Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is a hot spot for tourists with its rich cultural and ethnic landscape.
While there are many amazing activities and things to do in Hanoi, it offers much more to do if you are willing to venture out further from the city.
Where to go after Hanoi?
Hanoi serves as the ideal home base for many day trips. There are plenty of options short drive away from the city for nature lovers, adventurists, history buffs, and foodies alike, with additional opportunities for adventure and sight seeing.
Below are some of the best day tours from Hanoi, each with a travel time of 4 hours or less. There are destinations for
Grab your walking shoes, prepare your camera, and clear space in your bag for souvenirs as you embark on these fantastic day tours Hanoi offers!
1. Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay could be easily one of the best places to see in Vietnam. It has designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 for its outstanding natural heritage. Today Ha Long Bay World Heritage site covers 434 km2 including 775 islands and islets.
Most people visiting Ha Long Bay are setting off on 2 or 3-day cruises around the majestic waters and rocky escarpments that are so synonymous with the area.
There are many day tours from Hanoi that organize sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, rock climbing, bike riding, and hiking. One extremely popular location is Cát Bà National Park.
Cat Ba Island is gaining a reputation as an adventure tourism destination. The nearby town of Ha Long is a great staging point for Ha Long Bay activities.
You can visit a floating village, go swimming on deserted islands and even explore caves in the middle of the bay.
It quite an experience to visit a floating village and see this traditional way of life that exists in a modern world. The Ha Long Bay area is located just over 150 kilometers from the capital of Vietnam Hanoi.
You can access the island by public transport or one of the many day tours that run out to the bay. Just for its sheer beauty and postcard view makes visiting the place a must when traveling in Vietnam.
Staying overnight? Check the Premier Village Ha Long Bay Resort
Top tours & activities for Ha Long Bay
2. Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh offers acres upon acres of wildlife and natural landscape to explore. Famous for its limestone mountains, the province was nicknamed “Ha Long Bay on Land,” making it a perfect day trip for nature lovers.
A trip with the Vietnam Railways takes about 2.5 hours and costs roughly $8 USD.
Alternately, you could take a shared mini bus for $7 USD. Check the latest pricing by clicking the banner below on 12GO.com
Prepare for a breathtaking view from the top of the limestone mountains. Start with Mua Caves, then hike to the top to take in the surrounding scenery. There is also a dragon sculpture you can take a photo with once you reach the top.
You can also find the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia during your day trip to Ninh Binh Province.
The Bai Dinh Pagoda is a spiritual and cultural complex of Buddhist statues and temples. The complex features an original, older temple, and a modern, larger one.
Most stunning of all may be the Thung Nham Bird Garden, a wetland area where you can see hundreds of birds on a boat tour. Entrance is 100,000 VND, or roughly $4.30 USD.
Staying overnight? Try MOMALI Hotel Ninh Binh.
Best rated tours & activities for Ninh Binh
3. Tam Coc
It is a two-hour drive from Hanoi to Tam Coc, a village south of Vietnam’s capital famous for limestone karsts like those in Halong Bay.
The shorter distance makes it ideal for day trips with local tour companies, the preferred option for visitors who have neither personal transport nor the luxury of time. The local bus and train take about an hour longer each to get there.
The rock formations are part of the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. To get up close to them, take one of the little boats that the local women row down the river using their feet.
Be prepared, though–using sun protection is strongly advised, as is steeling yourself for the hard sell tactics at the point where the boat turns around.
If you buy the overpriced refreshments for the rower, they get returned to the seller in front of your own eyes. Apart from that, it is a relaxing 45-minute ride.
At harvest time, the ripe rice grains turn the paddy fields surrounding the hills gold and it is a magnificent sight.
If you prefer enjoying the scenery with less haggling, the generally flat terrain makes cycling out of the village easy.
Trang An is a more popular option with the locals for a longer, more peaceful boat ride. Bich Dong pagoda is a short distance away, while you can climb Hang Mua for a panorama of the landscape.
If you are planning not to return to Hanoi on the same day, check Tam Coc Holiday Hotel & Villa.
