Hanoi Day Trips: 10 Ideas To Make The Most Of A Day From Hanoi

On the S-shaped strip of Vietnam, there are 54 ethnic groups living, there are so many rich cultures, bringing beautiful landscapes, natural wonders that are listed in the TOP of the world. rich culture. And while one could easily spend an eternity in Vietnam’s crowded capital without getting bored, there are countless easy-to-miss day trips to unleash your adventure.

And perhaps, it is impossible to forget the capital Hanoi – 1000 years of ancient civilization full of ups and downs, or to contribute to the new, dynamic modernity that has been brought to Hanoi over time. fresh colors. Thus, truly spending a day to return to nature can be a new change, learn about the living land, people, visit the Ancient Monuments, admire the famous tourist areas in the land. hey, that’s probably great, isn’t it?

What’s more, Hanoi’s cultural vantage point in Northern Vietnam means that insiders are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a day trip, as well as being able to see new places. , relax next to ancient architecture, visit temples with spiritual architecture, or visit historical sites, cultural museums. And finally, perhaps enjoy the local specialties!

And that’s where we want to introduce you. Here is our list of ten famous places, in terms of the best day trips from Hanoi.

1. Halong Bay, Quang Ninh

Ha Long Bay tourist area is one of the familiar names, the most beautiful and attractive tourist destination located on the Gulf of Tonkin and in the tourist map of the whole world. Traveling to Ha Long is an opportunity for visitors to admire the beauty of 1969 large and small islands, including 775 islands recognized by UNESCO as world natural heritage.

Ha Long Bay is not only an attractive tourist destination but also offers unique heritages. Here, contains important vestiges in the formation and development of earth’s history. It is the cradle of the ancient Vietnamese people, and at the same time a work of art, the magnificence and grandeur of nature with the presence of thousands of rocky islands of all shapes and sizes. It with many interesting caves gathers into a world that is both vivid and mysterious. This place is also associated with heroic historical and cultural values and is the pride of the whole Vietnamese.

Ha Long Bay is Vietnam’s most iconic picture-perfect picture and is about a three-hour drive from the capital. While the beautiful town of Ha Long is one of nature’s best gifts in the world, with thousands of green limestone peaks erupting from sparkling turquoise waves. You can visit the caves, the maze to admire the stalactites in the cave, the mountains and experience kayaking to explore here.

2. Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

If you want to find ancient beauty, contemplative relics, tinged with history and time leaving many imprints in each person, a legend and historical legend, then you can visit Hoa Lu Capital.
Hoa Lu used to be the capital of Vietnam, 100 km south of the current capital Hanoi. Between AD 900-1100, Hoa Lu was the center of government and commerce in the country, and traces of its proud history still stand today. Besides, Hoa Lu is a land with beautiful terrain, charming mountains and rivers, which are very convenient for military development. History books also record a description of the characteristics of the ancient land of Hoa Lu: “Hoa Lu is a place where mountains overlap. Mountains in rivers, rivers in mountains. Marine bases are very convenient.
Here, there are still a lot of evidences, historical imprints, when the citadel and construction works have long been ruined, the beautiful gate is still visible, as well as some impressive temples like Le Dai Hanh, Dinh Tien Hoang and Nhat Tru are all well worth a visit.

3. Trang An Tourism Complex

Trang An brings an appearance of mysterious nature, with the fresh and cool weather of the natural scenery blending in, bringing unique looks. Moreover, this place is also compared to Ha Long Bay on land, with its magnificent beauty, with the colorful shapes it brings, through the topographical structure of mountains, rocks, and limestone.

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex covers an area of ​​6,172 hectares in the districts of Hoa Lu, Gia Vien, Nho Quan, Tam Diep town and Ninh Binh city, about 90km from Hanoi. Trang An landscape complex includes three protected areas adjacent to each other, which are the historical and cultural relic of Hoa Lu ancient capital, Trang An – Tam Coc-Bich Dong scenic area and Hoa Lu special-use primeval forest. And it’s one of the most popular day trip destinations from Hanoi, a title it deserves due to its stunning natural scenery. Even the journey to get there is a journey, as you will pass through villages and small towns in Ninh Binh province, before getting on a boat and doing the rest of your journey on the Sao Khe River.

Coming here, you can admire the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, which also surrounds the Hoa Lu special-use primeval forest with a diverse and rich ecosystem, including rare animals such as the ground phoenix, starlings, babblers, monkeys, pythons, especially the white gibbon, a species listed in the world’s red book.
In Trang An, continue sailing, and you’ll drift peacefully in and out of prehistoric caves, past stunning limestone mountains and past views.

4. Tam Coc, Ninh Binh

After you finish the boat trip around Trang An you can visit Tam Coc because this place is one of the places and landscapes that bring the immensity of time. Tam Coc – Bich Dong is a cave complex in the land of Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong, also known by famous names such as “Ha Long Bay on land” or “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” is a key national tourist area in Vietnam. The whole area includes a system of limestone caves and historical sites related to the Vu Lam palace of the Tran dynasty.
And Trang An – Tam Coc Scenic Landscape Complex is ranked as one of the special national relics and has been ranked as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Coming to Tam Coc, you will encounter another vast karst mountain range, you can row a boat to visit and admire the scenic spots here.

5. Mai Chau Valley, Hoa Binh

Moreover, on this S-shaped land, it is not difficult to encounter beautiful, gentle and warm landscapes from nature. On the journey, you can visit Mai Chau which is one of the top places, coming here, you will feel like you are immersed in warm, immense nature.
The rice fields and the horizon of jagged mountain ridges make Mai Chau a day trip destination from picturesque Hanoi.
For those interested in the traditional life of Vietnamese tribes, this is a must-visit, as homestays are popular and make for a great, authentic experience, but day trips also very popular. Cycling or walking through remote villages is extremely rewarding, and lucky visitors may also see some rare and exotic wildlife. Or you can visit the Endangered Animal Rescue Center which is well worth a visit.

