What Are the Best Things to Do in Hanoi in 2026?

The best things to do in Hanoi for Singapore travellers in 2026 are the Old Quarter's 36 historic guild streets, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature (founded in 1070), the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a water puppet show and street food, plus a trip to Ha Long Bay or Trang An. Singapore passport holders can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 30 days at the time of writing. Book tours and hotels through ShopBack.

New to ShopBack Singapore? ShopBack is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop at partner stores, including Klook, Pelago, KKday, Agoda and Booking.com. You start from ShopBack, then book on the store's own site as usual. Sign up to ShopBack Singapore before you book your Hanoi trip.

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What are the best things to do in Hanoi?

Hanoi packs a thousand years of history, a walkable old town and some of Southeast Asia's best-known street food into a compact centre, with two UNESCO landscapes within day-trip range. The highlights:

• The Old Quarter. Also called the 36 streets, after the 36 streets or guilds that once made up the city's trading area, where each street specialised in one trade. Walk it on foot for food, coffee and shopping.
• Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. The lake sits at the edge of the Old Quarter. Ngoc Son Temple, built in the 18th century, stands on Jade Islet near the northern shore and is reached by a red footbridge.
• The Temple of Literature. Founded in 1070, it hosted the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university, from 1076 to 1779. It appears on the back of the 100,000 dong note.
• The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Its central sector was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 31 July 2010. It sits a short taxi ride north of the Temple of Literature, so the two pair well.
• Water puppetry. A Vietnamese tradition dating back as far as the 11th century in the villages of the Red River Delta. Evening shows near Hoan Kiem Lake are an easy first-night plan.
• Street food. Pho, bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee are the classics. A guided food tour is a good first-night option if you want help ordering.

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Day trips from Hanoi: Ha Long Bay and Trang An

Two of the best-known trips out of Hanoi are Ha Long Bay and the Trang An area of Ninh Binh, and both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Ha Long Bay. Covers around 1,553 square kilometres with 1,969 islets, most of them limestone, and its core was listed by UNESCO in 1994. Day trips include a boat cruise, often with kayaking or a cave stop. Because the drive takes a large part of the day, an overnight cruise gives you more time on the water.
• Trang An and Ninh Binh. The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province was inscribed by UNESCO on 23 June 2014 and includes Hoa Lu and Tam Coc. It is known for rowing-boat tours through limestone caves.

Trip	Usually best as	What to compare
Ha Long Bay, short visit	Day trip	Pickup point, cruise length, kayaking or cave entry included
Ha Long Bay, relaxed	Overnight cruise	Cabin type, meals, transfer included, cancellation terms
Trang An and Hoa Lu	Day tour	Boat ride included, cycling, lunch, group size

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Things to do in Hanoi for Singapore travellers in 2026

Hanoi is an easy short-haul trip from Singapore, and the key planning decisions are entry rules, where to stay and how many days to give Ha Long Bay.

• Entry. Singapore is on Vietnam's 30-day visa-exemption list, according to the published visa policy summary at the time of writing. Rules can change, so check Vietnam's official channels before you fly.
• Where to stay. The Old Quarter and the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake keep most sights walkable, and many Ha Long and Ninh Binh tours pick up from there.
• How long. Two days for the city, plus one day for Trang An or a Ha Long day trip, or two days for an overnight cruise.
• Hotels. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first.

Sites Singapore travellers use for Hanoi include Klook, Pelago and KKday for tours and cruises, Agoda, Booking.com and Trip.com for hotels, and Traveloka for flights and stays.

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Things to do in Hanoi: best deals in 2026

The best Hanoi deals usually come from choosing the right Ha Long format, travelling outside peak holidays, and comparing the same tour on more than one site. The steps:

1. Decide your trip shape: city only, city plus a day trip, or city plus an overnight cruise.
2. Keep the free and cheap things free. Walking the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake costs nothing; spend where a booking adds value, such as cruises, food tours and transfers.
3. Compare the same tour on Klook through ShopBack, Pelago through ShopBack and KKday through ShopBack.
4. Read what is included: hotel pickup, meals, kayaking, cave or park entry and cancellation terms.
5. Before you pay, go through ShopBack Singapore, then finish the booking in one go.

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Klook vs Pelago: which is cheaper for things to do in Hanoi?

Neither Klook nor Pelago is always cheaper for Hanoi; the same Ha Long cruise or Ninh Binh tour can be priced differently on each, and promotions change often. What each brings:

• Klook covers thousands of destinations, according to Klook, and typically lists Ha Long Bay day cruises and overnight cruises, Ninh Binh tours, food tours and airport transfers in Hanoi.
• Pelago is part of the Singapore Airlines Group and lists more than 200,000 travel activities across 2,000+ destinations, according to Pelago. It says it offers deals for SIA, Scoot and KrisFlyer customers, which can suit you if you fly to Hanoi on Singapore Airlines or Scoot.
• KKday was founded in 2014 in Taipei and sells tours, activities and attraction tickets across Asia, according to its Wikipedia entry.

To compare fairly, match the same cruise operator or tour, the same date, the same pickup point and the same cancellation terms. Whichever site comes out best, go through ShopBack Singapore before you book it.

