3-day Hanoi itinerary with a sample trip budget
Base yourself near the Old Quarter for this first visit. The route groups nearby stops so you can leave time for meals, coffee, and breaks between sights.
Day 1 · Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
Explore the Old Quarter on foot, loop around Hoan Kiem Lake, and stop at Ngoc Son Temple. Leave the evening open for dinner or a water puppet show.
Day 2 · Temple of Literature and the French Quarter
Visit the Temple of Literature in the morning. After lunch, walk through the French Quarter and around the Hanoi Opera House.
Day 3 · West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda
Spend the morning by West Lake and visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Keep the afternoon flexible for a final meal or your airport transfer. Vietnam Tourism’s Hanoi guide
Sample budget in Vietnamese dong
For one traveller, set aside 1,600,000 VND for two nights, 900,000 VND for meals, 450,000 VND for transport, 300,000 VND for activities, and 350,000 VND as a buffer. That totals 3,600,000 VND before flights and insurance. These are planning assumptions. Check prices for your own dates.
Travel itinerary template
Copy this line for each day and fill in the stops, transfers, and amounts you expect to spend.
Day / date · Morning · Afternoon · Evening · Transport · Planned spend
Save your estimate in the Tripnetic budget planner. If you travel with friends, use the expense tracker to record who paid for each shared cost.