Hanoi in 2 Days: The Ideal Itinerary
Two days in Hanoi lets you pair the city with its most beautiful day trip. This 2-day Hanoi itinerary covers the Old Quarter and street food on day one and the karsts and paddies of Ninh Binh on day two — with the top-rated tours to book for each.
At a glance
- 1Day 1: Old Quarter & city sights
- 2Street-food tour
- 3Day 2: Ninh Binh day trip
- 4Sampan ride & Mua Cave
Day 1: the city
Spend your first day on the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Complex, finishing with a water-puppet show and an evening street-food tour.
Day 2: a Ninh Binh day trip
On day two, head south to Ninh Binh, 'Ha Long Bay on land', for a sampan boat trip at Tam Coc or Trang An, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and the panoramic climb at Mua Cave.
Evening: egg coffee in the Old Quarter
Back in Hanoi, end with the city’s famous egg coffee in a hidden Old Quarter café — a sweet finish to two busy days.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Hanoi — prices per person.
