Hanoi rewards slow wandering. Three days is enough to cover the main sights, eat very well and still have time for a coffee by the lake.
Day 1: Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
Start early with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, when locals exercise and the air is cool. Then lose yourself in the Old Quarter, a tangle of streets historically named after the goods sold there. Stop for pho or bun cha at lunchtime and try egg coffee in the afternoon.
Day 2: Temples, history and water puppets
Visit the Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070), the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex. The mausoleum itself is closed on certain days, so check before you plan around it. In the evening, watch a Thang Long water puppet show, a folk art born in the paddies of the Red River Delta.
Day 3: Day trip from Hanoi
Choose between Ninh Binh (about 90 km south: temples at Hoa Lu and a boat ride at Tam Coc) or a Ha Long Bay day trip (about 2.5 hours each way). If you can add a night, a Ha Long overnight cruise is far more relaxed.
Practical tips
Stay in or near the Old Quarter so everything is walkable. Cross streets slowly and steadily, since traffic flows around you. Use a ride-hailing app for longer rides. Ask us for a ready-made version of this plan, with a guide and halal-friendly dinners.
