Hanoi day trips: TOP 20 Experiences to to discover the hidden gems and beyond!

Hanoi, a city with its millennium-old culture, is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign travelers. Whether you’re interested in nature and history or just want to get away from the bustling city, Hanoi day trips are the ideal way to discover hidden beauty right outside the city center.

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There are numerous options to choose from, and here are 20 Best Hanoi Day Trips for you!

There are so many things to see and do in Hanoi that make you overwhelmed while creating your Hanoi itinerary. Therefore, let’s take a look at the following article to learn about some of the best Hanoi day trips you can take.

Hanoi day trips: Things to do inside and outside of the capital

There are lots of exciting things to see and do on a Hanoi day trip, both inside and beyond the city center.

Explore the charm of Hanoi Old Quarter

Located in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Old Quarter is one of the must-see tourist destinations in the city center. The Old Quarter features houses, roads, and street corners imbued with 19th-century French architecture. Through many ups and downs of history and time, this area still retains its original architectural elements. There is no denying that Hanoi Old Quarter is its spirit and distinctive feature.

Coming here, you will feel the elegant beauty in the souls of Hanoi people. Not only that, you also have the opportunity to savor Hanoi specialties and enjoy a delicious cup of egg coffee.

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Hanoi Old Quarter is a not-to-be-missed destination when you do a Hanoi day trip.

Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place and storage of Uncle Ho’s body and is one of the famous places that draws numerous visitors every year. When visiting this place, you can gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam through many artifacts and learn more about the life and significance of President Ho Chi Minh in Vietnamese history.

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Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to witness the solemn and sacred flag-raising ceremony and visit the entire Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Stilt House, Uncle Ho’s fish pond, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One-Pillar Pagoda.

>>> Check out: Hanoi City Tour Full Day Trip – Explore Highlights of Hanoi as a Local

Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and nearby attractions

Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Sword Lake, is located right in the center of Hanoi Capital. Considered as a symbol of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem lake has a long-standing cultural and historical significance that creates the beauty of the capital of a thousand years of civilization.

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One of the most popular Hanoi day trips is a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Not only does it have great historical value, Hoan Kiem Lake serves as a leisure destination for both locals and visitors among the hustle and bustle of the city. Within the campus of Hoan Kiem Lake are impressive nearby tourist attractions in Hanoi that always attract tourists to visit such as: Dai Nghien (Ink slab), Thap But (Pen Tower), The Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a relic complex associated with the nation’s historical periods, is a popular tourist attraction in Hanoi with many ancient architectural works and a variety of worthwhile activities. Through many ups and downs and changes, Thang Long Imperial Citadel today is a proud relic complex of the nation containing great historical values. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, with its numerous interesting activities and massive architectural works, promises to provide visitors with many memorable experiences during their one-day trip to Hanoi.

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Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a popular tourist attraction in Hanoi with many ancient architectural works.

Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam

This is the relic complex of Vietnam’s first university, including the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam area, Van lake and Giam garden. Built around 1070, during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong, the Temple of Literature is a place to worship Confucius, Chu Cong and Tu Phoi. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong found Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy), the first university in Vietnam. Not only is it a relic of the most important historical and cultural significance of the Capital and the whole country, Temple of Literature is also a work imbued with the ancient architecture of Vietnam during the Ly Dynasty that deserves preservation.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Founded in 1981 in Hanoi, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology provides a striking depiction of the history and culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. This architectural work, which spans 3.27 hectares, was the “brainchild” of French interiors specialist Veronique Dollfus and architect Ha Duc Linh. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is divided into 3 main areas: the outdoor display area, the Trong Dong building and the Southeast Asia display area. Coming here, visitors can see artifacts dating back hundreds of thousands of years, including weapons, clothes, musical instruments, and more, along with learning more interesting information about the spiritual life of the ancient Vietnamese people, discover the distinctive cultural colors of each people group.

