Passing through or on a stopover

Hanoi in 1 day what to see

One day on foot: the mausoleum and the Temple of Literature in the morning, Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter by day, water puppets in the evening

10 places with a map and times

The plan comes from our article Hanoi Attractions 2026: Old Quarter & Top Sights

Day 1 · The essentials in a day

  1. 09:00

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

    Sight · 1 h

    A marble mausoleum on the square where independence was declared in 1945

    walk ≈ 3 min

  2. 10:03

    One Pillar Pagoda

    Temple · 20 min

    A wooden shrine from 1049 on a single column in a lotus pond

    walk ≈ 15 min

  3. 10:38

    Temple of Literature

    Temple · 1 h 15 min

    Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070: five courtyards and 82 stelae on stone turtles

    taxi ≈ 9 min

  4. 12:02

    Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su

    Food · 40 min

    Bib Gourmand pho with proper tables and a choice of beef or chicken

    incl. crossing ≈ 27 min

  5. 13:09

    Hoan Kiem Lake

    Park · 45 min

    The heart of the city: tai chi on the shore in the morning, a loop in half an hour

    incl. crossing ≈ 24 min

  6. 14:18

    Ngoc Son Temple

    Temple · 30 min

    A temple on an island in the lake, reached by the red The Huc bridge

    walk ≈ 7 min

  7. 14:55

    Old Quarter

    Sight · 2 h

    36 narrow streets, many still keeping their own trade

    walk ≈ 6 min

  8. 17:01

    Cafe Giang

    Café · 40 min

    The café of egg coffee's inventor, a recipe from 1946

    walk ≈ 4 min

  9. 18:00

    Water Puppet Theatre

    Sight · 1 h

    Puppets on water to a live orchestra, an art over 1,000 years old

    walk ≈ 9 min

  10. 19:09

    Old Quarter Night Market

    Market · 1 h 30 min

    Friday to Sunday: 3 km of stalls and street food up to Dong Xuan

Travel times are approximate

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