors & accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese pit orchestra. Great entertainment for all ages and one of the best things to do in Hanoi. Charming, curious, and enchanting – you’ll be pleased you experienced it.
Located next to Lake Ho Hoan Kiem in the Old Quarter, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater offers several shows each day and its often included if you book a Hanoi tour – you can also combine with a visit to the Old Quarter. This is very popular and always busy, so make sure to book in advance.
Tran Quoc Pagoda (Chùa Trấn Quốc)
Tran Quoc Pagoda, is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi and dates back to the 6th century. A stele from 1639 tells the story of the pagoda. According to the tale, Emperor Lý Nam Đế founded it on the Red River during the early Ly Dynasty. However, after flooding, builders moved the pagoda to its present location on West Lake in 1615.
Popular Vietnam Hanoi Packages include a visit to the pagoda – the site opens daily from 7am to 11:30am and from 1:30pm to 6pm. Visitors must wear modest clothing with long sleeves to enter.
The stupa, composed of 11 floors, stands out, with gemstone statues in all its windows. It towers above the other buildings and casts a shimmering reflection across the lake.
Hoa Lo Prison
Once used by French colonialists to house political prisoners—and later by North Vietnam to hold activists rallying for independence—what now remains of Hoa Lo Prison has become a popular for travelers visiting Hanoi.
Sometimes sarcastically called the “Hanoi Hilton” Hoa Lo once held more than 2,000 prisoners in subhuman conditions within its crowded quarters. Prisoners included a number of leaders from Communist North Vietnam, as well as American pilots and soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Hoa Lo became a school for revolutionaries after the authorities released its prisoners and underwent total demolition in the 1990s. Today, Hanoi tours taking tourists to the original gates to Hoa Lo lead to a replica of the prison, where travelers can tour cells, explore prison culture and better understand the conditions political captives lived under.
St Joseph’s Cathedral (Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội)
A popular historic landmark in Hanoi – Amid the congested streets of old quarter, the neo-Gothic facade of St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Nha Tho Lon) seems somewhat out of place. Situated in the French Quarter of the Vietnamese capital, facing a small plaza near Hoan Kiem Lake, builders constructed the Roman Catholic cathedral between 1882 and 1886, shortly after the French conquered the city.
One-Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot)
The One-Pillar Pagoda stands in the park behind the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Half-light at early morning or sunset gives a beautiful and mysterious photographic view of the temple and its reflection across the pond.
Legend says that while Emperor Ly Thai Tong struggled with being childless, he dreamt of meeting the bodhisattva Quan Am, who sat on a lotus flower and offered him a son. Soon after he married a peasant girl who bore him a son, and in gratitude he built the One Pillar Pagoda in the design of a lotus flower on its stem rising from a square pond.
The French Union destroyed the original temple in 1954, and builders reconstructed it on a single concrete pillar with a 1.25-meter (4-foot) diameter. The wooden temple is home to a statue of Quan Am. Hanoi Tours including a visit to nearby Mausoleum stops for a visit at this site.
Hanoi Cooking Class
Anyone lucky enough to have traveled to Vietnam knows its cuisine is among the best in Asia, characterized by its delicate flavors and fresh local ingredients topped with lots of veggies. On Hanoi tours, visitors learn the secrets and techniques for preparing traditional Vietnamese dishes, enabling them to recreate these meals at home.
Bat Trang Ceramic & Pottery village
Most known for its local crafts, dot the scenic hillsides just beyond Hanoi. Bat Trang Ceramic village is famous for its intricately painted tiles, pots, vases, and plates, ranks among the most popular places to visit near Hanoi. Once there, explore the streets of the village to see local artisans perfect the age-old craft of ceramic making.
The village lies about 8 miles (13km) from Hanoi, across the Chuong Duong Bridge. You can also reach it via public bus number 47 from the old quarter. There is no entrance fee to enter the village.
Frequently Asked Questions about Things to do Hanoi
Given its northern location, Hanoi has more distinct seasons—and lower temperatures with cold winters—than most of Vietnam. Travelers who prefer moderate weather should consider planning to visit Hanoi between November and April. Mid-autumn, during the Full Moon Festival, and mid-winter, when it’s Lunar New Year, are among the most memorable times of the year to visit.
Overall Risk: Low. Hanoi is a safe city for tourists – pickpockets, bag snatchers, and taxi scams are rare, and violence against tourists is surprisingly uncommon, making it one of the safest cities in Asia.
Is it also very safe to walk around in Hanoi in the evening. However, if you are going out late at night by yourself then we advise that you go with taxi or ride a motorbike.
The capital city of Vietnam and country’s second largest city after Saigon. Hanoi is famous for its old colonial buildings, street food, bustling night markets, lakes, and maze of tiny alleyways. The famous Pho noodle soup & grilled Bún chả is from Hanoi.
Hanoi is also a based for few of the best day trips and weekends excursions such as Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa and the famous Ha Giang. The Hanoi International airport (Noi Bai) is one of the busiest in the region.
At a minimum, you need between three to four days to explore the must of Hanoi has to offer including a day trip. Not only are there so many things to do in the Hanoi, the excursions can make you stay longer. Best things to see and tour in Hanoi include cooking class, motorbike trips to far north, visit tourist attractions and if you have more time, spend it as a free day to sit at a cafe and sip marvelous Vietnamese egg-coffee.
