Hanoi Travelers Recommend

Thanks to its dramatic cliffs, glittering turquoise waters, and more than 1,600 limestone islands and islets, beautiful Halong Bay is one of the most popular sites to visit in northern Vietnam and is best seen on a cruise. Here are your options for Halong Bay cruises from Hanoi. 

Day Cruises

With limited time, it’s possible to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site on a day tour from Hanoi. Soak up the scenery as you drive through the scenic Quang Ninh province, cruise around Halong Bay, and see natural wonders such as Thien Cung cave, Driftwood Island, and Dau Go grotto. To maximize your time, most tours include hotel pickup, round-trip transport, and lunch, while small-group and private tours offer a more personalized experience.

Multi-Day Cruises

For a more in-depth exploration of Halong Bay, opt for an overnight cruise or multi-day tour, and spend a night aboard a traditional junk boat or luxury cruise ship. A 2- or 3-day cruise means you can head further afield to attractions like Bat Tu Long cave, Thien Canh Son cave, and Cat Ba Island; enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking or snorkeling around the bay; and take part in on-board activities such as tai chi or squid fishing. With time to spare, combine a Halong Bay cruise with a visit to Tam Dao National Park or a tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Ho Chi Minh complex.

Things to Know

• Halong Bay is located around 103 miles (165 kilometers) east of Hanoi.

• Full-day tours from Hanoi typically last about 12 hours. 

• Multi-day and overnight cruises typically include round-trip transfers to Hanoi, on-board accommodation and meals, and a range of activities.

• Be sure to bring your swimsuit and sun protection—there are plenty of spots for swimming and snorkeling around the bay.

Three days in Hanoi give you time not only to discover the city but to begin to explore northern Vietnam. You can fit in a Halong Bay cruise, glide through the karst landscapes of Tam Coc, cycle through rice fields to ancient pagodas, and perhaps even go on an overnight adventure or mingle with hill tribes in Sapa. Here’s how.

Day 1: Soak Up the City

Spend your first day in Hanoi discovering the city’s signatures: delicious street food, ancient temples, Vietnam War sites, and water puppets. Soak up the atmosphere at the Temple of Literature, wander the streets of the Old Quarter (eating as you go), and visit the notorious Hoa Lo Prison, once known as the Hanoi Hilton. If Hanoi’s cuisine has you hooked—and it will—consider a cooking class so you can bring your favorite dishes home, perhaps with a market tour. In the evening, discover northern Vietnam’s own unique art form: water puppetry. The special effects, including fireworks, will amaze.

Day 2: Catch a Cruise

With three days in Hanoi, you’d be remiss not to experience Halong Bay, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its spectacular seascapes of karst islands and caves. The longer you spend on the water, the more you beat the crowds, so it’s worth at least considering an overnight tour—approach by seaplane and travel on an authentic junk for a truly decadent experience. If you’re struggling to decide, focus on the extras as well as the route: many boats offer experiences from bamboo-boat rides to sea kayaking, from cooking classes to tai chi.

Day 3: Farther Afield

If you don’t spend the night on the water, three days in Hanoi give you ample time to explore the scenic countryside of north Vietnam. Some call the UNESCO-listed karst landscapes around Tam Coc “Halong Bay on land,” and a boat ride through the rocks and rice fields is just magical. The Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most sacred sites, offers dramatic temples amid lush green vistas. Or, if you’ve opted against Halong Bay altogether, it’s possible to venture out to Sapa, where the cool mountains are home to Hmong, Dao, and Tay people, among other ethnic groups.

Two days in Hanoi give you enough time to check off the city’s highlights, feast to perfection on street food, catch a water puppet show, and discover some of north Vietnam’s spectacular landscapes. For most, these will be marine, with day cruises to the Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site an ever-popular choice. Here are some options.

Day 1: Hanoi Heritage

**Morning:**Start by soaking up some classic city sights, perhaps on a “cyclo” rickshaw or a motorcycle for a local feel. Wander the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, feel the serenity in the ancient Temple of Literature, and learn about the Vietnam War at Hoa Lo Prison, the notorious Hanoi Hilton.

**Afternoon:**With your appetite all worked up, it’s time to feast on Hanoi’s world-class street food, perhaps on a food tour of the Old Quarter, or even farther afield. Alternatively, sign up for a cooking class and learn the fine art of making your own pho, bun cha, and more.

**Evening:**In the evening discover a uniquely Vietnamese art form: water puppets. Appreciate the colorful costumes, impressive special effects, and live orchestra as the puppets sing, dance, and emote atop the surface of the water.

Day 2: Halong Heaven

**Morning:**Most travelers will choose to spend the entire day on the ocean, cruising Halong Bay’s scenic seascapes, generally on a classic junk. Some tours include activities from caving to kayaking—almost all throw in a delicious seafood lunch.

**Afternoon:**Alternatively, your second day in Hanoi makes a great chance to experience north Vietnam’s stunning rice field landscapes, whether by bike, by boat, or both. Tam Coc in Ninh Binh province is popular for the dramatic river ride between karst rocks.

