The best places to visit from Hanoi

Many of you won’t have enough time to explore the mountains of Northern Vietnam. But don’t worry: just a few hours from Hanoi, you can already discover some truly beautiful places. Here, we’ve listed several destinations that make for excellent excursions from Hanoi.

We’ve grouped them according to the length of time we recommend spending at each location. You can visit all of these destinations on your own by renting motorbikes or buying bus tickets, but we still recommend taking a guided tour—especially for historical sites.

If you’d like to include these excursions in your Vietnam itinerary, feel free to send us a quote request. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours!

Day trips

For those who want to take a one-day excursion around Hanoi before heading off to the mountains or the coast, here are a few ideas.

Thay Pagoda and Duong Lam Village

This first excursion will immerse you in the cultural and spiritual history of Vietnam.

You will first stop at Thay Pagoda, renowned for its traditional architecture as well as the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. The pagoda complex is made up of three magnificent structures: Ha Pagoda, Trung Pagoda, and Thuong Pagoda. It is also in this area that the art of water puppetry was invented, by a monk named Tu Dao Hanh, whose statue can still be seen in Thuong Pagoda.

You will then continue on to Duong Lam, a typical village of the northern Vietnamese countryside. The village gate, banyan trees, temples and pagodas, local market, communal well, and surrounding fields are all distinctive features of the historical heritage of the Red River Delta region.

Duong Lam is home to more than 900 houses built over three centuries ago, using traditional materials such as brick, laterite, terracotta tiles, and bamboo.

After passing through the village gate, you can stroll along the brick paths, visit a traditional market, and discover local daily life. We recommend renting bicycles on site to explore the village streets and alleys. Don’t forget a hat (in Vietnamese: nón lá) or a cap if you are traveling in summer (May to September)!

A truly charming village to discover as a priority after your visit to Hanoi.

Ba Vi national park

About twenty kilometers west of Duong Lam lies Ba Vi National Park.

Thanks to its tropical forest, its three magnificent mountain peaks, and its pleasant climate year-round, the Ba Vi mountains attract many Vietnamese families and students every year for picnics and weekend getaways, especially during the hot summer months.

There are numerous sites to visit in the park: the ruins of French colonial-era villas, the temple dedicated to Ho Chi Minh (located at the very top of the highest peak of the mountain range), a cactus garden, and more. Above all, it is a wonderful destination for a one-day hike in a majestic and slightly mysterious setting.

>> You’ll find all the practical information you need in our article about Ba Vi.

Tam Chuc Pagoda

We now head to the other side, about 65 kilometers south of central Hanoi, where you’ll find the grandiose Tam Chuc Pagoda, in Ha Nam Province.

Tam Chuc is a remarkable religious site set in a spectacular landscape. The first building (the entrance) faces the lake, while the rest of the complex stretches up against the mountains. The entire site covers nearly 5,000 hectares, of which Tam Chuc Pagoda and its structures currently occupy 144 hectares.

The boat crossing on the lake to reach the pagoda is worth the trip on its own. For those who haven’t yet visited Halong Bay or Ninh Binh, this offers an excellent preview of the landscapes to come.

It is therefore perfectly possible to visit Tam Chuc as a day trip (allow around 3 hours to explore the site). However, a visit to Tam Chuc also fits seamlessly into a longer itinerary that continues on to Ninh Binh and then Halong Bay.

The Perfume Pagoda

Just a few kilometers from Tam Chuc lies the Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương).

The Perfume Pagoda is known as one of the most famous religious sites in Vietnam. It is a complex of Buddhist temples and pagodas located on the slopes of Huong Son Mountain (“Perfume Mountain”).

The main pagoda is set inside Huong Tich Cave, considered a sacred place as legend has it that the Bodhisattva Quan Am appeared there to save human souls. For centuries, the site has been a major pilgrimage destination for Vietnamese people, especially during the first three months of the Lunar New Year.

Beyond its deep spiritual significance, the Perfume Pagoda is also a natural site of rare beauty. We strongly recommend visiting it outside festival periods in order to fully appreciate the harmony, tranquility, and serenity of the surroundings.

2-day / 1-night excursions

Just two to three hours from Hanoi, you will find remarkable natural and cultural sites. We recommend three in particular: Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh (also known as Ha Long Bay on land), and the Mai Chau Valley.

Lan Ha bay

Rather than Ha Long Bay, we recommend discovering Lan Ha Bay, accessed from Cat Ba Island.

Why choose this destination for your cruise? Quite simply because this bay has remained authentic, still home to many fishing villages and offering magnificent secluded coves to explore in complete tranquility. The number of tourist boats is far lower than in Ha Long Bay, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the landscape in a calm atmosphere that respects the pristine environment around you.

It is in Lan Ha Bay that Parfum d’Automne decided several years ago to operate its boats, in order to take you to fascinating places located off the beaten track, far from the routes used by large tourist vessels.

The quality of the welcome on board, the excellent meals, and the original itineraries offered in the bay make Parfum d’Automne a reference agency for discovering Ha Long Bay in a different and more authentic way.

