All citiesHanoi Things to do and walking itinerary
Vietnam Hanoi travel guide
30 things to do in Hanoi, where to stay, airport transfers, 2 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Hanoi
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long — old imperial citadel in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum — national mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Temple of Literature — complex of monuments in Hanoi (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Presidential Palace of Vietnam — Vietnamese palace (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Hỏa Lò Prison — prison in Hanoi used for political prisoners in colonial times and for prisoners of war during the Vietnam war (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Ba Ðình Square — square in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Hanoi Opera House — theatre in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 20 min)
- One Pillar Pagoda — Historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam, dedicated to the deity Guanyin (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts — museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, showcasing Vietnam's fine arts from every historical period (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Saint Joseph Cathedral — church in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Ho Chi Minh Museum — museum in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Trấn Quốc Pagoda — Buddhist temple in Hanoi (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Turtle Tower — A small building in the middle of Sword Lake (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Vietnamese Women’s Museum — museum in Hanoi dedicated to Vietnamese women (visit ≈ 120 min)
- National Museum of Vietnamese History — national museum in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — museum in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Cua Bac Church — Roman Catholic church in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Ham Long Church — church in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Hanoi Museum — Museum in Hanoi (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Quán Sứ Temple (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Thủ Lệ Park (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Quán Thánh Temple — Taoist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- State Guest House — Historical monument, Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Presidential Palace Historical Site — ho Chi Minh's home in Hanoi (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Palais d'Expositions — Vietnamese historic building complex (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Thống Nhất Park — Lakeside park of Kim Liên Ward (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Vietnam Museum of Revolution (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Hanoi Botanic Garden — Botanical garden in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Al-Noor Mosque — mosque in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- 1-5 Square — town square in Hanoi, Vietnam (visit ≈ 15 min)
1-day Hanoi walking itinerary
Starting point: Old Quarter. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.6 km · 12,920 steps · 2 h 8 min on the way): Ba Ðình Square → Presidential Palace of Vietnam → Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum → One Pillar Pagoda → Temple of Literature → Imperial Citadel of Thang Long → Hỏa Lò Prison → Hanoi Opera House
Where to stay in Hanoi
- Old Quarter: Bustling streets, street food and cheap hotels.
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake / French Quarter: Wide boulevards, opera house and elegant hotels.
- Tây Hồ (West Lake): Lakeside, quiet and full of cafés.
- Ba Đình: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and historic sites.
- Trúc Bạch: Local life around a small lake.
Getting from the airport to Hanoi
- Noi Bai (HAN): Express bus 86 ≈ 50 min; Grab ≈ 35 min
Getting around
Walk the Old Quarter; cross traffic slowly and steadily. Use Grab or Xanh SM cars or motorbikes for longer trips.
Classic places to eat
- Bún Chả Hương Liên: The bún chả and nem Obama ate.
- Phở Thìn Lò Đúc: Phở with garlic-stir-fried beef.
- Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn: Classic phở bò worth the queue.
- Chả Cá Lã Vọng: Turmeric fish with dill, chả cá.
- Café Giảng: Birthplace of egg coffee.
- Bánh Mì 25: Hearty bánh mì in the Old Quarter.
- Bia Hơi Tạ Hiện: Fresh bia hơi on tiny plastic stools.
- Kem Tràng Tiền: Hanoi’s beloved ice cream since 1958.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Gia — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Vietnamese
- Tầm Vị — 1 MICHELIN star, Northern Vietnamese
Romantic views
- Hoan Kiem Lake (Evening): A tree-lined path around the lake, lit up in the evening.
- The Huc Bridge (Evening): The red wooden bridge leads to the temple on the lake.
- Long Bien Bridge (Sunset): Watch the sun set over the Red River from the old steel bridge.
- Tran Quoc Pagoda (Sunset): A calm pagoda on a West Lake islet at sunset.
Football stadiums in Hanoi
- Hàng Đẫy Stadium: Home of Hanoi FC, Thể Công–Viettel FC
Good to know before visiting Hanoi
- Fine: Drug offences carry extremely severe penalties, including death.
- Fine: E-cigarettes and heated tobacco have been banned since 2025.
- Fine: Photographing military sites, borders and government buildings is prohibited.
- Fine: Drones require a permit.
- Warning: Political criticism and unauthorised protests can be prosecuted.
- Warning: Cross through motorbike traffic slowly and steadily; riding needs a valid licence.
- Emergency: police 113, ambulance 115, fire 114
- Plugs: A/C/F, 220V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: Tipping is optional but appreciated in tourist areas.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Vietnam, Wikivoyage — Vietnam, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Hanoi travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Hanoi?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 1 day at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Hanoi?
- Highlights: Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Presidential Palace of Vietnam and Hỏa Lò Prison. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Hanoi?
- Old Quarter: Bustling streets, street food and cheap hotels. Other options: Hoàn Kiếm Lake / French Quarter, Tây Hồ (West Lake), Ba Đình and Trúc Bạch.
- How do you get from the airport to Hanoi city centre?
- Noi Bai (HAN): Express bus 86 ≈ 50 min; Grab ≈ 35 min
- How do you get around Hanoi?
- Walk the Old Quarter; cross traffic slowly and steadily. Use Grab or Xanh SM cars or motorbikes for longer trips.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Hanoi?
- According to the last known data there are 2 starred restaurants: Gia (1 star), Tầm Vị (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Hanoi?
- Emergency: police 113, ambulance 115, fire 114.
- Do you tip in Hanoi?
- Tipping is optional but appreciated in tourist areas.
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