Hanoi became the capital of Dai Viet in 1010, when Ly Thai To established his seat here and named it Thang Long. Today it is the capital of a unified Vietnam, with a population of around 8.7 million, and it still wears its layers openly: an imperial citadel recognised by UNESCO, a trading district of narrow shophouses, a Confucian temple dating from 1070, and French colonial buildings from the years when it was the capital of French Indochina.
For travellers from India, Hanoi works best as a slow city. The Old Quarter is the most atmospheric and the most tiring part, with scooters, pavement stalls and no real sense of a footpath. Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake and the shaded courtyards of the Temple of Literature give breaks that older travellers will welcome. A good first day is the lake and the Old Quarter on foot; a second takes in the Temple of Literature, the citadel and the Mausoleum area by taxi.
Food needs thought. The city's signature dishes use pork, fish sauce and shrimp paste, and the Indian restaurant scene is harder to verify than in Bangkok or Singapore. Vegetarians and vegans are better served than they might expect, since there is a strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition and several fully plant-based restaurants, but Jain food is not something you should count on.
Plan for the climate. Winters are cool and grey, summers hot and humid with heavy rain from May to September, and the comfortable window is narrow. Entry rules, hours and fees change, so treat every detail in this guide as checked at the time of writing and confirm with official sources before you go.
Before you plan
Hanoi at a glance
- Best months
- October to DecemberOctober to December, when the weather is dry and mild; November is the best of them. January and February are cool and grey. June to August is hot, humid and wet.
- Ideal trip length
- 3 days for the city3 days for the city; 2 days covers the main sights if you start early. Add 1 to 3 days for Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh.
- Airport
- Noi Bai International AirportNoi Bai International Airport (HAN), about 35 km north-east of the centre; Terminal 2 handles international flights. Direct flights from several Indian cities are listed, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad; schedules change, so verify before booking.
- Railway station
- Hanoi StationHanoi Station (Ga Ha Noi), 120 Le Duan Street, is the terminus of the North-South railway and lines to Lao Cai, Hai Phong and Dong Dang. No train links India with Vietnam, so most visitors arrive by air.
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing apps and metered taxis…Ride-hailing apps and metered taxis are the easiest option. Two elevated metro lines operate, but most sights are not on them. Crossing roads on foot needs a steady pace.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 per person…Roughly ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 per person per day excluding hotel and flights, for food, taxis and entry fees; it varies with how often you use taxis and sit-down restaurants
- Senior comfort
- Moderate: sights are mostly levelModerate: sights are mostly level, but pavements are blocked and uneven, traffic is heavy, and summers are hot and humid. Taxis and a hotel near the lake help.
- Language
- VietnameseVietnamese; English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas, less in local restaurants. Translation apps help.
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Hanoi: November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Hanoi itinerary
One good day
1 day in Hanoi
Start early with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and across the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. Walk into the Old Quarter for a slow look at the trade streets. After lunch and a rest, take a taxi to the Temple of Literature, and end with dinner at a vegan or vegetarian restaurant in the Old Quarter.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Hanoi
Walk Hoan Kiem Lake in the morning, visit Ngoc Son Temple, and spend the afternoon in the Old Quarter. Look at St Joseph's Cathedral and rest before an evening of street life.
Three unhurried days
3 days in Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, a slow Old Quarter walk and St Joseph's Cathedral. Early dinner in the Old Quarter.