> Read the full article on Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay from above, Vietnam. Credit: Mathieu Arnaudet

Ninh Binh, Halong bay on land

Contrary to what its nickname (“Ha Long Bay on land”) might suggest, Ninh Binh is not located near Ha Long Bay. In fact, it takes around 3 hours by road to travel from Ha Long City to Ninh Binh. The recently built highway has significantly improved road access between the two destinations.

The comparison between Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh is therefore based not on geographic proximity, but on the similarity of their landscapes.

Once there, you will find many sites to visit, which is why we strongly recommend staying overnight. This will allow you to explore the area at a relaxed pace. Among the must-see attractions are: Tam Coc village and the boat ride on the Ngo Dong River, Bich Dong Pagoda, Hang Mua Mountain, the Trang An eco-tourism complex, and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. These highlights alone are more than enough to fill two full days, if not more.

>> If you are interested in visiting Ninh Binh, we recommend reading our full article on Ninh Binh.

Mai Chau Valley

Located about 3 hours by road from Hanoi, in Hoa Binh Province, Mai Chau is a peaceful and nature-filled destination that we highly recommend after visiting Vietnam’s bustling capital.

The province is home to many ethnic minority groups, including the Muong (the largest group), White Thai, and Hmong people. So, even close to Hanoi, you already have the opportunity to discover a rich diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic cultures.

In addition, the landscapes of the province—and especially Mai Chau Valley—are truly stunning: rivers, rolling hills, and rice fields blend harmoniously together. In the valley, you can slow down and explore the surrounding villages by bicycle. Among the activities to enjoy here are: bamboo rafting, hiking, boating on Hoa Binh Lake, staying overnight with a Thai family, and tasting local specialties such as grilled fish cooked in bamboo, a real delicacy.

3-day, 2-night excursions

Some destinations require spending a bit more time on site in order to fully enjoy them. This is the case for stays in Mai Chau and Pu Luong, the city of Halong and its bay, as well as Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay.

Mai Chau and Pu Luong

While the Mai Chau Valley can be visited in two days and one night, we recommend combining the visit with the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, located just a few kilometers away.

An off-the-beaten-track destination, Pu Luong is a true natural haven of peace.

Located in a region inhabited by the Thai ethnic minority, in the districts of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc in Thanh Hoa Province, about 180 km from Hanoi, Pu Luong is a nature reserve that has almost everything to offer. You can enjoy hiking through breathtaking natural landscapes: forested hills, limestone karst formations, rivers, untouched waterfalls, and terraced rice fields.

The province is focusing on the development of eco-tourism, with homestays and environmentally friendly ecolodges. We can only encourage them in this direction.

Our private tours, accompanied by a French-speaking guide from Hanoi or by a local family living in Pu Luong, will ensure you enjoy a wonderful time in this region.

In the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, rice terraces are harvested twice a year, in May–June and October. Do not miss these periods under any circumstances!

>> Here is the detailed itinerary of our 3-day tour to Mai Chau and Pu Luong

Halong and Halong Bay

This is, of course, THE must-see site in Vietnam.

Halong Bay is divided into three different administrative areas: Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay.

Halong Bay is home to the largest caves in the region (notably Thien Cung – Heavenly Palace, Dau Go – Cave of Wonders, Sung Sot – Surprise Cave, Trong and Trinh Nu – Male and Virgin Caves), as well as some of the most iconic limestone formations (including Hon Trong Mai, translated as “Fighting Cocks,” and Dinh Huong, the Incense Burner).

For Halong Bay, a 2-day, 1-night cruise is sufficient. However, we also recommend staying in Halong City for at least one full day. We have written a comprehensive article listing all the interesting activities to enjoy in Halong City.

Cat Ba island and Lan Ha bay

If you think Halong Bay will be too touristy (which is true, especially on weekends), another option is available to you: visiting Cat Ba Island and cruising in Lan Ha Bay.

Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the archipelago of the same name, which includes a total of 367 islands. The island is home to a National Park that has remained very wild and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve since 2004. This recognition is due to its rich biodiversity. The park features pristine tropical forests, limestone mountains, and mangroves, sheltering 1,560 plant species, 53 animal families, including 160 bird species, 45 reptile species, 21 amphibian species, as well as more than 1,300 marine species. The island offers many activities such as hiking, cycling, and, of course, relaxing on its beaches.

>> Here is our top 10 of the best activities to do on the island.

Cat Ba Island is also the departure point for our cruises in Lan Ha Bay, which stretches all around the archipelago.

This bay has remained authentic, still home to many fishing villages and offering beautiful secluded coves to explore in complete tranquility. The number of tourist boats here is much lower than in Halong Bay, allowing you to fully enjoy the beauty of the area in a peaceful atmosphere that respects the stunning natural environment.

Parfum d’Automne Travel Agency owns two traditional wooden junks sailing in Lan Ha Bay: Quatre Saisons (4 cabins) and Majonq (1 cabin).

Here is a video filmed on board the Quatre Saisons:

You now know the most attractive destinations for organizing excursions from Hanoi.