Hanoi Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Hanoi tours, Ha Long Bay cruises, Ninh Binh day trips, Old Quarter walks, street-food tours and water-puppet shows. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Hanoi itinerary.
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Explore Hanoi by interest
Whatever brings you to Hanoi — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Ha Long Bay cruises
Day and overnight cruises through the karsts, with kayaking, caves and swimming.
ExploreNinh Binh
Sampan trips through 'Ha Long Bay on land', plus Hoa Lu and the Mua Cave climb.
ExploreCity & Old Quarter tours
Walks, cyclos and jeeps through the Old Quarter, lakes and temples.
ExploreStreet food tours
Pho, bun cha and egg coffee on walking and motorbike food tours.
ExploreWater puppet shows
Vietnam's traditional water-puppet theatre on Hoan Kiem Lake.
ExploreDay trips
Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, the Perfume Pagoda and Lan Ha Bay.
ExploreSapa & Ha Giang treks
Rice-terrace treks and the legendary Ha Giang motorbike loop.
ExploreHidden Hanoi
Train Street, hands-on cooking classes and evening motorbike tours.
ExploreTop attractions in Hanoi
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Ha Long Bay
Thousands of limestone karsts rising from emerald water — a UNESCO World Heritage wonder.
Ninh Binh
Rice paddies, karst peaks and sampan rivers — 'Ha Long Bay on land' south of Hanoi.
Old Quarter
Hanoi's buzzing maze of 36 ancient streets, full of shops, temples and street food.
Train Street
The famous track where trains squeeze past cafés in the heart of the Old Quarter.
Water Puppet Theatre
The Thang Long theatre, home of Vietnam's 1,000-year-old water-puppet art.
Temple of Literature
Vietnam's first university, a serene Confucian temple complex from 1070.
Hanoi street food
Pho, bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee — the heart of the capital’s food scene.
Perfume Pagoda
Cave temples reached by a sampan ride along the Yen Stream south of the city.
Hanoi in 1 day
- 1Old Quarter & Hoan Kiem Lake
- 2Temple of Literature
- 3Train Street coffee stop
- 4Water-puppet show & street food
Hanoi in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Quarter & city sights
- 2Street-food tour
- 3Day 2: Ninh Binh day trip
- 4Sampan ride & Mua Cave
Hanoi in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & street food
- 2Day 2: Ninh Binh day trip
- 3Day 3: Ha Long Bay cruise
- 4Kayaking & caves
Hanoi with kids
- 1Water-puppet show
- 2Ha Long Bay kayaking
- 3Ninh Binh sampan ride
- 4Old Quarter cyclo & ice cream
Ha Long Bay from Hanoi
- 1Morning transfer to the coast
- 2Cruise through the karst islands
- 3Kayak and visit a sea cave
- 4Overnight option on Lan Ha Bay
Hanoi street food
- 1Pho and bun cha in the Old Quarter
- 2Hands-on Vietnamese cooking class
- 3Egg coffee break
- 4Beer o'clock on Ta Hien Street
3 hrs awayHa Long Bay
Cruise the emerald karsts with kayaking, caves and swimming — day or overnight.
2 hrs awayNinh Binh
Sampan rides through 'Ha Long Bay on land', Hoa Lu and the Mua Cave climb.
Multi-day awaySapa
Trek the rice terraces and hill-tribe villages beneath Fansipan in the far north.
Multi-day awayHa Giang Loop
A legendary motorbike circuit through mountain passes and remote villages.
3 hrs awayLan Ha Bay
The quieter neighbour of Ha Long Bay, with beaches and clear water near Cat Ba.
2 hrs awayPerfume Pagoda
Cave temples reached by a peaceful sampan ride along the Yen Stream.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Hanoi visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
October–November and March–April bring mild, dry weather — the best time for the city, Ha Long Bay and trekking.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Cool, dry and clear — many travellers’ favourite season, ideal for cruises and the rice harvest in Sapa.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool (10–18°C) and sometimes misty, with the chance of low cloud over Ha Long Bay. Pack a layer.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Mild and pleasant, with occasional drizzle; gardens bloom and the city feels fresh before the summer heat.
