The PERFECT 3 Day Hanoi Itinerary: Coffee, Culture & FUN

The best dang tangy peanut-y papaya salad you’ll ever have, zipping through alleyways and colorful streets on the back of a vintage motorbike, long walks around the lake, plenty of coffee breaks, and an escape to the lush rice paddies and otherworldly limestone peaks of Ninh Binh—this is just a tiny taste of what you’ll experience with three days in Hanoi.

I just got back from my first ever trip to Vietnam, and this city truly blew me away! In this article I’m sharing my 3 day Hanoi itinerary that perfectly blends Hanoi’s main highlights (Train Street, Old Quarter, etc) with a bunch of hidden gems I discovered along the way. I can’t wait to share, and wish you the absolute best in your Vietnam travels!!

Where to Stay in Hanoi

As a first timer with only three days in Hanoi, staying in either the Old Quarter or neighboring French Quarter is a given.

But this is an expansive area, and I specifically recommend basing yourself around Hoàn Kiếm Lake—the chaotic moped-filled streets here become pedestrian-only (with street vendors and old lady dance crews, too) on the weekends! Plus, Hoàn Kiếm Lake itself is a peaceful respite in the city, and you’re close to everything!

Views from La Sinfonía del Rey where we stayed in Hanoi! Just steps from Ngọc Sơn Temple in the middle of the lake!

We stayed at La Sinfonía del Rey which overlooks the lake on the corner of the French Quarter and Old Quarter. It’s on the pricey side for Hanoi ($150+/night) but was worth every penny with the exceptional breakfast, 5-star hospitality, and unbeatable location (plus rooftop bar with lake views!!)

How to Get Around Hanoi

I recommend getting around Hanoi by walking and Grab (like Uber for Vietnam). Make sure you have the Grab app downloaded. Although its popular (and cheaper) to get rides on the back of Grab motorbikes, my husband I opted for Grab cars since there were two of us. (But we LOVED exploring Hanoi on this motorbike tour!)

Hanoi is infamous for its chaotic street crossings—basically, you’re told to just walk across the street as dozens of motorbikes and cars swerve around you. Don’t stop, just walk!

But here’s what we realized after a week in Vietnam: there ARE indeed intersections with crosswalks, just not everywhere. And crossing in front of a swarm of mopeds is different than crossing in front of a car. Sometimes we’d just wait until to cross until all the cars had passed. Just don’t stop once you are walking and figure it out as you go! Not as scary as it sounds, promise! ☺️

My #1 Warning/Tip for Traveling Vietnam

Sadly, you cannot 100% trust reviews of restaurants, tours, hotels, etc. in Vietnam. I experienced it firsthand several times—waiters and tour guides will pressure tourists to leave reviews by offering something free, or simply stare at you while you type a review before they hand you the dinner check.

Not only did I experience the review-writing pressure almost daily, I also experienced mediocre meals (and tours) with businesses that have thousands of reviews and 4.9/5 on Google, TripAdvisor, etc.

This was extremely frustrating for me as I typically use reviews and ratings when figuring out where to stay, eat, and what to do. I really want to find a city’s most exceptional and unique spots, but it’s more tricky here.

So, here’s the solution: Don’t book something simply because it has high ratings. Read the reviews, and look for specific details rather than generic positive comments.

Value the recommendations of independent travel bloggers (hello!!) and people you know over Google/TripAdvisor reviews. In all my articles I try to recommend the truly best experiences—the two tours I recommend in Hanoi were truly great (even though they did ask us to leave a review at the end…)

And unfortunately, accept that the bar is sometimes a little lower here if you’re used to exceptional customer service. Finally, know that you often ‘get what you pay for’. Don’t book the cheapest overnight Ha Long Bay cruise unless you’re wanting the cheap experience.

The Best 3 Day Hanoi Itinerary for First Timers

Day 1: Introduction to Hanoi on Motorbike, Lake Temples, and Vietnamese Dinner

9am: Intro to Hanoi on the back of a Motorbike

We started off our first day on this vintage motorbike tour—our guide and drivers picked us up right outside our hotel and in no time we were zooming through the Old Quarter!

Since most of Hanoi’s population gets around by motorbike, it really is the best way to see the city—and is an adventure and cultural immersion all at once! I felt a lot safer than I expected, on the back of a motorbike with an expert local driver taking us to some of Hanoi’s highlights, plus places I’d never find on my own.

