Destination hub

Hanoi

Street food in the Old Quarter, coffee beside Hoan Kiem Lake and day trips to Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, all reachable with smart mileage planning.

Travel scene

By PerkJolt Travel Desk

Hanoi is Vietnam's capital. It is loud, layered and walkable, with narrow Old Quarter streets, French-era boulevards and lakes that break up the traffic. It suits travelers who like food, history and wandering more than resort days.

Who Hanoi suits

Food-first travelers who want to eat well on a small budget.
History and culture fans who like temples, museums and old-city streets.
Points travelers who want a long-haul trip with good hotel value once they arrive.
Skip it if you want quiet, easy sidewalks or a beach. Traffic is intense and the city is better on foot with patience.
Think twice if you dislike heat and humidity. Summer is sticky (details below).

When to go

Autumn is the favorite. Vietnam Airlines describes August to October as mild, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) . The same page says peak tourist season typically runs from October to February . Expect higher hotel and flight prices then.

Spring is the next best choice. One guide puts March–April and late September–November as the most comfortable stretches . June to August is usually the hottest period, with high humidity and temperatures often exceeding 30°C . Another guide calls June to September the low season, when fares and rooms tend to cost less .

Winter can feel cold and damp, so pack a layer. Tet (Lunar New Year) falls in late January or February. Many local businesses close and transport books up, so check the dates for your year.

Getting there

Hanoi's airport is Noi Bai (HAN). It lies north of the city, around 27 kilometres by road from the centre, with domestic flights in Terminal 1 and international flights in Terminal 2 . Most US travelers connect through an Asian or European hub. Check your airline's own route page for current options.

How points help:

SkyTeam: Vietnam Airlines is the national carrier and a SkyTeam member. Delta SkyMiles (Amex 1:1) and Flying Blue (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Bilt, all 1:1) are worth searching.
Star Alliance: Aeroplan (Chase, Amex, Capital One and Bilt, all 1:1) and ANA (Amex 1:1) can book Star Alliance partners.
Other options: Virgin Atlantic (Amex and Citi, 1:1) and British Airways (Chase, Amex and Capital One, 1:1) are also worth a look.

Award space to Asia is limited, so search before you move any points. See our transfer partners guide.

Getting around

From the airport: There is no train or metro station at the airport, so you take airport bus 86, an ordinary city bus or a car . That guide lists bus 86 at 50,000 dong, around 50 to 60 minutes to Hanoi Railway Station . Other sources quote slightly lower fares, so expect roughly $2. Allow extra time at rush hour.

Metro: Line 2A is a single elevated line and doesn't reach the Old Quarter. It's useful for a ride or for reaching Cát Linh near the Temple of Literature. The operator's page lists about 25.5 minutes end to end . Fares were set at VNĐ8,000-15,000 for a one-way ticket and VNĐ30,000 for a day pass . Service starts early and ends around 10–11 pm, and published hours differ, so check the operator.

Taxis and rideshare: Grab is widely used, and short city rides are typically only a few dollars. Agree on the fare or use the app.

On foot: Most sights in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake are walkable. Cross streets slowly and steadily, and don't rent a car.

Where to stay

Old Quarter: Best for first-timers, food and nightlife. It is loud and busy.
Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter: Calmer, central and walkable, with wide streets and more upscale hotels.
Ba Dinh: Quieter and close to the Mausoleum area, with fewer restaurants at your door.
West Lake (Tay Ho): Lakeside cafés and a relaxed pace. You'll take rides into the center.
Near Temple of Literature and Cát Linh: Handy for the metro and sights. It is less atmospheric after dark.

Using points here

We haven't confirmed specific hotel properties for this page, so check the brand sites for Hanoi hotels. Search Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards, then compare cash and points rates.

If a property fits, these transfers apply:

Chase→Hyatt is 4:3.
Chase→Marriott and Chase→IHG are 1:1.
Amex→Marriott is 1:1.
Amex→Hilton is 1:2.
Bilt→Hyatt, Marriott, IHG and Hilton are each 1:1.

Don't transfer until you've seen the room and the award rate. For flights, search Flying Blue, Aeroplan and Delta first, then ANA and Virgin Atlantic.

Top things to do

Walk the Old Quarter and sample street food such as pho and bun cha. Pick busy stalls and go with an empty stomach.
Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake in the morning, when locals exercise and the air is cooler.
Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. A recent guide lists daily 08:00–17:00, with adults paying VND 70,000 . Other pages list different hours and fees, so confirm before you go.
Catch the evening program at the Temple of Literature. One ticket page lists 18:30–22:00 on select nights .
See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and One Pillar Pagoda. Guided tours often combine them with the Temple of Literature . Check Mausoleum hours first, because they are restricted on some days and can close for maintenance.
Visit Hoa Lo Prison for the story of Hanoi's colonial and wartime history.
Take in a traditional water puppet show. It is short, and a good rainy-afternoon choice.
Join a day trip to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh . Both are long days, and an overnight is easier.

Know before you go

Entry: US citizens need a visa. The Vietnamese government e-visa portal lists $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry . A visa guide says e-visas are valid up to 90 days, with processing of roughly 3–5 business days . Apply early, only on the official site.

Passport: The State Department says your passport must have 6 months' validity beyond your arrival date . It adds that Vietnam may not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for e-visa entry . Use the same passport to enter, leave and travel domestically. Read the current advisory on that page before you go.

Money: The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Carry some cash for small vendors and entry gates. Cards work at larger hotels and restaurants.

Tipping: It is typically not required. Rounding up or a small tip for good service is appreciated.

Plugs: Expect 220V power and a mix of plug types. Bring a universal adapter and check your devices' voltage ratings.

Safety: Watch for phone snatching from passing motorbikes, use ride-hailing apps rather than unmarked cabs, and agree on prices upfront.

More PerkJolt planning for Hanoi

Trip guide: Vietnam North in 7 Days: Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay

Last verified: 2026-10-13. Visa fees, metro hours and attraction hours and prices are the most likely to change. Check evisa.gov.vn and Hanoi Metro.

Good to know before you go

. Confirm hours, fees, schedules and entry rules on the official pages before you book.

Sources

Plan the details

Food

What to Eat in Hanoi: Northern Vietnamese Dishes and Where to Find Them

Plan a Hanoi food trip around phở, bún chả, chả cá and egg coffee, with current official venue links and walkable meal clusters around Hoàn Kiếm.