Hanoi feels completely different from Ho Chi Minh City.

Where Saigon is fast, modern, and chaotic, Hanoi feels more atmospheric — full of history, hidden cafés, old architecture, tiny alleyways, and some of the best food I had in Vietnam.

Between sipping egg coffee in hidden cafés, wandering through the Old Quarter at night, and escaping to the mountains and bays outside the city, Hanoi quickly became one of my favourite places in Vietnam.

Here’s exactly how I would spend 4 days in Hanoi.

Day 1 — Explore the Heart of Hanoi

Morning: Wander Through the Old Quarter

Start your first day slowly in Hanoi’s famous Old Quarter.

The Old Quarter is the soul of the city — a maze of narrow streets packed with scooters, local shops, street food stalls, cafés, and hidden corners that somehow feel both chaotic and charming at the same time.

This is honestly the best area to simply walk around without a strict plan.

You’ll find:

• Tiny local restaurants

• French colonial architecture

• Hidden cafés

• Souvenir shops

• Street food everywhere

• Beautiful balconies and old apartments

Every street feels slightly different from the next.

Traditional Egg Coffee at Café Giảng

One thing you absolutely cannot leave Hanoi without trying is traditional Vietnamese egg coffee.

Head to Café Giảng, the original café where egg coffee was first created in Hanoi.

Hidden down a small alleyway, this café feels incredibly authentic and nostalgic.

The egg coffee itself is rich, creamy, sweet, and almost tastes like a coffee dessert.

Even if you’re not normally a coffee person, it’s worth trying at least once.

Afternoon: Lunch at Tam Vi

Tam Vi

For lunch, head to Tam Vi — one of my favourite restaurants in Hanoi.

The restaurant has a beautiful traditional Vietnamese atmosphere and serves Northern Vietnamese comfort food that feels homemade in the best way possible.

Do not leave without trying:

• Braised fish

• Fried tofu

• Seasonal vegetables

• Rice dishes

The braised fish was genuinely one of the best meals I had in Vietnam.

Explore Train Street

After lunch, head towards Hanoi’s famous Train Street.

This narrow railway street is one of the most unique spots in Hanoi, where cafés sit just inches away from active train tracks.

Watching the train pass through while everyone quickly moves their chairs back is such a surreal experience.

There are lots of cafés here where you can sit and wait for the train while enjoying Vietnamese coffee or coconut coffee.

Just make sure to check train timings beforehand.

Evening: Hanoi Night Market

As the sun sets, head back into the Old Quarter for the Hanoi Night Market.

At night, Hanoi completely transforms.

You’ll find:

• Street food stalls

• Local snacks

• Handmade souvenirs

• Clothes and accessories

• Live music

• Busy walking streets

The atmosphere here feels lively without being overwhelming.

Try:

• Grilled skewers

• Bánh mì

• Vietnamese desserts

• Fresh sugarcane juice

Day 2 — Full-Day Trip to Ha Long Bay

If there’s one day trip you should absolutely do from Hanoi, it’s Ha Long Bay.

Ha Long Bay Day Tour

Ha Long Bay honestly looks unreal in person.

Thousands of limestone islands rise out of emerald-green water, and the scenery almost doesn’t look real.

Most day tours from Hanoi include:

• Hotel pickup

• Return transport

• Boat cruise

• Lunch onboard

• Kayaking or bamboo boats

• Cave visits

• Sunset deck views

During the cruise, expect:

• Massive limestone cliffs

• Floating villages

• Hidden caves

• Quiet lagoons

• Incredible photo spots

Kayaking through the smaller caves and lagoons was one of my favourite parts of the experience.

Although it’s a long day, it’s completely worth it.

Booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak season.

Evening: Relaxed Dinner Back in Hanoi

After returning to Hanoi, keep your evening relaxed.

Some perfect options:

• Rooftop drinks overlooking the Old Quarter

• Hotpot dinner

• Pho at a local late-night restaurant

• Quiet café hopping

You’ll definitely appreciate a slower evening after the long tour day.

Day 3 — Ninh Binh Day Trip

Full-Day Trip to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh was honestly one of the most beautiful places I visited in Vietnam.

Often called “Ha Long Bay on land,” the scenery here feels peaceful, dramatic, and completely different from Hanoi.

Expect:

• Limestone mountains

• Rice fields

• River boat rides

• Temples

• Countryside landscapes

Trang An Boat Ride

The highlight of Ninh Binh is definitely the Trang An boat ride.

You’ll slowly drift through rivers surrounded by towering limestone mountains while passing through caves and peaceful nature areas.

It feels incredibly calm compared to Hanoi’s busy streets.

This was probably one of the most relaxing experiences of the entire trip.

Mua Cave Viewpoint

If you don’t mind a bit of climbing, head to Mua Cave viewpoint.

After climbing the stairs to the top, you’ll get panoramic views over the rice fields and rivers below.

It’s one of the most famous viewpoints in Northern Vietnam for good reason.

Evening: Café Hopping in Hanoi

Back in Hanoi, spend your evening exploring more cafés around the Old Quarter.

Hanoi’s café culture feels endless.

Some of my favourite types to try:

• Coconut coffee

• Salt coffee

• Hidden rooftop cafés

• Vintage-style cafés

You’ll constantly discover tiny cafés hidden upstairs or behind small alleyways.

Day 4 — Shopping, Luxury Malls & Hidden Streets

Morning: Shopping Local Vietnamese Brands

One of my favourite things about Hanoi was shopping.

Head to Phố Đông Các Street if you want to explore local Vietnamese fashion brands and smaller boutiques.

This area has:

• Local designer stores

• Minimal fashion brands

• Vintage-inspired shops

• Trendy cafés

• Hidden boutiques

Perfect if you prefer more unique shopping rather than tourist souvenirs.

Luxury Shopping Malls

Hanoi is also surprisingly good for luxury shopping.

You’ll often find luxury brands priced lower than the UK or US because of currency differences and regional pricing.

Some good shopping malls include:

• Lotte Mall West Lake

• Trang Tien Plaza

• Vincom Center

You’ll find:

• Designer fashion

• Beauty products

• Luxury accessories

• International brands

• Vietnamese designer labels

Afternoon: Slow Café & Lake Walk

Spend your final afternoon around Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

The atmosphere here feels peaceful compared to the rest of the city.

You’ll see:

• Locals exercising

• Street performances

• Couples taking wedding photos

• Small cafés overlooking the lake

It’s the perfect final stop before leaving Hanoi.

Evening: Final Dinner in Hanoi

For your final evening, enjoy one last Vietnamese dinner somewhere in the Old Quarter.

Some perfect final meal ideas:

• Bun Cha

• Grilled seafood

• Vietnamese hotpot

• Traditional Northern dishes

Then finish the night with one more egg coffee or rooftop drink overlooking the city.

Hanoi somehow feels both chaotic and peaceful at the same time.

Between the hidden cafés, endless food spots, buzzing Old Quarter streets, and stunning nature just outside the city, it’s the kind of place that slowly grows on you more every day.

And somewhere between sipping egg coffee in hidden alleyways and getting lost in the streets at night, you’ll probably understand why so many people fall in love with Hanoi.