How to Spend 4 Days in Hanoi

You are spending 96 hours in the beautiful capital of Vietnam yet have no ideas what to do in Hanoi for 4 days? Worry no longer, we’ll help you with the planning to create the best Hanoi itinerary for four days. In this article, you’ll learn not only all the best things to do in Hanoi but also the itinerary, map and day trips from Hanoi.

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Overview

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

Hanoi is among the most desirable destinations in Vietnam. The thousand year old capital city of Vietnam shines with both modernity and age old tradition. Come to Hanoi, you’ll experience ancient traits in Hanoi Old Quarter, the vintage French buildings and the busy markets around town. Hanoi is the city of history, culture and heritage.

To really enjoy the city and discover all of its beauties and stories, I suggest you stay at least two days or ideally 4 days, including day trips from Hanoi to other beautiful destinations like Halong Bay and Ninh Binh.

What to do in Hanoi for 4 days | Ultimate Hanoi Itinerary

Within Hanoi, you only need 2 days to discover the city. On the other two days, you can spend discover the suburb of Hanoi where you also have a lot of things to do and see. Here are some options for you:

  • 1st option: 2 days in Hanoi city, 1 day outside of Hanoi and 1 day for day trip
  • 2nd option: 2 days in Hanoi, 2 days in Halong Bay
  • 3rd option: 1 day in Hanoi, 2 days in Halong and 1 day in Ninh Binh

In the below, we’ll show you the itinerary for the 1st option in which is believed the most suitable and ideal itinerary for a four-day trip in Hanoi. Separated itinerary to Halong will be provided with links.

Day 1: Hanoi City Tour – Old Quarter, French Quarter, Water Puppet Show

Any Hanoi City Tour would take you the most highlighted Hanoi attractions. We suggest you to book a full day tour with a water puppet show included in the evening.

Morning

1. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

Ho Chi Minh is the most influential and beloved politician in Vietnam history. Come to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum to not only learn more about Ho Chi Minh and the affection Vietnamese people have shown him but also appreciate the beautiful architecture of the complex.

  • Location: 25 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
  • Opening days: Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun
  • Opening hours: morning from 8:00 AM – 12:00, afternoon from 14:00 to 16:30
  • Admission: 40,000VND
  • Dress code: avoid wearing shorts, mini-skirts, sleeveless shirts, tank tops and the like

2. Take a look at one Pillar Pagoda

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

One-pillar pagoda is the centerpiece of Vietnamese traditional architecture style. The work is absolutely singular and very iconic, related closely with history and legends at the same time. You shouldn’t miss visiting this place.

You can visit the pagoda when visit Ho Chi Minh complex.

3. Enjoy the view of West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda

West Lake is the largest lake in Hanoi, offering not only spectacular sunset views but also a lot beautiful religious monuments. Tran Quoc, built 1500 years ago, has a significance role in the religious and spiritual life of Hanoian people.

  • Location: Thanh Nien Street
  • Admission: free entrance
  • Opening hours: 11:00 – 11:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 (Mon – Sat); 7:00 – 16:00 (Sun and holidays)

Afternoon

4. Hang around Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

how many days for vietnam and cambodia

Hoan Kiem Lake or Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple together is the most well-known attraction in Hanoi. One reason for that is the close location of the complex to Hanoi Old Quarter. The lake is such a change of landscape after a long hour on the busy roads of Hanoi.

Ngoc Son temple and The Huc Bridge create a solemn sight on the middle of the green lake. The red bridge is exceptionally beautiful at night.

  • Ngoc Son temple’s admission: 20,000VND for foreigners
  • Opening hours: daily, 7:30 – 17:00
  • Dress code: no miniskirts or shorts

5. Discover Hanoi Old Quarter

northern vietnam hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter is the heart of the capital city, also the city’s biggest travel hub. This is the place everything happens. Originally, Old Quarter was the trading center of the whole country, with at least 36 crafts guilds assembled.

To this day, Old Quarter still retains its traditional traits in some corner, yet developed into a vibrant, modern and exciting hub with a lot of things to do and enjoy.

6. If you have time, enjoy a water puppet show

hanoi rainy day activities

Water puppet is one of the oldest folklore art forms in Vietnamese culture. It’s well reserved and promoted so you can easily watch it. Artisans stand in the waist-deep water using bamboo sticks to control the water puppetry movements. The performances often tell folklore stories and mythical legends of Vietnamese people. If you’re going with kids, your children would love it so much. This is also the top activities in Hanoi on rainy days or at night

Recommend Hanoi City Tour 1 Day

Day 2: Cooking Class & Street Food Tour

If on the first day, you were too busing visiting places then the second day is perfect to be spent appreciating Vietnam cuisine by taking a Hanoi street food tour.

