First Time in Hanoi? Here's How to Spend Your First 24 Hours!

Last updated on March 23rd, 2025 at 04:13 pm

Reading Time: 11 minutes

It was my first time in Hanoi, Vietnam, and that too my first solo international trip. Excited, I reached the Delhi Airport 4 hours early, cleared the security check, and waited at the boarding gate.

You can consider reading this prepping-up Hanoi travel guide for all the info on flight search, E-Visa, and other travel tips to get started.

As I waited at the airport, I initially thought I had too much time with 2 hours left for boarding. But after chatting with an Indonesian lady next to me, time flew by quickly.

She shared that she sometimes visits India for work but has never really explored Delhi. “I’ve been sometimes,” she said with a smile, “but never as a tourist.”

What captivated me most was the story behind her child’s name. She had named her firstborn “First Nadia”—a unique and memorable choice. Curious, I asked if her second and third children had similar names. She laughed and said, “No, I didn’t name them ‘Second’ or ‘Third’—I didn’t want it to feel like counting!”

Her perspective was refreshing, and our chat made the waiting time pass in no time!

Boarding Announcement…

Table of Contents

Vietnam Airlines

The plane was huge with the beautiful blue color theme all over.

While at the luggage drop counter, there’s a signboard that says the list of things not allowed including Drone cameras in Vietnam Airlines. I felt anxious and recalled that I hadn’t seen any info like this while booking on the Vietnam Airlines website or anywhere online.

I know the general rule of carrying the drone—batteries are to be kept in the carry-on baggage, and other drone essentials in the check-in baggage. However, most Airlines follow this rule.

But while dropping the luggage, nothing happened. Though, I was very clear about carrying the drone rules and suddenly this sunboard delivered an out-of-the-box message.

Thus, I felt relieved.

Delhi to Hanoi Vietnam Flight

It was a 4 hr 10 mins night flight. I thought to get a good sleep, and then start exploring as I reach the city.

It was 4:40 a.m Vietnam time, the plane landed well before the time.

Honestly, I couldn’t sleep well on the flight but planned to rest once I reached my stay.

I moved and stepped out of the plane, it was shivering cold! I was glad to wear the jacket from India itself realising it would be colder in the morning.

The next step was immigration. The line was pretty lengthy, it took almost an hour to clear.

After that, I received the luggage successfully from the assigned belt.

I was unsure about getting a SIM at the Airport but decided to take it, knowing I’d need a map for my bus travel.

Yes, you read it right. Instead of taking a Grab, I plan to take a bus because traveling by bus has its joy, and the joy doubles when you’re exploring an unknown territory.

The next thing would be to take a SIM.

Why I didn’t get an E-SIM from India?

I searched for an E-SIM in India, including on Klook, but couldn’t get one as my phone doesn’t support it.

Before buying an E-SIM online, check if your phone supports it by searching its model name online.

You can get an E-SIM from Saily, recommended by Lonely Planet, or from Klook.

If your phone supports an E-SIM, you can buy it from India, and it will get activated when you land in Vietnam.

Is it a good idea to get a SIM from Hanoi Airport?

I feel if you’re unsure of the mode of transport and want to rely on the internet to commute, then taking a SIM from Hanoi Airport is a satisfactory idea.

I reached a store inside Hanoi Airport and inquired about the availability of a reliable SIM network in Hanoi.

The store managers showed me a list of plans to choose from according to my needs.

You need to provide your passport to obtain the SIM.

I opted for a 7-day Vinaphone SIM for 250,000 VND, (Rs. 867) offering 7GB of daily data. While I didn’t need that much data, it was the smallest plan available, so I decided to go with it. The internet provided was 4G, and it was indeed fast.

You can even opt for a 15-day, or a 1-month plan if you intend to stay that much longer in Vietnam.

Even, I’ve also heard great things about Viettel’s network in Vietnam, known for its reliability, so that could be another good option to consider for your stay.

So, the SIM was activated successfully, and the next step was to take the bus.

Taking a Bus from Hanoi Airport to the City Center

Finding the nearest bus stop can be tricky if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Before my trip, I emailed my hostel to ask for directions from the airport. They kindly provided the bus number and the stop where I should get off.

