48 Hours in Hanoi

Last updated July 15th, 2024

Hanoi is a great place to kick off your journey in Vietnam, whether you’re taking a day trip to Ninh Binh nearby, headed further north to Halong Bay or Sapa, or down to central Hue and Danang or Ho Chi Minh City further south. Just 3 hours by plane from Singapore, it’s a perfect weekend getaway destination for those short on time. If you only have 48 hours in Hanoi, here’s how you can see the city in a jiffy.

Looking for suggestions on what to eat in Hanoi? Check out my Hanoi street food guide with some of the places that friends and locals recommended to me on my recent trip.

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A quick caveat that this guide was put together based on my trips to Hanoi in 2024 as well as way back in 2011 (one of my very first solo trips!), so if the photos seems a bit schizophrenic, just remember there might have been 13 (!) years between them.

Day 1

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum / Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh

Pop by the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum to learn more about Vietnam’s most revered man. A note that it is only open in the morning so make this the first stop on your itinerary before getting on with the rest of your day.

It’s a 20min walk from the old quarter, and I passed by Lenin Park and his statue along the way. There can be a bit of a queue at the mausoleum, but it moves quickly and you will find yourself in this stadium-like area, where soldiers will eyeball you as you are marched past Ho’s body. No photos are allowed and you are kept quite far away from the actual body.

I was told we saw the body in a more ‘fresh’ condition as it had just returned from Russia where it is taken for annual maintenance- the man died in 1969 after all, and while he wanted to be cremated, his body was embalmed to allow citizens from all over Vietnam, especially the poorer more rural folk, sufficient time to journey to Hanoi and pay their respects.

Pro tip: don’t carry a big bag if you don’t want to check it in, and no water bottles either.

Exiting the stifling mausoleum, you can explore the rest of the grounds known as the Ho Chi Minh Vestige in the Presidential Palace area, which includes the humble tree house where Ho Chi Minh once lived, the other buildings he held court in, as well as a display of the cars he once owned.

Also on the grounds is the large white lotus-inspired Ho Chi Minh museum which is a 3 storey building with an oddly curated mix of Ho Chi Minh memorabilia as well as Vietnam’s checkered history. And for those who like their temples there is the one-pillar pagoda, popular with couples as it’s believed to bless its believers with fertility.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum / Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh [Google maps]. Entrance fee 25,000 VND. Open 730/8am – 1030/11am (Closed on Mondays & Fridays). Exact timings depends on day of week and season – check latest opening schedules on website.

Temple of Literature / Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám

About 10mins away from the mausoleum is Van Mieu, also known as the Temple of Literature, a pretty big temple compound that was once the country’s first national university, dating as far back as 1076.

It is very popular with Vietnamese students who go there to pray for good results. When I visited, there were many graduating students in traditional Ao Dai carrying giant bunches of flowers taking photos on the grounds and giving thanks to the gods for their good results.

The Van Mieu grounds are quite large, so you may find yourself spending more time here than you expect.

Temple of Literature / Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám [Google maps]. Entrance fee 70,000 VND. Open 830am – 530pm (Closed on Mondays). More on Van Mieu website.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology / Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology covers the history and culture of Vietnam’s surprisingly diverse community – they have over 50 different recorded ethnic groups, and while this museum is probably the furthest away from the downtown Hanoi area, it’s definitely worth the effort to visit and learn more about Vietnam’s people and influences.

There are three main areas to the museum though I only explored two when I visited. The first area is in the main building (bronze drum building) where the exhibits are spread out over two floors. Lots of interesting exhibits and artefacts on show as well as English signs/panels for reading.

There is a newer Kite-shaped building which focuses on non-Vietnamese cultures, but I chose to skip that and headed straight outside to the architecture garden where there were many cool life-size examples of traditional architecture by the various Vietnamese communities.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology / Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam [Google maps]. Entrance fee 40,000 VND. Open 8am – 5pm. More on the museum website.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre / Nhà Hát Múa Rối Thăng Long

Take a break from the museums and have a seat at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to catch a very traditional art form. These water puppet shows that tell stories of traditional folklore and legends originated in the paddy fields of the Red River Delta, which is why the stage continues to be half submerged in water even in the city to preserve this unique heritage.

