Hanoi Vietnam 5 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Old Quarter Exploration

  • Accommodation: Stay in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter for easy access to attractions. Recommendations include luxury (Meliá Hanoi), mid-range (Hanoi La Siesta Premium Hotel & Spa) and budget (Hanoi Hostel).

  • Breakfast: Start your day with a Vietnamese breakfast at a local café, like Giang Cafe for Pho or Bui Vieth Street for Banh Cuon.

  • Activities: Visit the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and Dong Xuan Market in the morning. In the afternoon, explore the bustling streets of the Old Quarter. Don’t miss out on Hoa Lo Prison (The Hanoi Hilton) and St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

  • Dinner: Have dinner at KOTO Restaurant, which provides job training to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.

  • Things to know: Traffic in Hanoi can be chaotic, so it’s best to use crosswalks or motorbike taxis for transportation. Remember to negotiate prices beforehand.

Day 2: Historical Sites & Museums

  • Breakfast: Continue exploring local eateries for breakfast. Try places like Bat Dan Street’s Banh Mi Hang Be or Truc Bach Lake’s Com Tam Bich Hoi.

  • Activities: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh’s House on Stilts in the morning. In the afternoon, explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Vietnam Women’s Museum.

  • Dinner: Dine at Cha Ca La Vong, a restaurant famous for its grilled fish dish.

Day 3: Temple of Literature & Bat Trang Pottery Village

  • Breakfast: Try some local street food like Banh Cuon Gia Truyen or Banh Mi Hai Ba Trung for breakfast.

  • Activities: Spend the morning at the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon, take a short trip to Bat Trang Pottery Village. You can even try making your own pottery!

  • Dinner: Return to Hanoi and have dinner at one of the street food stalls along Dinh Liet Street or Hang Be Street.

Day 4: Day Trip to Halong Bay

  • Activities: Book a day trip to Halong Bay, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy kayaking, swimming, and sightseeing among the dramatic limestone cliffs.

  • Dinner: Most day trips include lunch on the boat, but you might want to try a seafood dinner back in Hanoi at Quan An Ngon or Cha Ca La Vong again.

Day 5: Relax & Shopping

  • Breakfast: Have breakfast at a local cafe one more time before checking out of your hotel.

  • Activities: Spend the morning shopping for souvenirs in the Old Quarter, particularly silk products, embroidery, and ceramics. In the afternoon, visit the peaceful Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake or take a traditional cyclo tour around the city.

  • Lunch & Departure: Enjoy your last Vietnamese meal at a favorite spot before heading to the airport for your departure.