Use the official Noi Bai airport shuttle or a reputable transfer app (Grab, G7 Taxi). Expect 45 minutes into the Old Quarter. Buy a local eSIM from Viettel or Mobifone for stable 4G; unlimited plans cost about 200,000 VND per week.
Old Quarter Orientation
Join a free walking tour the first morning to decode the guild streets. Train Street reopened with restrictions—book a cafe reservation (e.g., The Railway Hanoi) and arrive 30 minutes before scheduled trains (usually 3:20 p.m. and 7:20 p.m.) for safety briefings.
Street Food Sequencing
- Breakfast: Pho Gia Truyen or Pho Bat Dan—line up, pay first, add condiments at the table.
- Midday: Bun cha at 74 Hang Quat; seat upstairs for fan access.
- Evening: Bia Hoi Corner (Ta Hien) for draft beer and grilled skewers; mind your belongings.
Coffee culture thrives—try egg coffee at Cafe Giảng and coconut coffee at Cong Caphe. Many cafes double as co-working spaces with outlets and decent Wi-Fi.
Museums + Lakes
Hoan Kiem Lake provides a calm morning stroll. Visit Ngoc Son Temple, then explore Hoa Lo Prison Museum and the Vietnamese Women's Museum for historical context. Museums close around 5 p.m., so plan accordingly.
Day Trip: Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh
For Ha Long Bay, choose reputable operators (Indochina Junk, Orchid Cruises). Transfers leave around 8 a.m.; pack motion-sickness bands. Alternatively, take a 2-hour train or limo bus to Ninh Binh for Trang An boat rides and Hang Múa hike. Book return transport before leaving Hanoi because services fill up on weekends.
Practical
- Carry wet wipes and hand sanitizer—street vendors rarely provide napkins.
- Cross streets slowly and predictably; maintain eye contact with drivers.
- Tap water isn't safe—use hotel dispensers or buy large jugs to refill bottles.