One Day in Hanoi Itinerary: Hanoi Travel Guide

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While you could spend weeks savoring the beauty of Vietnam’s second largest city, this guide shares all you need to enjoy a perfect one day in Hanoi.

Lovingly regarded as Vietnam’s first and sleepy capital city, Hanoi is filled with so many wonderful things to do as well as a deep and fascinating history. It’s often visitors’ first stop on their backpacking trip to Vietnam due to its close proximity to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and many other of Vietnam’s best travel destinations. 

While only having one day in Hanoi is less than ideal, it’s honestly not the end of the world. This small city is very walkable and easy to get around, and exploring the city in just 24 hours is not impossible. I’m here to share the perfect 1 day Hanoi itinerary for your short visit.

Have more time to spare than 1 day in Hanoi? Check out my guide for the perfect two days in Hanoi too!

Read More About Vietnam:

• 26 Vietnam Travel Tips
• Ho Chi Minh City Bucket List: Things to Do in Saigon
• Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!

One Day in Hanoi Overview

Hanoi Travel Tips
The Best Things to Do in Hanoi
One Day Hanoi Itinerary
More Hanoi Recommendations
Where to Eat in Hanoi
Where to Stay in Hanoi
The Best Hostels in Hanoi
The Best Hotels in Hanoi

Hanoi’s charming train street

Hanoi Travel Tips

First things first, let’s start with some helpful travel tips to make your arrival into Hanoi smooth and comfortable.

Vietnam Tourist Visa

Vietnam now offers two options for getting a tourist visa, an e-visa, and a visa on arrival. I went with the visa on arrival because it allowed me to choose a longer duration of stay. Here’s a quick rundown of what to know for your Vietnam tourist visa.

The e-visa is a new process where you can obtain a Vietnam travel visa directly from the Vietnamese government website before you arrive in the country. The e-visa is for a 30 day, single-entry visit and, as of now, costs approximately $25 USD. It does not get stamped into your passport, but instead, you receive a letter you must carry with you.

The visa on arrival is the standard procedure and requires you to apply for a Vietnamese entrance letter before arriving in the country. I got my letter through Vietnam-Visa.com and was satisfied with the process. I paid a service fee of $34 USD for the three-month, single-entry letter. They’ll email you your approval letter, and you’ll need to print it off and bring it to the airport.

At the airport, you turn in your entrance letter at the visa on arrival immigration desks along with two passport photos and a $25 cash stamping fee ($50 for multiple entries). The arrival letter is more expensive but allowed me to stay for three months instead of one.

As an American, this was my experience, but every citizenship has different requirements. Be sure to research the exact visa requirements for your needs!

Quick Vietnamese Survival Phrases

English was relatively widely spoken, but there were a few instances where I had to rely on my trusty Vietnamese survival phrases! Here are a few to help make your trip smoother. Vietnamese is a tonal language so be careful what you say!

Goodbye – tam biet – tam byeet
Sorry – Xin Loi – sin loy
Thank you –cám ơn – gahm un
Please – làm ơn – lahm uhn
Yes – dạ – ya
No – không – khohm
Vegetarian – chay – jai

How to Get Around Hanoi

Hanoi is a somewhat walkable city, especially with only one day to spare, save the money, and the stress of driving around and walk the town instead! The mixed architecture found in the streets is what makes Hanoi so unique anyways. 

For those instances where your next destination is a bit too far for a walk, consider getting a scooter taxi. It’s the classic way to get around the city and is an exhilarating experience. It’ll also be the fastest way to get around over a car. 

The best taxi service in Vietnam will be Grab and is the safest and most reliable option. Come with the app preloaded for your convenience. 

Solo Travel in Vietnam

As a solo female backpacker in Asia, I felt Vietnam was a super comfortable and safe place to travel alone. It’s a very popular travel destination for all sorts of tourists and backpackers, so I truly never felt alone or in danger. 

It was easy to make friends and get around the city without any harassment or trouble from touts. If you’re having any doubts about traveling to Vietnam alone, I can personally say there’s nothing to worry about!

