Top 7 Best Hanoi Day Tours | Metta Voyage

Table of Contents

1. A Day Tour In Duong Lam Ancient Village

First on the list of best Hanoi day tours is Duong Lam village. Visit Duong Lam to get a glimpse of life as it used to be. This village collection serves as a living museum, preserving traditional ways of life. There are communes, temples dedicated to village kings, centuries-old homes, and human communities. Because Duong Lam is close to Ba Vi National Park, most tour groups take you there.

1.1. How to get there?

Buses are available at the bus station. It costs about 25,000VND per person.

Trung Ha bus station – My Dinh (number 70A). Request that the crew correct the fee and drop you off at Duong Lam ancient village. In my opinion, this is the best option so far.

Son Tay bus station – Ha Dong (number 77)

Son Tay bus station – My Dinh (number 71)

When you arrive in Son Tay, take a Son Tay taxi (024 3362 6262) to the village, which costs around $3.5.

A private car costs around $65 per car, which includes fuel, parking, and an English-speaking driver. Bonus: a free travel consultant in Duong Lam, as well as a water bottle for each person.
Taking the bus

You can take the bus My Dinh – Phu Pho from My Dinh bus station and get off at Duong Lam village entrance new gate. The cost is approximately 40,000VND per person.

Using a private car

It is by far the most affordable option, costing only $65 per day for a four-seater car with a 1.5-to-2-hour drive from Hanoi. When it comes to rice planting season, either in February or July, ask the driver to pull over to the side of the road and take photos of local rice farmers planting in their fields.

Using a Grab taxi or a regular taxi

Request a taxi to Duong Lam village from your hotel’s receptionist. Request that they negotiate with the taxi driver to stay and wait for you for a couple of hours. You get a 60% discount because of the return transfer. This offer is only valid for regular taxis, not Grab.

In the case of Grab taxis, the driver prefers to be paid in cash rather than via the app.

A one-way ride costs about $28, and a round trip costs about $45.

1.2. Suggested itinerary for Duong Lam village day trip

This is a suggested day trip itinerary for Duong Lam village. You can create your itinerary based on your interests, duration, and budget. 8.00 am: Take a scenic drive from Hanoi to Duong Lam village, passing through a few towns and seeing bonsai gardens, vegetable plantations, rice paddy fields, and more.

Arrive in the village at 9.30 a.m. A walking tour of the villages includes: Mrs. Ha Thi Dien’s ancient house, Mia Pagoda, Mong Phu Communal House, and Hien Bao workshop to sample peanut candy and sausage candy

Noon: Visit the church in Duong Lam when it is open for bell ringing.

12.30 pm: Lunch in an ancient house in the village of Duong Lam.

1.30 pm: Drive a short distance to see two

2.30 pm: Board the car and return to Hanoi.

4:00 pm Arrive in Hanoi. The journey is over.

2. Immerse in the nature day tour in Ninh Binh

One of the best choices for Hanoi day tours is Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Because they are so close, trips to Trang An and Tam Coc are frequently combined with visits to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Hoa Lu, as the name suggests, was once the capital of Vietnam between the 10th and 11th centuries. Little of the original structures remain, but there are newer temples and buildings dedicated to the original dynastic families. The area is also nestled between steep hills, which makes for great photography.

Because of the spectacular scenery, this is likely the most popular best Hanoi day tour. The trip begins with a two-hour drive into Ninh Binh Province, where you board boats and float down the Sao Khe River. You’ll float into caves and glide past towering limestone karsts at Trang An, weaving through scenery unlike any other in the world. Make the short trip to Tam Coc after you finish your Trang An boat trip (which takes about two hours). Traveling between these two popular destinations takes only about 10 minutes. Tam Coc has even more spectacular karst formations. Unless a tour group has decided for you, you will have the option of biking or taking another boat ride.

Many companies offer day trips to both locations as part of a package deal, but it’s not difficult to just show up on your own. You can take a bus and rent a motorcycle to get between the two locations. It all depends on how easily you are traveling on your schedule.

2.1. How to get there?

Between Hanoi and Ninh Binh

There are two highly recommended routes from Hanoi to Hoa Lu’s ancient capital.

Taking the train

Train tickets from Hanoi to Ninh Binh range in price from 90.000 VND to more than 200.000 VND, depending on the train and seat type. Take note that you should not purchase a train ticket that departs too late (after 8:00 am). This may have an impact on your schedule.

From Hanoi, take a shuttle bus.

It is very simple and convenient for you to locate any old quarter and purchase your tickets. Every day, they will pick you up in the early morning from your hotel in the Hanoi center and drop you off around 7:00 p.m.

2.2. Suggested itinerary for Ninh Binh day trip

This is a suggested day trip itinerary for Ninh Binh Trip.

8 a.m.: Take a private car from Hanoi to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, passing through a few towns and seeing bonsai gardens, vegetable plantations, rice paddy fields, and more.

Arrive in Hoa Lu Ancient Capital at 10:00 a.m. Take a walking tour of the capital, where you can see some famous architecture such as Kinh Dinh Temple and King Le Temple. Ma Yen Mountain, Nhat Tru Pagoda, and so on.

12.30 pm: Lunch at a restaurant near Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.

2:00 pm: Transfer to Trang An/Tam Coc. Take a 2- to 3-hour boat ride around Tam Coc. Trang An/Tam Coc Bich Dong, also known as the second Ha Long Bay, is stunning.

4.30 pm: Hop in the car and get back to Hanoi.

