Express north · 5 days
5 days, 4 nights: Hanoi (3N), Ha Long Bay (1N). Best time to go: Any dry-ish window; skip if only 4 nights and want beach.
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi
Hanoi
- Old Quarter street-food walk · 3 h. Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
Local tip: Go after 6pm; bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee are the classics.
Day 2: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
- Thang Long water puppet show · 1 h. Book a day ahead in Dec–Feb peak.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda · 2 h. Mornings only, shoulders/knees covered; closed some Mondays and Fridays.
- Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology · 2 h
Local tip: Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
Day 3: Explore Hanoi
Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi → Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay · Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, Road via Hanoi
- Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise · Full day. Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
- Kayaking & Sung Sot cave · 2 h. Usually included on cruises — confirm before paying extra.
Local tip: Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
Day 5: Depart from Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
- Ti Top Island viewpoint · 1.5 h
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Hanoi (3 nights): Hoan Kiem boutique stays. Quiet lanes, still walkable to the Old Quarter.
- Ha Long Bay (1 night): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.