Ultimately, the length of time that an individual should spend on their explorations of Hanoi is determined by one's interests and determination to really explore the offerings of this city. The following are only a few broad guidelines for the decision-making process: Three days is the shortest recommended period for first-time visitors. A three-day visit is usually sufficient for the most essential attractions in Hanoi, leaving time for leisurely sightseeing.
Day 1: Cultural and Historical Sights in Hanoi AM: Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: Begin the morning with a lakeside stroll, where one may visit several temples. Old Quarter: A walk through the busy hallowed streets of the Old Quarter is obligatory for learning some history, sipping some coffee, and trying some street food. PM: Temple of Literature: Visit this very first university in Vietnam and learn of its Confucian teaching. Hoa Lo Prison: Look into this former prison's significance during French colonial rule and the Vietnam War. PM: Water Puppet Show: End the day at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Old Quarter Dinner: Taste some famous street food like pho or banh mi.
Day 2: Immerse Further Into History and Daily Life AM: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Visit Ho Chi Minh’s final resting place, near the Ho Chi Minh Museum and his stilt houses. One Pillar Pagoda: Head for a brief visit to this ancient Buddhist temple.
Day 3: Shopping, Leisure, and Optional Day Trips AM: Dong Xuan Market: Visit this busy bazaar to shop for souvenirs, clothing, and local products. Street Food Tour: Join a street food tour for the best of Hanoi, expressing street food.
Life of Hanoi would not bear an assigned number of days as a phrase or a term. Nevertheless, if you ask regarding visiting Hanoi and proposing on how many days would be enough to have a decent look at the city, this would be really dependent upon your interests and itineraries. A minimum of 3 to 4 days in Hanoi to see the main sights such as the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and Museums, plus experience some local cuisine and nightlife, is widely recommended by the majority of travelers. Should you wish to use Hanoi as a base for day trips somewhere close-Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, or Sapa, for example-you would then tend to stay on for another week or more.
Some activities in Hanoi don't take a lot of time. Others, especially day trip offerings like Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, will certainly impact your schedule. The usual length of time for most travelers seems to be around three to five days to see and do the main activities, such as seeing Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, visiting Ba Dinh Square and Ngoc Son Temple, tasting street food and browsing the night market, and experiencing some of the history found in the Hoa Lo Prison Museum or Vietnam Museum of History. If you plan to explore farther afield with a few day trips, tack on either one or two more days. Always allocate at least some free time to relax and simply wander to see what you find.
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is officially a 31-day month from January 1 to December 31. In other words, there are 31 days and 24 hours in Hanoi. Since there are weekends (from Monday through Friday), and since holiday observances are assigned to certain times during the course of the year, generally speaking, the workers in Hanoi have very few holiday weekends, averaging around 30 in number.
Interestingly enough, among the national holidays also in Vietnam, some holidays also get extended on account of the official recognition of such holidays in Hanoi. For instance, February 29 is a public holiday for New Year's Day, while June 2 is a public holiday for Independence Day. Added to this is Christmas on December 25 and "Tet" or Lunar New Year that usually occurs between late February and early March, depending on how the lunar calendar and dates play out.
Hence, while 31 days broadly make up most of the year, mention needs to be made of extra days observed for special testing events and festivals or presents within the respective time frames. Always double-check official calendars for the current calendar year for the most accurate information on the number of working days in Hanoi.