The top things to do in Hanoi – according to the travelers and suggest by local experts, are:
1- Ha Long Bay for an excursion and overnight stay on board the cruise
2- Hanoi Old Quarter
3- Hanoi Opera House (Nha Hat Lon)
4- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
5- Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)
Walking in old quarter will gives you plenty of things to do for free in Hanoi. Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake & the nearby streets toward the Hai Ba Trung street and French quarter, then walk toward Long Bien Bridge. Free-to-enter religious sights such as Bach Ma Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and finally, you can join locals to enter any parks to have a morning aerobics.
US money for Vietnam and in Hanoi you get plenty of things with USD100. A typical budget in Hanoi is around US$35-50 a day including a decent clean room for two in a Hotel, three local meals and a few cups of local brewed beer called “Bia Hoi”.
Depending on seasons as well, however, top activities in Hanoi include:
Halong Bay Full Day Trip with Fast Expressway Transfer
Round Trip Full-Day Halong Bay Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. NATIONAL HIGHWAY Transfer
2-Days Sapa Tour from Hanoi
3-Day Halong Bay Cruise & Cat Ba Island Tour
Water Puppet Entrance show
Private day trip to Ninh Binh
Visiting Hanoi For First Time: Suggested 2-3 Day Tour Itinerary for 2025
Spending two to three and or even four days in Hanoi and the experience would be somehow unique compare to other cities you travel in Vietnam. Hanoi has its own charm and this brings you a new sense of Asia on the go. You can opt for Halong Bay and explore it on an overnight cruise, visit golden rices on Tam Coc, cycle through ancient pagodas, and got further to Northern Vietnam and take an adventure to visit colorful hill-tribes villages in Sapa.
Day 1: Hanoi City Tour Including Water Puppet Show and Cyclo Ride
Start your full-day private tour of Hanoi with early pickup from your hotel. Then hop in a cyclo to the undisputed heart of the city with your friendly and informative guide.
Observe people practicing tai chi, playing badminton and doing other popular activities as you receive an overview of daily life and witness how locals occupy their mornings.
Weave through Hanoi’s Old Quarter in the historical center of the capital, known for its 36 old streets and artisan guilds that date back to the 13th century. You’ll arrive at St Joseph’s Cathedral, with its structure remaining largely unchanged since 1886.
Go local and get a fresh bowl of Hanoi Pho soup for breakfast
Stop for a quintessential Vietnamese breakfast, the Pho (beef noodle soup) and enjoy a relaxing conversation with the locals over a cup of local coffee — a great way to immerse in the culture of Hanoi. Test your language skills as your guide teaches you to order ca phe da (iced black coffee).
Afterward, continue sightseeing Hanoi tour with a visit to Ba Dinh Square, where your guide points out significant buildings such as the President’s Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Learn about President Ho Chi Minh’s life and his career at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and discover the role of Buddhism in Hanoi at the historical One Pillar Pagoda.
Next, you’ll gain an appreciation for architecture at the Temple of Literature, and view Long Bien Bridge, built during the French occupation. Time for lunch
Sightseeing in the afternoon
Discover life of 50 ethnic minorities at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Then enjoy the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake), stopping by Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain).
Finally, your guide accompanies you to see a water puppet show. This delightful stage performance delves into Vietnam’s mythology and traditions for a little over an hour. Finish with a personalized experience of local beer at Bia Hoi corner .
Day 2: Hanoi to Halong Bay with overnight excursion
Take a one-day tour from Hanoi to the spectacular World Heritage listed site of Halong Bay by a traditional Vietnamese junk boat, while enjoying a delicious seafood lunch. Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural wonders with over 3000 natural limestone islands dotting the bay.
Enjoy Halong Bay and it’s many limestone islands
Dine of delicious seafood on the deck the junk boat
Hotel pickup and drop off by air-conditioned private vehicle
What You Can Expect
Your full-day tour to Halong Bay begins with the drive from Hanoi which takes approximately 3-hours by road. Once at Halong Bay, board your private junk boat for a cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the bay. Whilst on board indulge in a delicious seafood lunch.
it’s worth at least considering an overnight tour in Halong—approach by seaplane and travel on an authentic junk for a truly unique experience. Lots of activities in Halong such as Kayaking, swimming, visiting historic caves, rock climbing and more.
Day 3: Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi
Get on a 3 hours car ride from Hanoi, arrive and hop into a traditional Vietnamese rowboat and meander along the serene waterways around Thien Ha, known in English as Galaxy Grotto.
Downriver, arrive at Tam Coc, where you have lunch, and then take a short drive with your guide to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s historical former capital. Hear about its short reign as the capital, and see some of the structures that remain.
Your day trip ends with the drive back to Hanoi for hotel drop-off in the evening.
Highlights of a day trip to Ninh Binh include, Travel down tranquil waterways on a local rowboat Pass by rice paddies and through caves such as Thien Ha – Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch in Tam Coc, and admire the area’s limestone cliffs Visit Hoa Lu to learn about Vietnam’s ancient capital.