Stories · Vietnam
A weekend in Hanoi
Told the way I’d tell a friend, step by step.
My first time in Hanoi, I tried to see everything and mostly saw queues. Now I do it differently: a few places a day, the right ones, in the right order. Here is my 2-day thread.
Day 1 · The icons
To start, I make my way to Hanoi Opera House. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.6 out of 5 across 22,584 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Late morning, it’s City Sightseeing Ticketing Counter. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Hà Nội: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
In the afternoon, head to Thang Long Hanoi City Tour. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
As the light fades, meet me at Turtle Tower. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (788 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route · travellers’ reviews.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Hanoi does the rest.
Day 2 · Museums and culture
Early in the morning, I make my way to Vietnam Military History Museum. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.5 out of 5 across 13,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Then, I make my way to Tran Quoc Pagoda. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, it’s Vietnamese Women's Museum. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (6,900 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise go through Tiqets.
In the evening, I make my way to One Pillar Pagoda. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Unmissable, and for good reason. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Hanoi is a city that tells itself better at night.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Temple Of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison Relic and Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
And if you go, tell me what you loved. Hanoi changes, and so do I.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.