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 a typical breakfast of coffee with egg, you can visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Quan Thanh Temple, and in the afternoon, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace, which are located in the same compound. In the evening, you can join a gastronomic tour to sample some of Vietnam's most exquisite food. I recommend an early start, as most attractions can be visited until around 5pm.

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 the Old Quarter, one of the most recommended neighbourhoods to stay in. It is notable for its 11-level construction with 6 gates on each level, representing the 11 levels of Buddhism. You can't miss the beautiful panoramic views of the city.

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

• Location: 46 Đ. Thanh Niên, Trúc Bạch, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
• Opening hours: daily from 7.30am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Quan Thanh Temple

From Tran Quoc Pagoda, about 700 metres 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 four temples that have been built at the cardinal points of the city, as protection against evil spirits. It features a 4-ton bronze statue of the god Huyen Thien, a 3-entrance portico and a black bronze bell, among others.

• Location: Đ. Thanh Niên, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 118810.
• Opening hours: daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: around 1 EUR per person.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, erected in honour of Vietnamese independence hero Ho Chi Minh, is one of the most imposing buildings in Hanoi. It is about 20 metres high and is made of granite. It is located in a 20-hectare compound surrounded by gardens, where you can take a nice walk.

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

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

• Location: Đ. Thanh Niên, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 118810.
• Opening hours: The mausoleum is open daily from 7.30am to 11am. The rest of the site can be visited daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is located about 200 metres 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 from the inside.

Interestingly, Emperor Ho Chi Minh only lived in this palace until his house, often referred to as the Strider House, was built for him. This is a much more humble wooden residence, which you can also see during your visit.

Single Pillar Pagoda

About 600 metres from the Zancuda House, or 300 metres from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, is the Single Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple also known as the Single Pillar Pagoda or Lotus Flower Pagoda, as its structure resembles a lotus flower and it stands in a pond on a single pillar. It dates back to the 11th century but was rebuilt in 1954.

• Location: Chùa Một Cột, Đội Cấn, Ba Đình, Hanoi.
• Hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.
• Admission: 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 Vietnam's first university, where the sages of the empire studied. The interior is divided into five 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.
• Opening hours: daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: around 1 EUR per person.

Hanoi food tour 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 old town and try the main dishes of Vietnamese cuisine, such as Bun Cha, Bánh mì and the typical coffee with egg. You can also book an expert-guided tour to learn about the history and culture, as well as the top places to eat in the city.

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

Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is located very close to the Old Quarter, about 2km away, so you can reach it on foot, by bus, taxi or motorbike taxi. The next attractions on the itinerary are about 500m away. Dating back to the 11th century, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the buildings you will see there are:

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

Guided tours of Hanoi are a good way to visit the city if you want to learn more about its history, construction details and cultural significance. The citadel can also be visited at night.

• Location: 19c Hoàng Diệu, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội.
• Opening hours: daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: around 1 EUR per person.

Military History Museum

About 600 metres 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 US army.

• Location: 28A Điện Biên Phủ, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội.
• Opening hours: daily except Fridays, 8am-11.30am and 1.30pm-4.30pm.
• Entry fee: about 2 EUR per person.

Train Street

After walking about 500 metres from the Military History Museum, you will come across the Calle del Tren, a curious street crossed by a working railway. There you will find a variety of bars and restaurants where you can have lunch with 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's Cathedral in Hanoi

The 19th-century St Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi is located about 900m 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.
• Opening hours: daily from 5am to 11.30am and from 2pm to 7pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Hoa Lo Prison

About 600 metres 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 1990s, 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.
• Opening hours: daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: around 1 EUR per person.

Vietnam Women's Museum

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

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

Hanoi Opera House

From the Women's Museum you must walk about 900 metres to reach the Hanoi Opera House, whose design was inspired by the 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.
• Opening hours:
• Admission fee: free of charge.

Central Post Office

Past Hoa Phong Tower, about 600 metres from the Hanoi Opera House, you can visit the Central Post Office, one of Hanoi's most iconic buildings. 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.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 7pm. Saturdays from 8am to 7pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

Hoan Kien Lake

Hoan Kien Lake is located in the centre of Hanoi and is one of the most popular places for locals to take a stroll. To 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 during the day and at night. Nearby you will see some monuments, such as the Hoa Phong Tower and the Ly Thai To Monument.

Water Puppet Theatre

To get to the last point on this itinerary, you must walk 300 metres from Ngoc Son Temple, north of Hoan Kien Lake, where you'll find the Water Puppet Theatre, a unique Vietnamese show featuring puppets performing on water, with live music. It's 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.
• Opening times: various performances are held at different times, between 4pm and 6pm every day.
• Entry fee: from 10 EUR per person.

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This has been my suggested itinerary to get to know Hanoi in 2 days, which includes the main attractions and museums of the city. Alternatively, 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.

There are also plenty of options if you're staying in Hanoi for 3 days or so, such as joining 2-day cruises, making a pilgrimage to the Perfume Pagoda or exploring charming villages like Sa Pa, where you can hike to see terraced rice paddies or climb Fansipan Peak. Hanoi is a must-see destination for travellers looking for enriching experiences that combine both culture and nature.