3 day in Hanoi, what’s worth to do?
May 7th, 2015, 05:53 PM
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3 day in Hanoi, what’s worth to do?
Hi everyone,
We’re having our second trip to Vietnam in Augurst. My husband and I will stay in Hanoi then make a trip to Ha Long Bay. We stayed in Ho Chi Minh city for the last time and didn’t know much about Hanoi. We only have 3 nights in Hanoi so we need to know what’s worth spend time. What to see, where to go, what to eat….Any comment is welcomed. And we’re also glad if you give us some advice about hotels, restaurants, activities,… anything will do.
Thank you very much !
We’re having our second trip to Vietnam in Augurst. My husband and I will stay in Hanoi then make a trip to Ha Long Bay. We stayed in Ho Chi Minh city for the last time and didn’t know much about Hanoi. We only have 3 nights in Hanoi so we need to know what’s worth spend time. What to see, where to go, what to eat….Any comment is welcomed. And we’re also glad if you give us some advice about hotels, restaurants, activities,… anything will do.
Thank you very much !
May 7th, 2015, 06:27 PM
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We spent a few weeks in Hanoi last December and loved our time there for a few ideas of things to see/ do have a look at our blog entry http://accidentalnomads.com/2014/12/...ray-for-hanoi/
Just noticed that I forgot to add details of our visit to the Army Museum which is excellent and can easily been combine with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex
It was our third or fourth visit to Hanoi and we never tire of the city.
Find a hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake or in the Old Quarter and you will be in easy reach of most of the major sights. Difficult to suggest actual hotels without an idea of your budget. The Sofitel Metropole is arguably the top place in town although when we stayed there a few years ago, we found it overrated. $30-50 should get you a decent 4* place
Spend some time just wandering around the Old Quarter, have a Bia Hoi on beer corner. Hoan Kiem Lake is best visited at night when it is beautiful lit up.
For food ideas my wife posted a separate blog entry http://accidentalnomads.com/2014/12/...rites-vietnam/
I would add that it is really difficult to find a bad meal in Hanoi and also that we found that the quality of food was almost always better in the cheaper, local restaurants than the tourist orientated places.
Just noticed that I forgot to add details of our visit to the Army Museum which is excellent and can easily been combine with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex
It was our third or fourth visit to Hanoi and we never tire of the city.
Find a hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake or in the Old Quarter and you will be in easy reach of most of the major sights. Difficult to suggest actual hotels without an idea of your budget. The Sofitel Metropole is arguably the top place in town although when we stayed there a few years ago, we found it overrated. $30-50 should get you a decent 4* place
Spend some time just wandering around the Old Quarter, have a Bia Hoi on beer corner. Hoan Kiem Lake is best visited at night when it is beautiful lit up.
For food ideas my wife posted a separate blog entry http://accidentalnomads.com/2014/12/...rites-vietnam/
I would add that it is really difficult to find a bad meal in Hanoi and also that we found that the quality of food was almost always better in the cheaper, local restaurants than the tourist orientated places.
May 7th, 2015, 06:48 PM
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u can a lot of things in 3 days. in hanoi alone u can go to Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, Hanoi Old Citadel - Northern Gate, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Thap Rua Tower, Pagoda But Thap, Le Mat Snake Village, etc. lots of places to go really. when u go to halong bay be sure to go on a boat cruise ship to really enjoy the scenery.
May 7th, 2015, 06:58 PM
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Hanoi is a great place to start your trip.It is the most interesting large city in Vietnam, I think I’ve been there for couple of time. If you only have 3 nights, you should stay in the Old Quarters, lots of hotels and restaurants there, so you can speak English. But the city is quite crowded, the roads are too small. Be careful while trekking around, or you can be hit by a scooter anytime!
The first thing you need to see may be Hoan Kiem Lake. There’s nothing really intersting there. The only reason is “you come to Hanoi, you must see Hoan Kiem Lake”. Make a walk around the lake in early morning, about 4 p.m is the best, the atmosphere is great.
3 days is quite enough to explore everythings in the Old Quarters. There are cultural and historical places to visit: Opera House, One pillare Pagoda, Hoa Lo prison…. Street food for dinner is a must do thing.
The first thing you need to see may be Hoan Kiem Lake. There’s nothing really intersting there. The only reason is “you come to Hanoi, you must see Hoan Kiem Lake”. Make a walk around the lake in early morning, about 4 p.m is the best, the atmosphere is great.
3 days is quite enough to explore everythings in the Old Quarters. There are cultural and historical places to visit: Opera House, One pillare Pagoda, Hoa Lo prison…. Street food for dinner is a must do thing.
May 7th, 2015, 06:59 PM
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Do you have a guidebook? That's a good place to start. There is so much to do in Hanoi you can't fit it into three days. So it is best if you do some reading first.
We thought the Ethnographic museum was a must, and of course, the Temple of Literature. But there is much more.
