First Impressions of Hanoi
Hanoi is a bustling city in Vietnam. Streets full of street food aroma, people sitting and enjoying their time in cafes, and scooters on the road. Vietnam traffic is known around the world. It is a skill to cross the road through the traffic. You will find a swarm of scooters riding around. This is a glimpse of my first impressions of Hanoi City in Vietnam. Explore Hanoi through my lens with a perfect 2 Day Hanoi Itinerary.
There are many international flights to Hanoi. It may be your first place to visit in Vietnam. CLICK HERE to find good deals for flights to Hanoi.
Are 2 full days enough in Hanoi? Refer to this Perfect 2-Day Itinerary
Hanoi is a vibrant city filled with numerous temples, charming streets, and a plethora of street food to explore. You can easily plan a 2-day Hanoi itinerary. We will walk around the streets and explore the local area, particularly the popular old quarter. We will also visit one of the unique places you might not yet heard about. Have a look at where locals spend their time in the city.
Is Hanoi a Walkable City?
If you are wondering whether you can walk around and explore the city. You can stay in the centre of the city, closer to almost all the tourist attractions. The best way to explore Hanoi is on foot, feel the city vibes, experience the place, traffic, people and the streets while walking around.
Where To Stay
The best place to stay in Hanoi is the Old Quarter Area. It is the centre point near all the tourist places in Hanoi. The Old Quarter in Hanoi is one of the best places to stay. You get the real vibe of the city in this area. You will find many dining options in this area, along with the tourist places.
CLICK HERE to find great deals to stay in Hanoi
Where To Eat
Hanoi is popular for Street Food in Vietnam. Explore some amazing local food in the city. You will find small eateries with homely and authentic Vietnamese food. You will also find some good Indian Food Restaurants. All of these dining places are around the Hanoi Old Quarter Area. Below are the places we visited to try the Local Vietnamese and Indian Food.
You must try the Vietnamese Street Food and coffee. Try the popular Bahn Mi, Pho and Salt Coffee.
Bahn Mi – This is a local sandwich with a unique Bread. The bread is special in the sandwich. It has a crust, which makes it different. You can also find a vegetarian Bahn Mi at some of the cafes or stalls on the street.
Pho – It is a noodle soup with vegetables. The noodles in the soup are so soft that they just melt in our mouths.
Salt Coffee – This is a unique coffee with a pinch of salt in the cream on top of the coffee. It seems weird when you think about it, but it’s good while you have it. I have never tried a salt coffee, was amazed by the uniqueness of the taste in the coffee.
You will find these street foods at every corner of Hanoi city. From small street stalls to cafes, you will find these in many places.
Food at Train Street
Although the train street is touristy, trust me, it is one of the places you should not miss visiting when in Hanoi. It is one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. I almost spent an hour at a cute little café on Train Street, and enjoyed every bit of it. We tried a vegetarian Bahn Mi and Salt Coffee at a cafe. There are ample cafes serving local food at Train Steeet.
Namaste Hanoi
This is one of my favourite Indian restaurants in Hanoi. I liked the North Indian cuisine here. They serve authentic Indian food. We had Paneer Tikka, Butter Roti, and Rajma Masala. The dishes were served fresh and hot. The ambience at this place is spacious and good for all group sizes.
Tadka Indian Restaurant
One of the restaurants serving Dosa in Hanoi city. They serve a variety of chutneys with Dosa. We tried their Masala Dosa, which was good. The Masala Indian Tea, too, was outstanding. The ambience here is good and spacious for all group sizes. They also arrange buffets for groups. We had a good time dining at Tadka Indian Restaurant.
How to Get Around
Although there are local buses in Hanoi, you can easily travel around the city by cab. It is not that expensive to tour around the city by cab. The best way is to download the Grab App and get a Taxi to travel anywhere in the city.
You must need a Local Sim for exploring the Hanoi city. CLICK HERE to buy the best Local SIM.
Day 1
Explore the Old Quarter
Let’s begin our first day in the vibrant city of Hanoi from the popular Old Quarter area. The first place you may visit in Hanoi is the Old Quarter. Also, this is the best place to stay in Hanoi. You can walk around all the tourist areas from the Hanoi Old Quarter. The area is perfect to experience the city’s culture and people. The street-side cafes selling fresh Bahn Mi, and people are relaxing and enjoying themselves at the cafes. Experience crossing roads amid the vehicles moving around.
You can also try some of the popular street food like Bahn Mi, Pho or Coffee in the Old Quarter. The area is filled with cafes and street-side stalls.
You can then have Lunch at one of the Indian Restaurants in the Old Quarter.