6. Bat Trang Village, Hanoi

For those wanting a shorter drive, Bat Trang Village is only 30 minutes from Hanoi’s Old Quarter, so it’s an inexpensive excursion.

Currently, most people are very interested in different types of travel experiences, making things with their own hands, and experiencing new things. And to meet that need, it is impossible to ignore Bat Trang Pottery Village. In the past, this place was famous for its beautiful bowls and cups, so that visitors could visit and shop. The village’s signature porcelain and pottery has brought the region’s fame throughout Asia to the area. Now, up to the present time, visitors can experience, check in beautiful photos, and make their own ceramics.

Or you can come here, watch the artisans work beautifully and relax, and have the opportunity to choose an authentic piece at a great price that will leave a special mark during the trip.

7. Ba Vi National Park, Hanoi

If you want to get away from the smog, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and want to find a place to rest, relax, and mingle with nature. So what are you waiting for, let’s go to the West location, there on that land, there is Ba Vi National Park with a beautiful and rich landscape, a place that just looking at it makes you feel moved.

Moreover, you also have the opportunity to admire the high peaks, and is one of the main attractions in this park. On the central and second highest peak, Tan Vien, you’ll find a temple that dates back to the 11th century. It’s dedicated to the Buddhist Mountain God who will protect you for the rest of your journey!

8. Huong Pagoda (Perfume Pagoda), Hanoi

Perfume Pagoda is a way of saying in folklore. In fact, Huong Pagoda or Huong Son Pagoda is a cultural-religious complex of Vietnam, including dozens of Buddhist temples, a few temples of gods, communal houses, and worshiping beliefs. agricultural threshold.

Perfume Pagoda is actually a huge Buddhist temple complex, as well as a communal house. The complex is centered around Huong Son Cave, known as Chua In, where the central pagoda is located.

And every year believers and believers often come here to worship and admire the natural landscape and temples with a wish, mind, and aspiration in life. Moreover, coming here, you can sit on a boat to cruise on the river, enjoy the full flavor of this place.

9. Quang Phu Cau Incense Village, Hanoi

Quang Phu Cau incense village is a beautiful check-in point on the outskirts of Hanoi, about 35 km from the center of the capital. This destination is located in Quang Phu Cau commune, Ung Hoa district, with a history of making traditional incense sticks for more than a century.

In the past, this village of incense sticks mainly developed in the area of Phu Luong Thuong village. Later, the profession of making incense spread to the area of ​​Dao Tu, Cau Bau, … turning the large Quang Phu Cau commune into a large-scale craft village. This place also has the ancient beauty of the Northern countryside and is also mixed with many modern imprints.

What to expect in Quang Phu Cau?
A visit to Quang Phu Cau incense village will bring visitors an opportunity to learn about the traditional craft of making incense sticks and take lots of unique check-in photos. Right after you enter the incense village, you’ll be able to see the busy lives of the locals here.

The village is filled with bundles of red incense sticks that look like enormous flowers under the sunlight. Incense is dried in a variety of large areas, including the yards of houses or community houses, and vacant lots, which brings an impressive sight for visitors.

Once you step foot in the village, it is easy to see a lot of large incense bundles with one end tied together and the others spreading out like blooming flowers. The lucky colors of the East, yellow and red, are present in the incense of Quang Phu Cau village, which makes the incense very beautiful and vibrant. As a result, Quang Phu Cau has long been the shooting source of choice for both domestic and international photographers. In particular, numerous photos taken here have won prestigious awards.

It is due to its distinctive charm that Quang Phu Cau Incense Village has become a traditional craft village attracting both local and international tourists to visit when arriving in Hanoi. Visitors coming here will have the chance to stroll around the village to view many large “flowers” and take a lot of amazing photos.

Quang Phu Cau incense village has gained attention from the international press owing to its unique beauty and centuries-old incense-making practice. In particular, the French news agency AFP published on the incense village in 2019 and this helped to show friends overseas the beauty of the Vietnamese traditional craft village.

10. Duong Lam Ancient Village, Hanoi

Duong Lam Ancient Village is located about 50 km northwest of downtown Hanoi. This village is a perfect choice for those who are looking for a peaceful countryside atmosphere. Coming to Duong Lam, you will find most of the features of a typical northern village: banyan trees, water wells, communal yards, pagodas & temples, winding village brick roads and small alleys, laterite walls, old wooden houses. Despite advanced modernization & urbanization, the village itself still preserves traditional values with full of nostalgia and tranquility.

History of Duong Lam Ancient Village
Located in the heart of the Red River Delta, Duong Lam used to be the center of agriculture and industry in Northern Vietnam. The area was settled around 1.200 years ago and initially consisted of nine hamlets scattered across Duong Lam Commune.

In 2005, Duong Lam was the first ancient village in Vietnam which was declared as the National Cultural and Historical Relic, which ushered in preservation and restoration program. Conservation of five brick houses in Duong Lam helped the village get an award of merit from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2014. Conservation helps to preserve the village’s heritage and culture, as well as bring more tourists to Duong Lam Village and create more income opportunities for local villagers.

In terms of the architectural scale, Duong Lam Ancient Village is only after Hoian Ancient Town and Hanoi Old Town. It still remains the art and architecture of an ancient village in the Red River Delta. Being known as the “living community”, there are many families living here from generations to generations.