Check out even more of my helpful Solo Travel Tips for Asia!

It never ceased to amaze me the things people could put on their motorbikes!

The Best Things to Do in Hanoi

There are a million ways to spend 24 hours in Hanoi, and this post shares just one example itinerary. Here is a complete list of the best things to do in Hanoi to help you create your own perfect Hanoi itinerary.

The Cửa Bắc Yellow Church

One Day in Hanoi Itinerary

With only one day to get well acquainted with Vietnam’s lovely Hanoi, there’s no time to spare! I would consider all of these stops on this itinerary to be within walking distance, but there are a couple that you may want to opt for a grab taxi instead.

So put on your walking shoes, slather yourself in sunscreen and grab your camera – we have a city to explore!

Stop #1 – Egg Coffee at Note Coffee OR Cafe Giang

Note Coffee Location | Cafe Giang Location

No trip is complete to Hanoi without trying a classic Vietnamese cup of egg coffee. Made by mixing robusta coffee, sugar, condensed milk, and whisked egg yolks, the consistency of the coffee ends up being a creamy and thick sweet treat. While it may sound a little strange, keep an open mind – it’s quite delicious!

I recommend two places for where to get egg coffee. The Note Coffee (6:30 am – 11 pm) is a popular cafe for its Instagrammability and cute decor. The interior is completely covered in colorful notes left by previous guests, and their coffee is pretty decent.

Or if you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, Cafe Giang (7 am – 11 pm) is regarded as one of the best places for egg coffee. How will you choose!?

Cheesin’ with my coconut coffee in Note Coffee

Stop #2 – Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem Lake Location | Ngoc Son Temple Location

Next up on our DIY walking tour of Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (aka Temple of the Jade Mountain). Located right across the street from The Note Coffee, it doesn’t take much effort to get to these famous landmarks in Hanoi.

Hoan Kiem Lake is a lovely green space in the city where people come to sit, enjoy street food and people watch. Located in the middle of the lake is Turtle Tower, as well as Ngoc Son Temple. 

While you sadly can’t visit Turtle Tower, for only 30,000 VND visitors can enter Ngoc Son Temple via the pretty red bridge that connects the temple with dry land. The temple opens every day at 8 am – 6 pm and is best visited in the morning to beat the crowds.

Historic Turtle Tower in the middle of the lake

Stop #3 – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum + One Pillar Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Location | One Pillar Pagoda Location

From Ngoc Son Temple, walk, or take a taxi the 1.7 miles to our next stop, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda. 

Here you can witness the communist government’s shrine to their beloved leader and visit the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh himself.

The mausoleum has specific and varied hours, so be sure to plan your arrival time accordingly if you wish to see inside the tomb. For the most part, if you arrive in the morning before 11 am, you will have the opportunity to step inside unless you’re visiting in October or November when the body is sent for routine maintenance in Russia.

The entrance is free to the grounds of the mausoleum, and it’s still worth a visit even if you are there when the tomb is closed. 

Located behind the monument is the One Pillar Pagoda and surrounding gardens. It’s a charming historical building that’s regarded as one of Vietnam’s most iconic Buddhist temples and was built in the early 1000’s.

The mausoleum closed for lunch

Stop #4 – Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel Location

Just a short 10 minute walk away from Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Listed as a designated UNESCO heritage site, you don’t want to miss the short but sweet visit to these impressive cultural grounds.

The entrance fee is 30,000 VND ($1.30), and the opening hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, except for Mondays when it’s closed.

Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda (I didn’t have a good shot of the citadel oopsie!)

Stop #5 – Temple of Literature

Temple of Literature Location

Less than a mile away (about a 17-minute walk), is Hanoi’s Temple of Literature. This imperial temple was built in 1070 and is surrounded by well-kept gardens. It was the location of Vietnam’s very first university, the Imperial Academy, and is today a national symbol of the importance of education and knowledge. 

Entry into the temple is 30,000 VND ($1.30). It’s open Tuesday – Sunday at 8:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm. 