Morning

A cooking class only lasts for a half-day, and finishes at the right time for lunch so you can enjoy all the dishes you just made.

what to do in hanoi for 4 days
Hanoi Market

Cooking class will starts with a market tour where guests will experience buying for the ingredients. Visiting a local market will give you so much insight into how the daily life of Vietnamese people goes by. It’s such a vibrant, vivid sight of a wet market in Southeast Asia.

Spring Rolls

 

The chef will give you detail instruction and introduction of the dishes you about to learn. All the dishes are the most iconic and famous Vietnamese dishes like Banh Xeo, Spring Rolls, Banh Mi…. You’ll enjoy all the dishes you made for lunch.

Afternoon

what to do in hanoi for 4 days
Banh Xeo

In the afternoon, your street food tour will start from Hanoi Old Quarter – the paradise of Hanoi street food. Even the famous chef Anthony Bourdain lost his way finding the best dishes of Hanoi here.

Banh Mi

The first dish is the famous Banh Cuon (steam rice paper rolls) which is just the quintessence of Hanoi cuisine. You’ll see the local chef demonstrating the skills of making this dish. Stop next at barbeque stalls to taste the savory grilled meat. Your last stop is at the city’s most famous ice-cream parlor – Trang Tien.

>> See Hanoi Cooking Class and Street Food Tour Itinerary

Day 3: Visit handicraft village and Hanoi night market

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

This day will give you further insight into Hanoi in general. If you want to take a breather outside of the crowded Hanoi, take a short trip to just outside Hanoi to enjoy the tranquil countryside.

Bat Trang Pottery and Ceramic Village is the best choice for a half-day trip out of Hanoi. With the history of seven centuries, Bat Trang has a culture of making pottery and ceramics on its own.

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

Bat Trang ceramics products were preferred in many countries like Japan, Chinese and Western countries. Come to Bat Trang, not only that you’ll see the beautiful pieces of ceramic products, you can also try your hands on making your own pottery product at some of the stores here.

Back to the city for a trip to the night market in Hanoi. The three most famous and worthiest night markets to visit in Hanoi are:

Old Quarter Night Market

  • Location: Hang Dao to Hang Giay Street
  • Opening hours: 18:00 to midnight every Fri, Sat, Sun

Long Bien Night Market

  • Location: near Long Bien Bridge
  • Opening hours: 23:00 to early next morning every day

what to do in hanoi for 4 days

Quang Ba Flower Night Market

  • Location: 236 Au Co Street
  • Opening hours: night time to early next morning

Day 4: Hanoi Day Trips

Thanks to its central location, Hanoi is the base to travel to many other famous destinations in northern Vietnam. Within its closest proximity, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay are the most popular destinations and can be visited within day. Other closers attractions in Hanoi like Ba Vi National Park and Perfume Pagoda are also considered attractive sites for a Hanoi day trip.

Option 1: Hanoi – Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is just a breathtaking destination and it’s only 2 hours driving south of Hanoi. As a mixed world heritage for both cultural and natural values, there’re a lot of things to do in Ninh Binh. A day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh will take you to see the most beautiful landscape of limestone mountains on river in Vietnam.

hanoi day trips

Hang Mua in recent years has been known as the most wonderful viewpoint in northern Vietnam. Trang An and Tam Coc need no elaboration on their beauties.

In the morning you will enjoy a boat ride in Trang An or Tam Coc which is about 2 hours long. After lunch, you’ll visit one of these sites: Hang Mua, Bai Dinh pagoda or Phat Diem Cathedral.

Recommended day tour in Ninh Binh from Hanoi:

Option 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay Day Cruise

Thanks to the new expressway, the time you need to travel from Hanoi to Halong is only about 2 hours. A day cruise in Halong Bay can be either 4 hours or 6 hours.

For a basic 4-hour cruise, you’ll be visiting Hon Trong Mai, Incense Burner, Stone Dog, Thien Cung Cave, and Dau Go Grotto. It’s a short but surely an exciting trip.

*For a more perfect option, including Hanoi, Halong and Ninh Binh in just 4 days, see our best itinerary:

Hanoi – Halong Bay – Ninh Binh 4 Days

If you find one day is too rushing, a 2-day-1-night overnight cruise would be a fantastic option for you. Take a look at our best Halong cruise collection:

Halong Bay Tours from Hanoi

 

 

 

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