Hanoi Ha Long Bay
3
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Three days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay gives you the extraordinary combination of Vietnam's ancient capital, one of the finest Old Quarters in Southeast Asia, and the most iconic landscape in Vietnam, the extraordinary limestone karst bay of Ha Long with its 1,969 islands rising from the emerald sea. This route takes in the extraordinary Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple at dawn, the remarkable 36 Streets Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and a two-day overnight cruise through the extraordinary Ha Long Bay on a traditional wooden junk boat, including kayaking through limestone caves and swimming in the finest sea in northern Vietnam.
Best Time To Visit
October to April
Getting There
Fly into Hanoi (HAN), 45 min to city
Getting Around
Walk in Old Quarter; bus to Ha Long 3.5 hours
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 100 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
HANOI
MORNING
HOAN KIEM LAKE AND NGOC SON TEMPLE AT DAWN
Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi is the finest urban lake in Vietnam, its extraordinary red Huc Bridge leading to the Ngoc Son Temple on a small island in the middle of the lake. The lake at dawn before 7am is extraordinary, elderly Vietnamese performing tai chi on the shore, couples walking the promenade and the mist rising from the water with the turtle tower visible above. The temple contains the preserved giant turtle of Hoan Kiem, the last specimen of its critically endangered species. Entry approx 30,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
HOAN KIEM OLD QUARTER, THE 36 STREETS
The Hanoi Old Quarter around the lake is one of the finest historic urban neighbourhoods in Southeast Asia, its extraordinary 36 Streets each traditionally specialising in a single trade from silk to paper, tinware to bamboo. The extraordinary combination of French colonial buildings, traditional tube houses and the constant flow of motorbikes gives Hanoi its remarkable character. The Bach Ma Temple in the heart of the Old Quarter is the finest ancient temple in the neighbourhood. Entry free. Transfer: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
TEMPLE OF LITERATURE AND WEST LAKE
The Temple of Literature is the finest historic monument in Hanoi, Vietnam's first university founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, its extraordinary series of courtyards and stone steles recording the names of doctoral graduates from 1484 to 1779. The West Lake beyond the Old Quarter is the largest lake in Hanoi, its shores lined with extraordinary pagodas including the remarkable Tran Quoc Pagoda on an island visible from the road. Entry approx 30,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Dong Xuan covered market in the heart of the Hanoi Old Quarter is the finest wholesale market in northern Vietnam, its extraordinary three-storey building housing stalls of clothing, food, household goods and the finest range of local products in the city. The extraordinary early morning food market on the ground floor opens before 5am.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe on the Old Quarter Banh mi and Vietnamese coffee on the extraordinary Old Quarter street. Under 50,000 VND. | Lunch: Bun Cha Huong Lien The restaurant where Obama ate bun cha with Anthony Bourdain. Extraordinary broth. | Dinner: Cha Ca La Vong, Hanoi The finest turmeric fish in Vietnam, a Hanoi dish unique in the country. Book ahead.
DAY 2
HA LONG BAY CRUISE
MORNING
DRIVE TO HA LONG BAY AND BOARDING
The drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay takes 3.5 hours through the extraordinary Red River Delta, passing rice paddies and limestone karst outcrops that preview the extraordinary bay ahead. The cruise boats depart from the Ha Long harbour around noon. The first sight of the bay with its extraordinary 1,969 limestone islands rising from the emerald water is one of the most extraordinary moments in Vietnam travel. Cruise costs vary from 80 to 300 USD per person for overnight trips. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
SUNG SOT CAVE AND KAYAKING
The Sung Sot Cave, known as Surprise Cave, is the finest cave in Ha Long Bay, an extraordinary two-chamber cavern of remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations accessible by a short climb from the water. The kayaking through the extraordinary floating fishing villages and the narrow passages between limestone islands is the finest activity in the bay, giving access to hidden lagoons and sea caves invisible from the cruise boat. Kayaking included in most cruise packages. Transfer: On boat
AFTERNOON
SUNSET OVER THE KARST ISLANDS
The Ha Long Bay sunset over the extraordinary limestone karst islands is one of the finest natural spectacles in Vietnam, the extraordinary shapes of the islands silhouetted against the sky as the light turns the emerald water shades of gold and orange. The cruise boat evening with fresh seafood dinner, local bia hoi beer and the extraordinary silence of the bay at night with no light pollution visible is one of the finest overnight travel experiences in Southeast Asia.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bai Tu Long Bay adjacent to Ha Long Bay has the finest and least visited karst islands in the region, significantly fewer boats and the extraordinary natural environment more intact. The premium cruise companies operate in Bai Tu Long rather than the main Ha Long Bay and the experience is significantly more extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hanoi hotel Early breakfast before the Ha Long transfer. Pack sun protection. | Lunch: Ha Long cruise boat Fresh seafood lunch on the boat as the extraordinary bay appears. | Dinner: Ha Long cruise boat dinner Fresh squid, fish and clams from Ha Long Bay cooked on board. Extraordinary.
