If you have 3 days in Hanoi, do not only discover around city center but to begin explore Northern Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha By is landscape you should not miss,  glide through the karst landscapes of Tam Coc, cycle through rice fields to ancient pagodas, and perhaps even go on an overnight adventure or mingle with hill tribes in Sapa. Here’s how.

Day 1: Hanoi city Tours

Soak Up the City Spend your first day in Hanoi discovering the city’s signatures: delicious street food, ancient temples, Vietnam War sites, and water puppets. Soak up the atmosphere at the Temple of Literature, wander the streets of the Old Quarter (eating as you go), and visit the notorious Hoa Lo Prison, once known as the Hanoi Hilton. If Hanoi’s cuisine has you hooked—and it will—consider a cooking class so you can bring your favorite dishes home, perhaps with a market tour. In the evening, discover northern Vietnam’s own unique art form: water puppetry. The special effects, including fireworks, will amaze.

Hanoi Street Eats Food 3 Hours Walking Private Tour

Hanoi Spring City Tour 1 Day

Day 2: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay on Cruise

Catch a Cruise With three days in Hanoi, you’d be remiss not to experience Halong Bay, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its spectacular seascapes of karst islands and caves. The longer you spend on the water, the more you beat the crowds, so it’s worth at least considering an overnight tour—approach by seaplane and travel on an authentic junk for a truly decadent experience. If you’re struggling to decide, focus on the extras as well as the route: many boats offer experiences from bamboo-boat rides to sea kayaking, from cooking classes to tai chi.

Escape with Amazing Halong Bay 1 Day Tour

Mimosa Cruise 01 Day

Day 3: Hoa Lu Ancient Temple – Trang An Grottoes – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Pagoda- Mua Cave

Farther Afield If you don’t spend the night on the water, three days in Hanoi give you ample time to explore the scenic countryside of north Vietnam. Some call the UNESCO-listed karst landscapes around Tam Coc “Halong Bay on land,” and a boat ride through the rocks and rice fields is just magical. The Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most sacred sites, offers dramatic temples amid lush green vistas. Or, if you’ve opted against Halong Bay altogether, it’s possible to venture out to Sapa, where the cool mountains are home to Hmong, Dao, and Tay people, among other ethnic groups.

Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave 1 Day

Hoa Lu – Trang An – Bich Dong Luxury Tour 1 Day

Read more about How to Spend 3 Days in Hanoi – 2020 Travel Recommendations | Tours, Trips & Tickets | Viator –

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How to spend 3 days in Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ask anyone who’s been to Vietnam what the best things about it were and I’ll bet that somewhere in their list is the food. Vietnam is renowned for it’s distinguished range of tasty delights: pho noodles, banh mi, bun cha, vietnamese spring rolls, banh xeo and oh so much more, all hail from Vietnam. With its unique combination of French combined with South East Asian influences, it’s no wonder Vietnam serves up some of the world’s most delicious dishes. Whilst the whole nation consistently delivers delectable fare, you’ll find that the interpretation of dishes does vary from north to south when local flavours start getting involved.

Hanoi is particularly renowned for its local foodie scene. Turn any corner in the city and you’ll find locals hunkered over a steaming bowl of pho, perched on the miniature plastic stools that are so iconic in Vietnam. Sure, you can turn up at most venues selling food and chances are, you’re in for a tasty meal. But to source the city’s best offerings, enlist the help of a local. We met our guide at the lobby of the Silk Path Hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter right on time at 5:30pm, just as the day’s light was beginning to fade, to begin the Hanoi Evening Street Eats guided food tour. We were joined by a family of four from Australia, bringing the group number up to nine, plus our local foodie tour guide.

Departing from the hotel, we navigated the streets, narrowly avoiding the speeding motorbikes and cars as is always the case in Hanoi (and which our guide was diligently trying to keep us safe from) to the first of seven Vietnamese food stops on our tour of Hanoi.

Walking Night Street Food In Hanoi Old Quarter
Nguyen Thanh Van

While modernity has swept Vietnam’s southern capital, it’s not hard to find pockets here and there that celebrate its complex history. The architectural imprints of colonial rule still stand, alongside relics of the city’s commercial and oriental roots. If you’re a fan of history, here are seven top Ho Chi Minh City attractions in easy walking distance from the centre.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN HO CHI MINH CITY

War Remnants Museum

Piqued curiosities at the War Remnants Museum in District 3

The War Remnants Museum is a three-story museum holding countless artefacts and graphic photographs, including photographer Nick Ut’s Pulitzer Prize-winning shot, “The Terror of War.” Out-of-commission planes, tanks, bombs and helicopters decorate the courtyard. It is a sombre experience but one that leaves a lasting impression.

