Is 3 days in Hanoi too much?

Is 4 days in Hanoi too long?

Hanoi… four days… a whisper in the grand cathedral of time. Lost in the Old Quarter’s maze. Sunlight, dust motes dancing. Silk. The scent of pho, a ghosting memory. Four days… Enough? Never enough.

Time stretches, bends. Ho Chi Minh, solemn. Temple of Literature… Whispers of scholars, ink on ancient scrolls. The weight of history, a heavy cloak. Four days…

Street food symphony. A cacophony of flavors, sharp, sweet. Hanoi breathes, a living, breathing thing. Four days… a heartbeat.

Halong Bay, a vision. Emerald water, jade islands. Junks sailing, silent, slow. A day trip, a stolen moment. Four days… Gone too soon.

• Old Quarter: Wander. Get lost. Find yourself.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: History, heavy and hushed.
• Temple of Literature: The scent of old books, a forgotten dream.
• Street food: A riot of tastes. A feast for the senses.
• Halong Bay: Escape. Breathe. Just be.

Four days… A glimpse. A taste. Hanoi lingers, a half-remembered dream. Always wanting more. Always.

How much money do I need for 3 days in Vietnam?

Three days in Vietnam? Honey, $120-$200 a day? That’s optimistic, bordering on delusional. Unless your idea of “basic” involves sleeping in a rice paddy and dining solely on street noodles. Let’s be real.

Budget realistically. Think more like:

• Accommodation: $30-$80/night (depending on your tolerance for questionable plumbing and questionable bed bugs). My last trip? A charming boutique hotel outside Hanoi cost a fortune, but worth every penny.
• Food: $20-$50/day. You can eat like a king for less than $20, or like a spoiled prince for more. Street food is a must, but don’t expect Michelin stars.
• Activities: $30-$100/day. Entrance fees to temples, cyclo rides, cooking classes…this is where the real cost explodes. Unless you plan on just staring at walls for three days. And I’m not judging you if you do.
• Transportation: $10-$20/day. Grab (their version of Uber) is convenient, but negotiate fiercely with taxi drivers–it’s half the fun!

Total? More like $250-$400 a day, minimum. Want luxury? That’s a whole different ballgame, my friend. We’re talking thousands, not hundreds. And who am I kidding? I’d spend it all on pho anyway. Delicious, delicious pho. Forget the activities.

How much money to bring to Vietnam for 3 days?

Three days? Two hundred dollars feels stingy, barely enough for pho and a melancholic sunset. Cash, yes, absolutely cash. The whisper of crumpled bills, a small rebellion against the plastic hum of cards. Vietnam breathes differently.

Three weeks. Oh, Vietnam. A kaleidoscope of temples, a symphony of scooters. A thousand shimmering moments. Prepare for immersion, a deep, delicious drowning in the vibrant pulse of life. $1000? Maybe more. This isn’t a shopping spree; this is surrender.

Consider this:

• Accommodation: Budget hotels, maybe homestays? Fifty dollars a night feels right.
• Food: Street food heaven. Ten dollars a day? Easily. But indulge!
• Transportation: Grab, taxis, the frantic joy of a motorbike taxi. Twenty dollars a day, maximum.
• Activities: Ancient cities, hidden waterfalls, lost temples in the jungle. Price varies wildly. Budget accordingly, but allow for spontaneity. Remember the feeling.

It’s about the feeling. The taste of strong coffee, bitter and sweet, the scent of incense clinging to ancient stone. A thousand tiny moments. $1500 feels right for three weeks. Maybe more. Go for it. Don’t hoard your money.

More, you need more. For the unexpected encounters, the unplanned adventures, the gifts bought from a smiling vendor with eyes that hold centuries of stories. More.

Remember:

• QR codes are King! Get your phone ready, and download a payment app.
• Negotiate! It’s part of the experience. The dance of the haggle.
• Get lost! In the beauty of the chaos.

My last trip. Three weeks. I spent closer to $2000. But, it was worth every single dong. Every single memory.

How many days should you stay in Hanoi?

Hanoi… three days? Nah, too short. Need more time. Definitely. The Old Quarter alone… easily a day. Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple… right there. Traffic crazy though. Remember almost getting run over by a motorbike. 2024, summer. Hot. So hot. Street food amazing. Must try bún chả. Like Obama did. Saw that pic online. Weekend night market… crowded. So many people. Should go back during Tet. Lunar New Year. Maybe 2025?

• Five days minimum. More comfortable. Less rushing.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. History. Important.
• Temple of Literature. First university.
• Water puppet show. Unique. Touristy but worth it.
• Train Street. Cafe. Close to the tracks. Cool pics.
• Bia Hoi junction. Plastic stools. Cheap beer. Fun.
• Day trip to Ha Long Bay. Cruises. Amazing views. Do it.

Museum of Ethnology… might be interesting. Lot of walking. Tired now just thinking about it. Food tour… definitely do a food tour. So much to eat. Phở, spring rolls, egg coffee. Strong coffee. Need strong coffee after all that walking. Hanoi… gotta go back.