DAY 3
HA LONG RETURN
MORNING
DAWN KAYAK AND FISHING VILLAGE
The early morning kayak in Ha Long Bay before the day boats arrive is the finest experience in the region, the extraordinary limestone walls towering above the still water in the dawn mist with the fishing village boats beginning their day. The floating fishing villages of Ha Long Bay, where families have lived entirely on the water for generations, are the most extraordinary human settlements in Vietnam. The morning light on the karst islands is extraordinary. Transfer: 3.5 hour drive
MIDDAY
RETURN TO HANOI AND AFTERNOON
The return drive to Hanoi arrives in the early afternoon, leaving time for the extraordinary Hanoi Street Food Walk in the Old Quarter or a visit to the Fine Arts Museum, which houses the finest collection of Vietnamese lacquer painting and silk embroidery in the country. The Ho Chi Minh Museum adjacent to the mausoleum complex is the finest museum in northern Vietnam. Fine Arts Museum entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: In Hanoi
AFTERNOON
HO CHI MINH COMPLEX AND BA DINH SQUARE
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is the most significant political monument in Vietnam, the granite tomb where Ho Chi Minh's preserved body lies in state. The One Pillar Pagoda beside the mausoleum is the most distinctive ancient monument in Hanoi, a single wooden pagoda on a stone column rising from a lake that has stood since 1049. The surrounding park and the Ho Chi Minh's stilt house are extraordinary. Mausoleum entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Hanoi Train Street, where a working railway line passes within centimetres of the houses on either side, is the most extraordinary urban railway experience in Southeast Asia. The train passes twice daily and the local residents move their chairs and tables to let it through. Ask locals for the current schedule.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ha Long cruise boat Final breakfast on the extraordinary bay before the return. | Lunch: Pho Thin, Hanoi The finest pho bo beef noodle soup in Hanoi. Open since 1979 on Dinh Tien Hoang. | Dinner: Bia hoi corner, Hanoi The famous Bia Hoi Junction street corner. Fresh beer at 10,000 VND, extraordinary atmosphere.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Hanoi Old Quarter, Night 1 Heritage Hotel or Hanoi La Siesta. Approx 30 to 80 USD per night. Ha Long overnight cruise Book a 2-day 1-night cruise. From 80 USD per person budget to 300 USD luxury. Budget option Old Quarter guesthouses from approx 15 USD. Location near Hoan Kiem ideal.
Top Tips
1. Book Ha Long Bay cruise in advance, especially for weekend departures. The overnight cruise is non-negotiable. The bay at dawn before day boats is extraordinary.
2. Hoan Kiem Lake at 6am is the finest version of Hanoi. The entire neighbourhood gathers for exercise and the extraordinary lake scene costs nothing.
3. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk (ca phe sua da) is the finest morning drink in Southeast Asia. It costs 15,000 to 30,000 VND and is extraordinary.
4. The Ha Long Bay cheaper cruise boats are perfectly adequate. The limestone scenery is identical on every boat. Spend the saved money on kayaking add-ons.
5. Grab motorbike taxis in Hanoi are extraordinary value. A cross-city trip costs 30,000 VND. Book through the app rather than flagging random motorbike taxis.
6. Vietnamese pho in the north is the finest version in the country. Pho Thin and Pho Bat Dan in Hanoi open at dawn and have queues of locals. Join them.
Total Budget
50 to 100 USD/day