Top 20 amazing day trips from Hanoi
Situated in the north of Vietnam, Hanoi – the capital city – is the country’s most popular travel destination. It is not too difficult to understand why holidaymakers favor Hanoi since the metropolis is regarded as a cradle of more than a thousand years of cultural heritage. Yet, there is a lot more for you to discover.
Top things to do in Hanoi
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When you are already in Hanoi, do not hesitate to pack up and delve deeper into the neighboring areas, some of which are listed in “the 50 most beautiful places in Asia” compiled by the prestigious travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. Despite lacking the bustling urban life compared to its southern counterpart, Northern Vietnam will impress you with a serene way of life, surreal landscapes and mysterious spiritual sites. Here is a list of 20 amazing day trips from Hanoi that will definitely bring you mind-blowing experiences as well as deepen your knowledge of Vietnamese cultures and traditions.
1. Free your soul with Ha Long Bay Cruise and Kayak adventure
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage natural wonder, Ha Long Bay has more than 2,000 idyllic limestone islands and attracts millions of tourists every year and never fails to awe any of them. After a three-hour drive from the capital city, you will find yourself drifting on a cruise heading to Thien Cung (Heaven Palace) and Sung Sot (Shocking) caves. Walking inside the caves, they will give you an impression of visiting art museums with abstract sculptures formed by stalactites and stalagmites. It is cool to try guessing what the rocks represent and discuss it with your companions.
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What completes the trip is a sumptuous seafood lunch provided on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Do not forget to tell the guide about your allergies beforehand. For the afternoon session, you can have a great time kayaking around to discover small hidden caves and experience the life of local inhabitants in a rusty fishing village.
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- Deluxe 3 days cruise and kayak adventure in Halong Bay
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2. Embrace Vietnamese culinary culture by joining in a Hanoi street food walking tour
The best part of travelling is getting the chance to sample the local cuisine, especially when Vietnam is known for the heaven of street food. A local guide will show you around the Old Quarter and stop by a local eatery for you to have a tasty dish of Banh Cuon. Then, you will continue until you reach an outdoor barbeque stall where you can try Banh Mi Hanoi. After that, the last stop is dessert. You can choose either famous Egg Coffee or a cold beer.
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- Taste Hanoi signature dishes in the Old Quarter's best hidden eateries
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3. Hanoi city tour: a date with nostalgia
Hanoi city tour starts at eight in the morning, encouraging tourists to experience Hanoian spirits from dawn to dusk. Going on this tour, you will be able to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of Vietnam’s former president – Uncle Ho. Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, is also a highlight of this trip. Together with other sites such as Bat Trang Pottery Village, Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Old Quarter, and Ethnology Museum, the tour around Hanoi will equip you with knowledge of a thousand years worth of history while chilling in the slow-paced and tranquil lifestyle. Since you will pay a visit to some historical and solemn places, shorts, mini-skirts, and sleeveless shirts should be avoided.
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4. Explore the hidden gems of Vietnam: Trang An Complex and Bai Dinh Pagoda
Located in Ninh Binh Province which is 100 km away from Hanoi, Trang An Complex and Bai Dinh Pagoda are must-have items in every traveler’s itinerary. Bai Dinh Pagoda is renowned for many regional records: the most spacious pagoda, the biggest copper bell, the most Arhant statues, the biggest open space in Vietnam, and the tallest gold-plated copper Buddha statue in the Asia. Since you will have to climb flights of stairs to get to the Buddhas, I suggest wearing comfortable clothes and trainers instead of tight clothing and high heels. At lunch, tourists can savor a buffet with local specialties like fried rice and goat meat. Coming to Trang An Complex, you should allocate 2 hours on the small boat drifting along breath-taking scenery to explore the cave complex and immerse yourself in the backstory of each cave told by a local guide.
