Top 10 Things to Do Near Hanoi [Must-Try]

If you are looking for tourist attractions near the capital of Vietnam but do not know which one to choose and what to do when coming? The Top 10 Things to Do Near Hanoi below will give some hints to get yourself a real holiday! These activities are not only attractive but also convenient for visitors to move in the day!

1. Cruising in Halong Bay

Halong Bay Overnight Cruise is one of the most popular experiences travelers choose to travel from Hanoi! Why? Because it is famous for tranquil turquoise sea and magnificent natural scenery around the islands. You may be confused a bit about what you can do onboard, but kayaking activities are worth enjoying once! Besides, the meals onboard are a harmonious combination of Vietnamese and international cuisine. If you want to make yourself Vietnamese dishes, cooking classes on board are a good choice. At night, you can enjoy onboard activities such as games, squid fishing, and karaoke. The cruising service offers a real bargain for you, buddies!

The easiest way to get to Halong from Hanoi is using coaches as they spend only 2 hours for 150kms. This vehicle will help you have interesting experiences with the local culture, especially with foreign tourists.

Cruising in Halong Bay

 

2. Biking in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh's distance to Hanoi is nearly 100km from the pick-up to a drop-off location. Thus, taking the Ninh Binh Hanoi bus will take you from more than 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The journey to discover Ninh Binh is full of peace as visitors can rent a bicycle to enjoy the calm vibe of many landscapes like caves or paddles. The scenery is the medley of winding rivers and limestone mountains, creating countless mysterious natural caves. Besides, you can visit ancient temples with the traditional architecture of Asian style.

Another spot that you can reach by bike is Bai Dinh pagoda. Located 15km from Ninh Binh city, this destination is one of the largest-scale pagodas in Vietnam and a sanctuary for those who worship. Anyone who comes here can be on cloud nine as all of them could feel the purity of nature!

Biking in Ninh Binh

 

3. Boat Ride in Tam Coc

Tam Coc area is also known as Ha Long Bay on land thanks to the serene beauty - the tranquility of the fields with flying storks and the river winding through the cliffs. The best thing about this site is the distance because Tam Coc is only about 100km from Hanoi with a developed public transport system, making it easy to access.

The boat will support you to discover the hidden beauty as well as the tranquility of Tam Coc. It will take you through rice fields or flow in the middle of giant limestone mountains with three small caves. Once being inside the caves, visitors will feel like watching a masterpiece of nature. What will you see? A cleverly honed inner stone arch with extremely sophisticated details!

Tam Coc ninh Binh

 

4. Trekking in Sapa

A trekking trip through the fields and mountains of Sapa is one of the highlights in Vietnam. What will you get from this trip? The scenery of native villages, spacious fields, and crystal sky! Along the way trekking, the paths between the rice fields and the valley will dazzle anyone, even those who are grumpy. You will pass through many different ethnic minority villages, where you feel that you are back in time. You might meet a few water buffalo working hard in the field. And certainly, this is a great place for you to take pictures.

From Hanoi to Sapa, you have to travel about 376 km on average. Thus, spending a night of 6 hours on the coach is the most reasonable.

Trekking in Sapa

 

5. Sightseeing in Fansipan Peak

Fansipan is one of the tourist destinations not to be missed when coming to Sapa. In addition to reaching the top of the Indochina Peninsula by cable car to save effort and time, conquering Mount Fansipan by road is also a memorable experience. Standing on Fansipan Peak is also a chance of luck as the weather changes hourly, and you are really on a roll to see the clear blue sky atop the mountain. Sometimes, it is sunny in the middle of the mountain, but the top is covered with clouds.

Hanoi is about 7, 8 hours by bus from Sapa, so the appropriate period is probably night as on the bus you can sleep and reach Sapa in the early morning.

Fansipan Peak

 

6. Visit Amazing Scenery of Ban Gioc Waterfall

Welcome to one of the largest cross-country waterfalls worldwide - Ban Gioc! Once visiting the fall, you will realize that the main part's unique beauty as the waterfall does not flow straight down from the top! There are rough, divided layers like stairs, forming a white patch between the land and the sky. The natural picture is the fusion of cool green standing by the golden paddle.

Ban Gioc Waterfall is located in Cao Bang and about 335km from Hanoi. You will need 7 hours to check in my car. Thus, the amazing scenery of Ban Gioc Waterfall is something that you can't miss!

Ban Gioc Waterfall

 

7. Adventure yourself along with Ma Pi Leng Pass Ha Giang

Ma Pi Leng is a rugged pass about 20 km long, passing through 3 communes of Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province.

From the top of Ma Pi Leng, the majestic mountain scenery with one side is a cliff; the other side is the deep pool of Nho Que River with emerald green water, the North and Northeast pass stretching out of sight is thousands Gray bare rocky mountain coincides with the same message, causing many visitors to return to this place to see at least one more time in their life.

You can immerse yourself in the immense space, watch the majestic mountains in the fanciful clouds and let the feeling of drifting on that calm river.

Ma Pi Leng Pass

 

8. Explore Ancient Duong Lam Village

About 44km from Hanoi, Duong Lam ancient village is the perfect choice if you are looking for the tranquil countryside to rest after the chaos of life. Thanks to an ancient Vietnamese village's artistic features in the Red River delta, Duong Lam ancient village is only behind Hoi An ancient town and Hanoi old town in terms of scale and value.

This place preserves old architectural houses with brick streets, laterite walls, and other Vietnamese northern countryside features. The old houses of Duong Lam are hundreds of years old and have been maintained in good conditions for a long time. Residents are also people who have ancestors settling down for years and have a deep knowledge of the history of this old village. Guests will have the opportunity to know more about this ancient village through these people.

Let's book a day trip to Duong Lam from Hanoi now to discover this ancient village

Duong Lam Ancient Village with our below customer

 

9. Beach Relax in Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island is not busy as Ha Long Bay; then you will have more time to explore the beaches there. The special thing you should try is to be on the yacht! The fresh air of the ocean is also quite different from the others as visitors can jump from a yacht into the bay, swim through caves around it. The yacht has swimsuits, buoys, and lifeboats, so don't worry, enjoy playing.

Because beaches are very close to most hostels, you can do anything to make your holiday fulfill with excitement: take sunbathing as much as you want; immerse yourself in clear crystal water or create a white sandcastle. One thing to not ignore is that you should go ashore before sunset because then the tide is strong and the waves are high.

If recommended, the most flexible way is to find a bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba as it takes you only 3 hours. Besides, taxis are also a find option, but the amount of money for paying is quite prohibitive.

Kayaking in Cat ba Island

 

10. Hiking & Trekking in Mai Chau Valley

Mai Chau valley is located 140km from Hanoi and reaching this site is as easy as pie within 3 hours.

The destination is famous for the cradle of ethnic culture. Thus, it will offer you a vibe of dreamland, so do not miss the opportunity to wander around by sports bike. Once you try the landscape of the valley, most people fall in love with nature, life, and peoples' identity.

The wild and lyrical atmosphere is the medley of alluvium as well as fanciful turquoise blue from water. Nothing is better than enjoying the relaxing fullness in a green space! There are no rows of buildings lying close together. Instead, peaceful villages are things you can see with simple rice terraces embracing the lush green mountains under floating clouds.

Want to discover the cultural identity of ethnic people? Welcome to the most rustic community tourism cradle - Lac town! You will have the opportunity to experience making wonderful brocade products by yourself and sense the upland rice cultivation.

Trekking in Mai Chau Valley

 

Above are the Top 10 Things to Do Near Hanoi that most people will mention for you. It's time to choose a trip that will satisfy not only you but also your companions! 

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