Founded on the right bank of the Red River, the capital of Hanoi is one of the oldest capitals in the world. This millennial capital of Vietnam, which combines tradition and modernity, will enchant you very easily, even if your stay lasts only one day. Spending 1 day in Hanoi will be an interesting and unforgettable experience during your tour to Northern Vietnam!
Best Time to Visit Hanoi
There are 4 seasons in Hanoi, spring from February to April, summer from May to August, autumn from September to October and winter from November to January.
In the spring, the climate of Hanoi is very pleasant, neither too cold nor too hot. This is the ideal time for your trip to Hanoi. Summer is the hottest time of the year, the temperature can reach more than 39 degrees some days. It is also the rainy season, you can experience heavy rain, especially in the afternoon and evening and your trip may be affected if you make outdoor tours.
The best time for your trip to Hanoi is in the fall when is the most beautiful. The rainy season is often over, the sky is clear, the sun is not too hot, the temperature is average, the air is cool. All the weather factors above create the best conditions for the visitors. Winter in Hanoi is a bit colder when the temperature can drop below 10 degrees. It is also the peak tourist season in Hanoi.
Suggested Itineraries for 1 Day in Hanoi
Being the center of culture, politics, and education in Vietnam, Hanoi still preserves the historical and cultural values of the country through the monuments, the old quarters, the way of life of the locals and even gastronomy. During your Hanoi city tour, do not forget to visit the must-see sites!
1 Day in Hanoi – Itineraries in Brief
Itinerary 1: Classic Hanoi circuit
- Morning: Tourist sites in Hanoi: Hoan Kiem lake; the Old Quarter of Hanoi; Hoa Lo Prison; the Temple of Literature; the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Afternoon: Former Village of Duong Lam
This route will allow you to visit not only must-see tourist spots in the capital of Hanoi in the morning but also the Ancient Village of Duong Lam in the afternoon. It will be an unforgettable memory during your trip to Vietnam.
Itinerary 2: Circuits for lovers of history and culture
- Morning: Vietnam History Museum – Hoan Kiem Lake – Old Quarter of Hanoi – Temple of Literature
- Afternoon: Vietnam Museum of Ethnography – Water puppet show
If you are a lover of history and culture, this itinerary will satisfy you. By visiting the Vietnam History Museum and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnography, you will gain a better understanding of Vietnamese history and the cultural diversity of Vietnamese ethnic minorities. Plus, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a water puppet show – a popular art of Vietnamese.
Itinerary 3: Special circuit to discover Hanoi
- Morning: Cooking class in Hanoi
- Afternoon: Van Phuc Silk Village OR Bat Trang Ceramic Village
If you are not too interested in crowded tourist destinations and you like gastronomy, this itinerary is designed for you. You will discover interesting features of the capital of Vietnam: one of the craft villages in Hanoi and a cooking class to learn how to cook delicious Vietnamese dishes.
1 Day in Hanoi – Itineraries in Detail
Itinerary 1: Classic Hanoi circuit
AM:
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
This lake is the most famous and beautiful place in Hanoi. Peaceful and quiet, this lake surrounds the small temple Ngoc Son, an eighteenth-century pagoda on a small island accessible by an ornate wooden bridge.
Also, this lake and temple offer plenty of trees and shady corners to escape the busy streets of the city. It is advisable to arrive at the lake early in the morning to watch the locals do their yoga and Tai Chi. This is why Hoan Kiem Lake is probably an ideal visiting place for your 1 day in Hanoi.
Ngoc Son Temple opening hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Entrance fee: 30,000 VND.
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo prison was built by the French for political prisoners. For those who want to discover the history of Vietnam War, this prison is a cannot-miss site in Hanoi.
Location: No. 01 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District.
Old Quarter of Hanoi
Known in Hanoi as “Hanoi’s 36 Streets and Guilds”, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the beating heart of Hanoi and undoubtedly one of the most interesting places to visit. This is the liveliest place in the city because it is a bit of the economic center with its many shops and markets. Because of this, we find the most tourists, foreigners, wandering the streets among the crowd of scooters and craftsmen.
Cyclo around Hanoi Old Quarter
The old quarter of Hanoi is a very mysterious place with many surprises for who knows where to look. There is always something to discover, a place to go, new things to taste, etc.
Temple of Literature
Not only the very first university of the nation, but the temple of literature is also the place of worship of Confucius. The Vietnamese always come here to pray for the chance to learn and work by touching the head of the giant tortoise, because it is believed to be very sacred.
Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District.
Open every day:
- In summer (April to October): 07:30 – 17:30
- In winter (November to March): 08:00 to 17:00
Entrance fee: 30,000 VND/ person.
One Pillar Pagoda
The One pillar pagoda or Dien Huu pagoda has one of the most unique architectures in Vietnam. Located next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, this pagoda has become one of the most significant symbols of Hanoi.
One Pillar Pagoda
Address: Ngoc Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
Open daily: 8am – 5pm
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Built-in 1973 and opened to the public in 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of the most visited historical monuments in Hanoi. Located on Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh read the Vietnam Declaration of Independence in 1945, this building was built to honor the national hero: President Ho Chi Minh. The visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum not only brings you an extraordinary experience but also makes you discover some of Vietnam’s history. Address: 17 Ngoc Ha Street, Ba Dinh District
Open 5 days a week (except Monday and Friday).
- In summer (April to October): 7:30 – 10:30
- In winter (November to March): 08:00 – 11:00
Entrance fee: 25,000 VND/ person.
