Last checked: 22 October 2026 · Next review: March 2027 (ticket prices, Train Street, traffic rules)
QUICK ANSWER: The best things to do in Hanoi fit into three zones. Ba Dinh has the Mausoleum, the Citadel and the Temple of Literature. Around Hoan Kiem you have the lake, the Old Quarter and Hoa Lo. The outskirts have the Ethnology Museum and the craft villages. Watch two closing days. The Mausoleum shuts on Mondays and Fridays, and the Ethnology Museum on Mondays. Most other sights open daily from about 8:00 to 17:00.
Most lists of things to do in Hanoi call the city “chaotic but charming” and leave the rest to you. This guide to things to do in Hanoi gives addresses, hours and ticket prices, checked against official sources where possible, plus the rules that changed in 2026.
| VND 70,000 | VND 100,000 | 19:00–24:00 | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Literature | Imperial Citadel | Car-free lake streets, Fri–Sun | City buses inside Ring Road 1 until June 2027 |
Before you go: what changed in 2026
Several things to do in Hanoi changed in 2026. Since 1 July 2026, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, including Hang Dao, Ma May and Hang Bac, have been closed to all vehicles from 19:00 to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The pilot runs to 31 December 2026 and may be extended. Public buses inside Ring Road 1 are free until 30 June 2027. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closed for annual maintenance on 4 September 2026 and reopens on 3 November 2026.
Ba Dinh: the political and imperial heart (1–5)
1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. From November to March it is open 8:00–11:00, and until 11:30 at weekends. It is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Cover shoulders and knees, stay silent and leave bags at the check-in point. Go early, as the queue builds after 9:00.
2. One Pillar Pagoda. It is a short walk from the Mausoleum. King Ly Thai Tong built the first pagoda here in 1049, after dreaming of the goddess of mercy on a lotus. The visit takes ten minutes and is free.
3. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. This UNESCO site is open 8:00–17:00 and costs VND 100,000 (under-16s free). Most visitors walk past the bunkers below the D67 building. Go down. The army’s high command ran the war from there.
4. Temple of Literature. Vietnam’s first university was founded here in 1070. It is open 8:00–17:00 and costs VND 70,000. The 82 doctoral stone stelae, dated 1442 to 1779, are on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. On Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, 18:00–22:00, a separately ticketed night programme lights up the courtyards. Enter at 58 Quoc Tu Giam.
5. Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake. Hanoi’s oldest pagoda dates back to the 6th century and has stood on its West Lake islet since 1615. Come at sunset, then walk or cycle along the lakeshore, one of the calmest things to do in Hanoi.
Hoan Kiem and the Old Quarter (6–11)
6. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Cross the red Huc Bridge to the temple (VND 50,000). It is open 7:00–19:00 Monday to Thursday and until 22:00 from Friday to Sunday. Early morning is the best time, when the locals are out doing tai chi.
7. The weekend walking streets. On Friday to Sunday nights the car-free zone around the lake fills with families, street performers and snack stalls. It is one of the best free things to do in Hanoi.
8. The 36 guild streets. In the Old Quarter, many streets are still named after the goods once sold there. Walk without a plan, look up at the narrow tube houses and turn into the alleys.
9. Hoa Lo Prison. At 1 Hoa Lo Street, it is open 8:00–17:00 every day, including holidays, and costs VND 50,000. The exhibition covers both the French colonial cells and the “Hanoi Hilton” years, when American pilots were held here. Evening tours run on some weekends; book them through the official channels.
10. Vietnamese Women’s Museum. At 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, it is open 8:00–17:00 daily and has audio guides in five languages, including English and French. It is rarely crowded, which makes it one of the quieter things to do in Hanoi.
11. Water puppets. The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, stages 50-minute shows. The audio guide costs extra. A show is one of the classic things to do in Hanoi with children, so book a day ahead in high season.
Train Street and Long Bien Bridge (12–13)
12. Train Street: go carefully, or not at all. Tours to Train Street were banned in 2025. In March 2026, the Ministry of Construction agreed to stop freight trains and reduce passenger services on the stretch between Hanoi Station, Long Bien and Gia Lam. As of August 2026 the cafés were still open, with police patrols. A tourist even had her phone knocked from her hand by a passing train. If you go, order a drink, stay seated and never step onto the tracks. Read our earlier Train Street report for the background.