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Discover the distinctive cultural colors of each people group on one of Hanoi’s day trips to Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

West Lake Hanoi

West Lake, the largest natural lake in Hanoi, has existed since the time of King Hung. It is situated in the Tay Ho district and spans more than 500 hectares and has a circle of almost 14.8 kilometers. West Lake is not only a cultural and natural symbol of Hanoi but also a popular tourist destination with many engaging activities such as duck pedaling, SUP boating, playing at West Lake water park, visiting ancient villages and exploring local cuisine. With its lush, romantic setting amidst bustling streets, West Lake, together with Hoan Kiem Lake, has long been a special highlight of the city. This is also an ideal destination for you to have a memorable and engaging Hanoi day trip

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Tran Quoc Pagoda and West lake are most popular on your Hanoi day trips.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Dating back up to 1500 years, Tran Quoc pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Vietnam and was once honored to be in the Top 10 most beautiful temples in the world. If you are planning a spiritual tour to see temples in Hanoi, you cannot miss visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda. During the Ly and Tran dynasties, Tran Quoc Pagoda in West Lake was the Buddhist centre of Thang Long. Today, it is a popular spiritual destination that draws many tourists each year to worship there.

Long Bien Bridge – One of the symbols of Hanoi

Considered a “historical witness,” the Long Bien Bridge has seen numerous events and ups and downs in Hanoi’s history. With its ancient architecture and picturesque surroundings, Long Bien Bridge is a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Walking along Long Bien Bridge, watching the flow of people passing by and admiring the poetic moments of the flowing Red River is an experience you should not miss when you join a Hanoi day trips.

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Long Bien Bridge is a historic bridge that spans the Red River in Hanoi (Source: Collected)

St.Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi

The fact that this is Hanoi’s first Western architectural structure and oldest Catholic church is not widely known. Thanks to its convenient location, next to many dining and entertainment venues, St.Joseph Cathedral attracts a large number of tourists and locals to visit every day. Coming here, visitors will discover hundreds-of-year architecture and historical markers that have been associated with Hanoi for many generations.

Watch Water Puppet Show at Thang Long water puppet theater of Hanoi

After a long day of exploring Hanoi, there’s nothing better than being immersed in traditional music. Thang Long Puppet Theater is the only traditional water puppetry theater with a regular performance schedule throughout the year. The theater has been helping to promote this special spiritual “specialty” infused with folk art to both domestic and foreign tourists for a long time. Here, visitors will fully enjoy the excellent water puppet performances, an art form unique to Vietnam.

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Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a famous cultural attraction in Hanoi.

Hanoi Opera House

Construction of Hanoi Opera House was done by the French following the original model of the Opéra Garnier Theater in Paris but on a smaller scale. With an “age” of almost a century (from 1911 to the present), the Hanoi Opera House has emerged as a symbol of the beauty of the city. Visitors can combine visiting the architecture of Hanoi Opera House and watching exceptional art performances. In addition, there are also many unique places to eat, visit, play and entertain around the Opera House square.

Visit some ancient and traditional craft villages

Through many ups and downs and events, craft villages in Hanoi still retain their unique beauty that is unmatched anywhere else. With a rich history and meaningful stories behind each product, these craft villages have successfully brought the most beautiful cultural values engraved in the soul of every Vietnamese person.

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A Spectacular Incense Village for your hanoi day trip.

To experience this, visit some traditional and ancient craft villages such as Quang Phu Cau Incense Village, Duong Lam Ancient Village, Bat Trang Pottery Village or Van Phuc Silk Village. These villages offer a glimpse into the city in the past, with preserved architecture and traditional techniques still practiced by skilled artisans

Day trips to 10 top-rated attractions near Hanoi

To escape the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and immerse yourself in natural landscapes, cultural experiences and outdoor adventures, the locations listed below are well worth-visiting.

Take a spiritual trip to Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi

Perfume Pagoda is a famous spiritual and sightseeing destination in My Duc that attracts many visitors every year. This location is well-known for its unique natural scenery in addition to its serene and sacred atmosphere. If you choose Perfume Pagoda as one destination on your Hanoi Day Trip itinerary, it’s recommended to visit in the spring.

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Perfume Pagoda – Explore spiritual life of the Vietnamese.

Day trip to Tam Chuc Pagoda tourist area

Tam Chuc Pagoda tourist area is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia today with a total area of up to 500 hectares including lakes, valleys and rocky mountains. This complex is uniquely designed combining ancient beauty and majestic mountain natural scenery.

Hanoi day trips to Ninh Binh

Travelers can take a day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh to explore top-rated tourist attractions and immerse themselves in the picturesque natural beauty as well as cultural and historical heritage of Ninh Binh.

Trang An – Ninh Binh is recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage site. Its serene atmosphere, majestic mountains, enigmatic caverns, and immaculate valleys all contribute to the unique beauty of this land.

