One Day in Hanoi Itinerary: What to do in 24 hours in Hanoi

If you have only a day in Hanoi, what to do and see? In this article, I will help you to look at Hanoi Itinerary for one day, things to see within 24 hours. It’s such a short time, but I’m sure you will have some good time exploring this beautiful capital city of Vietnam.

Many visitors use Hanoi as a transit point and spend a day in this city before heading to other parts of northern Vietnam such as Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh, and Ha Giang.

While two to three days is the minimum amount of time to spend in Hanoi to get a good introduction to the city, you can see some must-see attractions of the city within a day.

Is one day enough in Hanoi?

While one day, in my opinion, is not enough to explore all of Hanoi, it is better than not spending any time at all. Within one day, you can see some key attractions of Hanoi, try traditional Vietnamese food, do some shopping, and enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

As there are many things to do and see in Hanoi, I recommend choosing a few things that are interesting to you the most to make the most of your one day in Hanoi. There are museums, cultural attractions, lakes, foods, temples, and markets to explore.

In general, when you first arrive into the hotel, just simply stroll around Hanoi’s Old Quarter where you stay. It is a compact area, you can easily explore on foot. Then you can check out famous attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake, Train Street, Hoa Lo Prison, or Ho Chi Minh mausoleum.

In the morning, you can have a buffet breakfast at your hotel, or try out many street foods in the city such as Pho, Banh Mi, Bun Cha, and Banh Cuon. At night, you can check out the nightlife area at Ta Hien Beer Street and the night market.

Where to stay in Hanoi for one night?

One day in Hanoi is a very short time, I recommend staying in a central location as much as possible. The best area to stay in Hanoi for one night is the Old Quarter. It has plenty of hotels for all budgets from backpacker hostels to mid-range and luxury hotels, just pick one that suits your preferences.

From any hotel in the Old Quarter, you can easily get around on foot or by Grab. I didn’t rent a motorbike while in Hanoi, and explored most things on food or by rideshare services. You can even catch the Grab taxi from Noi Bai international airport to get into your hotel.

You can explore Hanoi at your own pace, or consider taking a guided tour which will give you insights of local culture and history. Some popular guided tours such as the walking tour, the cyclos tour, cooking class, or jeep tour.

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What to do and see in Hanoi in One day?

Hanoi Old Quarter

In my opinion, Hanoi Old Quarter is the best and first thing to explore in Hanoi after checking into your hotel. I suppose you stay in the old quarter. This is the heart and soul of Hanoi where you can experience the authentic atmosphere and visit many famous attractions.

You can just wander around different streets, explore the hustle and bustle of the city center, pass some local markets, and experience local life.

Each street of the Old Quarter was historically dedicated to a specific craft, like silk, jewelry, or herbal medicine. You can visit Hang Bac for silver and jewelry, Hang Gai for silk, or Hai Thuong Lan Ong for traditional Chinese medicine.

The Old Quarter has a good mix of traditional Vietnamese and French colonial buildings. Some famous sights in the old quarter to look at include the Hoan Kiem Lake, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, Dong Xuan market, and Hoa Lo museum.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the top attractions in the old quarter. You can take a leisure stroll around the lake, visit the iconic Ngoc Son Temple, and cross the famous red Huc Bridge.

You can find many benches around the lake where you can sit, relax, and observe local life. You can see locals practicing tai chi or morning exercises here.

There are many nice cafes and restaurants around the lake and offer beautiful lake views. I like to grab an ice cream at the nearby Thuy Ta ice cream shop when visiting the lake on a hot day.

Water Puppet Theater

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a popular place to go to watch a traditional Vietnamese cultural show. It is conveniently located right on the edge of the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake.

Water puppetry is a unique Vietnamese art form that dates back to the 11th century. Watching this show is a fun way to learn about the traditional aspect of Vietnamese culture. The show is held a few times a day in the afternoon and evening.

Go Shopping

Hanoi Old Quarter is packed with boutiques, souvenir shops, and local markets. You can find many traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, clothing, or silk products at many shops and markets while wandering around the old town.

I recommend having a look at shops in popular streets such as Hang Gai Street, Hang Bac Street, Hang Ma Street, Hang Dau Street, as well as Dong Xuan Market and the Night Market.

Hanoi Train Street

Visiting the train street is one of the unique things to do and see in Hanoi. Hanoi Train Street is a beautiful area located right on the edge of the old quarter. You can walk all the way here or simply just use Grab to get here.

You can watch the train running through the narrow street, with local houses and cafes lining both sides. There are many cafes along the train track with nice decorations where you can sit, enjoy a drink and watch the train pass by.

Just be careful and put your safety on first though. Don’t stand near the train track when the train is running; To witness a train passing through, you can go in the evening most nights.

Vietnamese Cooking Class

There is no better way to try Vietnamese food than by taking a cooking class. You can learn how to make iconic dishes like pho, spring rolls, and bun cha. At a reasonable price.

You can choose a cooking class that has a market tour where you can learn about fresh local ingredients, followed by a hands-on cooking session with a chef.

Hunt for good Vietnamese restaurant to eat

The Old Quarter is known for many authentic Vietnamese dishes such as pho, bun cha, cha ca, banh cuon, and Banh Mi. You can find a lot of food at street food restaurants on every street of the old town.

Some popular places to eat include Banh Mi 25 at 30 Hang Ca, Bun Cha Hanoi So 1 Hang Manh, or Cha Ca La Vong.

Try speciality Cafe like egg cafe, coconut cafe

If you love coffee, you can try local specialties such as egg coffee or coconut coffee. Famous place to check out is Giang Cafe, located on Nguyen Huu Huan Street in the old quarter. This shop is open daily from 7 am to 10 pm, so you can try egg coffee at any time of the day!

Exploring Museums

Hanoi is the cultural capital of Vietnam. It has a history of more than a thousand years with many ancient temples, pagodas, and museums. If you are history buffs, you can look at some of the popular museums to explore.

I recommend looking at Hoa Lo Prison Relic, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam Military History Museum, and Air Force and Air Defence Museum. If you have to choose one museum to visit in Hanoi, I highly recommend Hoa Lo Museum.

Hoa Lo prison museum

Hoa Lo Prison museum is one of my favorite things to do and see in Hanoi. It is centrally located in the French Quarter, within a short Grab Ride from the old quarter.

You can learn more about the history of Vietnam during French colonial rule and the Vietnam – American War. The prison was first built by French colonialists in 1896 to detain Vietnamese political prisoners who fought against French rule.

It was later used by the North Vietnamese government to house American prisoners during the Vietnam War, including famous figures such as Senator John McCain.

Tran Quoc pagoda and West Lake

Tran Quoc pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi. It is located in West Lake just a short drive by car or Grab from the old quarter. It is a small complex, so you can spend 30 minutes exploring. You can also check out Quan Thanh temple nearby when you’re in this area.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex is a popular place to visit when visiting Hanoi. It is located in Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in 1945.

Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is a grand structure that houses the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh. Modeled after Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow, it is a solemn place where people come to pay their respects.

In the same complex, you can visit One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh museum to learn more about his life, and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House where he lived from 1958 until his death.

This area is strictly guarded, so remember to follow the rules and wear your clothes properly, cover your shoulder and knee.

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is a historical attraction located in the heart of Hanoi. It is the first University of Vietnam and is a great place to visit if you are interested in the cultural and historical aspect of Hanoi.