Why Hanoi?
Hanoi has been a capital city for over a thousand years, and unlike many Southeast Asian cities, it wears its history visibly — French colonial villas, ancient temples, and the famous 36-Street Old Quarter with its medieval guild structure still somewhat intact. It's also the jumping-off point for Ha Long Bay, one of the world's great natural wonders.
Recommended 3-Night Itinerary
Day 1 — Old Quarter Arrival
- Noi Bai Airport → Grab ~45 min
- Afternoon: Hoan Kiem Lake walk + Ngoc Son Temple
- Evening: Bia Hoi corner — Hanoi draught beer for 20,000 VND ($0.80)
- Night: Old Quarter 36 Streets night walk
Day 2 — Hanoi Culture Day
- Morning: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Mon/Fri) + Ho Chi Minh's stilt house
- Lunch: Bun Cha Huong Lien — the shop Obama ate at when visiting Vietnam
- Afternoon: St. Joseph Cathedral + Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
- Evening: Ta Hien beer street
Day 3 — Ha Long Bay Cruise (1-night recommended)
- Morning: Bus 3.5h → Ha Long Bay pier
- Board cruise: limestone karst islands, cave exploration, kayaking
- Onboard seafood dinner + stargazing
Day 4 — Return + Departure
- Morning: Cruise breakfast → return to Hanoi
- Stop at Trang An village or head straight to Noi Bai
Hanoi Must-Eat
- Pho bo (beef noodle soup) — Hanoi style is cleaner and less sweet than southern pho
- Bun cha — grilled pork patties + cold noodles + dipping sauce. Unique to Hanoi
- Banh mi — baguette sandwich for 25,000 VND ($1)
- Egg coffee (ca phe trung) — a Hanoi invention: sweet egg yolk foam on espresso
- Nem (spring rolls) — shrimp and pork rice paper rolls
Ha Long Bay Tour Guide
- Day trip: Not recommended. 7h of driving for under 2h on the water
- 1-night cruise: Minimum recommended. Cruise quality is everything
- 2-night cruise: Best for caves, kayaking, and fishing
- Budget: $60–100 basic / $130–200 mid-range / $300+ luxury