Top tours & activities for Tam Coc
4. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
While in Ninh Binh, don’t miss a chance to visit the ancient capital surrounded by wooden walls reaching 10-15 meters high. On this day trip, you can learn about the history of the ancient city, and see many historical sites.
If making a second day trip to the province, take the Vietnam Railways again at $3.50 USD.
Entrance to the ancient capital is 20,000 VND, or $1 USD. Visitors can look forward to a plethora of temples to explore when visiting Hoa Lu, including Guy Minh, Thien Ton, Cao Son, and Nguyen. These temples were places to worship emperors and other royals.
Other monuments include Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Dai Hanh, Nhat Tru, and Dinh Tien Hoang’s Daughter.
Get a guide that speaks English to learn more about the site.
Top tours & activities for Hua Lu
5. Phat Diem Cathedral
The Phat Diem Cathedral was built of stone and wood from 1875 to 1898. It is located in the Kim Son District of Ninh Binh and is popular with visitors who enjoy exploring unique architecture. Prepare for a peaceful day trip as you walk the 15-acre complex.
From Hanoi, take a bus to Kim Son bus station for about 2.5 hours at $3.50 USD.
This Vietnamese-European fusion complex comprises a stone church, cathedral, lake, and the Phuong Dinh Bell House. The church was originally named Nha Tho Trai Tim vo Nhiem Ngyen toi Duc Me but is now called the stone church by both locals and travelers.
The cathedral is about 64m in length and 18m in width, featuring an altar, exquisite portraits, and a ceiling sprawled with paintings of angels.
At the center of the lake is a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, a spirit said to appear in the late 16th century when Vietnamese Catholics were mistreated and killed.
Top tours & activities for Phat Diem Cathedral
6. Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong is the oldest national park in the country and known as the Green Lung of Northern Vietnam. Like Tam Dao National Park, Cuc Phuong is home to thousands of animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles.
If you visit late April to early May, you will find yourself in a wonderland of butterflies unlike any other.
Taking the Vietnam Local Bus for $13-15 USD will get you to the park in roughly 4 hours.
You can cut an hour of travel time by taking the Ninh Binh Excursion Transport from Rap Xiec Trung Uong to Bai Dinh Pagoda for $16 USD. Then take a taxi the rest of the way for $30-40 USD.
Limestone mountains serve as highlights in the park, surrounded by forest and rice paddies to explore.
There are several trails to choose from, the most popular leading to prehistoric caves. These include the Cave of the Prehistoric Man, Crescent Moon Cave, and Mang Chieng Cave.
There are two conservation and rescue centers you can visit to see endangered animals and the care they are receiving. These include the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, and the Turtle Conservation Center, which opened in 1993 and 1998 respectively.
Rent a bike to explore the forest and see more sights before returning to Hanoi.
Or, you can stay overnight just 4km away from the National Park at Cuc Phuong Bungalow.
Top tours & activities for Cuc Phuong
7. Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve
This reserve is located in the Gia Vien district of Ninh Binh. You can look forward to towering limestone mountains, diverse flora and fauna, and close-ups of the Delacour’s langur.
A coach from Giap Bat station, or a train from the Hanoi Railway Station, will get you there in about 2 hours.
A ticket to the reserve is 20,000 VND, or roughly $1 USD. With this entrance ticket, you can explore the forest, mountains, caves, and spot langurs on your trek. You are most likely to see them mid-afternoon at Ca Cave.
You can also explore Van Long by boat for 60,000 VND, or about $2.50 USD.
For your safety, do not exceed more than 3 people on a boat.
Top tours & activities for Van Long Wetland Reserve
8. Hai Phong
The City of Flame Flowers, so named for its streets of flame flower trees, is the third-most populous city in Vietnam. Visitors can look forward to extravagant shrines and temples during their visit.
Just 100km from Hanoi, a bus trip will cost you $6 USD and take about 2 hours. Start at the Hanoi Gia Lam station and get off at the Hai Phong bus station. Or you can book a private transfer from Hanoi.
For a day of entertainment, visit the Municipal Theatre in the city center, recognizable by its French design and vibrant flower garden.
