Hanoi is the second largest city in Vietnam, after Ho Chi Minh City.
It is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences, but what you will notice first is the noise and chaos of the motorbike traffic and street food vendors gliding through with their merchandise.
If you stand there still for a moment, it all feels too overwhelming, crossing the street nearly impossible, but that is why you are here for. They have their way of life, and who says it's wrong? The vibrant culture and friendly locals will make you feel welcome and chaos will become part of the charm.
The following itinerary includes trips to nearby sites during a 6night/7day stay in Hanoi.
DAY 1
Arriving to Hanoi afternoon/evening.
Stay: Memory Legends hotel (budget hotel)
Tip: book airport transfer through your hotel, as that will ensure smoother arrival
Tired after the long journey, take the first afternoon/evening to settle in. No matter where you are travelling from, arriving to Hanoi will feel overwhelming.
It’s a city of nearly 5 million scooters and crossing a street is a daring challenge every time (you get used to it after a while, if you follow the rule – always forward, never back).
The heat, the smells, the noises will all get to you, especially after a long journey.
Have lunch at Bún Chà Nem 41
This will be your first food experience in Vietnam, so it better be a good one.
Highly recommended by locals, this places has the best Bún Chà in Hanoi.
Pieces of pork, meatballs and noodles in the most mouth-watering sweet and sour broth, served with lots of greens and herbs.
You might be skeptical about the set-up, small-sized chairs and questionable standards of sanitization, but you are in Vietnam, so embrace yourself with the local culture, and you will find yourself surprised of how comfortable the seating actually is.
Tip: Always have charcoal pills with you, in case of unpleasant food intolerance..
Get a massage
You’ll see flashing lights of “massage” sign on every corner. I recommend choosing a more upscale SPA (also, plenty of those) which will ensure really good quality massage, for no more than 15-20 eur. Full body, traditional Vietnamese or 30 min foot massage will make you feel refreshed and energized!
It’s the best thing after a long journey.
Enjoy casual stroll, people watching and window shopping
Stroll around the old town, look at some stores – this is a great place for pottery, silk scarfs, artisan goods, vintage stores and a lot of Nike trainers (the biggest Nike productions comes from Vietnam, but we are not 100% sure if the shops sell authentic or fakes..).
Vietnam is also known for it's cheap and high quality custom-made clothing.
Best places for shopping:
Dong Xuan Market (the biggest market)
Cau Giay Street (trendy shopping)
Hang Gai Street – more traditional Vietnamese goods and silk garments
Hanoi weekend night market (in Old town, only during the weekends)
Railway street
Head to the railway street to see the famous train passing by.
Train schedule changes, so please check that when you arrive to Vietnam, but it’s important to know that the rules there are unclear. It’s guarded by police officers, and it’s a mystery on how to get to any of the cafes aligned along the train tracks. Apparently, it’s illegal, some places will say it’s legal, but you still might not be able to get access pass the police officers.
However, after 8pm there is nobody working there, so you are guaranteed to be able to pass the gates.
Get there about 30 min before the scheduled train time, to settle in one of the cafes, order a cold sugary drink and wait for the train. It’s a unique experience, but like anything that has gained popularity through social media - expect crowds!
Enjoy local dinner
Depends on what time you arrived, you might have time for dinner.
There are a lot of places nearby.
Things you should try while in Hanoi:
Pho - Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Bun Cha - Grilled Pork With Noodles (my absolute favorite)
Banh Xeo - Vietnamese Crepe
Xoi Xeo - Sticky Rice With Mung Bean
Cha Ca - Turmeric Fish
Lau or Lẩu – Vietnamese Hot Pot
Bun Rieu - Crab Noodle Soup
TIP: Most places serve food until after 10pm or even 11pm
DAY 2 and Day 3 Sapa or Halong Bay
You have two alternative options for the two days in Vietnam.
“Sapa is a remote town in northwestern Vietnam that’s known for its pristine rice terraces, cool mountain atmosphere, and community of ethnic minorities. It offers a wealth of trekking opportunities that take you through the region’s picturesque hillsides and smaller ethnic villages.”
