🇻🇳 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary for the Best of Vietnam’s Capital

Discover the best of Hanoi in just 72 hours with this comprehensive guide to Vietnam’s enchanting capital. From wandering the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter to savoring world-class street food, exploring ancient temples, and experiencing the perfect blend of French colonial charm and Vietnamese tradition, this three-day itinerary covers all the essential experiences.

Hanoi stole my heart in ways I didn’t expect. This ancient city, with its chaotic streets and quiet corners, offers the perfect blend of tourist hotspots and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss. Here’s how I spent my 72 hours in Hanoi as a first-time female solo traveller, including a spontaneous trip to Cat Ba, Ha Long Bay’s cooler cousin—and yes, I’ll share my hostel horror story too, because not every moment was Instagram-perfect.

Day 1: Landing in the Old Quarter

I touched down in Hanoi with one mission: get to Pho 10 before the lunch crowd descended. There’s something magical about starting your Vietnamese adventure with a steaming bowl of pho, and this place didn’t disappoint.

I woke up at 4am for my 7am flight, and I was slurping pho by 10am, absolutely wild but just the way I like it. The broth was clear, fragrant, and deeply satisfying—exactly what I needed after my flight.

With my stomach happy, I wandered across to Cong Ca Phe, conveniently located right across from the St. Joseph Cathedral. This vintage-themed café chain, inspired by wartime Saigon, serves coconut coffee that’s basically dessert in a glass.

I spent an hour people-watching, especially graduates taking photos in the traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai, before exploring the surrounding neighbourhood, getting delightfully lost in the narrow streets of the Old Quarter and strolling along Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Check-in time brought a treat I’ll never forget: a penthouse Airbnb with an actual bathtub for just $48 a night. As someone who usually crashes in hostel dorms, this felt wildly extravagant—and spoiler alert, after my hostel experience later, I deeply regretted not booking more nights here.

The afternoon was dedicated to self-care at Isola Wellness Spa, where I indulged in a “nourishing hair spa” for 350,000 VND (approximately $14 USD) for 60 minutes. You bet I fell asleep. My hair has never felt silkier.

Dinner was at Bún Chả Số 1 Hàng Mành, where I devoured grilled pork with vermicelli noodles—the same dish Obama and Anthony Bourdain made famous.

I ended my first night at Gallery Bespoke Cocktail Bar, where the mixologists crafted drinks that were as beautiful as they were delicious. Solo travel tip: sitting at the bar makes it easy to chat with bartenders and fellow travellers.

Day 2: Cat Ba Adventure

Day two was all about adventure. I booked a bus to Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay’s less touristy neighbour, and honestly, it was worth every penny. But before that, it was a piping bowl of hot beef pho at 6am to start the morning.

During my research, I found that many Ha Long Bay day trips seemed very commercialised, with much of the time spent on the road travelling from Hanoi.

I concluded that an overnight stay would make the most out of my time so I wasn’t doing two long commutes in the same day, and gave me more options to explore on my own. But an overnight cruise was not feasible since I was alone and had to pay a 2-pax price for a double room on a cruise.

So a full day tour which started in the afternoon worked perfectly for me.

I booked my tour through SeekSophie, which I love for its off-the-beaten path recommendations, small group tours (perfect for solo travellers!) and its mission to supporting locals and ensuring that the tourist dollars cycle back to the economy.

Unfortunately, a giant white elephant project, the Cat Ba cable car, towers above the pier. According to my friend who visited the island pre-pandemic, his experience was much more authentic as the island was less commercialised.

During our drive from the ferry pier to the main seaside town, I also noticed a huge plot of land set aside for a luxury resort. I wish Cat Ba could retain its small island charm in the future without being flooded by tourists.

My guide picked me up from my hostel in Cat Ba and whisked us away on a traditional wooden boat to a floating village in Lan Ha Bay that would serve as our base. We grabbed kayaks and paddled among towering limestone rocks, eventually reaching a secret cove where everything fell silent except for birdsong and crickets. It felt like stepping into another world.

He then brought us to a private beach to swim and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, enjoying sunset over the bay.

The family at the floating village cooked us an incredible home-cooked Vietnamese dinner. As darkness fell, we kayaked again—this time under the stars, watching bioluminescent plankton light up the water beneath our paddles. It was pure magic.

I stayed the night at The Oversleep Catba Hostel, which has a pool and genuinely comfortable beds. If you’re doing the Cat Ba trip, don’t rush back to Hanoi the same day. If you still have the energy for it, revel in Cat Ba’s nightlife scene where clubs are plenty.

Day 3: Back to Hanoi (and a Hostel Horror Story)

I started my morning at CatBa Specialty Coffee, a cute spot with Balinese vibes which serves Vietnamese beans.

The return journey to Hanoi was via another luxury van—more comfortable and worth the upgrade.

I checked into Little Charm Hanoi, lured by the unbelievable $10-per-night price tag. This is where my budget backpacking dreams turned into a sleepless nightmare.

But before the horror show, I had an incredible afternoon. I browsed at Tranquil Books and Coffee before discovering what became my favourite meal in Hanoi: Bún Cá Sâm Cây Si.

This tiny spot serves fried fish and dill vermicelli noodles with heaps of fresh herbs and salad. I was the only tourist, surrounded by locals in an alleyway, unable to communicate beyond pointing and smiling—and that was part of the magic.

I spent the evening shopping picking up souvenirs at Marou Chocolate and along Bà Triệu street. Stop by Gia Perfumerie if you want to discover d’Annam, a gorgeous Vietnamese fragrance brand.

I then treated myself to one of the best massages of my life at Spas Hanoi Boutique (4 in 1 signature massage, 650,000 VNĐ/US$25) before dinner at MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian.

Now, about that hostel. My room was right by the roadside with open windows (necessary because it was musty), which meant non-stop noise: drunk tourists transitioning into honking motorcycles and rubbish trucks through the night. The room felt dirty, there were ants in my bed, I was sticky and itchy all night, and—get this—they asked for my passport as a deposit for a towel. Wild.

It was a reminder that sometimes you get what you pay for. With so many affordable, clean Airbnbs available, splurging an extra $20-$30 is absolutely worth it for peace of mind and actual sleep. But I guess these mishaps are part of the backpacking life, right?

Final Thoughts

Seventy-two hours in Hanoi taught me that this city rewards curiosity. Yes, hit the tourist spots—they’re popular for good reason—but also wander into random alleyways, eat where the locals eat, and don’t be afraid to upgrade your accommodation when it matters. Solo travel here felt safe, welcoming, and endlessly fascinating.

Would I return? In a heartbeat—preferably with another penthouse booking and zero hostel deposits involving my passport.