Recommended “must-see” for day trips from Hanoi

Escape from the noisy and crowded city and you will be greeted by stunning scenery along with clean and fresh atmosphere of the Hanoi countryside. Here are five cannot-be-missed tourists site in the suburban for a day trip from Hanoi capital.

Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương)

Located in Huong Son Town, My Duc District, Huong Pagoda is an immense complex which comprises Buddhist pagodas, several temples and communal house. Chua Trong (The Inner Pagoda) is lying in the center of the complex, inside Huong Son Cave.
Boating along Yen Stream to reach Huong Pagoda - Day trip from Hanoi

Taking boat across Suoi Yen to reach Huong Son Cave

Coming to this holy land, tourists will have chances to take boats crossing a long and narrow but romantic stream (named Yen Stream – Suối Yến). The challenge really comes when you travel along the uphill paths with thousands of slippery stone steps. Before reaching the main pagoda on the top inside the Huong Son Cave, you have to prepare warm clothes for yourself in order not to get cold since the inner cave is quite cold. Being compared to “the first grade cave of the South World”, Huong Son Cave allures tourists’ eyes for its stalactites and stalagmites of wonderful shapes.

The inner temple in Perfume Pagoda - Day trip from Hanoi

The inner temple in the Perfume Pagoda Complex

Besides, Huong Pagoda is attracted for its festival, which lasts during a long time from the beginning of January to early April.

It is counted that millions of pilgrims from inside and outside Vietnam come and join the Huong Pagoda Festival each year.

Hanoi’s traditional handicraft villages

Fed up with the busy life of the hustling and bustling Hanoi? A visit to some traditional handicraft villages in the Hanoi’s suburb is an ideal option for you. A day tour will lead you to visit two traditional handicraft villages, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. It all depends on your demand.

These are two following typical villages for your day trip itinerary:

(1) Bat Trang Ceramic Village: You can easily reach the ceramic village of Bat Trang by taking bus or motor-biking a cross Chuong Duong Bridge. Arrive at the village; you will be amazed by a large area of ceramic pottery workshops and stalls. Take chance to buy the best quality ceramic products made by talented and skillful hands of craftsmen as well as try to create a ceramic one by yourself. It’s more fantastic!

At a pottery workshop in Bat Trang Pottery Village

Especially, for those who are fond of traveling on the “two-wheels”, a day tour cycling to Bat Trang Ceramic Village is customized. Give yourself a chance to join and experience!

(2) Van Phuc Silk Village: It cannot be denied that Van Phuc Silk Village is a paradise for silk and fashion lovers with more than thousand shops, each of which offers a wide range of delighting shirts, crafts, ties and dresses made of silk. Light weight, smooth appearance, high quality and diverse colors are some featured characteristics of Van Phuc Silk, which will satisfy even a most fastidious customer.

Day trip to discover Van Phuc Silk Village from Hanoi

The ancient village of Duong Lam

Only 60km far from Hanoi, Duong Lam Ancient Village is another ideal stop-over for your short trip from Hanoi. Up to now, the village has witnessed over 1,200 years of history and is proud to be one of the most Vietnam’s ancient villages – still remains its historic relics.

Moreover, Duong Lam attracts tourists for its typical landscape of Vietnamese village with poetic rivers and romantic scenery.

Narrow and small lane in Duong Lam Ancient Village
Duong Lam Ancient Village Garden Yard - Things to do in Hanoi

The typical garden yard with lots of jars

A World’s Natural Heritage of Halong Bay

Halong Bay is situated in the Northern Province of Quang Ninh and one of the must-visit destinations in Vietnam. Lying entirely in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong has been well-known for its spectacular formation of around 2,000 small limestone islets with the total space of 1,553 square kilometers. Tourists will have fascinating experience memorable feeling when eye-witnessing the outstanding scenic beauty of the bay.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (in Ninh Binh Province)

Before King Ly Cong Quan made up his mind to set up the capotal at Thang Long (the present day Hanoi Capital), Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh Province) had been chosen to be the first capital of the Vietnamese feudal system. It underwent the existence of the two prosperous dynasties: Dinh and Le. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is a complex of ancient vestiges, including: (1) Temples and communal houses worshiping national heroes Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh; (2) Ancient pagodas which are well-known all over Indochina like Bai Dinh pagoda, Ban Long pagoda or Nhat Tru pagoda; (3) Underground palaces and grottos; (4) And a bunch natural wonders like Thien Ton cave, Tam Coc-Bich Dong, Ma Yen Mountain, Flag Mountain, etc.

Hoa Lu Festival annually takes place in Spring, when numerous carnivals will be held in the first capital of Vietnam.
(Source VNA)