How to Spend 6 Days in Hanoi – Best Hanoi Itinerary 6 Days for Newcomers
Overview
How to Spend 6 Days in Hanoi for Newcomers?
Are you planning to visit Hanoi and other northern provinces of Vietnam but you don’t know what to do in the 6 days in Hanoi? Or what should your 6-day Hanoi itinerary be like? Are you looking for the most suitable itinerary for you? First of all, congratulations for picking the ideal time to visit Northern Vietnam and experience its splendor!
Six days is the perfect amount of time, which will allow you to visit three or four northern provinces, including Hanoi, without feeling rushed. This period also makes it easier to choose destinations that suit your companion, as well as family, couples, friends, or even alone.
Let’s check out our suggested schedules below and find out which is best for you!
Recommend Hanoi 6 Days Itinerary
Option 1: Hanoi Relax Holiday 6 Days Itinerary
With this 6-Day Hanoi itinerary, you will have the opportunity to visit almost all the attractions in each province without having to rush. Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long will surely impress you after this trip.
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
- Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay
- Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi
- Day 5: Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu Tam Coc Mua Cave
- Day 6: Departure
>>> CHECK OUT: BEST NINH BINH DAY TOURS FROM HANOI
Who for this
- With a planned itinerary that enables you and your loved ones to get to know one another better, this option is appropriate for groups of friends or couples. Along with beautiful plains cities, the trip also offers you the beauty of lush woodlands. Therefore, you and your companion will undoubtedly have a special time to bond and become closer.
- For pleasurable and memorable moments with your beloved, don’t forget to go kayaking on the bay.
Additionally, Halong bay cruise provides unique and beautiful settings which are intended for happy couples. - We would highly recommend this cruise to groups of adults and children or those who want a relaxing trip. The itinerary is not too rushed, so you can also experience the most in 3 destinations: Hanoi, Halong and Ninh Binh.
Day 1: Explore Hanoi Old Quarter – Street Food
- After arriving in Hanoi, tourists will start the trip to discover the Old Quarter in the morning, starting with Hoan Kiem Lake, Ma May ancient house or Dong Xuan market…
- You then have time to enjoy the local dishes like Pho, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), bun cha (rice noodles with grilled pork)… to understand why Hanoians are proud of such dishes.
- If you find understanding Hanoians’ daily life and local food not enough, drinking some beers on Ta Hien Street at night will help you learn more about the nightlife.
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay( Overnight on Cruise)
- Depart from Hanoi in the morning and arrive in Ha Long Bay at noon.
- Have lunch on the cruise before visiting one of the most famous caves in Halong bay by kayak. Then you will spend a few hours at a beautiful beach of an unspoilt island before heading back to the cruise for dinner.
- Have dinner on the cruise and then join the onboard nightlife activities such as go night squid fishing or sip some beers at the cruise’s bar.
Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi
- Wake up early and do Tai Chi exercises on deck. After having breakfast, tourists will go kayaking to explore another mysterious cave.
- Return to the cruise for lunch while it will take you back to the harbor.
- After lunch, the car will head back to Hanoi. If you still have time, let’s explore more Hanoi’s Old Quarter at night
Day 4: French Old Quarter + Cyclo Tour
- In the morning, you can spend time discovering the French Quarter in Hanoi. Different from Hanoi Old Quarter, this area has a lot of French colonial architecture. Some attractions you definitely should not miss out including St. Joseph’s cathedral, Hoa Lo Prison, Long Bien Bridge, and more.
- In the evening, let’s experience sitting on a cyclo around and enjoying a water puppet show.
Day 5: Hanoi – Ninh Binh Day Tour
- Depart for Ninh Binh early in the morning, then you can visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Tam Coc, Mua Cave – some of the most well-known attractions in Ninh Binh.
- After a delectable lunch with famous local cuisine, tourists take a boat tour rowed by the locals to take in the beauty alongside the river, and visit Mua Cave which offers beautiful views to the villages, rivers, and mountains in Tam Coc.