**Evening:**For your last night in Hanoi, treat yourself to a memorable evening feast. That could be delicate Vietnamese haute cuisine at one of the city’s elite fine-dining restaurants or a motorcycle tour of Hanoi’s most authentic eateries.

With a history dating back over 1,000 years, Vietnam’s capital is a city of contrasts: Bustling street-food eateries with low plastic chairs nudge up against serene temples, while skyscrapers are reflected in ancient lakes. One day in Hanoi gives you enough time to see the highlights, sample street food, and take in a show. Here’s how.

Morning: City Sights

Start the day right by orienting yourself on the city’s culture and geography. Begin at the ancient Temple of Literature—half-temple, half-university—and be sure to stroll the park where locals take their exercise and practice hobbies. Explore the Old Quarter, the historic district around the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem), on foot, by motorbike, or by “cyclo” rickshaw. Then head farther afield to absorb a little of Vietnam’s more recent history, perhaps following in the footsteps of onetime supreme leader Ho Chi Minh or exploring Vietnam War–era sites such as the notorious Hanoi Hilton (Hoa Lo Prison).

Afternoon: Feeding Frenzy

Long before Bourdain brought Obama here, Hanoi was a mecca for street-food aficionados, and no visit to the city is complete without feasting at one of its deceptively simple eateries. Gorge on delights from pho noodle soup to banh mi sandwiches, barbecued pork, and even steamboat (hot pot) as you stroll the 36 Streets of the Old Quarter, or check out the weird and wonderful ingredients on sale at a wet (produce) market such as Dong Xuan. Take a street-food tour to help you break the language barrier, or take a cooking class and bring home a new set of skills.

Evening: Watery Wonders

Hanoi was built on water, particularly the water that floods the scenic rice terraces outside the city, and a sunset stroll around the Lake of the Restored Sword is a great way to appreciate its charms. Cap it off with a show of a uniquely Vietnamese art form: water puppets. Evolved in the rice fields of northern Vietnam, this art form involves colorful puppets submerged in water telling tall tales from Vietnamese folklore, typically accompanied by a live orchestra and spectacular special effects. If you’re not already full to bursting, some water puppet shows include a buffet dinner.

The Mai Chau Valley, a little more than 80 miles (135 kilometers) outside of Hanoi, is a wonderful example of rural life in Vietnam, and a great idea for a day trip. Here’s what you need to know about how best to visit this rural escape.

Group Tours

One of the easiest ways to explore the Mai Chau Valley in comfort (without blowing your travel budget) is on a guided small-group tour from Hanoi. Enjoy an air-conditioned drive through picturesque Hoa Binh province, cycle past rice fields while stopping at peaceful villages, and have a traditional lunch with a local family as you learn about day-to-day life in Mai Chau over a glass of rice wine. Limited group numbers mean you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and interact with your local guide.

Private Tours

The cultural and natural wonders of Mai Chau are yours to explore in comfort and style when you opt for a private tour of the area. Make the journey in the comfort of your own private vehicle and benefit from the insights of your guide as you visit a family in a traditional stilt house, trek between small villages, or cycle through rice paddies, depending on your interests.

Things to Know

• A Mai Chau day trip can last 11 hours or longer, depending on the option chosen.

• Choose between the value of a small-group tour or the flexibility of a private tour

• Most tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi.

• Don’t forget to bring along rain gear, especially if you’re visiting between June and September.

• Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat.

• Very few businesses in Mai Chau accept credit or debit cards, so remember to bring some local currency in small denominations.

Stroll through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam's northern hub, and you'll quickly find yourself allured by aromas wafting from street food stalls and storefronts cooking up a variety of cheap and delicious eats. The cuisine in Hanoi tends to be slightly sweeter than in the rest of Vietnam, with a focus on abundant fresh herbs and freshwater seafood.Here are a few dishes and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

You can't visit Hanoi without trying Vietnam's most iconic dish, pho. This classic noodle soup is often made from beef stock boiled for hours with star anise and cinnamon to bring out the rich meat flavors. Rice noodles are ubiquitous in Hanoi, often topped with grilled pork and fish sauce ( bun cha ). Pork also makes a mouthwatering appearance in bahn cuon, a rice flour crepe filled with pork and mushrooms and topped with crunchy fried shallots, chilies and fresh herbs. Thirsty? Breakfast often comes with egg coffee, a hot beverage made by mixing coffee with egg and sweetened condensed milk, while later in the day, locally brewed beer ( bai hoi ) offers a refreshing alternative.

Must-Do Experiences

• Tour Hanoi's culinary scene on foot, by bike, or by motorbike
• Sample all the best bites on a street food walking tour in the Old Quarter and at the sprawling night market
• Take a cooking class to learn about the techniques and ingredients used in Northern Vietnamese cooking
• Learn from the locals at a relaxing dinner in a family home
• Dine at Snake Village, where you'll have a unique multi-course meal made from a famous local specialty: snakes!