7.30 pm: Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends

3. Relaxing A Day In Ba Vi National Park

Natural Feature

Travel two hours west to Ba Vi National Park to immerse yourself in nature for the best Hanoi day tours. The park’s focal points are three peaks, with an 11th-century shrine to the Mountain God on the second tallest peak, Tan Vien. After you’ve hiked the trails and gone swimming, relax in the spa.

Portuguese missionaries brought Christianity to Vietnam four centuries ago. The country now has approximately 6 million Catholics. The Phat Diem Cathedral, which was built in 1892, is still in use today. When Catholics fled nationalist forces in 1954, the cathedral was forced to close, and Graham Greene even mentioned it in his famous book, The Quiet American (1955).

3.1. How to get there?

By tour

Because there are no direct buses from Hanoi to Ba Vi National Park, and because a guide can be extremely helpful in showing you the best hiking routes and sights, most visitors choose to visit the park on a tour.

Using private transportation

Private transportation can be arranged as an alternative to public transportation and tours. You can rent a motorbike in Hanoi and drive yourself here, or you can rent a car with a driver. It takes about an hour and a half to an hour and a half, depending on the speed.

Public transportation

For most international visitors, taking the bus to the park is not their first choice. Depending on your starting point, you may need to transfer to different bus routes to get to your destination. It is therefore not recommended to take the public bus. If you do want to go, ask your accommodation in Hanoi to arrange the bus.

3.2. Suggested itinerary for Ba Vi day trip

You can spend a day time for camping in Ba Vi mountain. It’s famous for its natural beauty, going camping here is the best choice for a fun day trip.

If you don’t want to go camping, you can go there and visit Ba Vi National Park, and immerse yourself in the plants and animals here. It’ll be an unforgettable experience for a day trip to Ba Vi – Hanoi.

4. Exploring Perfume Pagoda On A Day

Buddhist Temple

Because Vietnamese Buddhists frequently make pilgrimages here, the Perfume Pagoda is a popular tourist destination in the area. Crowds flock to this pagoda from February to April, so keep that in mind if you don’t want to rub shoulders with tour groups; however, even at its busiest, the combination of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage makes this a worthwhile day trip. The boat ride to the pagoda is amazing enough to justify the trip.

4.1. How to get there?

You can’t drive to the pagoda; instead, you must board a serene paddle boat in the town and travel down the river for more than an hour. Immediately after we pulled into the town and stopped to discuss our plans for lunch, several women on bicycles came up to us and asked if we would like to park with them, eat at their restaurant, or take their boat. We finally decided to follow the first person we saw further up the street after some discussion. She brought our bikes inside her house, where her son was watching TV, and we ate lunch while sitting at a small plastic table.

5. A Day Tour In Thay Temple

Buddhist Temple

The Thay Temple, founded in the 11th century by Nhân Tông of the Ly Dynasty, is one of Vietnam’s oldest structures. It is still inhabited by monks who look after the temple and perform water puppet shows during festivals. Some of the best examples of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture can be found in the temple itself. The temple is only 30 kilometers from Hanoi, making it an easy best Hanoi day tour.

5.1. How to get to Thay Pagoda?

Just 20 kilometers west of Hanoi, take the Lang-Hoa Lac highway until you see several mountains jutting out from the farmland, resembling the body of a dragon. Turn right about 2 kilometers to reach the temple (in Sai Son mountain, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi city)

6. A Day Cycling In Mai Chau Valley

Natural Feature

This valley is another picturesque location, with rice paddies and jagged mountain ridges. The journey from Hanoi takes more than three hours, but once there, you’ll get to experience the lifestyles of the region’s ethnic tribes. While overnight homestays are popular, stopping in for a day is also an option. You can bike or trek through the remote villages, and you might even see some rare and exotic wildlife.

6.1. Cycling through rice fields

Cycling in Mai Chau is fantastic, and it is one of the best places to cycle in Vietnam. The valley has a beautiful landscape with rice fields surrounded by mountains and small ethnic minority villages. The valley is nearly flat, with small roads connecting the villages and little traffic. This combination makes it ideal for biking. You can go with a guide or rent bikes at your hotel or homestay; accommodations frequently provide them for free or for a very low fee.

7. Experience A Day Of Traditional Village – Bat Trang

Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

Bat Trang Village is only 30 minutes from Hanoi’s Old Quarter, making it a low-commitment excursion. The village is well-known for its porcelain and ceramics, which are in high demand throughout Asia due to their high quality and traditional designs. This is one of the best places for you to spend the best Hanoi day tours.

When it comes to Bat Trang tourism, you should go to the ancient village of Bat Trang, which has unique ancient architecture. You will be able to explore the old village in a buffalo car while you are here. Then relax in the rustic, Vietnamese atmosphere of yesteryear.

7.1. How To Go There?

The hotel is conveniently located near the city center. When visiting Bat Trang pottery village, you will have several options for transportation, as follows:

The bus is the most popular mode of transportation among tourists. Safe and quick without having to worry about the sun or rain. Especially with a low price, suitable for students, of only 7000 vnd/ticket.

You can take the bus from the city to the Long Bien transshipment point. Bus 47A runs from Long Bien bus station to the village of Bat Trang at the start of Tran Nhat Duat.

Motorcycles and other road vehicles (taxis, cars, etc.)

The motorcycle is your second mode of transportation. They are ideal for young people who enjoy backpacking.

Riverway

This vehicle is primarily for tourists who want to experience the uniqueness of Hanoi’s river tour. Every weekend, there is a Red River cruise through Bat Trang ceramic village and Chu Dong Tu temple.