City Break · Culture · History · Food · Adventure · Bucket List
Hanoi 14-Day City Break
Overview
Spend 14 days discovering Hanoi, Vietnam — Humid subtropical climate with hot, rainy summers (May-Sep) and cool, damp, often overcast winters (Dec-Feb) with a persistent drizzle called "mua phun." October to December for cool, dry weather with clear skies. This itinerary blends Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake with free time to explore at your own pace, backed by round-trip flights, handpicked accommodation, and a dedicated travel consultant from enquiry through departure.
Highlights
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex
- Temple of Literature
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Halong Bay kayaking day trip
- Halong Bay
Day-by-Day Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive in Hanoi
Land at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) and take your included private transfer to your hotel. After settling in, ease into the trip with a relaxed visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex — Includes the museum and stilt house. Round off the evening with a welcome dinner introducing you to local flavors.
DAY 2
Hanoi: Temple of Literature & Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Morning visit to Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first national university, 11th century. In the afternoon, continue to Hoa Lo Prison Museum — Former colonial-era prison, later "Hanoi Hilton". Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 3
Hanoi: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology & Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Morning visit to Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — Exhibits on Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. In the afternoon, continue to Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre — Traditional Vietnamese water puppetry show. Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 4
Day Trip to Halong Bay
Full-day excursion to Halong Bay, a popular side trip from Hanoi. Return to Hanoi in the evening with time free to explore on your own.
DAY 5
Leisure Day & Optional Activities
A lighter day to recharge, shop, or add an optional experience. Popular choices include Phung Hung mural street — your consultant can book add-ons like this on request.
DAY 6
Hanoi: Imperial Citadel of Thang Long & Bat Trang Pottery Village tour
Morning visit to Imperial Citadel of Thang Long — UNESCO archaeological and royal site. In the afternoon, continue to Bat Trang Pottery Village tour — Hands-on ceramics village outside the city. Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 7
Day Trip to Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc)
Full-day excursion to Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc), a popular side trip from Hanoi. Return to Hanoi in the evening with time free to explore on your own.
DAY 8
Hanoi: Halong Bay day cruise (from Hanoi) & Ninh Binh (Trang An) boat tour
Morning visit to Halong Bay day cruise (from Hanoi) — Full-day boat trip to the UNESCO bay. In the afternoon, continue to Ninh Binh (Trang An) boat tour — Limestone karst river tour, day trip from Hanoi. Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 9
Leisure Day & Optional Activities
A lighter day to recharge, shop, or add an optional experience. Popular choices include Ngoc Ha flower village — your consultant can book add-ons like this on request.
DAY 10
Day Trip to Sapa rice terraces
Full-day excursion to Sapa rice terraces, a popular side trip from Hanoi. Return to Hanoi in the evening with time free to explore on your own.
DAY 11
Hanoi: Train Street cafe entry & Hoan Kiem Lake
Morning visit to Train Street cafe entry — Coffee stop beside the active narrow rail corridor. In the afternoon, continue to Hoan Kiem Lake — Central lake with Ngoc Son Temple. Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 12
Hanoi: Old Quarter & St. Joseph's Cathedral
Morning visit to Old Quarter — 36 historic guild streets of shops and food stalls. In the afternoon, continue to St. Joseph's Cathedral — Neo-Gothic cathedral in the Old Quarter. Evening free to explore local restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 13
Leisure Day & Optional Activities
A lighter day to recharge, shop, or add an optional experience. Popular choices include Duong Lam ancient village day trip — your consultant can book add-ons like this on request.
DAY 14
Departure Day
Enjoy a final morning at leisure — perhaps one last visit to Dong Xuan Market or some souvenir shopping — before your private transfer to HAN for your departure flight.
