Hanoi, Vietnam travel guide

1,000-year-old streets, lake-side egg coffee, and the most atmospheric capital in Southeast Asia.

Best time to visit: October-April
Average daily budget: $30 to $70 USD
Ideal trip length: 3 to 4 days

Hanoi is the slower, older sibling to Saigon. Tree-lined boulevards, French colonial mansions, lake-side cafés, and a 1,000-year-old Old Quarter where every street is named after the trade once practised on it. Joy Plus routes you through Old Quarter food crawls, the right Halong Bay operator, and a coffee crawl along Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hanoi itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Old Quarter food crawl. Pho 10 (breakfast), bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien (Obama ate here), egg coffee at Cafe Giang.

Afternoon: Explore Old Quarter, 1,000-year-old maze of 36 streets. Markets, street food, your hotel base.

Evening: Halong Bay overnight cruise. Book a small boat (max 16 cabins). Avoid day trips - they're rushed and bad value.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn. Locals doing tai chi, the Turtle Tower in mist, $1 lake-side coffee.

Afternoon: Explore French Quarter, Colonial boulevards, the Opera House, upscale cafés and the Metropole hotel.

Evening: Overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay. The limestone-karst seascape is a few hours away and best done as an overnight boat trip. Kayak through caves, sleep on the water, and pick a smaller operator to avoid the floating traffic jam.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Train Street (carefully). Train passes inches from cafés twice a day. Sit, drink coffee, watch the chaos.

Afternoon: Explore Hoan Kiem Lake, The city's living room. Tai chi at dawn, weekend night markets, lake-side egg coffee.

Evening: Egg coffee in the Old Quarter. Hanoi's signature drink, whipped egg yolk over strong coffee, like drinking tiramisu. Find a tucked-away café down an alley, sit on a tiny stool, and watch the motorbike chaos.

Best neighbourhoods

Old Quarter: 1,000-year-old maze of 36 streets. Markets, street food, your hotel base.
French Quarter: Colonial boulevards, the Opera House, upscale cafés and the Metropole hotel.
Hoan Kiem Lake: The city's living room. Tai chi at dawn, weekend night markets, lake-side egg coffee.
West Lake (Tay Ho): Where expats and Vietnamese middle class live. Lake-side bars, fusion restaurants.
Ba Dinh: Government quarter. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, embassies.

Must-do experiences

Old Quarter food crawl: Pho 10 (breakfast), bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien (Obama ate here), egg coffee at Cafe Giang.
Halong Bay overnight cruise: Book a small boat (max 16 cabins). Avoid day trips - they're rushed and bad value.
Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn: Locals doing tai chi, the Turtle Tower in mist, $1 lake-side coffee.
Train Street (carefully): Train passes inches from cafés twice a day. Sit, drink coffee, watch the chaos.
Egg coffee in the Old Quarter: Hanoi's signature drink, whipped egg yolk over strong coffee, like drinking tiramisu. Find a tucked-away café down an alley, sit on a tiny stool, and watch the motorbike chaos.
Overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay: The limestone-karst seascape is a few hours away and best done as an overnight boat trip. Kayak through caves, sleep on the water, and pick a smaller operator to avoid the floating traffic jam.

Hidden gems

Ngo Hang Cot - the bamboo street, almost no tourists.
Chùa Trấn Quốc - 1,500-year-old pagoda on West Lake.
Ninh Binh day trip - 'Halong Bay on land' with karst peaks and rice paddies.
Ca phe trung (egg coffee) at Cafe Giang - invented here in 1946.

Daily budget

$30 to $70 USD per day.

What to eat

Pho bo at Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
Bun cha at Bun Cha Dac Kim
Banh mi at Banh Mi 25
Egg coffee at Cafe Giang

Getting around

Walk the Old Quarter - it's the only way to absorb it. Use Grab (motorbike or car) for longer hops, both are cheap. Crossing streets is an art: walk slowly, consistently, and the bikes will flow around you.

Safety

Very safe for tourists. Petty scams (taxi meters, bag snatching from motorbikes) are the main risk. Solo travellers, including women, are common. Hold your phone tightly when walking near the road.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Hanoi?

Three days for the city plus an overnight Halong Bay cruise. Four if you want to add Ninh Binh as a day trip. Most travellers use Hanoi as the base for northern Vietnam (Sapa, Ha Giang, Halong).

Hanoi or Saigon?

Hanoi is older, slower, more atmospheric. Saigon is louder, more modern, more energetic. Most travellers do both - Hanoi for culture and northern landscapes, Saigon for the south and Mekong.

Is Hanoi safe for solo travellers?

Yes, very. Solo female travellers are common and comfortable. Standard awareness for petty scams and motorbike bag-snatching, but violent crime against tourists is rare.

How do I cross the road in Hanoi?

Walk slowly and steadily into the scooter flow without stopping or sprinting, and let them weave around you. It's nerve-wracking at first; keep a constant pace and never make sudden moves.

Is Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City better?

Hanoi is older, more traditional and atmospheric, with the Old Quarter and access to Ha Long Bay; Ho Chi Minh City is bigger, faster and more modern. Many travellers do both, flying between them.

How many days do you need in Hanoi?

Two to three days for the Old Quarter, the lakes, the street food and the museums, plus a separate day or overnight for Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh nearby.

When is the best time to visit Hanoi?

October-April is the sweet spot for weather and crowds. Shoulder season brings lower prices and easier bookings, while peak months mean higher accommodation costs and longer queues at the best known sights, so book early if you travel then.

How much does a solo trip to Hanoi cost?

Budget on roughly $30-$70 USD per day in Hanoi as a solo traveller. That covers a hostel bed or simple room, local food, getting around and a couple of paid sights. Mid-range comfort with private rooms, sit-down dinners and the odd tour runs closer to double, while shoestring travellers who cook and stick to street food can come in under it.

How do you get around Hanoi?

Tours and activities in Hanoi | Hanoi in 3 days | Hanoi in 5 days | Hanoi in 7 days