3 Days in Hanoi: Scooters, Pho & History
Hanoi is beautifully chaotic. It smells like exhaust, incense, and boiling broth. Three days gives you time to master crossing the street, drink egg coffee, and explore the dense, winding streets of the Old Quarter before heading to Ha Long Bay.
Day-by-Day Snapshot
The Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and a street food walking tour.
History & Politics
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison.
Culture & Coffee
Dong Xuan Market, French Quarter walk, and a water puppet show.
- •Hesitating when crossing the street (walk slowly, let the scooters go around you).
- •Drinking tap water (buy bottled).
- •Paying the first price offered in a market.
- •Wearing shorts to temples or the Mausoleum.
October to November or March to April.
Train Street (though rules change constantly on whether you can sit there).
- Old Quarter: Where all the action, food, and noise is.
- French Quarter: Wider streets, quieter, luxury hotels.
Getting Around
Walk in the Old Quarter. Use Grab (the Asian Uber) for cars or scooters elsewhere. Negotiate cyclos (pedicabs) firmly before sitting down.
Where to Eat
Bun Cha Huong Lien (where Obama and Bourdain ate). Pho Gia Truyen for beef pho. Cafe Giang for the original egg coffee. Eat street food where tiny plastic chairs are full of locals.
Common Questions
Is the street food safe?
Yes, stick to busy stalls with high turnover.
How do I cross the street?
Keep a steady pace. Do not run. The bikes will flow around you like a river.
Is 3 days enough?
Yes, for the city. Add days if you want to visit Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay.
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