Hanoi in 2 Days: everything you need to know

The city of Hanoi is the second most populated city in Vietnam and is located near Halong Bay, a true natural wonder. If you visit the Vietnamese capital for 2 days, you will be able to see its main monuments, temples and ancient buildings, as well as its most typical museums, such as the Military History Museum and the Women's History Museum.

Among all the things to see and do in Hanoi, here are the most representative of its history and culture, as well as unique activities such as the city's water puppet show, so you can start planning your next visit to Hanoi.

On your first day in Hanoi, after breakfast with typical egg coffee, you can visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple; and in the afternoon, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace, which are located in the same compound. In the evening, you can sign up for a gastronomic tour to taste the most exquisite foods of Vietnam. I recommend an early start, as almost all attractions can be visited until around 5 pm.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Qu oc Pagoda is the oldest temple in the city, which was built around the year 545. It is located on an island in the West Lake or Tay Lake, about 3 km from Old Quarter, one of the most recommended neighborhoods to stay. It stands out for its construction of 11 levels with 6 gates in each one, representing the 11 levels of Buddhism. You cannot miss the beautiful panoramic views of the city.

To get there, you can take a bus, cab or motorcycle cab. You can also get there by one of Hanoi's tourist buses, which are very comfortable for getting around the city's main attractions.

• Location: 46 Đ. Thanh Niên, Trúc Bạch, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Quan Thanh Temple

From Tran Quoc Pagoda, about 700 meters away is Quan Thanh Temple, a small white Taoist temple. You can get there on foot, as it is a nice walk along the shore of the West Lake.

The Quan Thanh temple is one of the 4 that have been built in the cardinal points of the city, as protection against evil spirits. It features the 4-ton bronze statue of the god Huyen Thien, the 3-entry portico and the black bronze bell, among others.

• Location: Đ. Thanh Niên, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 118810.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Entrance fee: about 1 EUR per person.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, erected in honor of Vietnamese independence hero Ho Chi Minh, is one of the most imposing buildings in Hanoi. It is about 20 meters high and is made of granite. It is located in an enclosure of 20 hectares surrounded by gardens, where you can take a nice walk.

If you are interested in entering the mausoleum to see the tomb of Ho Chi Minh, you have to arrive before 11 am. After this time you can only visit the gardens and other buildings. Please note that there are certain safety and dress regulations to enter the mausoleum and that you cannot stay inside the mausoleum, so you can only see it for a few minutes from the line that forms to enter.

Remember that a very comfortable way to know these attractions is to join a tour of Hanoi guided by an expert, as it can tell you a lot about its history, architecture and significance.

• Location: Đ. Thanh Niên, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 118810.
• Hours: the mausoleum can be visited daily from 7:30 am to 11 am. The rest of the enclosure can be visited every day from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is located about 200 meters from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. European in style, it was built between 1900 and 1906 to be the residence of the French Governor General of Indochina. Today it functions as a government office, so it cannot be visited inside.

The curious thing is that the emperor Ho Chi Minh only lived in this palace until they built his house, which is often called Zancuda House. This is a much more humble wooden residence, which you can also see during your visit.

Single Pillar Pagoda

About 600 meters from the Zancuda House, or 300 meters from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, is the Single Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple that is also known as the Single Pillar Pagoda or Lotus Flower Pagoda, as its structure resembles this flower and is located in a pond, set on a single column. Its origins date back to the 11th century, but it was rebuilt in 1954.

• Location: Chùa Một Cột, Đội Cấn, Ba Đình, Hanoi.
• Hours: daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Admission fee: free of charge.

Temple of Literature

A little over 1 km from the One Pillar Pagoda you will see the Temple of Literature, one of the most beautiful temples in Hanoi. It is dedicated to Confucius and was the first university in Vietnam, where the sages of the empire studied. Its interior is distributed in 5 courtyards, where you can see altars, porticoes, gardens, water ponds and much more.

• Location: 58 P. Quốc Tử Giám, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Entrance fee: about 1 EUR per person.

Gastronomic tour of Hanoi at sunset

To end your first day in the city, and recharge your batteries for the next, you can take a tour of the main street food stalls in the historic center and taste the main dishes of Vietnamese cuisine, such as Bun Cha, Bánh mì and the typical coffee with egg. You can also hire an expert-guided tour to learn about history and culture, and get to know the main places to eat in the city.