- In the late afternoon, return to Hanoi. Tourists will have a free night in Hanoi to discover this capital on your own.
Day 6: Hanoi and Departure
- On the last day of your itinerary, if you have time, let’s explore the West Lake area and visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is known as the most beautiful, peaceful and oldest temple in Hanoi.
- Then, you can freely enjoy the remaining time before your return flight.
In addition, you can choose some quiet destinations on the outskirts of Hanoi such as Van Phuc Silk Village, Bat Trang Pottery Village or Duong Lam Ancient Village to escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and have different experiences on the last day in Hanoi.
Option 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Sapa – Hanoi
Sapa and Ha Long Bay are the two most attractive destinations in Northern Vietnam. With the 6-Day Hanoi itinerary, tourists will be able to visit the highlights of each destination and have the best time in Vietnam.
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay, Overnight on cruise
- Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 4: Hanoi – Sapa, Overnight in Sapa
- Day 5: Sapa Fansipan – Hanoi, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 6: Hanoi Departure
Who for this
- Don’t miss hiking and kayaking to have enjoyable and memorable moments!
- This itinerary will definitely offer you and your loved ones with a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other better and closer. You will be able to admire the beauty of not only cities in the plains but also verdant forests and majestic mountains.
- The romantic and unique settings offered on the Halong Bay cruise are intended for happy couples.
- This itinerary option provides exploration in three main destinations, namely Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa. However, if you are traveling in a group with elders and children, this option is not recommended.
- A trip to explore Sapa requires a lot of effort on hiking or walking on the roads and villages, which can be challenging for children and the elderly.
- It also takes you a long time to go to Sapa (by train or shuttle bus), so this itinerary is a bit rushed.
- Young people and adventurous lovers are probably the most suitable ones for this destination!
Day 1: Explore Walking Tour in Old Quarter
In the Morning
- Visit Hanoi Old Quarter and attractions in and around this area such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Ancient House, Bach Ma Temple, Quan Chuong Gate, Dong Xuan Market… You can see the map below for the itinerary in Hanoi Old Quarter.
- Hoan Kiem Lake is considered the “heart of the Capital”. Walking around the lake is a must-do activity when visiting Hanoi, so this attraction is listed on almost all walking tours.
- Ma May Ancient House Hanoi: Located at 87 Ma May Street, the Old Quarter, it is a well-preserved house with a special architecture of Hanoi in the past.
In the afternoon
- You should explore more places such as: Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House.
In the evening
- Take a Street Food Tour in Hanoi with a Local Guide or enjoy a draft beer with some locals at Ta Hien beer street where it is known as the international intersection to understand more about nightlife in Hanoi
- In addition, let’s check out more recommendations in our article for 3-day itinerary in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay 2Days 1 Night on Cruise
- Depart from Hanoi in the early morning and arrive in Ha Long Bay around lunchtime then check in on the cruise.
- Preliminary instructions on safety will be provided to passengers prior to check-in. Next, you can get to know the overnight cruise itinerary.
- In addition, while having lunch, you will have the opportunity to see the wonderful scenery along the way. Take the time to enjoy it!
- Sung Sot Cave After lunch, you will take a boat ride to Sung Sot Cave located in the heart of the World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay.
- After crossing a narrow passage, you will be amazed at the large and impressive cave which can accommodate thousands of people.
- The amazing beauty of the limestone stalagmites formed over thousands of years will surely amaze you!
Titop island
- After Sung Sot cave, the cruise goes to Titop Island. Titop Island is a Halong popular place for 2 days and 1 night itinerary.
- Explore the island or you can choose to sunbathe on the beach.
- Otherwise, for adventure lovers, we recommend you hike to the top of Titop’s mountain which offers a panoramic view of Halong Bay.
- After a long day, get back to your cruise, enjoy some onboard activities and spend the night on board.
Day 3: Luon Cave – Halong Bay – Hanoi
- Take part in Tai Chi session
- Starting your day with Tai Chi is a great idea to energize your day
- When you wake up early in the morning, you will have the opportunity to observe the wonderful sunrise over the bay. This unforgettable scene will be a worthy reward for your 1-night cruise in HaLong Bay.
