The 2-day itinerary for first-time visitors to Hanoi will be a useful guide for those planning to visit the capital city. Hanoi is a city with a modern lifestyle mixed with ancient features, which is both a gentle and mysterious attraction of the thousand-year-old capital.
Transportation in Hanoi
– Motorbike: Renting a motorbike in Hanoi is very simple. You can contact the hotel or call the motorbike rental service directly. The price of a motorbike is about 100,000 – 150,000 VND / day.
– Taxi: For a comfortable trip, you can choose to travel by taxi. Popular taxi companies in Hanoi are Mai Linh (Tel: 024.38.222.666), Taxi Group (Tel: 024.38.26.26.26), V20 (Tel: 024.38.20.20.20)
– Cyclo: A typical image of the old town is the cyclo which is still kept to serve tourists. You can easily catch a cyclo when in the old town, go around the small streets while listening to interesting stories from the cyclo driver.
– Tram: Another interesting way to visit the old town is by tram. Tickets are sold at Hoan Kiem Lake area for 15,000 VND / 15-minute trip.
Here is a suggested itinerary for first-time visitors to Hanoi in 2 days:
Day 1: Explore Hanoi’s History and Culture
Morning:
1. Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple (8:00 – 9:30)
– Start the morning at Hoan Kiem Lake, a famous symbol of Hanoi. Visit Ngoc Son Temple located on a small island in the lake, The Huc Bridge to learn more about the culture and history of the capital.
2. Visit the Old Quarter (9:30 – 11:00)
– Stroll around the Old Quarter with narrow streets, ancient houses and typical shops such as: Hang Dao, Hang Gai, Hang Ngang, Hang Duong. Here, you can find handicrafts, clothes and souvenirs.
Lunch:
3. Lunch in the Old Quarter (11:00 – 12:30)
– Enjoy Hanoi specialties such as bun cha, pho, banh cuon, or bun thang at famous restaurants in the Old Quarter.
Afternoon:
4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (13:30 – 15:00)
– Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the body of President Ho Chi Minh is kept. This area also has other historical relics such as Ho Chi Minh Museum, Uncle Ho’s Stilt House and Fish Pond.
5. One Pillar Pagoda (15:00 – 15:30)
– One Pillar Pagoda is a unique architectural work of Hanoi, rich in history and culture.
6. Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy (15:30 – 17:00)
– Visit the Temple of Literature, which is dedicated to Confucius and is the first university in Vietnam. This is an ideal place to learn about the country’s Confucian knowledge and culture.
Evening:
7. Watch Water Puppetry (18:30 – 19:30)
– Water puppetry is a traditional art form of Hanoi. You can enjoy a performance at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.
8. Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and have dinner (19:30 – 21:00)
– End the first day by strolling around the lake in the evening and enjoying Hanoi street food such as lemon tea, fried spring rolls, sticky rice, and sweet soup.
Day 2: Explore Hanoi’s Nature and History
Morning:
1. Duong Lam Ancient Village (8:00 – 10:00)
– About 1 hour from the center of Hanoi, Duong Lam Ancient Village is where you can learn about the traditional life and culture of the people of the North. You will visit ancient houses, temples and specialties of the village.
2. Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake (10:30 – 12:00)
– Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on the shore of West Lake, one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi. West Lake is an ideal place to relax with a peaceful, spacious space.
Noon:
3. Lunch at West Lake (12:00 – 13:30) Hanoi tours
– In the West Lake area, you can enjoy famous dishes such as West Lake shrimp cakes or specialties of this region.
Afternoon:
4. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (14:00 – 15:30)
– Visit the Museum of Ethnology to learn about the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam through vivid exhibits and artifacts.
5. Bat Trang Pottery Village (16:00 – 17:30)
– Bat Trang Pottery Village is famous for its long-standing traditional pottery craft. You can visit the pottery workshops and make your own pottery products.
Evening:
6. Night market and dinner on Ta Hien Street (18:00 – 20:00)
– Explore Hanoi night market and enjoy specialties such as banh mi, bun cha, nem chua ran, and drinks on Ta Hien Street – where the atmosphere is vibrant among Hanoi’s youth.
With this itinerary, you will have the opportunity to experience the most unique attractions of Hanoi, from culture, history to traditional cuisine. Hanoi, with its thousand years of civilization and its cultural blend of modernity and tradition, has created a city with its own unique features that you should visit and explore once. Have a nice trip!
Source: https://hanoitraveltour.com/blog/visit-hanoi-in-2-days-suggested-itinerary-for-first-time-travelers.htm
