Hanoi
Old Quarter chaos, lakeside calm and Hạ Long day trips.
A sample 3-day Hanoi route
Old Quarter, Ba Dinh + West Lake, then the Ha Long Bay day trip (an overnight cruise is even better if you have the time).
- Day 1Old Quarter lanes, cathedral & prisonOld Quarter · Hoan Kiem
- Day 2Ba Dinh monuments & West LakeBa Dinh · Tay Ho
- Day 3Ha Long Bay day tripDay trip · Old Quarter
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Where to eat in Hanoi
MICHELIN & Bib picks show the year awarded — selections are revised yearly, so confirm current status before you go. Every name links to a Google Maps search.
- Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn Bib Gourmand
Hanoi-style beef phở (queue, pay, carry your own bowl)
- Bún Chả Hương Liên MICHELIN
Bún chả set
- Chả Cá (turmeric fish, Thang Long) MICHELIN
Chả cá — turmeric-and-dill fish sizzled at your table with noodles, peanuts and herbs
- Gia (modern Vietnamese) ★ MICHELIN
Seasonal Vietnamese tasting menu
Grilled pork patties & belly in sweet-sour broth
Phở bò (beef)
When to go to Hanoi
Weather varies year to year. Unlike the south, Hanoi has a real winter. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast close to your dates.
Spring Feb, Mar, Apr
Mild, roughly 17–25°C, often with grey drizzle and high humidity early in the season.
Keep indoor backups (museums, the water-puppet theatre, cafés) for grey-drizzle afternoons.
Look out for: Tết flower markets, Mild walking weather
Summer May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Hot and very humid, often 30–38°C.
Front-load outdoor sights in the morning; use museums, the prison memorial and malls for the afternoon heat and rain.
Look out for: Lush day-trip scenery
Autumn Sep, Oct, Nov
The best season — mild and dry, roughly 20–28°C, with crisp clear days.
Ideal for everything; make the most of day trips and lakeside walks.
Look out for: Golden autumn light, Clear Ha Long days
Winter Dec, Jan
Cool to cold, roughly 10–18°C, often grey and damp.
Lean into hot soups, egg coffee, museums and the water-puppet theatre; Ha Long can be cold and hazy in winter.
Look out for: Hot pho weather, Quieter sights
What Hanoi costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Hostel / guesthouse / budget hotel in the Old Quarter (VND 250,000–650,000).
- Meals: Street food and Bib Gourmand bites — Phở Bát Đàn, bún chả, bánh cuốn (VND 30,000–80,000/meal).
- Transport: Walk the Old Quarter; Grab motorbike for longer hops.
- Attractions: Cheap museum/temple entries; the mausoleum grounds are free.
- Evening: Bia hơi on Ta Hien, a lake walk, the weekend walking street.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: 3–4 star boutique hotel in the Old/French Quarter (VND 1,000,000–2,500,000).
- Meals: Mix of street food and Bib Gourmand/known sit-downs — Bún Chả Hương Liên, Chả Cá (VND 80,000–300,000/meal).
- Transport: Grab car + walking.
- Attractions: Add the water-puppet show, the prison memorial and a day-trip cruise.
- Evening: Chả Cá dinner, a water-puppet show, a rooftop sunset.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: 5-star or landmark colonial hotel (VND 3,500,000–9,000,000).
- Meals: Good restaurants plus one Michelin-starred dinner — Gia (book ahead) (VND 300,000–3,000,000/meal).
- Transport: Grab/private car where convenient.
- Attractions: Add an overnight Ha Long cruise, a private day-trip car, a spa.
- Evening: Starred Vietnamese dinner, then a smart rooftop bar.
Where to stay in Hanoi
The Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem) is the classic first-timer base — you wake up inside the street-food maze and walk to the lake. The French Quarter is grander and quieter, while West Lake (Tay Ho) is leafy and calmer but further from the action. Hanoi offers great value at every level.
Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)
First-timers; in the thick of it, walkable
French Quarter
Grander colonial hotels, quieter streets
West Lake (Tay Ho)
Leafy, calmer, lakeside cafés (further out)
By budget
- Budget — S$15–37 · Hostels, Guesthouses, Budget hotels
- Mid-range — S$60–145 · 3–4 star boutique hotels
- Comfortable — S$200–520 · 5-star and landmark colonial hotels
- Stay in the Old Quarter for a short trip to walk to everything.
- Choose a room set back from the street — the lanes are loud and early.
- If you plan an overnight Ha Long cruise, you only need a city hotel for the other nights.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.
Common Hanoi mistakes to avoid
- Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the afternoon — it's morning-only and closed some days.
- Hesitating mid-road when crossing — keep a steady pace.
- Rushing a Ha Long Bay day trip — it's a long round trip; an overnight cruise is far better if time allows.
- Only eating in tourist spots — Hanoi's best food is at hole-in-the-wall stalls.
- Underestimating winter — Hanoi gets genuinely cold and grey (unlike the south).
Good to know
Where to stay
Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem), French Quarter, West Lake (Tay Ho).
How long to go
3–5 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Hanoi travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Hanoi in 3 Days: A Practical Itinerary
The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ho Chi Minh complex and the temples, the French quarter and the famous street food — a practical three-day Hanoi plan with Maps links, budgets and where to stay.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Hanoi on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Hanoi your way
Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.