- Enjoy a light breakfast served in the restaurant.
- Then, tourists can visit Luon Cave which is in front of Con Rua islet. On the right of the cave is Heaven Gate (Cong Troi), which is said to be the intersection of Heaven and Earth.
- You’ll have a guided tour through Luon Cave by kayak or by small boat rowed by a local boatman while enjoying the natural scenery along the way. What an enjoyable experience!
Day 4: Day 1 in Sapa
- In this itinerary, we recommend you to use limousine transportation which only takes 5 hours to drive. Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi and drop you off in Sapa. This vehicle offers excellent quality with modern facilities but the price is still reasonable. If traveling by train, you will have to pay more and take more time.
- Take a limousine bus from Hanoi to Sapa at noon to rest, then start visiting Cat Cat village.
- Visit Ta Phin village in the afternoon.
- Walk around the center of Sapa to learn about the nightlife here.
- Overnight in Sapa.
Day 5: Day 2 in Sapa
- Take the cable car to the top of Fansipan.
- Spend time visiting Silver Waterfall and Heaven Gate in the afternoon.
- Get on the Limousine to return to Hanoi in the evening.
- Around 09.00pm arrive in Hanoi and spend the night here
Day 6: Free & Easy
- Suggestion: If you still have time to explore, you can visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village or Duong Lam Ancient Village for half a day. Otherwise, let’s go shopping or relax in a cafe around Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Option 3: Hanoi 6 days / 5 nights itinerary for sightseeing lovers
Hanoi is a suitable destination for those who love sightseeing and rest.
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 2: Hanoi – Halong bay, Overnight on cruise
- Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 4: Ninh Binh Full Day Trip, Overnight in Tam Coc
- Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 6: Departure
From Hanoi airport, it will take you from 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach Hanoi city center.
- Ideally, choose a hotel in the old quarter as most of the famous attractions are nearby or not too far away, and you can also walk to some of them.
- Then you should visit and explore the Old Quarter or walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. There is nothing better than taking a short walk around the lake to relax. This place is always busy and become a walking street on weekends
- Beside the lake, you can visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, French Old Quarter or Hoa Lo Prison…
- On the next day, you can start to visit HaLong Bay, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, which is a 3-hour drive away from Hanoi.
- Ideally, reserve a 2-day and 1-night cruise. This allows you to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset over the bay. It is definitely an activity not to be missed!
- In addition, there are also many worth-experiencing activities such as kayaking, visiting caves or swimming…
Day 4
You can choose for yourself a 2-day itinerary in Ninh Binh as follows:
- Depart from Hanoi in the morning, it takes 2 hours by bus to Ninh Binh
- On the first day in Ninh Binh, refer to the following suitable places to visit:
- Hoa Lu is the ancient capital of Vietnam where you can admire the ancient temples.
- Tam Coc allows you to admire the beauty of the mountains and the rice fields. It is most well-known for boating amid towering limestone mountains surrounding the river and beautiful rice fields. This natural landscape attracts many international tourists nowadays.
- In the evening, you can choose to sleep in a bungalow close to nature to relax after a long day
On Day 5
- In the morning, you will visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest temple in Vietnam with many records.
- In the afternoon, you can explore the unspoiled natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere by boating at Trang An – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After that, return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Option 4: Hanoi Highlights 6 Days Itinerary
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
- Day 3: Halong Bay Day Trip
- Day 4: Mai Chau Nature Day Trip
- Day 5: Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu Trang An Mua Cave Tour
- Day 6: Departure
Who for this
- You won’t waste time traveling between the numerous attractions in this itinerary! In 6 days, let’s explore the beautiful sceneries of Northern Vietnam!
- Because these famous attractions are close to each other and it only takes 2-4 hours from Hanoi, you can return to the capital on the same day to explore more.
- You can enjoy your trip like a local with lots of easy activities such as cycling, kayaking and trekking.