In addition to exploring the chaotic, varied streets Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we also crossed the Red River on the old Long Bien Bridge to get a view of the farms on little islands below. And we grabbed drinks at the iconic Train Streets right as the train rolled through just feet from our tables!

But for me, the highlight was zipping through the narrow alleyways and hearing about local life in Hanoi from our guide—what’s it really like to live in a communist country, how the heck is everything so affordable, and how the American War still affects life here!

We ended the tour a delightful lunch at Hidden Gem Cafe—fresh and fried spring rolls, banh mi, papaya salad, pho, and of course, optional egg coffee or Bia Hoi beer. The perfect introduction to Vietnamese food so you know what to order for the rest of the trip! (and they had vegan options of everything for us—besides the egg coffee, of course!)

Afternoon: Hoàn Kiếm Lake & Ngọc Sơn Temple

Your motorbike driver can take you back to your hotel—or somewhere else in the Old Quarter, and I recommend heading to Hoàn Kiếm Lake for a post-lunch walk and visit to charming Ngọc Sơn Temple.

The temple is located on small island in the middle of the lake, connected by a bright red bridge that reminds we a lot of the temples of Japan! Built in the 1800s, Ngọc Sơn was dedicated to both deities and national heroes, including General Trần Hưng Đạo who drove out Mongol forces in the 13th century.

The lake is a hub of cultural life in Hanoi that seems to always have a few old lady dance groups, and plenty of locals enjoying the serenity the water provides in the chaos of the city. It’s bordered by both the Old Quarter and French Quarter.

Make sure you have some cash to pay the 50,000 VND entry fee for Ngọc Sơn Temple, and some time to walk around the lake! (Note: the temple does get most busy mid-day, so if you stay nearby like I did, you can visit in the morning or evening!)

Also See: 11 Hanoi Hidden Gems for Exploring off the Beaten Path

Evening: Homestyle Vietnamese Dinner & Drinks with a View

For your first dinner in Hanoi, head straight to Katze, a street-kid-turned-restauranteur-owned homestyle eatery that is guaranteed to be your most memorable (and perhaps most delicious) meal in Vietnam.

It’s one of those places hidden down a skinny alleyway, so give yourself some time to find it. Within minutes of sitting down at our table, one of the servers was shoving spring rolls into my mouth—without a moment to second guess being hand-fed by a stranger. That’s something I’ve never experienced before and certainly a culturally immersive first dinner in Vietnam.

And the food itself was so freaking good (and affordable) that we kept coming back! Our favorite was the tangy peanut-y papaya salad, and the complimentary tomato tofu they serve to everyone (can you believe that?!?!)

We were also offered self-rolled spring rolls (which was common in Vietnam) for free. Since it’s more homestyle than restaurant food, it’s normal to order a variety of small plates, which are mostly comprised of traditional vegetables like sweet potato leaves, morning glory, wild mushrooms, eggplant, and squash. Everything is plant-based, as eating vegan is common among more religious Buddhist folks here, but I promise this place will wow meat eaters, too!

At the end of the meal you’re given a laminated paper that tells the story of the owner who was a street kid who was ‘given a second chance a life’ when a wealthy foreigner paid his way through culinary school. Now some of the restaurant’s earnings are donated to programs that help impoverished kids in Vietnam.

From Katze, it’s a short walk to the rooftop bar at La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel, which overlooks the lake! Although drinks here are a little pricey for Vietnam, we tried a few bars in Hanoi and this one ended up being our favorite (lucky for us since we were staying at the hotel below!) We enjoyed the ambiance on the rooftop both at sunset and after dark.

Day 2: Old Quarter on Foot, Ethnic History, Temple of Literature & Water Puppet Show

Morning: Hanoi on Foot & Vietnamese Coffee

After yesterday’s Hanoi explorations on the back of a motorbike, you’ll probably have some ideas of places you want to explore more on foot! Whether that’s the case or not, I recommend wandering the Old Quarter and French Quarter, and making sure you get some traditional Vietnamese coffee along the way!

