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Hanoi in 4 nights and 5 days: which itinerary is better, markets or nearby trips?
Option A is ideal for travelers seeking temples, lakeside scenery, and a Ha Long Bay cruise. Option B is recommended for those who want to explore the Old Quarter markets and shops and enjoy a boat trip in Trang An.
How do I get from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter?
Airport Bus 86 runs to Hanoi Railway Station and costs 50,000 VND one way. It takes about 45–60 minutes to get from the airport to the Old Quarter, and operates from 07:00 to 22:15. For a car ride, Grab costs about 250,000–350,000 VND and metered taxis about 300,000–400,000 VND; the trip takes about 30–45 minutes in smooth traffic.
4 Nights, 5 Days: Option A | Temples and Ha Long Bay
On the first day, take a gentle walk through the Old Quarter and around the lake, then visit Ba Dinh’s memorial sites and temples, followed by West Lake. On the fourth day, take a day cruise in Ha Long Bay to see limestone islands and caves. On the last day, take your time preparing to depart from the Old Quarter.
Day 1 | From the airport to the Old Quarter, then a lakeside walk
- Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Railway Station → Old Quarter
Take Airport Bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station. The one-way fare is 50,000 VND, and the trip from the airport to the Old Quarter takes about 45–60 minutes. Check the 07:00–22:15 operating hours before boarding.
- Old Quarter → Hoan Kiem Lake · Hoan Kiem Lake · Hoan Kiem Lake → Ngoc Son Temple · Ngoc Son Temple
Walk from the Old Quarter to the lake, cross the red The Huc Bridge, and visit the temple. The lake is open at all times and free to visit. Adult admission to the temple is 50,000 VND. Try Xoi Yen for lunch, and stop by for Hanoi egg coffee when you need a break.
- Around the lake → Old Quarter dinner and bars
Walk around the lake and through the Old Quarter lanes, then enjoy dinner and an evening stroll. Consider Bun Cha Sinh Tu or Madam Huong for dinner. For nightlife and rooftop views, finish at Sol Sky Bar. The pedestrian zone around the lake operates from 19:00 on Friday until 24:00 on Sunday.
Day 2 | Ba Dinh Square and One Pillar Pagoda
- Old Quarter → Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda
Take bus 09, 22, 32, 34, or 45, get off on Le Hong Phong Street, then walk. Visits inside the mausoleum are available Tuesday–Thursday, 07:30–10:30 (April–October) and 08:00–11:00 (November–March); on weekends and public holidays, hours are 07:30–11:00 (April–October) and 08:00–11:30 (November–March). It is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Admission for foreign adults is 25,000 VND. Visit One Pillar Pagoda as well.
- Ba Dinh → Old Quarter lunch and a break
Return to the Old Quarter for lunch at Vi Quang and a coffee break at Vie Coffee. Since no bus fare or travel time is provided, check the route and journey time locally.
- Old Quarter → Hoa Lo Prison → dinner
It is about a 15-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake to Hoa Lo Prison. It is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00, and adult admission for foreign visitors is 50,000 VND. After your visit, try Vu Cha Ca for dinner and Attic Cocktail & Wine Lab in the evening.
Day 3 | Temple of Literature, West Lake, and Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Old Quarter → Temple of Literature
You can get there from Hoan Kiem Lake on foot, by Grab, or by bus 02, 23, or 38. The Temple of Literature is open Tuesday–Sunday, 08:00–17:00 (November–March) and 07:30–18:00 during the rest of the year. General admission for foreign adults is 70,000 VND. It is closed on Mondays.
- Temple of Literature → West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda
Head toward West Lake to explore the lakeside and Tran Quoc Pagoda. The pagoda is free to visit and is generally open around 07:30–17:00 or 18:00, with seasonal variations. Consider Sen Tay Ho: The Flavor of Lotus in Ba Dinh for lunch, and The Waffle House for a break.
- West Lake → Old Quarter dinner and a show
Return to the Old Quarter for dinner at Met Vietnam Restaurant & Vegetarian Food 1, then see a Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre performance. Show schedules vary, and adult tickets cost 100,000–200,000 VND depending on the seat category.