The lovely Temple of Literature

Stop #6 – Hoa Lo Prison Memorial

Hoa Lo Prison Location 

Visiting Hoa Lo Prison Memorial was an interesting experience. Inside visitors learn about the tragic mistreatment of Vietnamese revolutionaries during the French Revolution up to the imprisonment of POWs during the Vietnam War from Vietnam’s perspective.

I personally think that if you’re not super interested in war attractions or museums, this could be a stop to switch out for another attraction in the city. 

The entrance fee for Hoa Lo Prison is 30,000 VND (about $1.30), and if you’re interested in an audio guide, it’s 50,000 VND ($2.15). The memorial is open every day from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

A lot of history here at the Hanoi Hilton

Stop #7 – Train Street

Hanoi Train Street Location

Hanoi’s Train Street is a narrow strip of railway where daily trains run dangerously close to the homes and businesses on either side. With that said – be safe on your visit!

You can catch the train passing as it heads to or from Hanoi. When I was there, the current train times were 06:00, 08:30, 09:00, 13:15, 14:30, 15:30, and 19:30 on weekdays, but you may want to confirm the schedule when you’re there.

Come early before the train barrels along to grab a cup of classic Vietnamese egg coffee or yogurt coffee from a local cafe on the tracks.

Stop #8 – Ta Hien Beer Corner OR Thang Long Water Puppet Show

Ta Hien Beer Street Location | Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Location

It’s been a whirlwind of a day, and if you still have even an ounce of energy after that hectic one day tour of Hanoi, you should definitely consider checking out the popular Ta Hien Beer Corner to kick back with a local cold brew. 

If crowds and beer aren’t your thing, maybe a nice evening at Hanoi’s Thang Long Water Puppet Show is more your speed! Tickets are about $9 for an evening of traditional Vietnamese water puppets.

Hanoi’s beer street getting set up for the evening crowds

Have Time Left in Your Hanoi Itinerary?

Or maybe you’re not super keen on a stop or two above; it’s all good – to each their own. Here are a few more Hanoi recommendations you may find helpful.

Don’t forget to check out my list above too for the best attractions in Hanoi – those are also good options to add to your trip.

Hop On Hop Off Hanoi

Anytime you’re visiting a destination in a short period of time, a hop on hop off bus tour is a great option to consider, and Hanoi just so happens to have many to choose from! I recommend checking out these Hop On Hop Off Tours in Hanoi that range in price from $15 – $20 that stop at Hanoi’s major tourist attractions.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Located a bit outside of the city center, Tran Quoc Pagoda is a popular site to see in Hanoi. Built along the water, this temple complex dates back to the 6th century, making it nearly 1,500 years old!

It’s not only an insanely ancient and interesting place to visit from a historical standpoint, but it’s also a truly beautiful architectural structure to wander around and enjoy. If you have the time, I recommend taking the taxi ride out to visit this temple complex. There’s no entrance fee to visit the pagoda.

Vietnamese Cooking Class

If you’re a hardcore foodie and you’re dying to experience true Vietnamese food culture, I recommend looking into a Hanoi cooking class. With only one day, though, it will take up a solid chunk of time, but a Vietnamese cooking class is a great way to learn about the country through doing and eating. 

Dong Xuan Street Market

A traditional market where local vendors sell souvenirs, street food, and more, Dong Xuan Street Market is right in the old quarter and only requires a short visit. It would be super easy to squeeze into the itinerary above before or after the visit to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Vietnam Military History Museum

Calling all history and war buffs – the Vietnam Military History Museum may be the perfect stop for you! Learn even more about Vietnam’s tumultuous war filled history at the military history museum where war equipment, propaganda, and historical artifacts are on display. 

Entry is 30,000 VND ($1.30) and an extra 20,000 VND ($0.86) charge for the ability to photograph the exhibits.

Sunset at Tran Quac Pagoda

Must-Try Food in Vietnam: Where to Eat in Hanoi

Pho

Vietnam’s most iconic dish, this noodle soup with beef, is a travel staple. You can grab a delicious steaming hot bowl of pho in every neighborhood in Hanoi, but for the best pho in the city, I was recommended by locals to check out Pho Thin Bo Ho. I was not disappointed!