PM:
Old Village of Duong Lam
Located 50 km west of Hanoi, the village of Duong Lam is considered an ancient Vietnamese village that has witnessed the cultural beauty of the Red River Delta for centuries. This village is one of the rare sites that has preserved the characteristics of an ancient Vietnamese village. A walk in the peaceful surroundings of Hanoi will be for everyone an exceptional experience for 1 day in the capital of Hanoi.
Entrance fee: 20,000 VND/ person
Duong Lam Village
Itinerary 2: Circuits for lovers of history and culture
AM:
National Museum of Vietnamese History
This museum presents more than 200,000 objects covering subjects ranging from prehistory to the 1947 revolution and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House is a large monument built in the center of Hanoi, designed by two French architects Harley and Broyer. The work started on June 7, 1901 was completed in 1911.
Hanoi 36 streets
Firstly, you can walk or cycle around the heart of Hanoi’s old quarter, the 36 streets district (Dong Xuan market, old houses of Ma May, temple of Bach Ma). Then, stroll along the Silk Street, the Tinsmith Street, the Street of Musical Instruments, the Street of Confectioners, etc.
Hoan Kiem area
It is always a good idea to wander around Hoan Kiem Lake, visit the Ngoc Son Temple, built on the Isle of Jade, dedicated to the great Confucian masters and Taoists.
PM:
The Museum of Ethnography of Vietnam
This is a museum in Hanoi that focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. The ethnographic museum has 3 main areas but the most interesting place is the outdoor exhibition area which shows you the most characteristic houses in the country. This is the best time to discover the colorful culture and listen to legends of ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Address: Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District.
Entry ticket :
- 40,000 VND for adults;
- 20,000 VND for students.
- Free for children under 1m20
Opening time: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30 to 17:30
Closing: Tet days
A puppet show on the water
The water puppet show is a popular art popular in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam for 1000 years. The scenes of this show always present the daily life of Vietnamese or the story of national heroes represented by light wooden puppets. The puppeteers, half immersed in the water and hidden behind a bamboo curtain, manipulate the puppets. During the show, the singers perform traditional Cheo folk songs to tell the story. Enjoy the puppet show on the water is an activity not to be missed during your trip to Vietnam.
Itinerary 3: Special circuit to discover Hanoi
AM:
Cooking class in Hanoi (From 9:00 am or 2:00 pm)
At the Hanoi Cooking Center, they organize daily Vietnamese cooking lessons with 2 lessons per day at 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. You can learn to cook and taste delicious Vietnamese dishes. It will be an opportunity to awaken your taste buds with traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
See more: Hanoi Cooking Classes 1 Day
PM:
Option 1: Van Phuc Silk Village
Located 12 km from the center of Hanoi, silk village Van Phuc is renowned for its quality silk products and traditional weaving. With more than 1200 years of existence, Van Phuc is proud to be the oldest silk village in Vietnam, and surely the one that offers the most beautiful of the country. While visiting this hamlet, you will also observe the traditional silk weaving methods of Vietnam and will keep unforgettable memories.
Silk of Van Phuc
Read more: Van Phuc Silk Village Hanoi
Option 2: Bat Trang Ceramic Village
The village of Bat Trang is about 16 km southeast of central Hanoi. Bat Trang is an ancient ceramic village that is 1000 years old. Its products are invaluable because of their beauty, their shape and the craft technique used to create them. In Bat Trang, tourists can participate in the process of manufacturing ceramic products.
In the evening
Being a lively city, Hanoi will offer you a multitude of interesting activities for a nightlife. Here are some ideas for a good evening in the Vietnamese capital.
- Attend a concert at the Hanoi Opera or a Ca Tru traditional music show
- Swing at Minh Jazz Club
- Drink Tea at Hien Tra Truong Xuan Tea House
- Have a coffee around one of the many lakes
- Explore night markets
Best Food to Try for 1 Day in Hanoi
For breakfast
1. Pho
The symbol of Vietnamese gastronomy and also the best known in the whole world.
Pho
2. Bun Cha
This is vermicelli rice with grilled pigs. It’s him – this dish seduced US President Barack Obama during his visit to Vietnam in 2016
3. Bun Thang – chicken soup
This is one of the most traditional dishes of Hanoi. It still occupies a privileged place in the hearts of Hanoians among many other dishes.
4. Banh Cuon
Vietnamese ravioli with pigs and black mushrooms. Well known as one of the most typical dishes of Vietnam and Hanoi. By observing how to cook them, then having the chance to taste them, your day will start wonderfully well.
5. Xoi
Sticky rice with chicken. A small plate but well appreciated for breakfast.
For lunch
It is recommended to taste the delicious dish “Cha ca” (the grilled fish) which is listed as one of the top 10 things to try in Hanoi according to many culinary experts. It is an exquisitely grilled fish served with noodles, peanuts, green onions, dill and shrimp paste.
Cha ca
For afternoon & evening
The afternoon is the perfect time to enjoy an egg coffee – an unforgettable culinary specialty on a trip to Vietnam. Discuss while having a coffee, what happiness, and tranquility!
Finishing your day in a bar in the heart of the center with a glass of beer or a glass of “Che” (Pudding) in a quieter street is the perfect conclusion of your 1-day Hanoi tour. Ta Hien Street is Hanoi’s busiest street during the night. Many tourists and young people come here to have fun.
There are so many more interesting places to discover during your visit to Hanoi. Customize your trip to Vietnam so that we can help you make your trip as enjoyable as possible!
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