Day 4 | Ha Long Bay day cruise
- Old Quarter → Ha Long Bay harbor
Book a shuttle through your cruise operator or arrange separate transport to the harbor. Ha Long Bay is about 160 km from Hanoi. The one-way trip takes around 3.5–4 hours, and time on the water is about 4 hours. Itineraries and inclusions vary by harbor and tour package.
- Ha Long Bay harbor → cruise and limestone islands
Take a day cruise to explore the islands and caves. Depending on the package, lunch, cave visits, a short swim, or kayaking may be included. Starting July 1, 2026, the round-trip passenger fee at Ha Long International Cruise Port is 80,000 VND per person. Back in Hanoi, try Chao Ban for dinner.
Day 5 | Old Quarter breakfast and airport transfer
- Old Quarter → around Hoan Kiem Lake
Have breakfast and take a short walk in the Old Quarter before departure. Eat at Xoi Yen and have coffee at Cafe Thu Do.
- Old Quarter → Hanoi Railway Station → Noi Bai Airport
Take Airport Bus 86 from Hanoi Railway Station to the airport. The one-way fare is 50,000 VND, and the bus operates from 07:00 to 22:15. Allow about 45–60 minutes to get from the Old Quarter to the airport.
Confirmed admission and transport costs for Option A, 4 nights and 5 days (per adult)
Round-trip airport bus, 50,000×2 + Ngoc Son Temple, 50,000 + Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 25,000 + Hoa Lo Prison, 50,000 + Temple of Literature, 70,000 + Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, 100,000–200,000 + round-trip passenger fee at Ha Long International Cruise Port, 80,000 = 475,000–575,000 VND. Ha Long Bay cruise fares and local transport are extra.
- Included: round-trip airport bus, admission to Ngoc Son Temple, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Temple of Literature, the lowest-priced water puppet show seat, and the Ha Long International Cruise Port passenger fee.
- Extra: accommodation, meals, flights, Ha Long Bay cruise and shuttle, and city transport where no fare is provided.
4 Nights, 5 Days: Option B | Markets and Trang An, Ninh Binh
Take your time walking around the Old Quarter market and the lake, then visit Train Street and a museum before a boat trip in Trang An, Ninh Binh. This itinerary suits travelers who want to enjoy shopping, the character of the lanes, and nature where rivers meet limestone mountains.
Day 1 | From the airport to market lanes and the lake
- Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Railway Station → Old Quarter
Take bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station. The one-way fare is 50,000 VND, and the trip from the airport to the Old Quarter takes about 45–60 minutes. The bus operates from 07:00 to 22:15.
- Old Quarter → Hoan Kiem Lake · Hoan Kiem Lake · Hoan Kiem Lake → Dong Xuan Market
It is about a 12–15-minute walk from the lake to Dong Xuan Market, north of the Old Quarter. The market is open from 07:00 to 18:00, and admission is free. For dinner, try Bun Cha Sinh Tu in the Old Quarter near the market, and have Hanoi egg coffee.
- Around the lake → evening stroll and nightlife
The pedestrian zone around the lake operates from 19:00 on Friday until 24:00 on Sunday. After an evening stroll, enjoy the rooftop atmosphere at Sol Sky Bar.
Day 2 | Dong Xuan Market and Old Quarter lanes
- Hoan Kiem Lake → Dong Xuan Market
Walk for about 12–15 minutes or take a Grab car for around 30,000–45,000 VND. The market is open from 07:00 to 18:00, with clothing, household goods, and food shops to explore.
- Dong Xuan Market → Old Quarter lunch and coffee
Walk through the Old Quarter lanes from the market, have lunch at Bep Quan Ham Long, and take an afternoon break at Hanoi Egg Coffee. Shop opening hours may vary.
- Old Quarter → around Hanoi Train Street
Walk from the lake toward Train Street in the Old Quarter. Follow local access controls. If an entrance is blocked, do not try to enter another way; explore a different lane instead. Try Met Vietnam Restaurant & Vegetarian Food 1 for dinner and Hanoi Blues Bar at night.
Day 3 | Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and West Lake
- Old Quarter → Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Head west from the Old Quarter to see exhibits on the lives and cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic groups, along with traditional houses outdoors. It is open daily from 08:30 to 17:30, and adult admission is 40,000 VND. It is closed on Mondays and New Year’s Day.
- Museum → around West Lake
Head toward West Lake to enjoy the lakeside scenery. Try Chao Ban in West Lake for lunch and Tranquil Books & Coffee for a café break.
