Hanoi itinerary: the Old Quarter, street food and a bay trip
Hanoi rewards slow walking: noodle stalls on plastic stools, lakeside mornings, French-era streets and temples. This prompt asks your todo.is agent for a Hanoi itinerary that keeps you on foot in the Old Quarter, adds the main history sites in the right order and fits in Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh without wasting a day.
The prompt
- Plan my Hanoi itinerary: [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Base it on walking in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, then add Ba Dinh (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda), the Temple of Literature, West Lake and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Note which sites close on Mondays or at midday. Include [BAY TRIP] and say if it should be a day trip or an overnight. Food: one local dish to try each day (pho, bun cha, banh mi, egg coffee) with an area to find it, and we eat [FOOD PREFERENCES]. Interests: [INTERESTS]. Tips on crossing the street, Grab and money. PDF by email, no bookings.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "4". 3 days in the city plus 1 to 2 for Ha Long or Ninh Binh is common.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "2 to 6 April". The agent checks Tet (Lunar New Year) and the weather.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "solo backpacker", "couple", "family".
- [BAY TRIP]: E.g. "Ha Long Bay overnight cruise", "Lan Ha Bay", "Ninh Binh day trip", or "none".
- [FOOD PREFERENCES]: E.g. "everything", "vegetarian", "no organ meat".
- [INTERESTS]: E.g. "history, coffee culture, markets, water puppets".
Example result
- Hanoi in 4 days, a couple
- History, coffee, street food · April
- Where to stay
- • Old Quarter: walk everywhere, lively, noisy at night.
- • French Quarter: calmer, wide streets, 10 minutes' walk to the lake.
- Day 1: Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
- • Morning: walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and cross the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.
- • Stroll the "36 streets", each once named for its trade: Hang Gai (silk), Hang Ma (paper goods).
- • Lunch: bun cha, grilled pork with noodles and herbs.
- • Afternoon: egg coffee in a hidden upstairs café; Dong Xuan Market.
- • Evening: water puppet show near the lake, then beer on Ta Hien street.
- Day 2: Ba Dinh and the Temple of Literature
- • Morning: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (mornings only, closed some days and for periods each year; dress modestly, no talking). One Pillar Pagoda next door.
- • Late morning: Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university.
- • Afternoon: Hoa Lo Prison museum, then the Train Street area if local rules allow visits that week.
- • Evening: pho for dinner; locals eat it any time of day.
- Day 3: Ninh Binh day trip
- • About 2 hours by tour bus or private car.
- • Boat through limestone caves at Trang An or Tam Coc, then climb to the Hang Mua viewpoint (about 500 steps).
- • Back in Hanoi by evening; banh mi from a street cart.
- Day 4: West Lake and ethnology
- • Morning: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Grab, about 25 min). Closed Mondays.
- • Afternoon: Tran Quoc Pagoda and cafés along West Lake.
- • Evening: weekend night market in the Old Quarter if it's Friday to Sunday.
- Good to know
- • Cross the street at a slow, steady pace. Motorbikes go around you.
- • Use Grab for cars and motorbike taxis; agree prices before cyclos.
- • Spring and autumn are mild. Summer is hot and wet; winter can feel cold and damp.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in days, dates, travellers, the bay trip, food and interests.
- Paste it into todo.is (Today screen) or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent sends a Hanoi PDF with a walking route, closing days and a dish for each day.
- Ask "make the bay trip an overnight cruise" or "add Sapa", and book tours yourself from the links.
Tips for a better result
- Pick Ha Long Bay for the classic cruise or Ninh Binh for rice fields and caves on a day trip. Ask your agent to compare them for your dates.
- Visit the mausoleum early. It opens only in the morning and the queue grows fast.
- Ask for a street food walk route that ends near your hotel, so you can stop when you are full.
- If you go on to Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City, ask your agent for train and flight options with links.
Hanoi itinerary: FAQ
- How many days are enough for Hanoi? Two to three days for the city, plus one or two for Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh.
- Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh: which is better? Ha Long is best on an overnight cruise among sea karsts. Ninh Binh works as a day trip with boats through caves and rice paddies.
- Is Train Street in Hanoi open to tourists? Access has changed several times for safety reasons. Your agent checks recent news, but follow local rules on the day.
- When is the best time to visit Hanoi? October to December and March to April usually have the most pleasant weather.
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