Hanoi is a short flight from Singapore, which makes it an easy trip for a long weekend or a five-day holiday. This plan combines the capital's food and history with a night on Ha Long Bay.
Getting there
Direct flights between Singapore and Hanoi take roughly three and a half to four hours. Vietnam is one hour behind Singapore, so you gain an hour on arrival. Entry rules, including visa exemptions for Singapore passport holders, change from time to time, so check the latest requirements before you book your flights.
Day 1: Arrive and explore the Old Quarter
Our driver meets you at Noi Bai Airport and takes you to your hotel in the Old Quarter, about 45 minutes to an hour away depending on traffic. After you check in, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the surrounding streets. For dinner, we can book you a halal restaurant, so you do not have to search on your first night.
Day 2: Hanoi highlights
Spend the morning at the Temple of Literature, then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and the One Pillar Pagoda. In the afternoon, take a cyclo ride or browse the Old Quarter. In the evening, a water puppet show is a fun way to see a local folk art, and it works well with children.
Day 3 and 4: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Travel by road to Ha Long Bay, about two and a half hours from Hanoi. Board your cruise around midday, sail among the limestone islands, kayak and watch the sunset from the deck. You sleep on board, wake up to a quiet bay and return to Hanoi on the afternoon of day four. If you are short on time, a Ha Long day trip is possible, but the overnight cruise is far more relaxed.
Day 5: Last-minute shopping and flight home
Use the morning for coffee, souvenirs or a last walk by the lake, then transfer to the airport for your afternoon or evening flight. Leave a generous buffer for traffic, since the Old Quarter can be congested.
Another option: swap Ha Long for Ninh Binh
If you prefer countryside to sea, replace the cruise with a Ninh Binh trip: temples at Hoa Lu, a rowing boat through the caves of Tam Coc, and rice fields beneath limestone peaks. Ninh Binh is about 90 km from Hanoi, so it also works as a long day trip.
Practical tips
Vietnamese dong is the local currency, and cards work in larger hotels and restaurants, but carry some cash for markets and small shops. Hanoi's weather is cool and misty from December to February, and hot and humid from June to August. Pack light layers and comfortable walking shoes.
Halal, family and mobility needs
We plan halal-friendly meals and prayer breaks on request, and we adjust the pace for children and older travellers. On the cruise, the lunch on board is not halal-certified, so tell us in advance and we will arrange fish and vegetarian options or another alternative.
Plan it with us
Our Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh programme runs for five days and four nights, and we can also build a private plan around your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, the number of travellers and any special needs, and we will reply with a plan and price.