It might be the least popular option out of the two, but certainly much more authentic experience. This was the highlight of my trip to Vietnam. After 6-hour bus drive (super comfortable sleeper bus) we were greeted by a local lady, who immediately made us feel so very welcome. Just the two of us, and our local guide, we started our hike through local villages, and beautiful valleys. We were later joined by our guides daughter (carrying her newborn) and her mother – so there we were with 4 generation local women, walking through the countryside of Vietnam. We were welcomed to stay overnight in their family home and continued our beautiful track the next day.
From the moment we stepped out of the bus, we were with the local people, no big crowded tourist groups or guides with microphone.
A truly unforgettable experience filled with so many stories told along the way!
We chose a 2-day small group tour from Hanoi and I highly recommend it!
Halong Bay is a much more popular destination, so prepare for big tourist crowds, and from what I have heard, seen, and having been there twice myself – it’s almost always guaranteed to have gray, gloomy weather.
The experience is much more westernized, meaning, welcome drinks, entertainment options on the cruise and 5 course lunches and dinner.
There are countless cruise options available (from 3 stars up to most luxurious World class cruises) but they all go through a very similar route/itinerary so choosing what is right for you depends mostly on your budget.
“Ha Long Bay is Unesco World Heritage site. The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1600 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, several of the islands are hollow with enormous caves.”
We chose La Pandora cruise – they have two options and one of them is smaller,
with only 15 cabins!
Halong bay is one of those "bucket-list" must visit places, but it can leave you disappointed. It's overcrowded, polluted and turned into a profitable business, that caters the high volume of tourist traffic.
Day 3
Returning to Hanoi late afternoon/evening
Have a dinner and massage. Recharge after day of travel!
In a mood for something special?
Have a cocktail at Ne Cocktail.
Try their signature "Pho" and watch out for the making process. This must be the most unique cocktail-making experience I have ever seen!
Day 4
Start your day with Egg coffee
If you haven’t already - it’s time to finally try the famous Egg Coffee!
Deliciously soft, creamy, rich, melt in your mouth marshmallow-like coffee. Made with condensed milk, egg-yolk, sugar and robust coffee shot, this has been a bellowed beverage since the 1940s.
Your life will never be the same again!
We loved Loading T Café – super ambient, charming café set in an old building.
Serves a variety of drinks (great for those non-coffee lovers), and makes you feel like you are on a movie set.
Other places for egg coffee:
Café Giang founded in 1946 by Mr Nguyen Giang – said to be the godfather of egg coffee! The recipe has remained the same!
Café Dinh is runned by the family of the original inventor – enjoy your coffee in this authentic café, you will feel like transported back in time.
Head to Hoan Kiem Lake – a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Check out the Ngoc Son Temple.
Stop by at The Notes café for a unique, 4 floor, sticky note café. Enjoy a cold drink and leave your note (this is a must-visit Instagrammable spot).
Have a Banh Mi for lunch and continue your walking/exploring tour.
Explore Hanoi’s French Quarter (Ba Dinh District).
This area is where the Ly kings established their Imperial City in the 11th century and it is here where you'll find the city's most important cultural and historical monuments, including the venerable Temple of Literature and the One Pillar Pagoda, both dating from the time of the Ly kings and well worth a visit for those interested in the earlier history of the region.
Can you have another message? I say you can’t have too many of those!
Day 5 A day trip to Ninh Binh.
Ninh Binh known as the Halong Bay on the land offers a great trip that includes history, cycling, hiking and boat-rowing. This area offers stunning views of the limestone mountains, caves and rivers, and it was definitely a highlight of our trip.
“Vietnam’s first capital was established here and today the area is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of mossy pagodas, striking limestone and surreal landscapes."
We chose this tour and we're very satisfied.
TIP: If you have more time, highly recommend to stay overnight and have more time exploring the area, especially early in the morning, before the tourist buses arrive.
Day 6
For a truly authentic experience, explore a day with “Moment Lives”
They offer custom-made itineraries through the villages on the outskirt of Hanoi.
The incense village, the fish trap village, the soy sauce village.
We didn’t have enough time for this, but read such incredible reviews and photos!
This is another must do experience when in Vietnam! More info here
After week in Vietnam it is time to pack your bags. What has been experienced will add another colorful page to your travel book. We only scratched the surface, gained the first impression of this vibrant country, that like any other place, has a distinct character and a way of being.
It takes a few days, weeks perhaps, for all that has been experienced to settle in. The chaos, the flavors, the nature sights and the smiles of the locals.
Travel remind us once again, what a small place we take in this big world.
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