Hanoi Grand World – Hidden Gem in Hanoi
Visit the Hanoi Grand World, a recent addition to the city. This place is away from the Old Quarter. It is one of the favourite places of locals to spend the weekend. Hanoi Grand World is known for its Italian-like decor. Enjoy a Gondola Ride on its artificial river. There are good activities at this place. You can watch a pirate show and experience an amazing Fireworks Show as well.
There are ample dining options at the Hanoi Grand World. You can dine in at the beautiful cafes or restaurants. We dined in here at an Indian Restaurant, 3 Cs – Curry, Café and Cocktail. The food here was authentic and delicious. We had Dal Makhani, which was outstanding. Also, the ambience was perfect for a fine dining experience.
Day 2
Ngoc Son Temple
This is one of the temples in Hanoi you should visit. The temple is situated inside Hoan Kiem Lake. There is a ticket to enter the Temple. You can click pictures at the gorgeous Red Bridge over the lake, towards the temple. The temple has peaceful vibes. With the lake beside the temple, the atmosphere around is very peaceful. You can also sit and spend some time inside the temple. It is a beautiful small place surrounded by trees.
Hoan Kiem Lake
After we visited the temple, we spent some time at the promenade by the lake. It is a good place to stroll around. You can have fresh sugarcane juice at the small, beautiful cafes near the lake. Also, there are a few stalls selling local products and souvenirs. I bought a few accessories and shoes from these stalls. It is a beautiful place to spend an evening.
Train Street
Later in the evening, visit the popular Train Street. Although you might think this place is touristy, it is worth a visit. This is my favourite place in Hanoi. The place is all lit up in the evening. The train street has tracks in the middle, and there are cafes on both sides of the street. These cafes serve great food. We tried the local Bahn Mi and Salt Coffee at one of the Cafes on the Street.
Well, you must sit around at one of the cafes on the Train Street for a true experience. There is a train schedule to know when the Train will pass the Street. You can check with your Hotel Staff or Apartment owner about the Train Timings to plan your trip to Train Street.
It is a unique experience when the train passes by the street. Everyone is ready with the cameras and bracing themselves. The train passes by very closely. It is a memorable experience.
Beautiful Night – Life in Hanoi
Well, you can again relax in your apartment and brace up to explore Hanoi’s nightlife. The city is bustling around the Old Quarter. You will find some fine dining areas where locals enjoy their food. There is a place near Hoan Kiem Lake where locals stroll around and have a good time. The place is lit up with beautiful lights. Also, there is a mall with brand outlets. You will find stores like Gucci and Rolex. I would recommend exploring the old quarter by walking around. It is a different experience.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
I also visited near the popular St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the evening. The cathedral is all lit up at night. You can click photographs from outside the Cathedral.
Well, this is a perfect 2 Day Hanoi Itinerary. You can extend your stay in the city to explore the most beautiful places in Vietnam. These places are approximately 2 hours from Hanoi city.
CLICK HERE to book a Day Tour for the bustling city of Hanoi
Explore These Places near the City
You can visit Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh from Hanoi city. These places are just 2 hours away from the city. Both these places are a must-visit from Hanoi. Enjoy a unique Boat Tour at Nin Binh. These are unique 2-hour boat tours. Explore ancient temples and long caves amid the beautiful rivers from the boat.
Ha Long Bay is famous for its Luxury Cruise Tours. There are also several interesting things to do on these cruise trips. You can also plan an overnight cruise at Ha Long Bay. It is worth the experience.
CLICK HERE for great deals to book transfers from Hanoi City
What are the Best Day Trips near Hanoi
Well, the best places for day trips near Hanoi are Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. These places should be a must-add in your itinerary. Although these places are worth an overnight stay, if you are short of time, you can easily plan day trips to these places. There are many local tour operators with itineraries to explore these places in a day. They offer transfers from Hanoi city and a tour around the places to see in Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. Below are the links to book the Day trips with good deals.
CLICK HERE to book a Day Tour to Ninh Bin
CLICK HERE to book a Day Tour to Ha Long Bay
What to skip in Hanoi
This is how you can explore Hanoi city and feel like a local. Skip the popular tourist places and walk around the Old Quarter. Explore some of the cafes that will surprise you, rather than trying the popular cafes. Take a closer look at the bustling city streets and catch a glimpse of the local culture. Discover Hanoi, and be surprised by exploring places around the city. Every corner of the old quarter has something interesting to see.
Have a Look at the detailed video tour to explore the Hanoi City and Plan your Perfect 2 Day Hanoi Itinerary