Summer (May–Sep)
Hot and humid (30–35°C) with afternoon downpours and the rainy season; the rice terraces are at their greenest.
Tet (lunar new year)
Around late January–February, Tet is festive but many businesses close and transport is packed — plan carefully if visiting then.
One day
Enough for the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Train Street and a water-puppet show with street food.
Two days
Add a Ninh Binh day trip for sampan rides and the Mua Cave climb.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Ninh Binh and a Ha Long Bay cruise.
Four to five days
Turn Ha Long into an overnight cruise and add Sapa or more of the north.
A week or more
Combine Hanoi with the Ha Giang Loop, Sapa and a longer Ha Long or Lan Ha cruise.
Travelling with kids
Keep the pace gentle — water puppets, a cruise and a sampan ride suit families well.
On foot
The Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake are best explored on foot; take care crossing the busy, scooter-filled streets.
Ride-hailing & Grab
The Grab app (cars and motorbike taxis) is cheap, reliable and avoids fare haggling — the easiest way to get around.
Cyclo & taxi
A cyclo (pedicab) ride is a fun, slow way to tour the Old Quarter; use reputable metered taxis or Grab for longer trips.
Tours with transfers
Day trips to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa include round-trip transfers, so you don’t need to arrange transport yourself.
From the airport
Noi Bai Airport is about 45 minutes north of the centre; pre-booked transfers or Grab are the simplest options.
Trains north
Overnight trains to Lao Cai (for Sapa) are a scenic alternative to the road, often included in tour packages.
Day vs overnight
Day cruises suit tight schedules; overnight cruises give sunrise, quieter bays and more activities. Two nights reach the most remote areas.
Ha Long vs Lan Ha
Lan Ha Bay is quieter with more beaches and swimming; Ha Long is the classic, busier UNESCO bay. Both are stunning.
What’s included
Check whether transfers, meals, kayaking, cave entry and drinks are included — packages vary widely in price and quality.
Weather
Cruises occasionally adjust routes for weather; misty winter days can limit views, while summer brings the risk of storms.
Operator quality
Read recent reviews — boat standards differ a lot. Excurgo shows top-rated cruises with clear inclusions.
Book ahead
The best-rated overnight cruises and cabins sell out in peak season, so reserve early.
Overnight Ha Long cruises
Top-rated overnight cruises and good cabins sell out days or weeks ahead, especially in autumn and around holidays.
Sapa & Ha Giang treks
Multi-day treks and Ha Giang Loop tours run on set departures with limited spots — book ahead.
Water puppet shows
Popular evening performances and the best seats sell out; reserve tickets in advance.
Ninh Binh day tours
Small-group Ninh Binh tours are very popular and fill up in high season.
Food & cooking classes
Small-group street-food tours and cooking classes have limited places.
Tet travel
If visiting around lunar new year, book everything well ahead as transport and tours are in huge demand.
Ha Long Bay cruises
Around €40–70 for a day cruise; overnight cruises from about €90–200 depending on the boat.
Ninh Binh day tours
About €25–45 for a full-day Ninh Binh tour with sampan ride, lunch and transport.
City & food tours
Roughly €15–40 for a city tour or a street-food walk with several tastings.
Sapa & Ha Giang
Multi-day treks and loops run about €80–160 including transport, guide and homestays.
Water puppet show
Tickets are inexpensive, usually around €5–12 depending on the seat.
How to save
Join group tours, eat at street stalls and use Grab to keep costs very low.
Hanoi through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild, fresh days good for the city and cruises, with occasional light drizzle.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A pleasant shoulder season — book cruises a little ahead.
- Best for
- Hot, humid and green, with afternoon rains; the rice terraces are at their best.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Plan cruises early in the day and watch the storm forecast.
- Best for
- Cool, dry and clear — the peak season for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and trekking.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book overnight cruises and Sapa treks well ahead.
- Best for
- Cool and sometimes misty; quiet in the city, with the chance of low cloud on the bay.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack warm layers and pick a clear-weather window for cruises.