- West Lake → Old Quarter dinner
Return to the Old Quarter for dinner and the evening. Choose Essence Restaurant for dinner and Lazy Me Cocktail Bar for cocktails.
Day 4 | Trang An boat trip in Ninh Binh
- Hanoi → Ninh Binh
Travel by day tour, bus, or train. The trip to Ninh Binh by car, bus, or train is listed as about 1.5–2 hours. Continue onward to Trang An Wharf.
- Trang An Wharf → Trang An boat route
Choose a boat route on site and explore limestone mountains and caves along the way. Listed operating hours are 07:00–16:00, and adult admission for foreign visitors is 300,000 VND. After returning to Hanoi, try Vu Cha Ca in the Old Quarter for lunch.
- Old Quarter → dinner and bars
Return to Hanoi for dinner and a rest. Dine at Madam Huong, then enjoy the nightlife at Lighthouse Sky Bar.
Day 5 | Old Quarter breakfast and airport transfer
- Old Quarter → around Hoan Kiem Lake
Take a short walk around the lake and Old Quarter before departure. Have breakfast at Xoi Yen and coffee at Cafe Thu Do.
- Old Quarter → Hanoi Railway Station → Noi Bai Airport
Take Airport Bus 86. The one-way fare is 50,000 VND, the bus operates from 07:00 to 22:15, and the trip from the Old Quarter to the airport takes about 45–60 minutes.
Confirmed admission and transport costs for Option B, 4 nights and 5 days (per adult)
Round-trip airport bus, 50,000×2 + Dong Xuan Market, 0 + Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, 40,000 + Trang An admission, 300,000 = 440,000 VND. A Grab ride to the market costs 30,000–45,000 VND and is optional, so it is not included in the total.
- Included: round-trip airport bus, free entry to Dong Xuan Market, and adult admission to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Trang An.
- Extra: accommodation, meals, flights, transport between Hanoi and Ninh Binh, and local transport.
FAQ
Where is a convenient area to stay for 4 nights and 5 days in Hanoi?
The Old Quarter is convenient for first-time visitors, with Hoan Kiem Lake, markets, restaurants, and major sights close by.
Which is a better day trip from Hanoi, Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh?
Choose Ha Long Bay for a cruise past the sea and limestone islands, or Trang An for a boat trip along rivers and through caves. The listed journey is about 3.5–4 hours each way to Ha Long Bay and about 1.5–2 hours to Ninh Binh.
How long does the bus take from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter?
Bus 86 takes about 45–60 minutes and costs 50,000 VND one way. The listed airport bus operating hours are 07:00–22:15.
Official sources & check dates
- 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
- Ngoc Son Temple — MyHanoi · 2026-10-28
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: A Meaningful Historical Destination in Hanoi — Vietnam Airlines · 2026-10-28
- 방문 정보 — 문묘 공식 사이트 · 2026-10-28
- Tran Quoc Pagoda — MyHanoi · 2026-10-28
- Best day trips from Hanoi · 2026-10-28
- Adjusting passenger ticket prices through Ha Long International Passenger Port from July 1, 2026 · 2026-10-28
- 호안끼엠 호수 및 인근 보행 공간 · 2026-10-28
- Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi: A Visitor’s Guide — Vietnam Tourism · 2026-10-28
- Thông tin — Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre · 2026-10-28
- Ha Long Symphony — Day Tour · 2026-10-28
- Day Cruise — Luna Halong Cruise · 2026-10-28
- 티켓·운영 시간 — 호아로 수용소 공식 사이트 · 2026-10-28
- Chợ Đồng Xuân — MyHanoi · 2026-10-28
- Train Street Hanoi: the complete guide to Phung Hung and the railway alley · 2026-10-28
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — Visit the Museum · 2026-10-28
- Thông báo điều chỉnh giá vé du thuyền Tràng An từ ngày 01/01/2026 · 2026-10-28
- Super detailed 1-day self-guided Ninh Binh travel experience · 2026-10-28
- Hanoi Wants Tourists to Stop Visiting One of the City's Most Popular Tourist Attractions · 2026-10-28
- Visit the museum — Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2026-10-28
- Trang An boat tour, Ninh Binh: tickets, hours and tips (2026) · 2026-10-28
Site updated: 2026-10-28