Hanoi packs a lot into a small area: a lake in the middle of the city, a maze of Old Quarter streets, an old university temple and a mausoleum with set hours that catch many visitors out. This list covers the main things to do in Hanoi, with the opening hours and ticket prices we could check in November 2026, and a few notes on how to fit them into a day or two.
Know before you go
- Temple of Literature: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, adults 70,000 VND, children under 16 free.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: closed Mondays and Fridays; 8:00 to 11:00 AM from November to March.
- Hoa Lo Prison: 50,000 VND per person.
- Free sights: Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter streets.
- Time needed: 2 days for the main sights.
- Last checked: 6 November 2026.
In this guide
Around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake
The lake sits at the edge of the Old Quarter and works as the city’s front garden. A path circles it, and early morning and evening are the busiest times for walkers. It costs nothing, and it makes a good first or last stop on a day of sightseeing.
The Old Quarter
North of the lake, the Old Quarter is a grid of narrow streets with shops, markets and food stalls. It is best explored on foot, with no fixed plan. Traffic is heavy, so cross slowly and steadily rather than stopping in the middle of the road.
Train Street
Train Street is a stretch of railway line with houses and cafes on either side, where trains pass very close to the buildings. Access has been restricted at times, so ask locally before planning a visit around it.
History and culture
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu, Quoc Tu Giam) is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day, according to its official site. A standard adult ticket costs 70,000 VND. Students with a Vietnamese school ID and visitors aged 60 and over with ID pay 35,000 VND, and children under 16 enter free. The site also lists an evening experience from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The complex is built around a series of courtyards and gates, and the Constellation of Literature pavilion is one of its best-known buildings. Plan about an hour.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The mausoleum has fixed visiting days. According to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command, as reported by Tuoi Tre on 3 November 2026, it reopened on 3 November after annual maintenance. It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, and closed on Monday and Friday. From 1 November to 31 March, hours are 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, extended to 11:30 AM on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The One Pillar Pagoda stands nearby, a small wooden temple on a single stone pillar in a pond, and fits into the same morning.
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison is a museum on the site of a former prison. The official ticket page lists 50,000 VND per person, with a 50% discount for some groups. Check the current hours at the entrance, since the page we read gave only the price.
Evenings and the river
Water puppets
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre stages shows of traditional Vietnamese water puppetry on a small pool. We did not check current show times or prices, so look at the theatre’s own page before going.
Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge crosses the Red River on the east side of the city. Walking part of it at sunset gives wide views over the river and the old railway track.
A simple two-day plan
- Day one: Temple of Literature in the morning, Hoa Lo Prison, lunch in the Old Quarter, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and a water puppet show in the evening.
- Day two: the mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda early (not on Monday or Friday), then the Old Quarter markets and Long Bien Bridge at sunset.
Plan the rest of your Vietnam trip
Indian travellers need a visa before arriving, so read our Vietnam visa guide. For a route that includes Hanoi, see our Vietnam itinerary for 10 days. A common add-on is a Ha Long Bay cruise, and our best time to visit Vietnam post helps with timing.
FAQ
What are the best things to do in Hanoi?
Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison and a water puppet show.
What are the things to do in Hanoi for 2 days?
Spend day one on the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo and the lake, and day two on the mausoleum area, the Old Quarter and Long Bien Bridge.
What are the things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter?
Walk the streets and markets, stop for food at stalls, and use the lake as an anchor point. There is no ticket and no fixed route.
What are the things to do in Hanoi at night?
A water puppet show and a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake are the usual choices. The Temple of Literature also runs an evening experience on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
What are the things to do in Hanoi with kids?
Children under 16 enter the Temple of Literature free, and the lake path and water puppets work for younger children.
Official resources: Temple of Literature visitor information, Hoa Lo Prison ticket page.
Photo credits
Featured image: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; The Old Quarter: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; The Old Quarter: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Train Street: AnAwesomGuy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Temple of Literature: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Temple of Literature: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Hoa Lo Prison: David McKelvey from Brisbane, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Water puppets: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Long Bien Bridge: Quangpraha / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