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- Day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Trang An complex and Bai Dinh pagoda
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5. Engage in spiritual life of the Vietnamese in Perfume Pagoda
Another amazing day trip from Hanoi that you do not want to miss is a visit to the Perfume Pagoda, or Huong Pagoda – a spiritual destination of Vietnamese people. You can enjoy mountain views while rowing on Yen river and trekking up to the main pagoda. In accordance with Buddhist culture, you should be wearing outfits that cover both your shoulders and knees, or else you won’t be allowed to enter. Another thing worth noting is that it is not a good idea for you to visit Perfume Pagoda during Vietnamese national festivals because at those time it is overcrowded with people, impeding the appreciation of the scenic beauty.
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Day trip to Perfume Pagoda
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6. A weekend getaway in the heart of nature in Mai Chau
For those who want to escape the bustle of the city and fancy nature, beauty, and cultures of Vietnamese hill tribes, a day trip to Mai Chau can be an unforgettable experience. Day trippers to Mai Chau can blend in and learn about Vietnamese ethnic minority groups through first-hand experience as they are offered a unique accommodation – traditional homestay. Besides, the scenery of rice fields and houses built on stilts will surely take your breath away.
7. Admire the beauty of plum blossoms in Moc Chau
As a region of elevated mountainous plateau, Moc Chau possesses outstandingly beautiful landscapes and hospitable climate all year round. Yet, the best time to make a day trip to Moc Chau is from late January to early February when plum blossoms bloom. At that time, villages and forests are covered in the pure white of the flowers. In Moc Chau, you can visit Moc Shan Tuyet where best quality tea is produced to gain insights into the process of tea making and try it by yourself.
8. Visit the magnificence of Tam The in Ba Vang Pagoda
With over 300 years of history, the newly renovated Ba Vang Pagoda, or Bao Quang Pagoda, has become an appealing tourist attraction in recent years. What entices both domestic and foreign visitors to the sacred place is the record of the largest three-compartment sanctum. Ba Vang Pagoda is located 340 meters above sea level on Thanh Dang Mountain, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province. Stepping inside, your jaw will drop in front of the glamourous design and the monumental statue of Tam The – three Buddhas representing the Past, Present, and Future. Bear in mind that you should be in knee-length and sleeved clothing to show respect to the Buddhas.
9. Make your own pottery in Bat Trang Pottery Village!
Vietnam has long earned a reputation of skillfully handcrafted products. Visiting Bat Trang Pottery Village – the most ancient and famous pottery village in Vietnam, you can discover the ceramic production process and gain hands-on experience of making one on your own. Before leaving, you can stop by the souvenir shop and grab some cute clayware at a reasonable price.
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10. A sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city in Hoa Lu – Tam Coc
Hoa Lu – Tam Coc is a historical and cultural icon in Ninh Binh Province. Hoa Lu was the first capital city of Vietnam until the King of the Ly Dynasty moved the capital to Thang Long, later known as Hanoi. Coming here, travelers can spend time in the mausoleum and temples worshipping the Le and Dinh Dynasties. Boarding a small boat to explore Tam Coc, which literally means three caves, tourists might lose themselves in majestic limestone caves and the scenery of rice paddies along the river banks. You must see it with your own eyes to believe that it is not exaggerating to refer Tam Coc as Ha Long Bay on land. A fun fact is that the Hollywood blockbuster Kong: Skull Island was filmed here.
Hoa Lu & Tam Coc full day tour from Hanoi
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11. A bike-hopping adventure with Hanoi Vespa tour
If a hot, cramped bus tour is a nuisance to you, Hanoi Vespa tour comes to your rescue. An English-speaking tour guide will drive you around the Old Quarter, past small alleys. You will get a thrill out of non-touristy areas which only true Hanoians would know, such as Long Bien Bridge, the railway track, Ngu Hiep Lake with B-52 bomb wreckage,…
12. Walking in the heaven on earth in Tam Dao
With a pleasantly cool climate and exquisite mountain views throughout all seasons of the year, Tam Dao is ready to welcome tourists at any time. On this trip, you can stroll around the town in the sea of fogs and clouds, creating the feeling of walking in heaven. You can also snap some shots of the French architectural ancient church, then a few steps to the left, the Sky Gate will serve you picturesque scenery. On the top of all those, do not forget to savor the regional specialties – fresh chayote, hill chickens and hill pigs.