I stayed at Old Quarters in Old Quarters View Hanoi Hostel.

Bus No. 86 goes from Hanoi Airport to the City Center.

This route bus dropped passengers at the city center, and I needed to get off at the 162 Tran Quang Khai bus stop. From there, the hostel was a 15-minute walk.

To be sure, I asked a person waiting for Bus No. 86. Although he had trouble understanding English, he used Google Translate and guided me to open Google Maps. He marked the drop-off point for me, confirming the location.

After waiting for about 30 minutes, the bus finally arrived at 6 a.m. However, it didn’t depart until 6:45 a.m., so I had to wait a bit longer. I placed my bag down and received my bus ticket from the driver, who also served as the conductor. The ride cost me 45,000 VND (around Rs. 156) until my stop.

The distance from the Airport to my drop-off point was around 45-50 mins, almost 28 km, so I enjoyed the city viewpoint from the window seat. It was also getting brighter outside.

It was the first time I saw people driving cars from the left side. Ha-Ha!!

Moreover, the person who helped me mark the drop-off point, even notified me that my stop came.

Hence, it was an enjoyable bus ride.

I quickly dropped off the bus and started moving towards my hostel.

If not Bus, then?

If you don’t want to take a bus, you can take a Grab from the Hanoi Airport.

It would cost roughly 3,00,000 – 4,00,000 VND (Rs. 1000-1300).

Also, you can minimize the cost of Grab by sharing with another person.

For instance, if you have booked your stay from Hostelworld, its features allow you to interact in a group where people are traveling to Hanoi during your dates.

You can share a message in a group a few minutes/hours before, “If someone wants to split a Grab from the Airport to the Old Quarter”, they can message you. Likewise, you can split the Grab bill. The more members, the more convenient the Grab would be.

Old Quarters

From the information I gathered online, Hanoi’s Old Quarters resembled me, like cousin sister of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.

Though I had yet to see the crowded street and vehicle movements, I could envision the two-wheeler moving on those narrow lanes.

I was on my way to reach the hostel.

Meanwhile, it started drizzling. I was hoping to reach the hostel before the drizzle gets heavy.

Thankfully! The rain lasted for a few minutes only. And, also I reached the hostel at around 7:50 a.m.

Xin Chào (Hello), the person at the reception welcomed me.

The time for check-in was 1 p.m. I still had plenty of time to lie down and relax a bit on my bed.

Now, what to do?

The hostel check-in time was 1 p.m., and I still had 5 hrs to either sit somewhere or explore the town.

I decided to explore despite being half-asleep.

Unknowingly, I reached an attractive street just a few minutes of walking away, full of Vietnam flags on every door, people were clicking pictures there. I was wondering what this street would be about.

I searched online and found out, this is the famous beer street of Hanoi Old Quarters. The street which has a handful of people walking by in the morning turns opposite as the sunsets. You can’t bypass easily without bumping into other people, this much crowded it gets.

People were passionately engaged in getting their pictures clicked.

I approached a lady “can I click your photo, if you don’t mind”, she was wearing a beautiful dress, and also I spotted a perfect background for that.

On New Year’s, carrying lucky flower, a.k.a Cherry Blossom flower is considered to be good.

My First Interaction in Hanoi with a Stranger

The very first person I met on Beer Street was a guy from Pakistan. He wanted to take his photos, so he reached out to me and was stunned to know that I am from India, because I don’t look like from India.

I clicked his few photos and guided him with some poses before he happily left.

Things you can do on your 1st Day in Hanoi

Since, it’s your first time in Hanoi, and indeed the very first day. Thus, you can explore nearby places.

Explore the Streets of Old Quarters
Visit Note Coffee and have Egg Coffee
In the evening, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Explore the nightlife of Hanoi Old Quarters

Further in the blog, I”ll elaborate on each point separately and share it with my experiences for better understanding.

Is street food good enough in Hanoi Old Quarter?

I arrived in Old Quarter early morning around 8 a.m. After wondering for some time, I was starving.

All I could see in the morning was every shop closed. In between, I saw an open shop, people were sitting and having something in a bowl. From afar it seemed like soup. Indeed it was.

