Incredible Day Trips From Hanoi, Vietnam

To get a glimpse of life as it was, visit calm and peaceful Duong Lam. This collection of villages serves as a living museum, where the traditional ways of life still exist. There are communes, temples to kings from the village, centuries-old homes and communities of people. Since Duong Lam is near Ba Vi National Park, most tour groups bring you to both.

Because they’re both so close to each other, trips to Trang An and Tam Coc are often packaged together with visits to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. As the name suggests, Hoa Lu was once the capital of Vietnam, during the 10th and 11th centuries. Little remains of the original structures, but there are newer temples and buildings honouring the original dynastic families. The area is also nestled between steep hills, making for great pictures.

Likely the most popular day trip from Hanoi because of the spectacular scenery, the trip starts with a two-hour drive into Ninh Binh Province, where you then get on boats and float down the Sao Khe River. At Trang An, you’ll float into caves and glide past towering limestone karsts, weaving through scenery unlike anywhere else in the world. After you finish your Trang An boat trip (which takes about two hours), make the short trip to Tam Coc. It only takes about 10 minutes to travel between these two popular spots. At Tam Coc, there are even more amazing karst formations. Unless a tour group has decided for you, you’ll have the option of either biking or going on another boat ride.

There are many companies running day trips to both places as a package deal, but it’s really not all that difficult to just show up on your own. You can catch a bus there and then rent a motorbike to get between the places. It all depends on how comfortable you are travelling to your own schedule.

To really engross yourself in nature, travel two hours west to Ba Vi National Park. There are three peaks that make the focal points of this park, and on the second tallest peak, Tan Vien, there’s an 11th-century shrine for the Mountain God. And after you’ve hiked the trails and gone for a swim, take a break in the spa.

Christianity was first brought to Vietnam by Portuguese missionaries four centuries ago. Now there are approximately 6 million Catholics in the country. The Phat Diem Cathedral, built in 1892, is still a functional church to this day. It had to close 1954 when the Catholics fled nationalist forces, and Graham Greene even mentioned the cathedral in his famous book, The Quiet American (1955).

The Perfume Pagoda is a busy tourist spot in the region because Vietnamese Buddhists often make pilgrimages here. From February to April, crowds flock to this pagoda, so keep that in mind if you don’t want to bump shoulders with tour groups; but even at its busiest, the combination of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage still make this a day trip to consider. The boat trip alone to get to the pagoda is incredible enough to justify the trip.

Established in the 11th century by Nhân Tông of the Lý Dynasty, the Thay Temple is one of the oldest in Vietnam. It’s still the home to monks who maintain the temple and periodically put on water puppet shows during festivals. The temple itself has some of the best examples of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture. Since the temple is only 30km from Hanoi, it makes for an easy day trip.

This valley is another picture-perfect spot, with rice paddies and lines of jagged mountain ridges. At over three hours, the journey from Hanoi is an effort, but once here you’ll get to experience the lifestyles of the region’s ethnic tribes. Overnight homestays are popular, but stopping in for one day is also a fine option. You can bike or trek through the remote villages and you’ll even have a chance to spot some rare and exotic wildlife.

Tempted? You can visit Mai Chau and enjoy a scenic bicycle ride as part of Culture Trip’s specially curated 12-day Vietnam adventure, led by our local insider.

Bat Trang Village is just 30 minutes from the Old Quarter in Hanoi, so it’s a low-commitment excursion. The village is famous for its porcelain and ceramics, which are sought after throughout Asia because of their quality and traditional designs.

Now to the crown jewel of tourism in Vietnam. Pretty much everyone who visits this country goes to Ha Long Bay. It’s page one of every travel guide ever written about Vietnam. It’s a mystical place – almost other-worldly – and famous for good reason. Even though Ha Long City is quickly going down the tubes, Ha Long Bay still deserves a day to take in the sights. We recommend you splurge on a fancy dinner boat, or a quality tour guide.