Hanoi is a nice place to explore on your own. If would be best if you have more than two days to discover Hanoi city centre and even surrounding areas. But if you only have one day, this itinerary is what we suggest for the best experience:
In the morning: 08:00
Start your morning at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to admire the preserved body of present Ho Chi Minh and understand the respect that Vietnamese people have for their national hero. The mausoleum is located in Ba Dinh Square and is easily accessible by taxi or motorbike. Upon the exiting the Mausoleum, you should visit nearby Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Presidential Palace to learn more about the great life of Ho Chi Minh.
Important note: From April to September, the Mausoleum is open at 7:30 am to 10:30 am from Tuesday to Thursday, and from 7:30 am to 11:00 am on weekends. From December to March, it is opened from 8:00 am to 11:00 am from Tuesday to Thursday and from 8:00 am to 11:30 am on weekends. To avoid the queues, you should be there early by 7:00 am.
09:30
Head to Thanh Nien Road to visit Tran Quoc pagoda, the city’s oldest pagoda built-in 541 under the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. This is a nice place to visit at any time of the day for refreshment and photo opportunity. The pagoda offers beautiful settings as well as peaceful and spiritual atmosphere with stunning views of the West Lake. Before leaving the pagoda for nearby Quan Thanh temple and Truc Bach Lake, don’t forget to buy a turtle, make a wish and set it free into the lake.
Note: there is a Tay Ho restaurant across the street that serves good Vietnamese dishes. You should enter here for lunch before going to the next attractions.
In the afternoon: 12:00
Take a stroll around the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, which was dedicated to Confucius and finest scholars. The temple is well-maintained and offers lovely gardens, beautiful lake, and elegant architecture dating back more than 1000 years. Although the information about the site is available in English, you will need a tour guide or guidebook to really understand the interesting history of the temple.
13:00
Make your way to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to understand ethnic groups in Vietnam with their own culture and dialect. The museum is well-presented with 2 parts: indoor and outdoor exhibitions. The indoor comprises the exhibition building, research centre, library and the outdoor is composed of the traditional houses of main ethnic groups from all over Vietnam. This place is excellent for entertaining and educational as well.
15:00
Next, it’s back to the city centre for a pleasant time at Hoan Kiem Lake, The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple. Then take a walk to Old Quarter, a destination of choice for shopping, eating out (especially street food) and enjoying the hustle of life. Each street is named after the specific product sold there.
In the evening: 18:30
Have BBQ dinner at Xuan Xuan Restaurant to enjoy authentic Vietnamese experience. The restaurant is located at 47 Ma May Street of Old Quarter and always crowded. Sit on little ankle-high stools may be a challenge for tall people but it’s worth. There are 3 meat options: pork, beef and goat. The meat is brought on a large plate and you grill them over a small stove.
Tips: It’s more comfortable to sit outside and enjoy the sights on the busy street.
20:00
Enjoy a 75-minute show of water puppetry at Thang Long Water Puppetry Theater. This is a traditional folk art which will offer you a lot about the agricultural culture of Vietnam through the stories of national heroes, fairy-tale characters… The show ends at 21:15 and you can enjoy 30 minutes walk around and nice night drink at Old Quarter before ending the trip and returning to your hotel.