This is one of those typical tourist things to do, so expect to see bus loads of tourists descend upon the little theatre at the northeast corner of Hoan Kiem Lake in the afternoons and evenings.

You can buy your tickets online [Klook affiliate link] these days, or just turn up and buy at the window. Shows are 50 minutes long.

On my very first solo visit to Hanoi, I managed to score a last minute ticket on a sold out night and watched this for myself. You can read my review here, but just note that I was pretty young so I don’t think I appreciated it as much as I should, but as long as you’re not expecting high-action pyrotechnics and action, it’s quite a charming little show and a fun way to experience some traditional culture.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre / Nhà Hát Múa Rối Thăng Long [Google maps]. Tickets range from 150,000 – 300,000 VND. Shows at 3pm, 410pm, 520pm, 630pm, 8pm. Buy your tickets online at Klook [affiliate link].

Dong Xuan Market / Chợ Đồng Xuân

Back at the old quarter, check out Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi’s largest wholesale market which is 4 floors of all sort of goods that you can buy for your daily needs or souvenirs.

I didn’t manage to visit on a weekday, but I popped by on a weekend night for the Dong Xuan Night Market, where the entire road is blocked off and lined with stalls selling everything and anything you can think of – I scored a pair of shoes for US$3 here. There are a whole array of food stalls where you can have dinner, or bia hoi shops where you can enjoy cheap local beer.

Dong Xuan Market / Chợ Đồng Xuân [Google maps].

Day 2

Hoan Kiem Lake / Hồ Hoàn Kiếm

Take a morning stroll around the green waters of Hoan Kiem Lake with the many Hanoians who are up and about doing their morning exercise. It’s a nice peaceful spot amidst this jam-packed city and where the Vietnamese like to hang out, a great place to people-watch. I saw a million couples taking their wedding pictures when I was there.

At the northeastern end of the lake, the iconic red Cầu Thê Húc Bridge connects you to Ngoc Son Temple or Đền Ngọc Sơn, where you can also see the mummified version of the giant turtle (those were BIG turtles), and you can also see also the turtle tower Tháp Rùa in the Northern part of the lake.

Ngoc Son Temple / Đền Ngọc Sơn [Google maps]. Entrance fee 50,000 VND. The lake is accessible 24/7 but the temple is open 7am – 7pm daily (till 10pm on Fri-Sun).

St Joseph Cathedral / Nhà Thờ Lớn Hà Nội

Explore the area to the west of Hoan Kiem Lake better known as the Old Quarter. This is probably what you can call ‘downtown Hanoi’ and one of the busier parts of the city. Lots of food and shopping can be found around here. Some of my favourite things to see here:

It’s hard to miss the distinctly gothic style St Joseph Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Vietnam, pretty unusual given that the population today is mostly Buddhist. There are lots of little rickshaws gathered in the square outside the church, and inside you can admire the high ceilings. There are some murals on the walls at the back of the church too.

St Joseph Cathedral / Nhà Thờ Lớn Hà Nội [Google maps]. Free entrance. Open 8-11am, 2-5pm. Dress appropriately for a church if venturing inside.

Hoa Lo Prison Relic / Di tích Nhà tù Hỏa Lò

Once a pottery village, Hoa Lo today is more infamous for the large prison that the French colonialists built to contain political revolutionaries. Called Hoa Lo Prison Relic, this jail also was active during the Vietnam war, it was also where many American POWs were interned and nicknamed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’.

Today, dioramas recreate these jails and tell the stories of the people who were kept here. Good for those who want to delve into Vietnam’s history, not the brightest of places to be in naturally, but important of course to know these bits of history. Also not a bad place to wait out the rain as most of it is sheltered.