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Klook, Pelago and KKday for things to do in Hanoi from Singapore

All three sell the same broad Hanoi categories, so the right pick depends on the specific listing and what it includes. Use this checklist:

What you are booking	What to compare
Ha Long Bay cruise	Day or overnight, transfer included, kayaking or cave stop, cabin type
Ninh Binh and Trang An tour	Boat ride included, lunch, cycling, group size
Food tour	Number of stops, drinks included, vegetarian options
Water puppet show ticket	Seat category, show time, venue near Hoan Kiem
Airport transfer	Private or shared, luggage limits, meeting point

Each site runs its own sales and member offers, so check the official promotions page of the one you choose, then book through ShopBack.

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Cheapest month for things to do in Hanoi

There is no fixed cheapest month for Hanoi, and we do not publish month-by-month price data because flights, hotels and cruises change price often. The usual pattern:

• Lunar New Year (Tet). A major holiday in Vietnam; travel demand is high and some local businesses close for a few days.
• Singapore school holidays and long weekends. Flights from Singapore usually cost more.
• Vietnamese public holidays. Domestic travel fills Ha Long cruises and Ninh Binh tours.
• Weekdays outside those periods. Usually the easiest time for hotel rates and cruise availability.

If your dates are flexible, compare a midweek Ha Long cruise with a weekend one on the same boat before you pick.

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Card rewards on a Hanoi booking

Card rewards and ShopBack can usually apply to the same booking, because card rewards come from your bank under its own terms, separate from ShopBack. Many Singapore cards give miles, points or rebates on travel or foreign currency spend, but the earn rate depends on your card and how the booking site charges you. Check the merchant's terms, your card's terms and the store's ShopBack page, because some promo codes or payment types may not count.

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Why ShopBack is a step before you book

Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first, and do the same for your tours on Klook, Pelago or KKday. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

How it works with ShopBack Singapore:

1. Open the ShopBack app or shopback.sg and find the store, such as Klook, Pelago, KKday, Agoda or Booking.com.
2. Tap through and book your Hanoi hotel, cruise or tour on the store's site as usual.
3. ShopBack tracks the booking, and the cash comes back to your ShopBack account once the store confirms it.

Rates change often, so check the live rate on Klook's ShopBack page, Pelago's ShopBack page or KKday's ShopBack page before you pay.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Hanoi?

The best things to do in Hanoi are walking the Old Quarter and its 36 historic guild streets, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature (founded in 1070), the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (UNESCO listed in 2010), a water puppet show and street food. Many visitors add a day trip or overnight cruise to Ha Long Bay, or a day in Trang An and Ninh Binh.

How many days do I need in Hanoi?

Two days cover the city itself: one for the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and a water puppet show, and one for the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel and the Ba Dinh area. Add one day for Trang An or a day trip to Ha Long Bay, or two days for an overnight Ha Long cruise.

Do Singaporeans need a visa for Vietnam?

Singapore passport holders can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days, according to the published visa policy summary at the time of writing. Entry rules can change, so check the latest requirements from Vietnam's official channels before you travel.

Is Ha Long Bay worth a day trip from Hanoi?

It can be, as long as you accept long transfer times. Ha Long Bay covers around 1,553 square kilometres with 1,969 islets and was listed by UNESCO in 1994. A day trip spends much of the day on the road, so an overnight cruise gives you more time on the water.

Is Klook or Pelago cheaper for Hanoi activities?

Neither is always cheaper. The same Ha Long Bay cruise, Ninh Binh day tour or food tour can be priced differently on Klook, Pelago and KKday, and promotions change often. Compare what each listing includes, such as hotel pickup, meals, kayaking and entry fees, then go through ShopBack Singapore before you book.

Which month is cheapest for a Hanoi trip?

There is no fixed cheapest month, and we do not publish month-by-month price data because flights, hotels and tours change price often. The Lunar New Year (Tet) period and Singapore school holidays are usually busier and pricier, while weekdays outside holidays are usually easier on hotel rates and cruise availability.

What is the Temple of Literature in Hanoi?

The Temple of Literature is a temple to Confucius founded in 1070. It hosted the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university, from 1076 to 1779, and appears on the back of the 100,000 dong banknote. It sits south of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, so the two are easy to visit together.

Where should I stay in Hanoi?

First-time visitors usually stay in or near the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, where most sights, cafes and food streets are walkable, and where many Ha Long and Ninh Binh tours offer pickup. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first.

How do I get the best deal on things to do in Hanoi?

Decide whether you want a Ha Long day trip or overnight cruise, travel outside Tet and school holidays if you can, compare the same tour on Klook, Pelago and KKday, and check what each price includes. Then book through ShopBack Singapore so the effective price drops.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a Hanoi booking?

ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Go through ShopBack Singapore before you book on Klook, Pelago or KKday; the live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.

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Ready to plan your Hanoi trip?

Know your plan? Book your Ha Long Bay cruise or Hanoi tour on Klook through ShopBack, or compare the same trip on Pelago and KKday through ShopBack Singapore so the final price of your Hanoi trip drops.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Entry rules and site facts are taken from published sources at the time of writing and can change. Tour, cruise and hotel prices and ShopBack rates change often; the live rate and terms are on each store's ShopBack page. This article is for general information only.