Travel guides › Hanoi
Where should you stay in Hanoi?
For your first trip to Hanoi, the Old Quarter is convenient, with Hoan Kiem Lake, food, and markets close by. For a quieter stay, consider the French Quarter or Ba Dinh. Families and longer-stay visitors looking for lakeside cafés and more space may prefer Tay Ho, around West Lake. Hanoi’s gateway is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). For the trip to the Old Quarter on arrival day, plan to take bus 86, Grab, or a taxi.
Hanoi is a great place to enjoy the Old Quarter’s historic lanes and street food, as well as lakes, temples, museums, and monuments. For a first visit, stay in the Old Quarter and walk to nearby sights. If you have an extra day, add a day trip to Ha Long Bay or Trang An in Ninh Binh.
Where should you stay?
Choose your base based on how you’ll arrive on your first day and the kind of atmosphere you want at night.
Old Quarter · Old Quarter
A good fit for first-time visitors and anyone who wants to walk to restaurants, markets, and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake. Staying centrally makes it easy to reach food spots and tour departure points, and nearby cafés are ideal for a break over egg coffee. It can be noisy at night, and this guide does not cover nearby transit stations. During weekend pedestrian-zone hours, get picked up and dropped off outside the zone.
French Quarter · French Quarter
A good choice for couples who want a comfortable stay in a calm, elegant setting south of Hoan Kiem Lake. This guide does not cover nearby stations. If you plan to visit the Old Quarter’s food spots and nightlife often, consider how you’ll get around.
Tay Ho · Tay Ho
Suitable for families, long-stay visitors, and travelers seeking a quiet stay, lakeside cafés, and more room to relax. You’ll need a vehicle to reach the central sights. This guide does not cover nearby stations.
Ba Dinh · Ba Dinh
Convenient for travelers visiting major monuments such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, who want a relatively quiet place to relax in the evening. This guide does not cover nearby stations.
How do you get from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter?
You can take airport bus 86, a Grab car, or a metered taxi from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter. Keep your arrival-day schedule light so you can have a meal and relax at a café near your hotel after the journey.
| Route | Transport | Time and fare |
|---|---|---|
| Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Railway Station | Airport bus 86 | Runs 07:00–22:15, one-way fare 50,000 VND |
| Noi Bai Airport → Old Quarter | Airport bus 86 | About 45–60 minutes |
| Noi Bai Airport → Old Quarter | Grab car | About 30–45 minutes in light traffic, about 250,000–350,000 VND |
| Noi Bai Airport → Old Quarter | Metered taxi | About 30–45 minutes in light traffic, about 300,000–400,000 VND |
What’s the best way to get around Hanoi?
The Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake are easy to explore on foot. For rides through an app, you can use Grab, Xanh SM, or Be; check the fare in the app when you book. For taxis, check the meter. To visit the Temple of Literature, buses 02, 23, and 38 stop at the Temple of Literature stop. The Hoan Kiem pedestrian zone operates every Friday from 19:00 through Sunday at 24:00, when vehicle access is restricted.
Plan each day around the sights you want to visit
Grouping the Old Quarter and the western monuments into separate days makes it easier to plan your routes. If you’re staying longer, add a day trip nearby.
Day 1 | Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake · Hoan Kiem Lake · Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, then visit Ngoc Son Temple on the northern island and the red Huc Bridge. The Old Quarter’s lanes, Dong Xuan Market, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Hoa Lo Prison also fit well into a walking route. In the evening, have dinner at an Old Quarter restaurant, then head to an egg coffee café or a rooftop or cocktail bar. On weekends, enjoy a relaxed walk in the pedestrian zone around the lake.
Day 2 | Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature
Start with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, then head to the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy to see its gardens, halls, and stone stelae. Visits inside the mausoleum are open in the morning, and it is closed on Mondays and Fridays. The Temple of Literature is closed on Mondays, so check both sites’ opening days when planning your schedule.
Day 3 | West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda
Walk along West Lake and visit Tran Quoc Pagoda by the water. The pagoda’s opening hours may vary by season. Wear modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when visiting. Take it easy with a café or meal in Tay Ho.
