Hà Nội (Hanoi) is the capital of Vietnam and its cultural heart, a city of lakes, tree-lined French colonial boulevards, and a thousand-year-old Old Quarter where every street once specialised in a single trade. Visitors come for street food such as phở and bún chả, egg coffee, water puppet theatre, temples and museums, and easy access to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, and the northern mountains.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from the Old Quarter to Ninh Bình, Hạ Long, Hương Pagoda or Bát Tràng from about 500,000-1,500,000 VND (~$19-$57.70) per person including transport; overnight Hạ Long cruises from about 3,000,000 VND (~$115)
- Private
- Private car with driver from about 1,500,000-3,500,000 VND (~$57.70-$135) per day depending on distance; hotel reception can arrange one
- Public
- Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn) from Hà Nội Station to Ninh Bình and Lào Cai; intercity buses from Mỹ Đình (20 Phạm Hùng), Giáp Bát (Giải Phóng), Gia Lâm and Nước Ngầm stations; city buses from Long Biên and Kim Mã terminals
- Rental
- Motorbike rental from about 150,000-250,000 VND (~$5.80-$9.60) per day; a car with driver is far more practical than self-drive for visitors. A valid international driving permit with a motorcycle class is required to ride legally
Multi-day tours from Hà Nội
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from Hà NộiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book train tickets at dsvn.vn a few days ahead; overnight Sa Pa trains sell out on weekends and around Tết
Limousine vans depart from the Old Quarter and are the fastest way to Ninh Bình, Hạ Long and Mai Châu; check that the operator is licensed and the van has seat belts
Grab does not run reliably beyond about 60 km; arrange a return car with a driver for far destinations
Weekend traffic on the expressways to Hạ Long, Hải Phòng and Ninh Bình can add 1-2 hours; leave before 07:00
Carry a printed copy of the return booking and the hotel address in Vietnamese for drivers
Typhoon season (July-October) can cancel Hạ Long cruises; check the forecast at nchmf.gov.vn before booking