We thought the Ethnographic museum was a must, and of course, the Temple of Literature. But there is much more.
May 7th, 2015, 08:20 PM
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Thanks a lot for your comments.
We're buying some Loneny Planet. It may be helpful.
Seems like if 3 days is not enough, we will change our plan. Any idea about food? My husband Frank is on diet but we love street food. May we get fat with Vietnamese food?
We're buying some Loneny Planet. It may be helpful.
Seems like if 3 days is not enough, we will change our plan. Any idea about food? My husband Frank is on diet but we love street food. May we get fat with Vietnamese food?
May 7th, 2015, 08:32 PM
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Hi Issabella,
Once you arrive, do nothing else but trying Pho. If you miss it, you will be regret for your whole life, trust me.
I tried it at Pho 24 restaurant, but actually you don’t need a restaurant. Street vendors are available everywhere.
Once you arrive, do nothing else but trying Pho. If you miss it, you will be regret for your whole life, trust me.
I tried it at Pho 24 restaurant, but actually you don’t need a restaurant. Street vendors are available everywhere.
May 10th, 2015, 05:46 PM
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I think 3 days is too much for Hanoi. I spent one day and one night there and I think it’s quite enough. It’s not that the city has nothing to see but it’s always too noisy. The streets are small, crowded and dusty. Sometime I can’t even cross the roads.
You should be there for a couple of day to trekking around in early morning and the evening. But don’t forget to take a map and hotel card with you. I got lost there, and couldn’t even know where I was (laugh).
Pho is great to taste, that is undeniable!
You should be there for a couple of day to trekking around in early morning and the evening. But don’t forget to take a map and hotel card with you. I got lost there, and couldn’t even know where I was (laugh).
Pho is great to taste, that is undeniable!
May 11th, 2015, 07:12 PM
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About food in old quarter of Hanoi
I think there’s not much difference between having a Pho in the restaurant and a street vendor, of between this vendor and the other one (or I couldn’t feel it). But the best place to try street food is night market at Hang Dao street. It’s opened every weekend. You can find every kind of food there. If you stay near Hoan Kiem lake, you should have your meal in Cau Go lane. It’s take you about 5 minutes to walk. I had my Banh cuon and Bun there.
And you can buy some intersting souvenir. But don’t forget to bargain or you may be costed a double price of what you buy.
Have great trip !
I think there’s not much difference between having a Pho in the restaurant and a street vendor, of between this vendor and the other one (or I couldn’t feel it). But the best place to try street food is night market at Hang Dao street. It’s opened every weekend. You can find every kind of food there. If you stay near Hoan Kiem lake, you should have your meal in Cau Go lane. It’s take you about 5 minutes to walk. I had my Banh cuon and Bun there.
And you can buy some intersting souvenir. But don’t forget to bargain or you may be costed a double price of what you buy.
Have great trip !
May 12th, 2015, 10:28 PM
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Find some more intersting activity in Hanoi. A boat trip in West Lake is a good choice. Or if you can ride a scooter, you can hire one from your hotel. I can make your own adventure without plan like that. but You'll be careful with the traffic in Hanoi.
May 12th, 2015, 10:30 PM
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Thanks for your brilliant idea. I can ride a scooters but I didn’t know where to find one in Vietnam until your comment. And thanks a lot everyone. You helped us to save a lot of time and money.
May 13th, 2015, 02:52 AM
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Seriously, that is not a brilliant idea. Renting anything on two wheels in Hanoi is a really bad idea. I have ridden motorbikes for years and I certainly wouldn't do it.
During our first 48 hours in Hanoi we saw 3 motor accidents, all involving scooters, all hit by cars. Lost count of the number of young backpackers we met bandaged up as a result of scooter accidents.
On the way back in a taxi from dinner with some friends one night in Da Nang we saw one guy who had just been hit by a car lying unconcious and very badly injured ( possibly worse!).
I suspect I don't really need to tell you all this as one look at the traffic in Hanoi will probably put you right off the idea.
During our first 48 hours in Hanoi we saw 3 motor accidents, all involving scooters, all hit by cars. Lost count of the number of young backpackers we met bandaged up as a result of scooter accidents.
On the way back in a taxi from dinner with some friends one night in Da Nang we saw one guy who had just been hit by a car lying unconcious and very badly injured ( possibly worse!).
I suspect I don't really need to tell you all this as one look at the traffic in Hanoi will probably put you right off the idea.
May 13th, 2015, 07:10 AM
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The leading cause of death in SE Asia for both visitors and locals is motorbike accidents. I have a friend (a well-experienced rider) who was killed in such an accident.
I'm afraid Christina is pretty clueless - first she tells you three days in Hanoi is too long, then recommends you rent a scooter from your hotel and set out without a plan. Both are truly bad ideas.
I'm afraid Christina is pretty clueless - first she tells you three days in Hanoi is too long, then recommends you rent a scooter from your hotel and set out without a plan. Both are truly bad ideas.