Included
- ✓ Round-trip economy-class airfare from your selected origin city (upgrade to premium economy or business available)
- ✓ 13 nights accommodation in your selected category (Budget, Mid-range, Premium, or Luxury)
- ✓ Daily breakfast at your hotel
- ✓ Private round-trip airport-to-hotel transfers
- ✓ Daily local transport as per the itinerary
- ✓ Guided tours including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake
- ✓ All entrance fees for attractions and activities listed in the itinerary
- ✓ Applicable taxes and OTA service fee
- ✓ Dedicated travel consultant support from booking through departure
Not Included
- ✕ Visa fees and travel document costs (see Visa Information)
- ✕ Travel insurance (strongly recommended, available as an add-on)
- ✕ Lunches and dinners except where noted in the itinerary
- ✕ Personal expenses, souvenirs, and gratuities
- ✕ Optional activities not listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- ✕ Airline seat selection and baggage upgrades
- ✕ Any fare difference for premium economy or business class upgrades
Good to Know
- Best Time to Visit
- October to December for cool, dry weather with clear skies.
- Currency
- VND
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Time Zone
- ICT (UTC+7)
- Nearest Airport
- Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
- Avg. Flight Time
- ~10.1h from major hubs (estimate; varies by origin — see Suggested Flights)
- Visa Information
- Vietnam requires an e-Visa for most nationalities, obtainable online in advance for stays up to 90 days; a handful of countries (including several in Southeast Asia and parts of Western Europe) have visa-exempt arrangements for shorter stays. Apply for the e-Visa at least a few days before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Hanoi?
Vietnam requires an e-Visa for most nationalities, obtainable online in advance for stays up to 90 days; a handful of countries (including several in Southeast Asia and parts of Western Europe) have visa-exempt arrangements for shorter stays. Apply for the e-Visa at least a few days before travel.
What is the best time to visit Hanoi?
October to December for cool, dry weather with clear skies. Humid subtropical climate with hot, rainy summers (May-Sep) and cool, damp, often overcast winters (Dec-Feb) with a persistent drizzle called "mua phun."
What's included in this package?
Round-trip airfare, accommodation, daily breakfast, airport transfers, daily local transport, and guided tours to the attractions listed in the itinerary. See the Included / Not Included sections for full detail.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Yes — this itinerary is a starting point. Your travel consultant can add, remove, or reorder activities, extend your stay, or upgrade your hotel category before you book.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made 30+ days before departure: full refund minus a $99 processing fee. 15-29 days before departure: 50% refund. 0-14 days before departure or no-show: non-refundable. Airline and hotel supplier cancellation terms may be stricter than this policy and apply in addition — your travel consultant confirms exact terms before payment is taken. No online payment is collected on this site; a consultant confirms final pricing and availability with you directly before any booking is confirmed.
Is Hanoi safe for tourists?
Hanoi is generally safe for tourists who take standard precautions — avoid poorly lit areas at night, keep valuables secure, and use licensed transport.
What currency should I bring to Hanoi?
The local currency is VND. Cards and mobile payments are widely accepted, and ATMs are easy to find.
Is this package good for a honeymoon or family trip?
This itinerary suits couples, solo travelers, and small groups equally well — talk to your consultant about tailoring it further.
Traveler Reviews
Elena Ivanov
★ 4.8
Brazil • 2026-02-17
We added a couple of optional activities beyond Hoan Kiem Lake and don't regret it. Good value for what was included, and the food recommendations from our guide were spot on.
Mia van Dijk
★ 4.4
United Kingdom • 2025-08-04
Everything was handled for us — flights, hotel, transfers, and tours to Temple of Literature and St. Joseph's Cathedral. Great communication from the consultant before departure too.
Emma Müller
★ 3.7
UAE • 2025-01-18
Our trip to Hanoi was fantastic from start to finish. The hotel was clean and well located, and the guided visit to Bat Trang Pottery Village tour was a real highlight. Airport transfers were on time both ways.
Omar Andersen
★ 4.8
Canada • 2025-06-17
We added a couple of optional activities beyond Temple of Literature and don't regret it. Good value for what was included, and the food recommendations from our guide were spot on.
Tom Costa
★ 5
New Zealand • 2025-03-02
We added a couple of optional activities beyond Old Quarter and don't regret it. Good value for what was included, and the food recommendations from our guide were spot on.
Elena Sharma
★ 4.8
New Zealand • 2025-06-14
We added a couple of optional activities beyond St. Joseph's Cathedral and don't regret it. Good value for what was included, and the food recommendations from our guide were spot on.