13. Living the life of a Vietnamese boatman on Cat Ba island
Cat Ba Island is an excellent choice to get to understand the life of boatmen. This trip allows you to visit a family fish farm to learn how they feed and catch fish. Other activities to engage in are exploring hidden lagoons, going kayaking, jumping from the top of the boat, and having suntan on the beautiful white-sand beaches...
14. Trek your way to Ba Be National Park
If you are seeking active adventures in magnificent landscapes, one-day trekking tour in Ba Be National Park may fit your taste. The trek will take you to Coc Toc village where the Tay people fish in the lake for their livelihood, H’mong ethnic village, and vast mountain ranges and valleys. It is advised that you should wear comfortable clothes, bring sunglasses and insect repellent since you will complete a 15-to-18-km trek. The ideal time to visit Ba Be National Park is between October and June when the weather is cooler and more pleasant.
Trekking the hidden trails of Ba Be national park in 3 days from Hanoi
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15. Enjoy a laid-back lifestyle in Co To Island
It is not a surprise that Co To Island has witnessed a boom in tourist arrivals in the past few years. The remote, untouched terrain, along with its varied sea ecosystem, is all that can be expected from a coastal area. You can easily catch a glimpse of locals’ daily activities, particularly a fisherman hauling freshly caught fish, in crystal clear ocean. Moreover, visitors seem fond of snorkeling for coral reef discovery.
16. Back to the past in Duong Lam Ancient Village
60 km to the west of Hanoi, Duong Lam village in Son Tay town is the first ancient village in Vietnam and a home village to two venerable kings: Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen. This authentic rural village exudes a nostalgic vibe of Vietnam, where houses were still built in laterite bricks and mud. Tourists will be able to relive the past experience of Vietnamese people in the countryside by having a traditional meal with a local host and getting involved in the silk-making process in Van Phuc Silk Village.
17. Absorb the divinity of Yen Tu Mountain
The trip to Yen Tu Mountain is an amazing day trip from Hanoi that is worth taking part at least once in your lifetime. Vietnamese pilgrims hold a belief that anyone who has not come Yen Tu cannot be considered a true religious person, which can reveal the influential value of this sacred place in their spiritual lives. Lying on the peak of Yen Tu, 6,000 meters walking trail from the foot of the mountain, Chua Dong (Bronze Pagoda) is a limelight of the site. Rumor has it that a tap on the pagoda will bring about good luck and fortune. On a side note, two cables are in operation in aid of time-saving and convenient sightseeing.
18. Take photographs of Ban Gioc Falls
The biggest in Vietnam and the fourth biggest waterfall in the world, a visit paid to Ban Gioc Falls can be eye-opening. Those who come to the Falls cannot deny the site is of an immeasurable worth that Mother Nature granted Cao Bang Province in particular and Vietnam in general. Despite the exhausting trip to get to the remote mountainous area, the splendor of the waterfall in the pristine condition will worth your while.
19. Spend a peaceful afternoon at Dai Lai Lake
When the excessive heat of the capital in the summer gets on your nerves, a trip to Dai Lai Lake is just what the doctor ordered. It takes only an hour to get here from central Hanoi. Diverse means of entertainment are provided around the lake. Swimming, going fishing, paddling swan boats, playing golf… will put you at ease in this retreat from noisy downtown. Or you can simply find a place to sit down and seize the moment of fresh air and green space.
20. Be a explorer at Cuc Phuong National Park
If you consider yourself a nature and animal lover, Cuc Phuong is a perfect place to go. Ranked in the top 5 largest national parks in Vietnam, the park contains over 200 square kilometers of rainforest. Cuc Phuong was the first national park to be established and the country’s biggest nature reserve, with a wide range of flora and fauna. A large number of tourists come here every year to study butterflies, visit caves and hike mountains. Dry season, which lasts from October to April, is the best period to visit the site to enjoy it to the fullest.
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