Follow your time at the theater with a trip to Du Hang Pagoda. Built-in the 17th century, this Buddhist temple features a bonsai collection in its gardens and dozens of Buddha statues throughout the area. Make sure to dress with respect when visiting.
The Municipal Theatre does not announce its regular hours, so be sure to ask a guide or tour desk their opening hours beforehand.
9. Cat Ba Island
It’s really hard to beat Cat Ba Island when it comes to the best day trips from Hanoi.
Easily accessible via a bus and then ferry ride – a combined ticket will usually include both parts of this journey and get you straight to your accommodation on the island in under 3 hours from Hanoi.
Cat Ba Express is one company that provides this service and you can buy online through 12go.asia
What makes Cat Ba so worth visiting is the stunning marine landscape nearby (known as Lan Ha Bay), which looks exactly like Halong Bay, but with half the crowds and half the price tag!
Set just south of Halong Bay, the wonderful limestone formations that jut out of the turquoise waters of Lan Ha Bay are just as magnificent as those of its more famous neighbor, but boat trips to explore the region are a fraction of the price because this spot is far less known about!
Thankfully this means you can snorkel, kayak, and cruise the waters of Lan Ha Bay with half the number of tourists and half the amount of boats that you’d experience in Halong Bay!
Lan Ha Bay is best accessed via a day trip from Cat Ba Island, (if you take a day trip with Cat Ba Express you can get a discount on your travel to Hanoi), but it’s worth giving the land attractions of this cute isle at least a day of your time too.
In particular, hiking in Cat Ba’s wonderful national park can’t be missed.
See when is the best time to visit Vietnam before making any booking.
If you decide to stay overnight, the best place to stay in Cat Ba Island is the Flamingo Cat Ba Beach Resort, thanks to its location and great vibes.
Top tours & activities for Cat Ba Island
10. Perfume Pagoda
The Perfume Pagoda is a fun, easy place to visit from Hanoi. This complex of Buddhist temples, where the nicest one is the Chau Trong cave temple, was built along the Huong Tich mountain chain.
You will be approaching the pagoda area on a wooden boat where traditionally women are those who row. Boats move at a slow, relaxing pace along the river, so you can enjoy the view.
Surrounding the pagoda is a market proper – packed with eateries and souvenir shops.
From there, you can either ride the gondola or walk all the way to the temples – beware that this part of the country is very humid, so the trail is slippery and the humidity can be an issue year-round.
The area is a pleasant place to visit – albeit there is a lot of garbage on the trail that leads to the main temple – and the temples are beautiful. What makes it worth visiting, however, is the entire experience.
Furthermore, the area is a very popular day-trip destination for locals who go there to pray in the temples, it is virtually unknown to international tourists – for some reason, very few actually venture there.
This makes it all the more special because you can rest assured the experience you’ll be having is real and not construed for the pleasure of tourists.
Top tours & activities for Perfume Pagoda
11. Duong Lam Ancient Village
The first ancient village in Vietnam is located in the Son Tay district of Hanoi. Many of the houses are over 400 years old, making the village a National Historical and Cultural Heritage Site.
Starting at the My Dinh Bus Station at the center of Hanoi, a bus trip to Duong Lam Ancient Village will cost about $1 USD.
This ancient village is home to several centuries’ old attractions that visitors can explore and learn about, including over 950 houses.
Every family has a well, but the communal well has been preserved at the center of the village and has become a popular highlight.
Another attraction in the center of the village, built about 380 years ago, is the Mong Phu Temple.
For a sweet snack, try the village’s specialty Doi candy, filled with malt, sugar, and peanuts.
Top tours & activities for Duong Lam Ancient Village
- Hanoi: Duong Lam Historical Village Private Day Tour
- Experice Culture VN: From Hanoi – Duong Lam Ancent Village
See also: Things to Learn about Vietnamese Culture
12. Bat Trang Village
The craftsmen of Bat Trang Ceramic Village have been creating world-renowned ceramics and pottery for over 600 years. Each one knows thousands of techniques to make their products, which are shipped to collectors around the globe.
Taking the Long Bien City Bus Terminal for $3.50 USD will get you there in 1 hour.
