3 Days in Hanoi
🍜 Complete Itinerary & Cost Guide
3 days is the sweet spot for Hanoi — enough to see the major sights, eat well, and have one unscheduled day. Here's a realistic day-by-day plan plus what it costs.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This plan covers the essentials without burnout. Adjust based on opening hours, weather, and your stamina. Most days are 4–6 hours of activity with long meals and downtime built in.
Settle into your hotel, grab a light lunch, then ease into Hanoi with Old Quarter walking tour. Don't overbook day one — jet lag is real.
Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple. Pair it with a sit-down lunch nearby and an evening walk through a different neighbourhood.
Hit one final must-see (Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple), pick up souvenirs, and leave time for a relaxed lunch before your flight or onward train.
What does 3 days in Hanoi cost?
Estimates below are per person, including accommodation, food, local transport, and ~1 paid activity per day. Flights to Hanoi are not included — they vary wildly by origin.
Hanoi survival tips
Use Grab for everything — taxis routinely scam tourists. Walking is the best way in the Old Quarter.
Best pho is at Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan St — cash, queue, no English menu.
Cyclo (rickshaw) drivers quote $5 then charge $50. Refuse anything not metered Grab.
When to go
October, November, December are the best months for Hanoi — the climate is at its best and crowds haven't peaked. Avoid June–August (40°C + humidity).