13. Long Bien Bridge. The bridge opened in 1902 as the Pont Doumer. It was built by the French firm Daydé & Pillé, not by Eiffel, as you will often read. Walk the narrow side lane at sunset for river views and the banana fields below. Few things to do in Hanoi are as photogenic.
Eat and drink: tasty things to do in Hanoi (14–16)
14. Egg coffee at Café Giang. Nguyen Van Giang, a bartender at the Metropole, created egg coffee in 1946, when milk was scarce. His family still runs Café Giang at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan.
15. Bun cha. On 23 May 2016, Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared bun cha and beer at Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van Huu. The bill came to USD 6.
16. Pho for breakfast. Among food stops, pho is one of the essential things to do in Hanoi. Hanoians eat pho early, and the best shops often sell out by mid-morning. Our Hanoi pho guide names the addresses.
Things to do in Hanoi beyond the centre (17–20)
17. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. It is in Cau Giay, about 30 minutes by taxi from the Old Quarter. It is open 8:30–17:30 and closed on Mondays and during Tet, and it costs VND 40,000. Leave time for the outdoor garden of full-size village houses.
18. Bat Trang pottery village. It lies about 13 km south-east of the centre. Here you can try the potter’s wheel and visit the ceramics market. Our Hanoi Bac Ninh Full Day Excursion combines it with Dong Ho woodblock printing.
19. Van Phuc silk village. It is in Ha Dong, about 10 km south-west, and has been weaving silk for more than 1,000 years. Buy from the workshops rather than from the main-road shops.
20. A day trip out of the city. Choose Duong Lam, a laterite-walled village and national heritage site since 2005. Or go to Ninh Binh, 90 to 100 km south, or to Ha Long Bay. Our Ha Long Bay cruise guide explains day trip versus overnight.
| Sight | Hours | Ticket (VND) | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum | 8:00–11:00 (Nov–Mar) | Free | Mon, Fri |
| Temple of Literature | 8:00–17:00 | 70,000 | Open daily |
| Imperial Citadel | 8:00–17:00 | 100,000 | Check locally |
| Hoa Lo Prison | 8:00–17:00 | 50,000 | Open daily |
| Ethnology Museum | 8:30–17:30 | 40,000 | Mon |
| Ngoc Son Temple | 7:00–19:00 / 22:00 | 50,000 | Open daily |
When to visit Hanoi
October to December are the most pleasant months for outdoor things to do in Hanoi. Average highs are about 30 °C in October, 27 °C in November and 21 °C in December. January and February are cool and grey, with highs of about 20 °C. June to August is hot, with highs of 33–35 °C. Tet falls on 6 February 2027, and many family-run shops close for several days around it.
INSIDER TIP: To fit the main things to do in Hanoi into one day, do Ba Dinh in the morning, when the Mausoleum is open and it is cooler. Spend the afternoon on museums and the evening around the lake. On weekend nights, the car-free streets make the Old Quarter far easier to walk.
Things to do in Hanoi: FAQ
How many days do you need in Hanoi?
Two full days cover the main things to do in Hanoi. A third day gives you time for a craft village or Ninh Binh. Our Hanoi itinerary guide shows how to split them.
Is Train Street open in 2027?
The cafés were still operating in August 2026, but tours are banned, and passenger trains on the line are due to be reduced. Check locally before you go.
What is closed on Mondays in Hanoi?
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The Mausoleum is also closed on Fridays.
What is there to do in Hanoi at night?
Evening things to do in Hanoi include the weekend walking streets, a water puppet show, the Temple of Literature night programme and late-night street food. See our Hanoi by night guide.
SEE HANOI WITH A LOCAL GUIDE: VietOne Travel is a Vietnam-based DMC led by a founder with 33 years of local expertise. Our Hanoi Full Day City Tour covers the top things to do in Hanoi: Ba Dinh, the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter and a water puppet show, with entrance fees included. Short on time? Take the half-day tour, or contact us for a private plan.
