Why go to Hanoi
Spend a day walking the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, eat street food on tiny plastic stools, and watch a water puppet show. Then take an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay, or go to Ninh Binh for boat rides between rice fields and limestone hills. Sapa, in the mountains, is good for trekking.
The photo above is Hanoi’s Train Street, where trains pass between houses. Access is sometimes closed for safety, so don’t plan your trip around it.
Best time to visit Hanoi
October to November and March to April are the best months: dry and mild. December to February can be cool (10 to 20°C) and grey, so pack a jacket. May to September is hot and humid, with heavy rain and the chance of storms in Ha Long Bay.
- January: good time
- February: good time
- March: best time
- April: best time
- May: good time
- June: off season
- July: off season
- August: off season
- September: off season
- October: best time
- November: best time
- December: good time
Hanoi visa for Indians
eVisaLast checked October 2026
Indian passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa, applied for online before you travel. It allows stays of up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry, and usually arrives within about three working days.
Many look-alike websites charge extra for the same e-visa. Use only the official government site.
Apply only on the official site, evisa.gov.vn, or through a trusted agent. Look-alike sites charge extra. Rules change, so check again before you book.
Flight time and fares from Delhi
Nonstop flights from Delhi take about 4 hours. Many people fly into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City, or the other way round, so they don’t have to come back the same way. Search for a multi-city trip to see the fare.
Getting from the airport
Noi Bai is about 45 minutes from the Old Quarter by taxi or ride app. Airport bus 86 is a cheap option to the centre.
How many days you need
Five or six days: two in Hanoi, one or two nights in Ha Long Bay, and a day trip to Ninh Binh. With Sapa, add two more days.
Food for Indian travellers
Vietnamese food uses a lot of fish sauce and meat broth. Vegetarians should look for “chay” (vegetarian) restaurants, which are common in Hanoi, often near Buddhist pagodas. There are Indian restaurants in the Old Quarter.