Hoa Lo Prison Relic / Di tích Nhà tù Hỏa Lò [Google maps]. Entrance Fee 50,000 VND. Open 8am – 5pm. More at Hoa Lo website.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum / Bảo tàng Phụ nữ Việt Nam

This small but colourful little museum focuses on the achievements that Vietnamese women have made in the country’s history. There are lots of costumes and stories that span the communities and history, from gutsy women fighters in the Vietnam war to the roles and customs women hold across the 54 ethnic groups.

There’s a lot to read and take in, but it’s great bitesize nuggets that you can read in English or rent an audio guide for more in-depth information. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this museum though I’d heard good reviews, but if you’re looking for something that’s less ‘heavy’, I’d recommend checking the Vietnamese Women’s Museum out.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum / Bảo tàng Phụ nữ Việt Nam [Google maps]. Entrance Fee 40,000 VND. Open 8am – 5pm. More at VWM website.

Sofitel Legend Metropol Hanoi

Head back up towards the French Quarter area of Hanoi and cap off your hectic 48 hours with a relaxing drink at the iconic Sofitel Legend Metropol Hanoi. Opened in 1901, this luxury hotel has over a century’s worth of hospitality underneath its belt, and the perfect place to splurge a little at the end of your trip.

I still haven’t had the chance to step foot in here, but it’s one of the places that many friends have recommended I head to for a classic cocktail.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi [Google maps].

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How to get around Hanoi

Hanoi is one of those Southeast Asian cities which is not very pedestrian friendly. Vietnam traffic is notoriously heavy and crossing the road safely is an acquired skill, so while you can walk short distances to get around, take a deep breath and keep your eyes on the road for any errant motorbikes on pedestrian walkways and just general chaos.

by bus: I’m usually a big fan of public transport, and Hanoi’s bus system is quite good and generally cheap (7,000-15,000 VND per ride), but you will need Google maps to help steer you right and lots of small bills to pay for bus fare as you board, not the most convenient if it’s peak hour.

by Grab: On my latest trip, I had an eSIM so I opted to use Grab to get me around the city, which in my opinion was the most efficient and relatively inexpensive way to navigate Hanoi. Since I was just one person, I usually used GrabBike, which is like an Uber/Taxi service but with a motorbike instead – helmets are provided, but wear a light hoodie if you don’t want the helmet to touch your hair!

by private car: I could have used Grab for the airport transfers as well, but decided to fork out a little more and book an airport transfer car via Klook because of the weird timings.

Hanoi tours (half day and full day)

If you’re too lazy to plan your own itinerary or would rather have a local guide take you around, definitely consider doing a half-day or full-day guided tour. I did this Hanoi sightseeing motorbike tour on Klook and it was really fun because not only did my guide Ryan take me to eat a lot of the good food you can see on my Hanoi street food post, but he also showed me some interesting corners of Hanoi to check out.

You could also check out this other Hanoi food and city motorbike tour on Klook.

Have an additional day and want to get out of Hanoi for a bit? Why not check out nearby Ninh Binh, about 2 hours south of Hanoi. It’s home to Tam Coc and Trang An also known as ‘Halong Bay on land’ – a lovely scenic mountainous region with rivers that you can take a small row boat to explore, or the old capital of Hanoi called Hoa Lu.

I explored Ninh Binh solo but there are tours you can easily book on Klook as well – read my guide for more info!

Where to stay in Hanoi

On my trip in 2024, I stayed at WeCozy Hanoi [booking.com affiliate link] which is located in the Old Quarter along the train tracks, right where the famous Hanoi Train Street cafes are located. It can be a tad noisy because you’re right next to the tracks if you’re sensitive to that, but it was fun being able to watch the trains zip by.

It’s within walking distance to most of the main sights in the Old Quarter though not quite in the thick of the downtown area – Hoan Kiem Lake is a 15-20 minute walk east of the hotel if that gives you an indication, but you are a little bit closer to the Hanoi Railway Station as well as the Temple of Literature.

I liked that the rooms were very spacious and clean – it seems to also be available for longer term stays, so besides a bedroom, I had a nice kitchenette and living room to hang out in, so great if you like having more space.

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Want to read more about my time in Vietnam? Or check out my other Hanoi posts: