Things to Do in Hanoi Old Quarter (and Beyond): Highlights + 2 Day Itinerary
- Shal & James
- Jan 24
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 30
From street snacks we’re still thinking about to a silversmithing splurge worth every dong, here are the best things to do in and around Hanoi Old Quarter in 48 hours, including the highlights that earned the hype and the ones that didn’t.
If Ho Chi Minh felt like a bustling city, then Hanoi Old Quarter was an absolute fever dream. The streets were a non-stop blur of motorbikes zipping in every direction, fruit vendors weaving through traffic, and sidewalks that had long since abandoned their original purpose, commandeered instead by parked scooters or overflowing café seating. Pedestrians? Good luck.
It didn’t take us long to notice that many locals were wearing masks, and for good reason. Within hours, James developed a throat that felt like it had been sandblasted. Turns out, “Hanoi Throat” is a real thing, a rite of passage for foreigners unaccustomed to the city’s smog. With so many things to do in Hanoi, GrabCar became our go-to to skip the long walks in the smog.
P.S. If it’s your first time in Vietnam, don’t miss our 15 essential travel tips, including how to cross the street without panicking and a few other handy nuggets we learned the hard way.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn a teeny commission if you book through them (at no extra cost to you). We only recommend what we’ve road-tested, adored, or nearly booked ourselves. Your support helps keeps our adventures going – thank you. 💙
15 THINGS TO DO IN HANOI OLD QUARTER (AND BEYOND) + WHAT TO SKIP
We’ve included opening hours, prices with currency conversions based on current exchange rates, and what we paid for the best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter, but opening hours, prices, etc. can change so it’s always worth double checking to dodge any last-minute surprises.
The activities below are organised into an efficient 2-day itinerary, using Hanoi’s Old Quarter as a base, which is also the best area to stay if it’s your first time in the city.
We stayed at L'Hotel du LAC Hanoi (£85 pn; converted: €97.54 / US$114.06), a 4-star boutique hotel. The room was pretty benign, but breakfast was solid and the live traditional Vietnamese music (with a modern twist) from 8 -10PM at its tiny rooftop bar on Saturday nights was an unexpected gem.
DAY 1: HEART OF HANOI
DAY 2: UNCLE HO'S LEGACY & WEST LAKE
SIGHTS TO SKIP
The National Museum of History might’ve been more interesting if we were fluent in Vietnamese, but truth be told, we much prefer our history in situ such as wandering ancient sites like My Son Sanctuary where the stories are literally etched in stone.
As for the Opera House and the French Quarter? Meh. The Opera House exterior was looking a bit tired, and the French Quarter never quite delivered the charm we’d expected, given how strong the French influence is here. If you’ve ever been to Paris, you're going to be incredibly disappointed.
1 | BACH MA TEMPLE
Hanoi Old Quarter
Tue-Sun 9AM - 5:30PM; closed Mon
Free
Tucked into the lively chaos of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Bach Ma Temple (yep, that translates to “White Horse Temple”) traces its origins to the 9th century, though what you see today mostly dates back to the 18th century, with a shrine to Confucius added in 1839 for good measure.
Just a heads up: we tried to visit twice during opening hours and it was mysteriously closed, so if it’s shut when you arrive, don’t stress, just try again later.
2 | NGOC SON TEMPLE
Hoan Kiem Lake (edge of Hanoi Old Quarter)
Daily 7 AM - 6 PM
30,000 VND pp; converted: £0.84 / €0.98 / US$1.14
Perched on a pint-sized island in the northern nook of Hoan Kiem Lake is Ngoc Son Temple (aka the Temple of the Jade Mountain) and it's Hanoi’s most visited temple, and not just because it’s photogenic as heck.
Once inside, you’ll find shrines for Vietnamese VIPs including General Tran Hung Dao (13th-century Mongol-crusher extraordinaire), La To (patron saint of doctors, because someone’s got to bless all those street food-induced stomachs), and Van Xuong, the scholar deity you never knew you needed.
But, what you really came to see is the giant, legendary soft-shell turtles on display in glass cases. Yes, actual embalmed turtles. These aren’t your average pond paddlers. One of them is believed to be the fabled Hoan Kiem turtle, linked to the centuries-old legend of Emperor Le Loi, who was gifted a magical sword by the Golden Turtle to fight off invaders.
Now, while you can do a loop around the lake right after visiting the temple, hold off until after dark. That’s when the place really turns on the charm. At night is when the lights glitter, couples stroll, and the whole area hums with that twinkly energy that daytime just can’t match.
3 | IMPERIAL CITADEL OF THANG LONG
Ba Dinh District (just west of Hanoi Old Quarter)
Daily 8AM - 5PM
200,000 VND pp; converted: £5.67 / €6.51 / US$7.61
The UNESCO-listed Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one for the history buffs, offering a window into Hanoi’s royal past. This was the capital from the 11th to the 18th century, and while the grand citadel and pavilions are long gone, the site still packs a punch with monuments and artefacts that give a glimpse of its powerful dynastic legacy—surviving political shifts and centuries of change.
As for tickets, you can try your luck with the card-friendly ticket machine, but we opted to just pay cash at the window.
4 | TEMPLE OF LITERATURE
Dong Da District (a short drive from Hanoi Old Quarter)
Daily 8AM -5 PM + 6:30PM - 10PM Wed & Fri-Sun
70,000 VND pp [cash]; converted: £1.98 / €2.28 / US$2.67
Of all the temples we visited in Hanoi, our favourite was the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius and the pursuit of knowledge.
Back in the day, students weren’t just students; they were elites, selected through ruthless exams you had to prepare for yourself before being admitted to study (to take imperial exams). The first exam was held in 1075 CE and if you were hoping to major in the arts? Forget it! Musicians and actors need not apply.
Beyond its historical prestige, the Temple of Literature is also home to the Stelae of Doctors, a collection of 82 stone slabs engraved with the names of scholars who passed the imperial exams. Rubbing the head of the stone turtles beneath these stelae is said to bring academic luck, a tradition still going strong among students today. It also explains why the courtyards are often dotted with fresh graduates, posing proudly for photos to mark the end of their studies.
5 | TRY A ROTI
Hanoi Old Quarter
The Roti street stall: Daily 6AM - 11PM
20,000 VND per roti [cash]; converted: £0.57 / €0.65 / US$0.76
We only discovered King Roti—the crowd favourite—a minute after committing to The Roti. Oops. But no regrets! Their freshly baked pillowy-soft buns with crispy, biscuit-y shells and dreamy fillings like chocolate, matcha, and vanilla? Absolute heaven. Not too sweet, just perfectly balanced. So good, we didn’t even get a photo. Vanished in seconds. Poof.
6 | SILVERSMITHING WORKSHOP
Hanoi Old Quarter
Private workshops arranged by appointment, ours was Tue 5:30 - 8PM
3,000,000 VND (for both of us, including silver) [cash]; converted: £85.04 / €97.58 / US$114.20
When we weren’t dodging scooters or crossing train tracks with our lives flashing before our eyes, we dove hands-first into a 1,400-year-old craft: Vietnamese silversmithing at Silver Soul.
Dinh Cong village has been shaping silver since the 6th century, though these days, many young folks are trading hammers for desk jobs. So we were thrilled to meet a new-gen silver maestro from Dinh Cong: a 20-year-old filigree wizard who made in 10 minutes what took Shal a humbling hour. Oof.
With Shal’s silversmithing chops, she levelled up with filigree which is basically shaping silver wire into lace. James, being a total newbie, wisely stuck to crafting a band ring (still very impressive).
The studio? Gorgeous. Like, way fancier than anywhere Shal trained in the New York City or London. Bonus: one-on-one tutors for each of us! They kit you out with aprons and safety goggles, but if you’ve got long hair, tie it up, unless you fancy the scent of sizzling split ends.
The damage? 3,000,000 VND [cash] (converted: £85.04 / €97.58 / US$114.20) for both of us, which wasn't much more than their group classes and so worth it. We went Tuesday night from 5:30 - 8PM, but you can email them to pick your day/time: silversoulvietnam@gmail.com
Oh! And Shal snagged a custom, hand-hammered lotus flower bangle from the shop. The off-the-rack ones were too big, so they whipped up a bespoke beauty for the same price. We picked it up on our last night in Hanoi, fresh off our Ha Long Bay trip. Just remember you must pay in cash. Best souvenir!
7 | DINNER AT VIET RICE ESSENCE
Hanoi Old Quarter
Daily 9AM - 10PM
We rolled into Viet Rice Essence at 8PM to the chill vibes of live traditional Vietnamese music—classy, calm, and exactly what you'd expect from an upscale city spot (though it’s no Hum Signature in Ho Chi Minh). The place was buzzing, so thankfully we’d booked ahead.
We did, however, commit a faux pas by sitting across from each other instead of side-by-side. Apparently, in Vietnam, couples cosy up next to each other on dates. Whoops!
As for the food: no sign of the elusive chicken breast (seriously, where are they all?!), but we asked for lean meat in our chicken cashew dish and it delivered. The standout? Grilled beef in bamboo. The tofu and aubergine dishes, though? Meh. Go for the meat.
If you follow our lead with a workshop at Silver Soul, Viet Rice Essence is just a 6-minute stroll away.
8 | TRAIN STREET
Just west of Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi Train Street is equal parts heart-in-mouth and oddly charming, and genuinely one of those rare sights that’s absolutely worth the hype. Read our dedicated post about Hanoi Train Street to find out how it works and when to go to see a train.
Bonus: the atmospheric northern end of Train Street (Pho Duong Tau Ha Noi) is just an 11-minute, post-prandial walk from Viet Rice Essence.
