4-Day Itinerary for Exploring Hanoi, Vietnam

Day 1: Arrival & City Overview

Accommodation

• Hotel: Hanoi La Siesta Premium Central Hotel & Spa (High-end) or Hanoi Sunny Hostel (Budget)

Activities

• Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (Morning)
• Explore Dong Xuan Market (Afternoon)
• Watch a Water Puppet Show (Late Afternoon)

Food Recommendations

• Pho at Bat Dan or Cha Ca La Vong (Dinner)

Tips & Important Info

• Traffic in Hanoi can be chaotic, so cross streets diagonally and always look both ways.
• Negotiate prices for taxis and tuk tuks. Use Grab or GoViet apps for a fixed fare.

Day 2: Old Quarter & Museums

Activities

• Walk around the Old Quarter (Morning)
• Visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum (Morning)
• Explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Afternoon)

Food Recommendations

• Egg Coffee at Giang Cafe (Breakfast)
• Bun Cha Dac Kim or La Ot (Lunch)

Day 3: Temple & Pagoda Visit

Activities

• Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake (Morning)
• Explore the Bach Ma Temple and Quan Thanh Temple (Afternoon)

Food Recommendations

• Dinner at KOTO Restaurant (Dinner)

Day 4: Day Trip to Halong Bay

Activities

• Book a day tour to Halong Bay (Whole Day)

Tips & Important Info

• Bring sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes for the boat trip.
• Pack a change of clothes for swimming in the bay.
• Remember to bring cash as some services may not accept card payments.

Transportation

• Taxis: Grab, GoViet, Mai Linh, and Vinasun are reliable taxi services.
• Public Buses: Route numbers 1, 7, 14, 15, 36, 40, and 78 are popular with tourists.
• Motorbike Taxi (GrabBike or GoVietBike): A faster option for shorter distances.