Admission: 15,000 VND
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3

Notre Dame Cathedral

The area around the Notre Dame Cathedral is a solid spot for people-watching

The twin-spired Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception sits at the head of Dong Khoi Street, a peaceful oasis in the busy downtown area. Built entirely from materials imported from France, the construction of the cathedral lasted nearly two decades, from 1863 to 1880.

FUN FACT: The alabaster statue of the Virgin Mary perched in the centre of the square is said to have wept tears on a single occasion in 2005, witnessed by crowds there at the time.

Admission: 15,000 VND
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: 1 Cong xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1

Saigon Central Post Office

Send a postcard from the city’s impressive old post office

Opposite the cathedral is Saigon’s charming general post office. Take a stroll inside, where you’ll find a massive foyer flanked by rows of Victorian era wooden phone booths, historic maps on the walls, and a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh. The architect of the building is sometimes incorrectly credited as Gustave Eiffel, however the design of the complex was based off his blueprints.

Admission: Free
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: 2 Cong xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1

The Reunification Palace

Peep the swanky helicopter landing pad on the rooftop.

On the site of the former Norodom Palace sits the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace. Designed by architect, Ngô Viết Thụ, the palatial estate was the residential and administrative quarters of the President of South Vietnam. These days, visitors can walk the halls and meeting rooms, upholstered in red carpet.

TIP: Don’t miss the former command centre and war rooms in the basement.

Admission: 15,000 VND
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh, District 1

Nguyen Hue Street and City Hall

City Hall overlooking Nguyen Hue Street

Expansive Nguyen Hue St. has become the new stomping ground for pedestrian activity in Ho Chi Minh City. Skirting the perimeter are dozens of high rises, upscale restaurants, commercial arcades and luxury boutiques. Spanning from City Hall to the Bach Dang Wharf, this walking street is perfect for an afternoon stroll and is at its liveliest at sundown. At the northernmost end of Nguyen Hue sits City Hall, the administrative post of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

Admission: City Hall is not open to the public
Address: 86 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe, District 1

Ben Thanh Market

The city’s most well-known commercial centre

Ben Thanh Market in the centre of the city is a timeless marketplace built atop a reclaimed plot of land which was formerly known as Bo Ret Pond. Today, the indoor market faces Quach Thi Trang Square. Inside, a matrix of aisles sells everything from fresh produce to conical hats, weasel coffee to lacquerware. Toward the end of the hall is a maze of food stalls selling sizzling bánh xèo and freshly assembled bánh mì.

Admission: Free
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: 32-30 Phan Boi Chau, Ben Thanh, District 1

Cu Chi Tunnels

EXPLORE 3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR- CU CHI TUNNEL

A guide shows travellers the secret tunnel entrances in Cu Chi

Tunnel your way back in time during your visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Located on the northwestern fringes of greater Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi District is home to a network of over 250 kilometers used by the Viet Cong to evade American and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War. Enter the tunnels at either one of two entrances, Ben Dinh, which is 35 kilometers away, and Ben Duoc, which is 70 kilometers away. Getting dirty is part of the package, so dress accordingly.

5 HISTORIAL TUNNEL YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE

Admission: 15,000 VND
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 – 5 p.m. every day including holidays
Address: Phu Hiep, Phu My Hung, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Source: vietnamtourismboard

7 must-see attractions in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

RUBICON TOURS supports a walking tour every day from Hoe Nhai Street – cross Phung Hung Street to the iconic Long Bien Bridge.

Taking place from 9.30am to 12pm, the English-speaking tour will start from Hang Dau Water Tower to Hoe Nhai Street which hosts Hoe Nhai Pagoda, before getting into Hang Than Street – the route leading to Long Bien railway station and Long Biên Bridge under the arches.

Tour members will learn about the history of the area, the French influence, what the streets were famed for in the past and what their modern-day activities are.

Get experience in Hanoi with Rubicon Tours: https://rubicontours.com/tour/hanoi-city-tour-1-day/

City walk from Hoe Nhai Street to Long Bien Bridge
Nguyen Thanh Van