Welcome to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam and one of the most fascinating destinations in Southeast Asia. Hanoi is a city rich in history, culture, and unique architecture. If you only have one day to explore Hanoi, don’t worry, Golden Lotus Travel have prepared an exciting itinerary for you to enjoy the famous tourist attractions of this city. Let’s discover an exciting day in Hanoi!
- The best time to visit Hanoi
The best time to visit Hanoi is during the fall season, around August, September, and October. September and October are the ideal months to visit Hanoi, as the rainy season in Hanoi usually ends by then. The weather is cool, with moderate temperatures and clear skies. All these weather factors create the best conditions for travelers to have an amazing journey exploring Hanoi.
For those who enjoy colder weather and a bit of chill, the months of November and December can be a good suggestion to travel and explore Hanoi. During this time, besides visiting famous tourist spots, travelers can also enjoy delicious winter specialties in Hanoi.
- Transportation options in Hanoi
- Motorbike: You can explore the city on your own by renting a motorbike or using Grab, a popular ride-hailing app.
- Taxi: If you’re traveling with a group, you can choose a taxi. Although the price is relatively high, this mode of transportation will help you reach any destination you want safely and quickly.
- Cyclo (cycle rickshaw): You can move around by cyclo to visit the Old Quarter. Most tourists coming to Hanoi choose cyclo to travel to tourist spots. You can directly call a cyclo at the lake area, where there are plenty of cyclos available.
- Bus: This is a familiar public transportation option for locals and tourists alike when visiting Hanoi.
- Electric car: This is a new eco-friendly transportation option in Hanoi. You can also choose an electric car to move to tourist attractions and fully explore a modern yet ancient and serene Hanoi.
- Itinerary: One Day in Hanoi:
5:30 a.m: Start your day with a delicious breakfast at a famous Pho restaurant in Hanoi. Pho is a traditional dish of Vietnam, and Hanoi is considered to have the best pho. You can find pho restaurants anywhere, however, to choose a reputable, quality and convenient pho restaurant for your sightseeing journey, Gia Truyen Bat Dan Pho is a worthy choice.
6:00 – 6:30 a.m: The first check-in place you must go is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum). Every morning, at Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, there is a flag raising ceremony (flag raising ceremony) at 6:00 am. Watching the moment when the morning sun shines on the red flag with a yellow star is so beautiful and proud.
7:00 – 7:30 a.m: After attending the flag raising ceremony at Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, move to Hoan Kiem Lake and enjoy egg coffee at Giang Cafe, located at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. This is considered a cafe with a long history and is famous for egg coffee, a specialty of Hanoi.
8:30 a.m: Take a walk around the lake to visit Rua Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, etc. This deserves to be a destination that gathers many beautiful landscapes of the Capital in your 1-day Hanoi outing schedule. Because the time is still early, the scene of Hoan Kiem Lake is not crowded yet. Walking by the lake is always the best!
9:30 a.m: Check in with Hanoi Opera House, then stop by to eat delicious Trang Tien ice cream famous in the capital.
10:30 a.m: St. Joseph’s Cathedral: Just a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, you’ll find St. Joseph’s Cathedral, a stunning neo-gothic church that is one of the oldest churches in Hanoi. Take some time to admire the architecture and soak in the peaceful ambiance of this historic church.
11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m: Lunch with Bun Cha at Bun Cha restaurant Huong Lien: Famous as a Bun Cha restaurant visited by US President Barack Obama and famous food show Anthony Bourdain and appreciated. The restaurant is located at 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.
After eating, you can experience sidewalk iced tea. Sidewalk iced tea is a typical experience of street culture in Hanoi. You can sit and sip a cup of iced tea, watch the busy streets or listen to the daily stories of life. This is a simple activity, but very lovely and brings a sense of belonging and closeness to the locals.
1:00 p.m: Visit the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), which is Vietnam’s first national university and a well-preserved example of Confucian architecture. Explore the peaceful gardens, pavilions, and courtyards, and learn about Vietnam’s rich history of education and scholarship.. This place stands out with unique ancient architecture such as Khue Van Cac, Thien Quang well, Tam Quan gate, Doctor’s stele, Tu Thu area,… This is also a testament to the studious tradition of Vietnamese people since ancient times.
2:00 p.m: Explore the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an important historical and cultural relic in Hanoi, consisting of many palaces, citadel, harem and rich architectural works. The tour will give you an insight into the history and culture of Hanoi and Vietnam.
4:00 p.m: Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is an interesting destination for those interested in the culture, traditions and life of ethnic minorities in Vietnam. The museum has a wide variety of collections, including antiques, traditional costumes, tools, folklore and many other materials related to Vietnam’s ethnic diversity.
5:00 p.m: Continuing to move up is an interesting experience because you can watch the West Lake and surrounding buildings being lit up, creating a dreamy space. West Lake is famous for its cool air, beautiful landscape and especially beautiful sunset. You can go for a walk, enjoy the peaceful space and relax after a long day of exploring the city.
If you have time, you can visit Quan Thanh Temple. Located right on the banks of West Lake, this is a beautiful and sacred temple, considered one of the famous attractions near West Lake. Quan Thanh Temple is a place of worship and is located in a large campus, with beautiful architecture and many temples, shrines and temples for you to explore.
7:00 p.m: Have dinner at Cha Ca La Vong Ly Thai To restaurant. Here, you can enjoy Cha Ca La Vong, a famous specialty of Hanoi, made from salmon, fish and fried on charcoal.
8:30 p.m: Evening Stroll in the Old Quarter: End your day with a leisurely evening stroll in the Hanoi Old Quarter. The narrow streets are beautifully lit up at night, and you can enjoy the bustling nightlife, shop for souvenirs, or simply soak in the atmosphere of this historic area.
If time allows, you can also visit the nightlife streets such as Dong Ho Street, Ta Hien Street, Hang Ma Street to participate in the excitement and fun of Hanoi’s night.
That concludes your one-day itinerary in Hanoi. Of course, there are many other attractions and activities to explore in this fascinating city. Happy exploring!