Pottery, ceramics, and other handicrafts in Bat Trang are affordable and one-of-a-kind. You can purchase small statues and fixtures, decorative plates, cups, and pots, and even swords.
These earthenware are created from carefully inspected, high-quality clay and baked for three days before being inspected and placed on sale.
To experience first-hand the different techniques used by these craftsmen, pottery workshops are available to visitors.
Learn from friendly instructors, make an item of your own, and bring it home as a souvenir. A workshop starts at $3 USD, which goes up depending on how far in the process you wish to go.
Top tours & activities for Bat Trang Village
13. Mai Chau Valley
Another perfect destination for nature lovers, Mai Chau Valley is overflowing with rice paddies, forest, and mountains.
For lunch, you can sit in an open-air restaurant built entirely of wood, where you can taste local dishes with a view of the valley’s famous scenery.
The trip from Hanoi to Mai Chau Valley takes a little over 4 hours by bus and will cost about $5 USD.
The White Thai household is a highlight of the valley. Watch a White Thai performance as you snack on tea and lychees, featuring live folk music, dancers in full ethnic dress, and music from one-of-a-kind instruments.
Explore the valley on foot, or explore on bike. The scenic paths and serene gardens offer a calm escape from the city to connect with nature and catch your breath. You can also kayak on the Hoa Binh Reservoir to take in the sights from sparkling waters.
The best place to stay in Mai Chau Valley is, by far, Mai Chau Ecolodge.
Top tours & activities in Mai Chau Village
See also: Where is the Best Vietnam Massage
14. Tam Dao National Park
Here you will find the Tam Dao National Park and a surplus of restaurants and bars to socialize. Start off your day trip with a hike, and end it with a delicious meal before returning to Hanoi.
Start your journey by taking a 1-hour bus for $1.30 USD, then take a taxi for the rest of the 45 minutes for $10 USD.
Prepare your hiking camera for the hundreds of animals in Tam Dao National Park, including 64 mammal species and 239 bird species. The park comprises a large area of the town and was opened to the public in 1996.
There are various hikes to choose between, ranging from 30 minutes to an entire day. You will need to decide beforehand if you want to experience many, a couple, or just one depending on which you would most enjoy.
And do remember to wear your waterproof hiking boots if you are there in the monsoon season as it will be hard to escape rains!
Regardless of which trails you choose, you will see forests and waterfalls that take your breath away.
A really unique place to stay in Tam Dao is Homestay 90s Tam Dao.
Top tours & activities in Tam Dao
15. Van Phuc Silk Village
Van Phuc Silk Village is another world-renowned crafts town where you can find unique souvenirs made by special techniques. It is known as the cradle of Viet silk.
On the banks of the Nhue Thi River, the village is just 10km from Hanoi Old Quarter and can be reached by a local bus. You can also take a motorbike to get there in 30 minutes.
Visitors walking through the street can find ready-to-wear clothing, handicrafts, and souvenirs at affordable prices.
The village’s traditional apparel is woven using looms with high-quality silk. These products are sold to visitors and locals and exported around the world.
You will be surrounded by gorgeous silks to choose from, so look through them all before deciding what to bring back home.
Day tours are available for tourists who want to learn more about the techniques used to create luxurious cloth.
Top tours & activities in Van Phuc Silk Village
16. Ba Vi National Park
Another national park famous for its limestone mountains and stunning scenery, Ba Vi National Park encompasses a three-peaked mountain. These peaks are Dinh Vua, Tan Cien, and Ngoc Hoa.
A 2-hour trip will cost no more than $14 USD total. Ride from the My Dinh bus station to Xuan Khanh for $1 USD, then take a taxi for $10-13 USD the rest of the way.
Explore the natural beauty of Ba Vi on foot as you hike through the forest. At the top of the mountain is a temple where you can rest and take in a view of the Red River Valley. While you’re there, stop by the bird and orchid gardens to enjoy more of the wildlife.
At the foot of the mountain is a spa resort where you can enjoy natural therapies after the invigorating trek to the mountain top.
A day trip to Ba Vi National Park is not enough? Stay one night at AKU HOUSE Villa Ao vua.
Top tours & activities in Ba Vi National Park
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