How many days do I need in Hanoi?
A big question if you’re planning your Vietnam itinerary and wondering how many days to spend in Hanoi, I’m hoping this guide will help you decide.
After wondering how many days to stay in Hanoi myself, I actually ended up staying for a month! Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you do the same (I had family living there at the time and chose to stay longer to spend with them).
But the real question is how many days do you need in Hanoi?
Hanoi Old Quarter
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About Hanoi
Also sometimes written as Ha Noi, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located in the northern part of the country.
Hanoi is a melting pot of modern skyscrapers, French colonial architecture, chaotic road traffic, a city that never sleeps and a history and culture that dates back over 1000 years.
Hanoi’s history dates back to 1010 AD when it was made the capital by Emperor Ly Thai To and the Old Quarter dates back to the 14th century when French colonists had the city.
Over the years, Hanoi has had many names, including Thang Long, then it was overthrown as the capital and replaced by Hue in the 15th century.
It wasn’t until August 1945 when Hanoi was named as the capital again.
Although much of the city was destroyed during the bombing of the Vietnam War / American War, a lot of the city has been repaired and rebuilt and the Old Quarter is the best place to see some of the amazing historical architecture in the city.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
September to December is definitely the dry season and is therefore usually the peak season for international tourists visiting Hanoi. March and April are also dry but cooler.
We visited in the hottest month of the year, June, when temperatures were regularly hitting 35C each day! However the southeast Asia monsoon season runs June to September and we had a lot of short but intense bursts of rain in our stay too - prepare for humidity!
So although September to December are the best time of year to visit Hanoi, you’ll also find more accommodation availability in other months of the year and probably less crowds in places like Halong Bay or Ninh Binh if you travel outside of the high season - so it’s up to you and your preferences, and how much you enjoy hot temperatures!
Hanoi Old Quarter in a downpour
How to get to Hanoi?
The easiest way to get to Hanoi is to fly into the city’s international airport - Noi Bai International Airport, which is located about 45 minutes to 1 hour from the city.
From here I would suggest taking a Grab or asking your accommodation to arrange a car for you to reach your hotel.
How many days should I spend in Hanoi - a breakdown
If you want the quick answer, I would say 2-3 days in Hanoi is sufficient. However if you want to visit Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, you will need to add an extra day.
Similarly if you plan to visit Sapa or Ninh Binh, you might consider making Hanoi your base for a week if your focus is to travel around North Vietnam.
To decide how many days for Hanoi, take a look at the list of activities and things to do in Hanoi below. If you want to do them all - allow 3 days for Hanoi. If you want to do only some of them, allow 2 days in Hanoi.
Ngoc Son Temple and Welcome Morning Bridge
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Temple of literature
The main Hanoi attractions that are worth visiting and best things to do:
Ngoc Son Temple, Welcome Morning Bridge and Hoan Kiem Lake
See the Hanoi Old Quarter and Hanoi Beer Street
Temple of Literature
Hanoi Train Street
Vietnam Military History Museum
Hoa Lo Prison
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Note Cafe
Water Puppet Show
Tran Quoc Pagoda
If you want to do all of the above list, I would recommend spending 3 days in Hanoi, maybe even 4 days if you’re someone who spends a lot of time in museums and wants to see all the main attractions.
If you only want to do one of the museum options (Military History Museum, Imperial Citadel, Hoa Lo Prison, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum) then you could definitely stay in Hanoi for 2 days.
Don’t forget to leave time to try Vietnamese food like Banh Mi and Pho, also egg coffee is a must-try in Hanoi as it’s where it was invented! Coffee shops are a huge part of coffee culture in Vietnam and Hanoi especially, make sure you take some time to enjoy them!
Hanoi street food vendor
Which day trips or overnight trips from Hanoi are best?
Halong Bay
If you’re planning to use Hanoi as your base for day trips or overnight trips from Hanoi, I recommend any of the following:
Halong Bay 1 night cruise (also possible to do as a day trip but it’s intense!)
Ninh Binh - can also be done as a day trip
Sapa - further away, definitely need 1 or 2 nights there
Ha Giang Loop - usually 1-2 nights
As you can see, how many days to visit Hanoi can vary massively, especially if you’re planning a northern Vietnam itinerary which uses Hanoi as a base.
However I think 2-3 days in Hanoi, depending on how many attractions you want to see, is a safe amount of time to get to know the city.
I also think how many nights in Hanoi is important to consider. I would suggest one night to see and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Old French Quarter (don’t forget to try the Bia Hoi!) and at least one more night to enjoy the local food and drink scene in the city.
If you visit on a weekend, you’ll also see the street closures around the lake and Old Quarter where there are huge street food markets, other night market stalls, food stalls, events, live music and so much more - the weekend markets are honestly my favourite evening atmosphere of any city we’ve visited in Vietnam so far!
My top tips for visiting Hanoi, Vietnam:
Here are my top tips for visiting Vietnam’s capital/
It’s a good idea to explore in the early morning if you’re visiting in the heat of summer, the midday sun and humidity can be unbearable
Remember to pack clothes that are appropriate for the dress code of ancient temples, Buddhist temples and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This usually means covering your shoulders, chest, knees and stomach.
Street vendors will often hassle you to buy or come to their food stalls, just say “Khong” which means no.
Bring a waterproof or buy a cheap poncho or umbrella when you arrive for the unexpected downpours
Change currency to Vietnamese Dong when you arrive or withdraw it from an ATM (best when you have a card with no foreign fees)
Bring insect repellent
Never accept the first price if you’re buying from the night markets, especially for clothes, souvenirs and other goods (not food) as the vendors are trying to get the best price possible from tourists - it’s perfectly fine to haggle!
Download the Grab app - this is the ride hail app in South East Asia (like Uber) and is widely used
I personally wouldn’t recommend hiring a scooter in Hanoi, the roads there are the most chaotic and busy I’ve seen in Vietnam. If you do hire, make sure you have the right documents and also travel insurance that covers scooter use
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the city, yes there are lots of attractions to see but the biggest characteristic of Hanoi is the hustle and bustle, the street life, the culture and the food - take some time to just enjoy and immerse yourself in the atmosphere.
Temple of Literature
Summary: how many days in Hanoi is enough?
Hopefully this quick guide has given you some answers to “how many days should I stay in Hanoi?”
2-3 days is definitely enough for the city itself but you can easily use Hanoi as a base for 1 week or even 10 days depending on how many of the day trips or overnight trips you’re planning to do.
Enjoy your trip to the Vietnamese capital, it’s chaotic, gritty, busy and has such a rich culture, it’s an incredible city to experience that’s like no other in Vietnam!
Pin for your future trip!
