HANOI TRAVEL GUIDE – 4D3N: WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO EAT?

Mentioning Hanoi often evokes images of its ancient town and millennia-old historical monuments. Yet, beyond its historic charm, Hanoi pulsates with the dynamic energy of a city evolving daily. The blend of cultural richness with vibrant, youthful features forms a tapestry of a lively capital, captivating visitors from afar.

Day 1: Visiting the Capital

Morning:

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, check-in at Silk Path Hanoi Hotel, have lunch and rest.

Afternoon:

Embark on the exploration of the capital starting with Ho Chi Minh Monuments – a complex featuring the Presidential Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace—providing insights into the country’s history and politics. Following this, visit the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, a unique shrine set on a single pillar in the center of a square lake. A symbol of Hanoi, it boasts the most distinctive architecture in Asia. Continue your journey with a visit to the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, recognized as Vietnam’s first university. Dating back to the 11th century, this ancient site has endured and proudly houses 82 stone steles, each bearing the name of a scholar from Vietnam’s bygone era.

Take a cyclo ride to explore Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake, Turtle Tower, and the charming Hanoi Old Quarter. Enhance your experience by visiting the Opera House, a distinctive venue featuring architecture inspired by theaters in the South of France.

Evening:

Freely explore Hanoi’s diverse cuisine with countless famous dishes, walking the streets of the old town, shopping at Dong Xuan night market…

Day 2: Hanoi – Bat Trang Pottery Village

Morning & Afternoon:
Begin your day with a hearty hotel breakfast before boarding the bus to Bat Trang Pottery Village. Nestled along the Red River, this historic village boasts a 6-century legacy of crafting exquisite ceramics. Renowned globally, Bat Trang’s enamel jar designs and antique restorations captivate admirers, notably in Japan, the United States, and France. The village is a treasure trove for exploring handmade pottery art, with workshops scattered throughout. Engage in hands-on pottery making, creating personalized gifts for loved ones.

Conclude the day with a return bus journey to Hanoi after exploring, shopping, and immersing in the pottery workshops.

Evening: Have dinner and explore Hanoi’s nightlife.

Day 3: Explore Ha Long Bay by Cruise

Morning & Afternoon:

Begin your day with breakfast at the hotel, then board the bus to Ha Long, heading straight to Tuan Chau port. Embark on a luxurious yacht and revel in the breathtaking natural scenery while passing through Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Ti Top Island. These caves boast mesmerizing beauty, adorned with brilliant stalactites hanging from the ceilings and unique stone formations. The highest peak even features a crystal-clear lake, enhancing the overall charm of the landscape. Guests have the option to rent kayaks for a more immersive experience, navigating the bay’s picturesque surroundings.

Evening: Return to Hanoi, enjoy dinner, and unwind at the hotel.

Day 4: Shopping and Street Food Discovery in Hanoi

Spend your final half-day in Hanoi exploring street food and shopping for souvenirs. Head to the Old Quarter area from the hotel to find unique gifts such as Hong Lam salted and sugared dry fruits, young rice flakes, sweet meat pies, and West Lake lotus tea—distinctive offerings for tourists.

Discover Hanoi’s street food scene, indulging in delectable and affordable dishes that have made a name for themselves:

• Trang Tien ice cream: the ice cream has a cool taste, not too sweet, making people attracted by its own taste. Trang Tien ice cream is produced on modern lines, ensuring food safety and hygiene with many types of ice cream with different unique flavours such as jackfruit ice cream, strawberry ice cream, rice nuggets ice cream, coconut milk ice cream, cocoa ice cream, etc. .. with the aim is to bring customers an attractive and healthy ice cream.
• Donuts – O Quan Chuong: These donuts are small, around the size of 2 fingertips, crispy crust, covered with sesame seeds, green bean paste, soft, not too sweet. A standard serving is around 10 donuts, the price is extremely cheap also for such a delightful treat.
• Rib Cartilage Porridge – Ms. Yen’s shop at Ngo Huyen: When it gets cold, it’s time to enjoy a bowl of hot porridge with ribs. A bowl of rib porridge served with a bit of crispy bagel twists, sprinkled with a little pepper will warm up the stomach immediately.
• Hot Bagel Twists – Hang Bong: This bagel twits restaurant has quite the reputation, located at the intersection of Phu Doan – Hang Bong, there is also a sign put up so it is easy to spot the place. Although the restaurant is small and a bit cramped, but in return, the bagel twist here is phenomenal, so the place is always crowded, especially in the late afternoon. The bagel twists here are deep fried, crispy, not too greasy like some other restaurants.
• Vietnamese Samosa – Banyan tree root shop Ly Quoc Su: Crispy samosas are cut into bite-sized pieces. The filling is perfectly cooked, not too crushed and still retains the flavour of shiitake and wood ear mushrooms. Next to the plate of hot samosas is a bowl of light green papaya dipping sauce and raw vegetables. All these ingredients create the unique flavour of a traditional and rustic Hanoi delicacy.
• Yogurt with Boba Pearl and Pandan Leaf Jelly – Huyen Vi smoothie shop: Huyen Vi smoothie shop located at the corner of Dinh Liet street and Trung Yen alley, and has long been known for its extremely famous mixed Yogurt. A cup of mixed Yogurt consists of a box of yogurt, then pieces of green Pandan leaf jelly, fragrant with the smell of the Pandan leaves, topped with a layer of condensed milk and greasy coconut milk.
• Grilled Fermented Pork Rolls – Au Trieu Alley: Unlike fried fermented pork rolls, which are dry and yellow in color, grilled fermented pork rolls still retain the bright pink color of the meat, along with a layer of sticky glue covering the outside, thanks to the pork skin fibers. In addition to grilled fermented pork rolls, there are also fried spring rolls, grilled starry triggerfish or grilled yellow fish.
• Grilled Chicken Legs – Ngo Gach: The food here is marinated with a rather bold, sweet, salty taste with a layer of crispy skin on top without being dry. When you come to the restaurant, the waiter will bring an array of toppings: green mango, jicamas or cucumber. If you don’t eat it, you should return it right away.
• Mixed Rice Paper – Co Toan’s Restaurant: Co Toan’s mixed rice paper is an attractive dish for young people when they go out on the weekend at the pedestrian zone. Her mixed rice paper is not sweet, the sauce is not too salty or too spicy like the Saigon version because she mixed it according to a special recipe, without using shrimp salt. Rice paper and shredded coconut are lined below, mixed with sweet and sour sauce, peanuts, fried onions, laksa leaves and 2 boiled quail eggs. The restaurant is always crowded with guests eager to try Co Toan’s special dish. Ms. Toan is also the only artist from Hanoi to be awarded the title & medal of “Essence of specialties of three regions” voted by the Vietnam Folklore Association & Culinary Arts Magazine.
• Pyramidal Rice Dumpling – Dong Cac Street: Delicious, soft pyramid rice dumpling that can be scooped into pieces with the spoon, not crushed. The filling is just mouth-watering, lots of meat and wood ear mushroom, including sausages and pickled cucumbers. Chili sauce is not too spicy, with delicious and crispy skewers. The shop also sells filter powder, cool and fragrant, creating a diverse menu for diners. Fast service, enthusiastic smiles, and affordable prices are also the best features of this restaurant.