>>> EXPLORE: TOP BEST Ninh Binh One Day trip from Hanoi

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Trang An boat tour is the first activity of choice for traveler in Ninh Binh.

In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Tam Coc also attracts travelers with its charming names like “Ha Long Bay on land”. Coming to Ninh Binh, don’t miss cycling and enjoying the fresh air of the countryside. A bike ride through small roads will bring you a great chance to admire the peaceful scenery of rolling mountains, gentle rivers and stretching rice fields.

In addition, Ninh Binh also has other famous attractions such as: Hoa Lu ancient capital, Mua Cave, Bai Dinh pagoda, Cuc Phuong National Park, Bich Dong Pagoda and so on. Tourists can combine the above locations in a day trip tour which is both interesting and economical.

>>> Check out about other things to do in Ninh Binh that may interest you!

Hanoi day trips to Ha Long Bay

The most alluring day trip destination from Hanoi is, without a doubt, Ha Long Bay. In a single day, you can see a lot of stunning places and taste a lot of local cuisine. Tourists should first take a boat to explore the cave system and several of HaLong Bay’s most well-known islands, including Ti Top island, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Sung Sot Cave Halong Bay, Soi Sim, and Trong Mai. Every place has its own legends that draw tourists.

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A day trip to Halong Bay is worth visiting.

During the journey to explore HaLong Bay, visitors can also kayak, explore the life of fishermen in the fishing village and enjoy seafood right on the boat. In addition to activities on the bay, visitors can also visit some attractions on land such as: Quang Ninh Museum and Library complex, Hon Gai fish market, Bai Chay old town.

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Day trip to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi

Beautiful beaches with fresh sea water and lovely white sand will win visitors over. When visiting Cat Ba island in Hai Phong, you should not miss the following activities: kayaking, visiting Cai Beo fishing village, visiting Monkey Island, visiting Cat Ba National Park, and taking a boat to admire Lan Ha Bay. If you are searching for a one-day tourist destination from Hanoi, Cat Ba is unquestionably worth a visit because of its charming natural surroundings and numerous delicious unique dishes.

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Cat Ba Island & Lan Ha Bay are best places to enjoy your day trip from Hanoi.

Mau Chau is worth being visited in a day trip from Hanoi

About 140 kilometers from Hanoi city center, Mai Chau Valley in Hoa Binh is a popular tourist destination because of its stunning natural surroundings and year-round temperate climate. There are numerous distinctive dishes, a rich culture, and peaceful fields in Mai Chau. Lac village, Nhot village, Pom Coong, Van village, Mo Luong cave, Kia cave, Chieu or Ba cave, and other locations are must-sees for visitors visiting Mai Chau. To fully appreciate the beauty of this place, visitors should rent bicycles to tour around the villages.

Ba Vi National Park: An ideal getaway day trip for nature lovers

Given its vast pine forests and stunning, enchanted natural landscape, Ba Vi National Park is one of the destinations that draws young people. In addition, there is an ancient church and a cactus greenhouse where visitors can indulge their passion for photography.

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A day trip to Ba Vi National park for nature lovers.

A day trip Moc Chau – Son La from Hanoi

About 300 kilometers from Hanoi, Moc Chau is a mountainous district in the southeast of Son La province. Moc Chau is often appropriate for vacations lasting 2 days and 1 night or 3 days and 2 nights. You can see all of the landscape here in a single day, though, if you know how to plan your trip. Moc Chau is famous for its endless tea fields. Each season, the landscape here has its own beauty. In the early spring, plums bloom in white, although in the winter, the field is covered with yellow mustard blooms. When traveling to Moc Chau, remember to visit Pa Co village, Pa Phach village, and see the tea hills at Moc Chau farm.

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Discovery natural beauty with a trip to Moc Chau.

A day trip to explore the countryside villages along the Red River Delta

A tour of the Northern countryside, why not? The Red River Delta has long been known for its rich and varied environment, including the first rugged mountainous regions on Vietnamese territory. This makes the Red River Delta’s historical culture, architecture, and food extremely distinctive and rich, and it has come to represent the Northern wet rice civilization. Enjoy a visit to the suburbs of Hanoi in a military jeep to immerse yourself in the rhythm of village life and enjoy many cherished cultural values of the Vietnamese people.

This list of Hanoi day trips will provide great opportunities to explore the majestic, wild beauty, rich history and vibrant culture of the capital. Hope your trip to Hanoi will come with a lot of fun and interesting experiences!

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