Private journeys built around the hotels
Destinations · Vietnam
Hanoi, from a 1901 hotel outwards
Vietnam's capital is loud, crowded and full of motorbikes, and that is exactly why the hotel matters here. Three nights in the old centre, with mornings out and afternoons back inside, is how Hanoi works at this level.
Hanoi in brief
What Hanoi is, plainly
Hanoi is a working city of several million people, and the old centre is its busiest part. The Old Quarter's streets are narrow, the pavements are used for parking and cooking, and crossing the road is a skill you learn on the first day. Travellers either enjoy that energy or tire of it within hours. Most do both.
This is why the hotel decides the stay. A hotel in the French quarter, a few minutes on foot from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Opera House, puts the city on your doorstep and gives you somewhere quiet to go back to. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is the example we use: it opened in 1901, has 358 rooms and suites across the Heritage Wing and the Opera Wing, and stands on Ngo Quyen Street in Hoan Kiem ward. Its guest list has included Charlie Chaplin, Graham Greene and Somerset Maugham, by the hotel's own account.
A good 4-star hotel in the same streets is the alternative we quote when Hanoi is a short stop. If you will spend two nights and be out from breakfast until late, the extra rate buys you less here than at the beach or in Siem Reap.
Sources: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi · checked .
How many nights, and why fewer goes wrong
Three nights. The first is usually lost to the long-haul flight; arrivals from Europe and North America tend to land in the morning or late evening. The second day is the guided one: the Temple of Literature at opening time, the Old Quarter on foot, lunch, then the hotel. The third day is free.
With two nights, the guided day falls on the morning after a long flight and you leave the next day. You see Hanoi, but you do not use the hotel. With four nights, Hanoi works as a base for a day out of the city, which we suggest only when Halong Bay is not already on the route.
When to go
October to December is cool and mostly dry. January to March is cooler, often grey, sometimes with drizzle. June to August is hot and humid with the heaviest rain; mornings still work, afternoons belong in the hotel.
The bad months are not wasted. In summer the city is quieter, hotel rates are often lower, and a hotel pool becomes the centre of the afternoon. The Lunar New Year holiday, usually in late January or February, closes many shops for several days and fills hotels; check the dates before you choose them.
Getting in and out
Most long-haul arrivals reach Noi Bai with one connection. From Hanoi, the regional links that matter for our routes are short and direct:
| Route | Scheduled time | Who flies it | Frequency at time of checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi – Luang Prabang | About 1 h 05 – 1 h 10 | Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines | Daily, each airline |
| Hanoi – Siem Reap | About 1 h 40 – 1 h 45 | VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines | Check current schedule |
| Hanoi – Da Nang (for Hoi An) | Domestic, around 1 h 20 | Several airlines | Many daily |
Schedules change by season, and the times above come from a flight-schedule aggregator rather than the airlines; check before you travel. The drive from Noi Bai to the old centre takes 45 to 60 minutes.
Sources: FlightsFrom, Hanoi–Luang Prabang (schedule aggregator); FlightsFrom, Hanoi–Siem Reap (schedule aggregator) · checked .
What it costs outside the hotel
Hotel rates are on your quote, not here. Entrance fees in Hanoi are low. The Temple of Literature charges VND 70,000 for an adult ticket and opens from 08:00 to 17:00, with evening openings on some days. On guided days entrance fees are included in your trip. Check prices before you travel.
Sources: Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam) · checked .
Pictures
Journeys that stay in Hanoi
Hanoi opens three of our four sample routes. Indochina Grand Stays gives it three nights before Halong Bay. Vietnam Heritage Hotels gives it three nights before Hue. North to South gives it three nights before the coast, with a 4-star alternative priced alongside.
When to leave Hanoi out
- You have been before and the trip is short — put the nights into Hoi An or Luang Prabang
- Your trip is Cambodia and Laos only; fly into Siem Reap instead
- You travel in July or August and heat and noise are the things you most want to avoid
- You want a resort holiday; Hanoi is a city stay and nothing else
Hotels on this site are named as public facts taken from each hotel's own website, with the date we read it. Naming a hotel does not mean we hold a contract, an allocation or a special rate there. Room rates are not published here; your quote carries the rate available on the day you confirm.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is Hanoi worth three nights on a luxury trip?
Yes, if one of those nights absorbs the long-haul flight. Three nights gives you one guided day and one free day, which is what the city needs.
Old Quarter or French quarter?
The French quarter for quiet and larger hotels; the Old Quarter for being in the middle of the street life. Most luxury hotels are in or near the French quarter.
Is a day trip to Halong Bay worth it?
Not usually. The drive is long each way. One night on a boat shows the bay far better.
What should we pack for Hanoi in winter?
A warm layer. December to February can be cool and damp, and older buildings are not always heated.
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Indochina Grand Stays
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Example journey
Vietnam Heritage Hotels
12 days in Vietnam, three stays and two changes: Hanoi, Hue, the beach near Hoi An.
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Example journey
Vietnam North to South, Beach Finale
14 days in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hoi An, five beach nights near Nha Trang or Vinh Hy, Ho Chi Minh City.
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Plan · Hotels
Where to stay
Our comparison of luxury stays by setting, size, season, minimum nights and when not to choose them.
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Plan · Seasons
When to go
One calendar for Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, the coast, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang.
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Destinations · Vietnam
Hoi An
Hoi An: old town or beach villa, four nights, the dry months and the flood season.
View this journey
Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
A month, how many are travelling and any hotel you already want are enough to start. We reply by email with questions or a first draft that names every hotel and room category.