Quickly, I went and checked the menu, and all I could see was beef, fish, and chicken soup.

I asked the shop owner about vegetable soup, he tried hard but couldn’t understand what I was saying. So, he opened Google Translate, converting from English to Vietnamese on his phone. I then typed in and he reverted.

In reply he answered, Yes, we can make a noodle vegetable soup which costs 30k VND (Rs. 103).

The soup arrived quickly.

Vegetable Chowmein soup

The chopsticks were kept there, but I was wondering how to eat using the chopsticks. Then I saw the soup spoon. The noodles were very different from what I had eaten before. It was sticky, and the length of the noodles was also big.

Nevertheless, I was hungry enough to think about anything else. Within minutes I finished my soup and noodles, indeed it was good enough to satisfy my hunger for some time.

Afterward, I continued exploring the streets for some time. I was amazed and happy to see the decorations on the streets.

After walking here and there for some time, I decided to visit the hostel as I needed to use the washroom.

Hostel Common Area

I explored for some time & headed back to the hostel. I know the check-in time was still a little far. But I wanted to sit in the hostel’s common area for some time.

When I sat and checked the hostel menu. Honestly, I felt hungry again!! Also, the clock was nearing the afternoon.

Hence, I ordered bread, boiled eggs, and scrambled eggs which combined cost 1,00,000 VND (Rs. 341).

While exchanging money, I was very confused about whether the other person had given me the right amount, or not. I was taking time to calculate. But, it’s correct.

After the meal, I felt satisfied.

I wandered near the hostel, gathered info at reception, and relaxed in the common area.

Soon after, I got my bed in a 10-bed mixed dorm.

A little Nap Time

The dorm was indeed neat and clean, with curtains in front of every bed for privacy.

I got refreshed and felt very sleepy. So, I took a nap of an hour before heading outside in the later afternoon.

The Note Coffee

In your Hanoi sightseeing list, you must add visiting and having Egg Coffee at the Note Coffee.

The distance from my Hostel to Note Coffee was about 600 m.

The Note Cafe is located near Hoàn Kiếm lake.

I got to know about Note Coffee while searching online when I was planning for places to visit in Hanoi.

The cafe is very uniquely established, as you would see sticky notes everywhere. From ceiling fans to the windows, people have poured love and shared their thoughts everywhere.

I tried egg coffee—It was really good! Though, it’s famous for egg coffee. The taste of the egg was mild, but it tasted awesome!

The egg coffee was priced at 60,000 VND (Rs. 206). It’s worth having the egg coffee when you’re in Hanoi.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

As evening approached, I headed to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, a beautiful and lively spot in the heart of Hanoi.

If you prefer a relaxed setting, you can enjoy the lake view from The Note Coffee, a cozy place with a unique vibe.

Near the Hoàn Kiếm Lake

But walking around the lake is always a great idea. The area is full of life, with street performances, vendors, and people simply enjoying the atmosphere. It’s a perfect spot to spend the evening.

People love cycling in Hanoi

One thing I noticed was how popular cycling is in Hanoi. Early in the morning and late evening, Hoàn Kiếm Lake is filled with cyclists—more than anything else! The energy and enthusiasm of the locals make it a fun sight to see.

Ngoc Son Temple

The lake also surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a small but beautiful temple connected by a red bridge. You should definitely add this to your Hanoi must-visit checklist!

Don’t miss going out and exploring Hanoi at night

Nighttime and Hanoi streets, I can’t ask for anything better.

Since it was the time of Tet, the streets were beautifully decorated. Add-ons, people gatherings, lively music, and street food add so much to make Hanoi nightlife stand out.

I somehow feel that even without the Tet period, the place will remain equally attractive and engaging.

Moreover, it’s fascinating to see how locals bring out small stools and enjoy their meals right on the roadside, often creating a lively, bustling atmosphere.

At times, they occupy so much space that the street becomes almost impassable, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through easily. This unique dining culture adds to the charm and vibrancy of Hanoi’s streets.

Also Read – Ninh Binh Day Trip – History, Hikes and Hidden Gems