Keep exploring

Here’s a quick look at other places worth visiting around Hanoi that didn’t fit into the main itinerary. Within an hour’s drive, you’ll find a surprisingly varied region, perfect for a short escape. In the city, Tran Quoc Pagoda sits on a small island in West Lake and is one of Vietnam’s oldest and most striking pagodas, with a peaceful atmosphere and lakeside views. Just outside Hanoi, the Vietnam Ethnology Museum presents all 54 ethnic groups, with reconstructed traditional houses, craft demonstrations, music, and a calm, green setting. Further west, Ba Vì National Park offers cooler air, hiking trails, forested temples, viewpoints over the Red River Delta, and the remains of an old French station — a good spot for a nature retreat. In Sóc Sơn, Hàm Lôn Mountain, called the “roof of Hanoi,” has easy trails, a quiet lake, and a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for hiking or camping. At Sơn Tây, Đông Mô Lake lies among green hills, ideal for picnics or outdoor activities, while Quan Sơn Lake, further south, features limestone hills, water, and lotus flowers, often called a “mini Halong Bay,” perfect for a calm boat ride. The Perfume Pagoda is reached by boat, followed by a walk or cable car through the mountains, merging spiritual sites with natural scenery. Sóc Temple, dedicated to Saint Gióng, offers a quiet retreat in wooded hills, while Thầy Pagoda, with ponds and stone bridges, is closely linked to the history of water puppetry. Tây Phương Pagoda, perched on a hill, is known for its ancient lacquered wood statues, masterpieces of Vietnamese Buddhist art, set in a calm environment. For a rural experience, Đường Lâm Ancient Village features red-soil houses, narrow streets, and temples portraying traditional delta life. Bát Tràng Pottery Village has lively workshops where artisans demonstrate centuries-old techniques, while Quang Phú Cau Incense Village is full of colorful incense bundles drying in the sun, which are super photogenic. Finally, Tràng An in Ninh Bình, offers one of northern Vietnam’s most scenic boat rides, with its rivers, caves, and UNESCO-listed limestone mountains. The surrounding countryside — Quoc Oai, Thach That, and Ba Vì — is perfect for exploring the Vietnamese countryside, displaying rice paddies, villages, and farmland. With so many options nearby, there’s plenty to see if you want to spend more time exploring the region.