| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Old Quarter | Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple | Bach Ma Temple, Dong Xuan Market, St Joseph's Cathedral | Water puppets, night market (Fri-Sun) |
| 2. Ba Dinh and culture | Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, citadel | Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison | West Lake, Tay Ho |
| 3. Excursion | Departure for Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh | Cruise or boat ride | Back in Hanoi in the evening |
Day 1: the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
Start early at Hoan Kiem Lake, when locals do their morning exercises, then cross the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. In the Old Quarter, visit Bach Ma Temple and Dong Xuan Market, and have lunch in the street (see Hanoi street food). In the afternoon, stop by St Joseph's Cathedral and its cafés. In the evening, book the water puppet theatre; from Friday to Sunday, add the night market.
Day 2: Ba Dinh, the museums and West Lake
In the morning, the Ba Dinh district: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (limited visiting days and hours, with a dress code: see its page), the One Pillar Pagoda and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. In the afternoon, the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison. Finish at West Lake for the sunset, with Tran Quoc Pagoda and dinner in Tay Ho.
Day 3: three ways to leave Hanoi
Choose according to your taste and the season.
- Ha Long Bay: the most famous, with a long journey. See the day cruise or the 2-day, 1-night cruise if you have an extra day.
- Ninh Binh: rice fields, boats and caves, closer and quieter: see Ninh Binh in a day.
- A shorter half-day: the ceramic village of Bat Trang with Long Bien Bridge at sunrise, or the Perfume Pagoda for a full day.
Whatever you choose, book ahead in high season and read the cancellation terms, especially around Tet.
Practical tips
- Which area to pick: see where to stay in Hanoi, and the French Quarter or Tay Ho depending on your taste.
- The Opera House: it is reported closed for a two-year restoration since 2026; see its page.
- Arrival: see from the airport to the centre.
- Safety: read scams to avoid in Hanoi.
Going further
If you have one more day, add Sapa with the trek from Hanoi or the Ha Giang loop. For a shorter stay, see Hanoi in one day or Hanoi in 2 days.
FAQ
Are three days enough for Hanoi? Yes for the essentials: two days in town and one day of excursion. With one more day, you can add a night in Ha Long Bay.
Do you need an excursion on day 3? Not necessarily, but Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay are the two most requested trips from Hanoi.
What is the best order? Keep the Old Quarter for the first day, Ba Dinh for the second (the mausoleum has closing days) and the excursion last, to finish on a high.
How do you get around? On foot in the Old Quarter; by Grab for Ba Dinh, Tay Ho and the excursions.