Here are some cafes, shops, landmarks, and other spots to add to your Hanoi itinerary:

• ☕️ Loading T Café: Charming Old Quarter Vietnamese coffeehouse hidden in an alleyway.
• 🍫 Maison Marou: You’ll find numerous locations of this local chocolatier—you must try the kumquat chocolate, it’s my favorite chocolate ever (as a cacao lover)
• 🥻Three Sisters Silk: Gorgeous handmade silk dresses, they will alter them for you in a few hours!
• ☕️ Off Street Fine Coffee: Our favorite Hanoi coffeeshop, with exceptional drinks and a homey atmosphere! It’s a bit off the tourist trail, but that’s part of what makes it so special.
• 📒 Washi Nà: A quirky little stationary shop near Off Street Fine Coffee, worth checking out if you’re in the area!
• 🛍️ Tanmy Design: Shop with a variety of locally made goodies!
• 🪷 Trấn Quốc Pagoda: Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temple, located on an island in West Lake, with an iconic 11-story pagoda.
• ☕️ Garden Coffee Đội Cấn: Another local-filled coffeeshop, this one is overlooking a small lake. The drinks weren’t our favorite but we loved the atmosphere!

Afternoon: Temple of Literature & Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Grab lunch during your walk through Hanoi, and carve our some time in your afternoon for two of my favorite places in Hanoi, the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology!

The tranquil Temple of Literature is absolutely a must-visit—we didn’t know what to expect, but were greeted with an absolutely serene garden full of Hanoi locals getting their photos taken for the upcoming new years celebration.

Dating back to 1070, the Temple of Literature was dedicated to Confucius himself, and served as Vietnam’s first university. Today it’s a UNESCO-recognized site that can be explored in 30 minutes to an hour, with a 70,000 VND entry fee. We enjoyed visiting at golden hour, but it might be most convenient to stop here before heading to the Museum of Ethnology since its closer to the Old Quarter.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is further away from the Old Quarter, but so worth ordering a Grab driver for! The museum showcases intricate artifacts and information about Vietnam’s 54 unique ethnic groups.

I loved wandering through the indoor exhibits which are accompanied by colorful displays of religious rites of passage, weaving, and even a 1982 bike with over 800(!!!) fish traps attached—proof that the Viet practice of overloading mopeds and motorbikes isn’t all that new!

Outside the museum is an architectural garden of full-scale ethnic dwellings from around Vietnam’s countryside—most of which you can walk through! I don’t know what was more impressive—the 139 foot long and 19 foot wide longhouse from the matrilineal Ede people, or the 62 foot tall Bahnar communal house!

As someone who studied cultural anthropology (and conducted ethnographic fieldwork), this museum absolutely blew me away—never have I seen such a vibrant, interactive, and interesting celebration of indigenous culture!

I’d dedicate at least two hours to explore the museum and gardens. Check the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology website for updated opening hours and prices (it usually closes at 3:30pm, so give yourself enough time!)

Evening: Water Puppet Show

End the day with a traditional water puppet show back in the Old Quarter. This is one of the most popular things to do in Hanoi, and tickets sell out days in advance, so I recommend making a reservation on Klook before you go on your trip.

Even though we were staying only a block away at La Sinfonía del Rey, we missed out on this becuase my husband got food poisoning 😢 (don’t worry I’m not recommending the restaurant he got it from…) But I’ve heard the water puppet show is well worth it!

Day 3: Ninh Binh’s Otherworldly Landscapes, Rice Fields by Scooter, Cliffside Temples & Ancient City

For your third day in Hanoi, wake up early and escape the city for Ninh Binh, full of otherworldly landscapes you’ll explore by boat and scooter!

Often called “Halong Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is a maze of towering limestone karsts that shoot straight up out of vibrant green rice paddies.

Also See: 7 EPIC Things to do in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

There are a lot of Ninh Binh day trip tours from Hanoi, but my recommendation is this one becuase (a) it’s a truly exceptional, trustworthy tour company, and (b) you get to do far more in Ninh Binh than you could on your own, including:

• Riding through the serene, remote rice fields of Ninh Binh on the back of a scooter (or bicycling, if you prefer)
• Traditional boat ride through the truly insane landscapes of Trang An/Tam Coc (this was one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been!)
• Climbing up the Mua Cave mountain for a view of the countryside and the famous dragon!
• Touring Hoa Lu, which was Vietnam’s ancient capital
• Exploring Bich Dong Pagoda, which is built into the cliffside overlooking a serene lotus pond

I say all this becuase we did not go on this tour and regretted it… instead, we booked a multi-day tour that included both Ninh Binh and Pu Luong—we LOVED both locations, but had bad experiences with the tour company, even though it was so highly rated. The reason I feel so confident recommending this Ninh Binh day trip from Hanoi is becuase we had very positive experiences with the company on their Hanoi motorbike tour.