On your second day in Hanoi, you can see the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Military History Museum in the morning, have lunch at the Train Street at noon and then tour the Hoan Kien Lake area. There you can explore the historical buildings that interest you most, such as Ngoc Son Temple, the Central Post Office and the Hanoi Opera House, among others. At sunset, you can enjoy a different show, but typical of Hanoi, the water puppet show.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is located very close to the Old Quarter, about 2 km away, so you can reach it on foot, by bus, cab or motorcycle cab. The next attractions on the itinerary are about 500 meters away. whose origins date back to the 11th century, has been considered part of the World Heritage by UNESCO. Among the buildings you will see there are:

• Kinh Thien Palace, although it has suffered quite a bit of deterioration. It was built in 1428.
• The Flag Tower, about 40 meters high.
• The Palace of the Hau Lau princesses, which was rebuilt by the French.
• The tunnels and the subway barracks.
• The north gate, Bac Mon, and the south gate, Doan Mon.
• The excavation area.
• The royal tombs.

The guided tours of Hanoi are a good option to visit this city, if you want to know in depth its history, the details of its construction and its cultural significance. The citadel can also be visited at night.

• Location: 19c Hoàng Diệu, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Entrance fee: about 1 EUR per person.

Military History Museum

About 600 meters from the Citadel is the Military History Museum, which is dedicated to telling the harshest side of the Vietnam War, that of the casualties. As part of the permanent exhibition, you can see war tanks, cannons, planes and helicopters that belonged to the U.S. Army.

• Location: 28A Điện Biên Phủ, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily, except Fridays, from 8 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
• Admission fee: about 2 EUR per person.

Train Street

After walking about 500 meters from the Museum of Military History, you will come across the Calle del Tren, a curious street crossed by a fully operational railway. There you will find a variety of bars and restaurants where you can have lunch typical Vietnamese food. You are not allowed to walk along this street, unless you are guarded by the waiters of the bar or restaurant of your choice.

• Location: 3 P. Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam.

St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi

The 19th-century St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi is located about 900 meters from the Railway Street. Its construction would have been inspired by the church of Notre Dame.

• Location: 40 P. Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily from 5 am to 11:30 am and from 2 pm to 7 pm.
• Admission fee: free of charge.

Hoa Lo Prison

About 600 meters from the Cathedral is the former Hoa Lo Prison, which was built by the French colonial government in the late 19th century to house political prisoners. After part of it was demolished in the '90s, the building was repurposed to narrate this bloody episode in Vietnam's history.

• Location: 1 P. Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Entrance fee: about 1 EUR per person.

Vietnam Women's Museum

About 900 meters from Hoa Lo Prison is the Vietnam Women's Museum, an institution dedicated to disseminating the role of women in the history of the country and in everyday life. One of the most interesting rooms is dedicated to the cult of the Mother Goddesses, which is part of the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

• Location: 36 P. Lý Thường Kiệt, Hoàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Admission fee: free of charge.

Hanoi Opera House

From the Women's Museum you must walk about 900 meters to reach the Hanoi Opera House, whose design was inspired by Palais Garnier in Paris. It was built by the French colonial government in the early 20th century and is one of the most beautiful in Hanoi.

• Location: 1 Tràng Tiền, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
• Hours:
• Admission value: free of charge.

Central Post Office

Past Hoa Phong Tower, about 600 meters from the Hanoi Opera House, you can visit the Central Post Office, one of the most iconic buildings in Hanoi. It was completed around 1900 and has witnessed important historical events in the country. It faces Hoan Kiem Lake, the next stop on this itinerary.

• Location: 75 P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 7 pm. Saturdays from 8 am to 7 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Hoan Kien Lake

Hoan Kien Lake is located in the center of Hanoi and is one of the most popular places for locals to take a stroll. In the north of the lake is the Ngoc Son Temple, which is dedicated to the national hero Tran Hung Dao. It is one of the most photographed sites in the city, both day and night. Nearby you will see some monuments, such as the Hoa Phong Tower and the monument to Ly Thai To.

Water Puppet Theater

To get to the last point in this itinerary, you must walk 300 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, north of Hoan Kien Lake, where you will find the Water Puppet Theater, where this unique Vietnamese show starring puppets performing on water, with live music, is offered. It is a great option for you to learn more about the city's culture on your last day in Hanoi.

• Location: 57B P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.
• Hours: several shows are held at different times, between 4 and 6 pm every day.
• Admission fee: from 10 EUR per person.

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This has been the itinerary I propose to get to know Hanoi in 2 days, which includes the main attractions and museums of the city. As an alternative option, if you prefer to be more in nature than in the city, you can join the Hanoi cruises along Halong Bay, which is dotted with limestone islands.

You also have many options if your stay will be about 3 days in Hanoi, such as joining 2-day cruises, making a pilgrimage to the Perfume Pagoda or touring charming villages like Sa Pa, where you can hike to see its rice terraces or climb the Fansipan peak. Undoubtedly, Hanoi is a must-see destination for travelers looking for enriching experiences that combine both culture and nature.