If you have an extra day | Ha Long Bay or Trang An in Ninh Binh
A Ha Long Bay day cruise is about 160 km from Hanoi. Plan for about 3.5–4 hours each way and around 4 hours on the water. Ninh Binh is about 100 km to the south, with travel information indicating about 1.5–2 hours by car, bus, or train. In Ninh Binh, keep your schedule realistic with a Trang An boat tour and perhaps one viewpoint.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
For relatively mild, dry weather, consider spring in March–April or autumn in October–November. Winter is generally December–February, when it can be overcast with persistent drizzle and lower temperatures. Summer, from May to September, is hot and humid, with average temperatures listed at about 26–32°C.
What should you prepare before entering the country?
This guide does not include information on visa-free stay durations for South Korean passport holders or e-visa requirements. Before departure, check the latest Vietnamese government entry guidance for the visa-free stay period or e-visa requirements for your passport nationality.
Pick an itinerary by trip length
- 3 daysHanoi in 3 days and 2 nights: spend a day at the markets and shopping, or at temples and in nature?
Hanoi itinerary A for 3 days and 2 nights focuses on historic sites and Ha Long Bay; itinerary B centers on markets and a day trip to Trang An.
- 4 daysHanoi in 3 nights and 4 days: would you rather explore history and nature, or enjoy markets and shopping?
Itinerary A for 3 nights and 4 days in Hanoi focuses on temples and river scenery, while B centers on markets and shopping. Choose your preferred plan, from airport transfers to day trips.
- 5 daysHanoi in 4 nights and 5 days: which itinerary is better, markets or nearby trips?
Here are two 4-night, 5-day Hanoi itineraries. Choose between temples and Ha Long Bay, or markets and Ninh Binh.
FAQ
How long does it take to get from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter?
About 45–60 minutes by airport bus 86. Grab or a metered taxi takes about 30–45 minutes in light traffic.
Where is a convenient place to stay for your first visit to Hanoi?
For a first visit, the Old Quarter is convenient, close to Hoan Kiem Lake, restaurants, markets, and tour departure points. If you’re concerned about noise at night, consider the French Quarter or Ba Dinh.
When does the pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake operate?
It operates every Friday from 19:00 through Sunday at 24:00. Vehicle access is restricted during these hours, so get picked up and dropped off outside the zone.
Can you take a day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh?
Day trips are available to both destinations. Ha Long Bay takes about 3.5–4 hours each way, while Ninh Binh takes about 1.5–2 hours by car, bus, or train. Allow a full day, taking travel time into account.
Official sources & check dates
- Where to stay in Hanoi: which area to choose · 2026-10-28
- Best day trips from Hanoi · 2026-10-28
- 호안끼엠 호수 및 인근 보행 공간 · 2026-10-28
- Noi Bai International Airport — Transport to/from the Airport · 2026-10-28
- How to Get From Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter: Bus, Grab & Taxi Guide · 2026-10-28
- Grab Vietnam — Transport · 2026-10-28
- GWEC Hanoi Guidebook 2026 · 2026-10-28
- 방문 정보 — 문묘 공식 사이트 · 2026-10-28
- 11 Must-See Attractions in Ha Noi — Vietnam Tourism · 2026-10-28
- Ngoc Son Temple — MyHanoi · 2026-10-28
- 하노이시 관광지·유적 입장료 규정 (2024년 1월 1일부터 적용) · 2026-10-28
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- 티켓·운영 시간 — 호아로 수용소 공식 사이트 · 2026-10-28
- Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội — GoVietnam · 2026-10-28
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: A Meaningful Historical Destination in Hanoi — Vietnam Airlines · 2026-10-28
- MyHanoi 관광 안내 · 2026-10-28
- One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi — Vietnam Tourism · 2026-10-28
- Chùa Trấn Quốc — Chùa Phật cổ nhất Hà Nội từ 541 · 2026-10-28
- Tran Quoc Pagoda — MyHanoi · 2026-10-28
- Super detailed 1-day self-guided Ninh Binh travel experience · 2026-10-28
- Thông báo điều chỉnh giá vé du thuyền Tràng An từ ngày 01/01/2026 · 2026-10-28
- Quần thể Tràng An — Di sản hỗn hợp UNESCO 2014 · 2026-10-28
- Notes for Visitors to Vietnam — British Council · 2026-10-28
Site updated: 2026-10-28