Best pho in Hanoi – Pho Thin Bo Ho Location

Bun cha

Bun Cha is a classic Hanoi dish made with grilled fatty pork swimming in sweet and tangy fish sauce that’s served with white vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and fried spring rolls. It came to be one of my absolute favorite Vietnamese dishes while I lived there.

Again there are plenty of places to nom on some bun cha, but the classic and most famous place to try it is at Bun Cha Huong Lien 2, where Obama and Anthony Bourdain themselves came to feast. Get the Obama Special for the common experience.

Best Bun Cha in Hanoi – Bun Cha Huong Lien 2 Location

The famous Obama Bun Cha

Vietnamese coffee 

If you are a coffee aficionado, Vietnam has so many unique coffee offerings you should try while you’re there! 

Must try Vietnamese coffee and where to find it:

• Egg coffee: Cafe Giang, The Note Coffee
• Coconut coffee: Cong Caphe
• Yogurt coffee: Old Town Garden Cafe
• Any Traditional Vietnamese Coffee: Cafe Dinh

Banh Mi

Banh Mi is a delicious Vietnamese sandwich that takes pickled veggies, pork belly or other meat, and pate on a baguette and is where French and Vietnamese food culture came together. 

You can get one on the street for as cheap as $0.25 or check out the chain Banh Mi 25.

Best Local Banh Mi in Hanoi – Mama Bread

Banh Xeo

Ban Xeo is a savory crepe / pancake dish usually made with rice batter and toppings such as prawns, onions, bean sprouts, and other flavors. It’s traditionally a shared street food dish that’s served with fresh herbs and lettuce on the side.

Best Banh Xeo in Hanoi – Banh Xeo Zon Pancake

Look at the mouth watering big bowl o’ pho

Where to Stay in Hanoi

Hanoi’s Old Quarter / Hoan Kiem Lake

As a first-time and short-term visitor to Hanoi, I recommend staying in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This is where most backpackers and travelers choose to stay, and it offers a lot of the best restaurants, accommodation options, and things to do in close proximity.

Hanoi’s French Quarter / Ba Dinh

Ba Dinh district is also a good option for visitors as it’s not too far away from the best places to visit in Hanoi. Most of the government offices and international embassies reside in this area, and the streets reflect much of the country’s past French colonization in the stunning architecture.

Ba Dinh district is also a good option for visitors as it’s not too far away from the best places to visit in Hanoi. Most of the government offices and international embassies reside in this area, and the streets reflect much of the country’s past French colonization in the stunning architecture.

The view from Banana Hostel

The Best Hostels in Hanoi

Hanoi Buffalo Hostel: For my first couple of days visiting Hanoi, I chose to stay in the Hanoi Buffalo Hostel because of the social vibes it’s known for and honestly just couldn’t pass up on the swimming pool onsite! This place is especially great for solo travelers on the search for friends.

Little Charm Hanoi Hostel: Guests love their stay at Little Charm Hanoi Hostel, as is evident from the over 3,500 reviews on booking.com! It’s affordable, it’s in a good location, and it comes with breakfast – pretty much everything I look for in a hostel.

Nexy Hostel: Great location in Old Quarter with a bar, pool table, and social atmosphere

Hanoi’s charming Old Quarter is def the best place to stay!

The Best Hotels in Hanoi

Graffiti House is a bright and airy hotel that offers cute private rooms at flashpacker rates. This place is not only easy on the eyes but easy on your wallet.

Hanoi Lullaby Hotel and Travel is a super trendy and affordable hotel right in the heart of the Old Quarter. Serving up a continental buffet breakfast with a 24-hour front desk and friendly staff, the decor in this place is gorgeous.

Hanoi Paradise Center Hotel & Spa is a luxurious hotel and spa starting at only $90 a night are a pretty decent steal! The location isn’t half bad either at only 400 meters away from Hoan Kiem Lake.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi: A 5-star glamorous Hanoi hotel with a heated swimming pool, fitness center, and spa

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!

There you have it! An ultimate Hanoi travel guide. Did I miss anything? Share below!