Boats on turquoise water between limestone islands in Ha Long Bay

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh · Vietnam

Northern Vietnam: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Street food and lakeside temples in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a night on a boat among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, and a rowboat through the caves of Ninh Binh. Five days in the north.

5 days
$ Budget
Easy
Good with kids
Solo
Couples
Friends
Culture
Food
Nature

Copy this trip into Andamos See the plan

Day by day

The plan

Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.

Day 1
Hoan Kiem and the Old Quarter
1. 07:00
  Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
  Activity
  Locals exercise around the lake at dawn; a red bridge leads to the temple on its island.
2. 09:00
  Walk the Old Quarter
  Activity
  Narrow streets once organized by trade, still full of small shops and scooters.
3. 12:00
  Lunch: bun cha
  Food & drink
  Grilled pork in a sweet and sour broth with rice noodles and herbs, Hanoi’s favorite lunch.
4. 14:30
  Temple of Literature
  Activity
  A walled temple to Confucius from the 11th century, home of the country’s first university.
5. 18:00
  Water puppet show
  Activity
  A northern tradition of puppets performing on a pool of water, with live music. Shows run by Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 2
Ba Dinh and West Lake
1. 08:00
  Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda
  Activity
  The leader’s mausoleum on Ba Dinh Square, with a small pagoda on a single column nearby. The mausoleum closes for maintenance some months.
2. 10:30
  Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
  Activity
  The cultures of the country’s many ethnic groups, with full-size traditional houses in the garden.
3. 13:00
  Lunch: pho
  Food & drink
  Hanoi’s beef noodle soup, clear and gently spiced.
4. 15:30
  Tran Quoc Pagoda
  Activity
  Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, on a small island in West Lake. Stay for sunset along the shore.
5. 19:00
  Dinner and egg coffee in the Old Quarter
  Food & drink
  Sit on a low plastic stool for dinner, then try egg coffee, a Hanoi invention.
Day 3
Into Ha Long Bay
1. 08:00
  Transfer to Ha Long
  Getting around
  About two and a half hours east by expressway; most cruises include the shuttle.
2. 12:00
  Lunch on board
  Food & drink
  Seafood lunch as the boat heads out among the islands.
3. 14:30
  Kayaking among the karsts
  Activity
  Paddle under rock arches and into quiet lagoons.
4. 16:30
  Ti Top Island
  Activity
  Climb the steps to the top for a wide view of the bay, then swim from the small beach.
5. 19:00
  Overnight on the boat
  Stay
  The bay goes quiet after dark, with the islands black against the sky.
Day 4
Caves and back to Hanoi
1. 06:00
  Sunrise on deck
  Activity
  Early light over the bay, before the day boats arrive.
2. 08:00
  Sung Sot Cave
  Activity
  The Surprise Cave, one of the largest in the bay, with huge chambers of stalactites.
3. 10:30
  Brunch on board
  Food & drink
  Served as the boat cruises back to the harbor.
4. 12:30
  Return to Hanoi
  Getting around
  Back in the city by late afternoon.
5. 19:00
  Dinner: cha ca
  Food & drink
  Turmeric fish fried at the table with dill and noodles, a dish Hanoi is known for.
Day 5
Day trip to Ninh Binh
1. 07:30
  Drive south to Ninh Binh
  Getting around
  About two hours by car or tour bus.
2. 10:00
  Trang An boat ride
  Activity
  A local rows you along a river through caves and past rice fields under limestone peaks.
3. 13:00
  Lunch: goat and crispy rice
  Food & drink
  The two local specialties of Ninh Binh.
4. 15:00
  Hang Mua viewpoint
  Activity
  A climb of several hundred stone steps to a view over the river valley.
5. 19:30
  Farewell dinner in Hanoi
  Food & drink
  One last bowl of noodles in the Old Quarter.

Good to know

Tips

Seasons

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer is hot and wet with a risk of storms that can cancel cruises; winter in the north is cool, gray and often misty on the bay.

Crossing the street

Scooters rarely stop. Walk across at a slow, steady pace and let them flow around you; don’t step back suddenly.

Choosing a cruise

Book an overnight cruise with a licensed operator and read recent reviews. Some boats visit neighboring Lan Ha Bay, which is quieter.

Money and getting around

Cash is still common for street food and markets. Ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to get around Hanoi, by car or motorbike.

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