9 | HO CHI MINH COMPLEX
Ba Dinh District
No visit to Hanoi would be complete without learning more about Ho Chi Minh, the face of Vietnam’s fight for independence in the French and American (Vietnam) Wars.
His complex of monuments, including his mausoleum, museum, and stilt house, serves as both a historical site and a place of deep reverence. Locals affectionately call him Uncle Ho, a nickname intended to reflect his enduring image as a humble, fatherly leader who led Vietnam through its most transformative years.
Truthfully, there isn’t loads to see, and even less in English. We spent two hours, but you could cover the highlights faster. It’s more a Hanoi box-tick and FOMO dodge than a must-do.
If you’re planning to visit the complex, read our post first so you arrive properly prepared: Ho Chi Minh Museum Hanoi: A Guide for First-Timers.
10 | QUAN THANH TEMPLE
Near Truc Bach Lake (between Ba Dinh and West Lake)
Daily 6AM - 9PM
40,000 VND pp [cash]; converted: £1.13 / €1.30 / US$1.52
While you're in the neighbourhood, swing by Quah Thanh Temple, a Taoist temple with a renovation resume longer than your passport stamp list.
Make sure to see the 4-ton, 4-meter tall 17th century black bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu. Just in case you didn't know: Huyen Thien Tran Vu is a Taoist deity and northern guardian known for his protective powers and warrior spirit. He's basically the divine bouncer of the temple world.
11 | TRAN QUOC PAGODA
West Lake
Daily 8AM - 5PM
Free
Chua Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi was originally constructed in 541–545 CE on an island in West Lake. Today it’s reached by a narrow causeway and anchored by its elegant red stupa, added in 1998 and said to house sacred relics, plus a bodhi tree gifted by India in 1959.
When we visited, a group of monks on a field trip padded past in saffron robes, which somehow summed it up perfectly. Calm, quietly fascinating, and a welcome pause from Hanoi’s usual hum.
12 | TRY A POMELO BEER
Hanoi Old Quarter
Local Craft Beer: Daily 10AM - 11PM
If you’re into craft beer and have a thing for grapefruits, run—don’t walk—to Local Craft Beer (yep, that’s actually the name). Their Pomelo IPA is citrusy magic in a glass and basically tastes like summer on tap. But fair warning: it goes down dangerously easy and comes with a hangover that hits like a scooter to the shin. Worth it? Absolutely.
13 | THANG LONG WATER PUPPET SHOW
Hoan Kiem Lake (edge of Hanoi Old Quarter)
Nightly 50-minute shows: 4:10PM, 5:20PM, 6:30PM, 8PM
£10 pp; converted: €11.49 / US$13.47
Word on the street was that tickets for this traditional theatre gem sell out fast, so we booked VIP seats months in advance and landed front row centre!
No, we didn’t get splashed (phew), but we did get the best view in the house. VIP tickets guarantee prime placement up front, but your exact seats are assigned on the day. You skip the winding queues and head straight to an easy-to-find kiosk on the right side of the lobby about 15 minutes before showtime to collect your tickets.
The show is in Vietnamese, so we were grateful for an audioguide whispering an English translation through an earbud in one ear.
When buying an advance ticket: Select the last option, "Show Ticket + Multilingual Audio Guide," then choose a date and time. After that, you can select "VIP Ticket + Multilingual Audio Guide" to get a seat with a good view.
14 | DINNER AT MIAS RESTAURANT
Hoan Kiem Lake (edge of Hanoi Old Quarter)
Daily 11AM - 10PM
Good thing we didn’t find MIAs Restaurant on night one, because if we had, we wouldn’t have tried anywhere else! After our Ha Long Bay luxury cruise, we ate lunch and dinner here before flying home. Yep, it’s that good.
James was obsessed with the beef pho, and we both agreed the Hoi An chicken and rice was actually better than any version we had in Hoi An. The grilled tofu ball in sweet and sour soy? Chef’s kiss. And somehow—against all odds—we became green papaya salad converts.
After our second visit in one day, the staff crowned our loyalty with a coconut ice cream that was genuinely divine. English is spoken fluently, food allergies are handled with total confidence, and while the space is pleasant rather than show-stopping, the food never misses. And honestly, that’s the headline.
15 | HOAN KIEM LAKE
Open 24/7
Free
By day, Hoan Kiem Lake had us shrugging...pretty-ish, sure, but nothing to write home (or blog) about. But come nightfall? Boom. The bridge to Ngoc Son Temple lights up in fiery red glow reflecting in the lake.
Locals were out in full force: Tai Chi squads stretching like synchronised noodles, dance fitness crews grooving like it was Zumba o’clock and couples canoodling lakeside (us included).
NOT QUITE DONE EXPLORING?
About to check Vietnam off the bucket list? Start with our 15 Vietnam travel tips for first-timers and exact 3 week Vietnam itinerary, or opt for the pared-back 2 week Vietnam itinerary if you’re travelling on a tighter schedule.
Pin this for later!
FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST