The works from the French colonial period, sidewalk shops selling local specialties, motorcycles wriggling on crowded roads… are the first impressions of visitors to Hanoi. For many foreigners, Hanoi has all the interesting things to explore here on its way.
Read more: Hanoi private tour guide: The benefits of the private tours
Hanoi and the most beautiful season
The best time to visit Hanoi is in autumn from August to November and in spring from March to April. Many people think that autumn is the most beautiful weather of the year in Hanoi, with a clear blue sky, the wind may be cold, yellow leaves falling, and the smell of milk flowers sometimes… In the spring, the weather is warm, the streets are like changing into new clothes when the trees bud, the flowers bloom…
Means of Transportation
Hanoi is like the heart of Vietnam, so visitors can conveniently travel to the capital by plane, train, bus, private car, or motorbike from other provinces.
You can take a car, motorbike or bicycle to get around the city. But the experience will be more poetic if you sit on a cyclo watching 36 streets, go on a tricycle tour, or Vespa. Another suggestion worth considering is the double-decker bus, with ticket prices from 130.000 – 599.000 VND.
Hotels and homestays
Hanoi has many accommodation options for tourists such as guesthouses, homestays, hotels, resorts… suitable for pocket money and interests. If you walk in the old town, you can rent a “backpackers” bed with dorm rooms for about 100.000 VND a night, to a high-end hotel for 3.000.000 – 5.000.000 VND/night.
Some special hotels such as Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi with French colonial architecture, just a few steps from the Opera House is Hilton Hanoi Opera, Apricot Hotel right on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, the famous hotel with West Lake view is Sheraton Hanoi and InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, Lotte Hotel Hanoi on the high floor of Lotte Center 65 floors…
Places to explore
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a world cultural heritage located in the heart of Hanoi and has more than 1.300 years of history. This place contains unique relics and relics, a testament to Thang Long – Hanoi’s history and the Vietnamese people’s history through the ages.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem lake is a natural freshwater lake of Ha Noi city, connecting Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Cau Go, Luong Van Can, Lo Su streets… with the Western Quarter planned by the French more than a century ago. Bao Khanh, Church, Trang Thi, Hang Bai, Dinh Tien Hoang, Trang Tien… Walking around the lake, in addition to enjoying the fresh nature in the middle of the city, you can visit Ngoc Son temple, the old town…
Long Bien bridge
Not only crossing the banks of the Red River, but Long Bien Bridge is also a mark connecting the present and the old memories of people who love Hanoi. Long Bien Bridge was built in 1898, folk also known as Song Cai Bridge or Bodhi Bridge because the bridge over Bodhi Wharf, Gia Lam, Hanoi. With a length of 1,682 m and a bridge section of 896 m, Long Bien Bridge is divided into 9 frames, each 61 m long. According to the original design, the bridge has a total of 19 steel beams placed on 20 piers higher than 40 m.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Located on the island east of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda used to be at the top of the most beautiful temples in the world. The pagoda has a history of 1,500 years, being the Buddhist center of Thang Long citadel in the Ly and Tran dynasties. It was declared a National Historic Cultural Landmark in 1962. In 2003, the pagoda inaugurated the Lotus Tower 15 m high, with 11 floors.
The Temple of Literature Hanoi
This is Vietnam’s first university. Today visitors can visit the stone steles, solemn grounds with lotus ponds, and gun ponds. Temple of Literature is a rare peaceful and quiet place in the middle of a vibrant city. Visitors will feel the harmony between neck and needle when coming here through the thousand-year-old walls.
TThe Temple of Literature was constructed in 1070 by King Ly Thanh Tong. King Ly Nhan Tong founded the Quoc Tu Giam in 1076. It also holds many precious artifacts and documents, especially 82 doctoral stelae that have been recognized by UNESCO as “World documentary heritage”.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
For Vietnamese people, this is one of the most important attractions in the country. Visitors come to express their respects to Uncle Ho. Visitors should remain silent, wear appropriate clothing, and do not take photos in prohibited areas.
Attending the flag-raising ceremony in the morning is a special experience at the mausoleum of Uncle Ho. If you miss it, you can safely walk around the city and come back here to participate in the flag-raising ceremony at 9 pm every day. The solemn atmosphere covered Ba Dinh square when the loudspeaker sounded to announce the upcoming flag-lowering ceremony. People lined up neatly, watching the guards solemnly bring down the national flag in the music of the song “You are still with us marching”.
One Pillar Pagoda
The building is one of the oldest temples in Hanoi. The temple was built on a wooden tree more than 1,000 years ago. In the 1950s, the rotting original timber should be replaced with a concrete column. Westerners should come here to walk around this area due to the surrounding housing works that are among Hanoi’s most beautiful and impressive.
Old Quarter
Let your feet guide the way, you will discover the most about the colorful nostalgic streets of the capital. No destination, no road map, just turn right, turn left or go straight. One street is full of toys, and the other is full of shoes, clothes, antiques, or sometimes tombstones or motorcycle parts.
If you come here at the end of the day, the experience is even more interesting. Always be prepared to avoid people and cars on the road. In the same way, 1.000 years of Hanoi’s history flows through the streets like blood flowing through each vein, blowing into the breath of both the past and the present.
Museum
The destination not to be missed when going to any city is museums and historical sites. One of the most visited places is the Museum of Ethnology. The Museum of Ethnology presently holds and displays 15,000 artifacts, 42,000 documentary films, paintings, and thousands of other documents on 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Besides, visitors also come to the Vietnam Women’s Museum, Hanoi Museum, National History Museum or Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi Flag Tower relic… to learn about the culture and history of the city.
Entertainment show
In addition to visiting scenic spots, visitors should enjoy the art show’s bold national identity in Hanoi.
Water puppetry: is a theatrical art that visitors should see when coming to Hanoi. This art has lasted for 1,000 years in Vietnam. There are two addresses of many visitors: Thang Long Puppet Theater at 57b Dinh Tien Hoang and Vietnam Puppet Theater at 361 Truong Chinh.
Ca tru originated in the 11th century, and the style bears many similarities to Japanese geisha rituals and opera performances. Initially, ca tru was considered a recreational hobby for the nobility in the palace, then, entered the common cultural space of Hanoi in the modern era. Ca tru has five main performance spaces: Ca tru communal house (singing at the temple door), ca tru Quyen gate (enjoying ca tru of the authorities), ca tru at home, ca tru singing poetry, ca tru ca cafeteria. Visitors can listen to ca tru at the Hanoi Ca Tru Club at 42 rows of Silver, Tra Tre Thang Long 146 Tu Hoa.
Real scene show: The Northern elite is a real scene show on the stage at Thay Pagoda, at the foot of Thay Mountain, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. The play takes place on a 4,300 square meter lake, bringing tourists into the lives of Northern farmers through sound and light performances. Most of the actors participating in the scene were farmers of the Quoc Oai district.
In addition to the show, visitors can also experience directly the traditional culture of the North on the outside of the stage with shops selling sausage cakes, rice cakes, glutinous rice cakes, banana leaf lotus leaves, peanut candy, and chewing gum. Tourists can buy and sit to eat among the small chairs in the middle of the garden to the sound of their music.
Places to play
Sup paddle on West Lake: Wake up when it is almost dawn, you can ride to West Lake and experience water games such as the sup paddle and kayak. The appropriate time is usually 5 am-7 pm or a cool afternoon. You can find boat rentals, and planks in stores on Lac Long Quan Street, Au Co, Quote Sai… with prices from 250,000 VND a day.
Panoramic view of Hanoi from above: Coming to Hanoi, you cannot miss Lotte Observatory located on Lieu Giai Street, because this is a place where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the capital from the 65th floor. The observation deck is made of transparent glass so you can take creative check-in photos at any angle. The observatory is open from 9:00 to the end of the day.
Walking street: Every week, the ưalking Street ảound Hoan Kiem Lake is open from 18h Friday to the end of Sunday, attracting a large number of both residents and foreign tourists. This space has a lot of fun, entertaining activities, up to street art performances. Don’t forget to experience the “food tour” around the walking street.
Beer Street: In the old town, especially in Ta Hien, Bao Khanh, Luong Ngoc Quyen, there are always many places for you to drink beer or attractive drinks. This is also one of the busiest nightlife places in the capital.
Going to the market: Not Dong Xuan market, Quang Ba flower market and Long Bien wholesale market are two addresses that Westerners must visit once if they have the opportunity to visit the capital. The market mainly deals in flowers and fruits, but the “claim” of visitors must stay up late, wake up early to see the bustling atmosphere of a very different Hanoi when night falls.
Located right at the foot of Long Bien bridge, Long Bien wholesale market all year round is bustling, the most famous is the wholesale flea market for fruits. From 20h the market starts to rattle, the more bustling the night. Quang Ba flower market is open all night but the most fun is at about 3-4 am, buyers and sellers are busy. Large and small bouquets were piled in and out of the car.
Shops and restaurants
Ha Thanh cuisine perfectly combines sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors and expresses the image of the city of thousands of years of civilization: vibrant, quiet, attractive and attractive. You can easily enjoy Hanoi specialties at sidewalk restaurants on the side of the road such as beef noodle soup, bun cha, bread…
Food to try
Pho
Coming to Hanoi can not ignore pho, especially beef pho, there are usually two main types: ripe and pale. Cooked beef is pieces of beef that are boiled in broth, while red beef is pieces of meat that are thinly sliced, and blanched quickly through boiling water. After that, the seller will arrange those slices of meat on the pho, spread the broth and serve the diners. Some of the reference addresses are Pho Thin, Bat Dan, Tu Long, Pho Lam, Hang Vai, Pho Tram, and Yen Ninh.
If you want to try other versions, the suggested address is Nguyet restaurant No. 5 Phu Doan, 63 Yen Ninh Inn, Lan Ong chicken noodle soup or Five Commune pho.
Bun
Hanoians have a lot of noodles. The most special are Bun cha, Bun thang, Bun oc, Bun doc mung, Bun moc…
Referring to the original long-standing specialty in Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention Bun Thang. The Ha Thanh people have skillfully processed the leftovers after the Tet holiday into a sophisticated and delicate noodle dish. A bowl of vermicelli costs 30,000 – 50,000 VND. Currently, in Hanoi, there are only a few places to sell vermicelli, such as Ba Duc restaurant (Cau Go), Ngoc Tuyen restaurant (Dao Tan), Thuan Ly restaurant (Hang Hanh)…
Bun cha: a dish is usually eaten at lunch. Like grilled meat noodles in the South and Central, but not eating noodles in Hanoi people marinated more sophisticated. Those who like the old taste can go to Bun Cha restaurants in Hang Ma and Hang Dong. People who like bamboo noodles can find them at Buoi market, and Dong Xuan market. Or visit the noodle shop in Ngoc Khanh, Giang Vo, Le Van Huu, Hang Mien are also famous restaurants in Hanoi.
Bun moc is often sold in the noodles of ribs, noodles along the nettle, and bun bung… Some famous addresses in Hanoi include Ms. Loan (Dien Bien Phu street), Hang Luoc, Hang Trong, Cau Go, Lane 18 Ham Long…
Bun oc in Hanoi is not difficult, diners can go to the noodle shop in Hai Ba Trung, Dang Dung, Hoe Nhai to eat hot noodles. A bowl of escargot vermicelli noodle has about 6-7 pieces of escargot, topping beef corn, ear rolls, and sometimes even legs. Another version is Bun oc nguoi or cold escargot vermicelli noodles or dotted snail noodles. Some famous restaurants are Ms. Xuan’s escargot vermicelli noodle in O Quan Chuong or carrying snail noodles at the head of Bui Thi Xuan intersection, which may also be the famous Giang snail noodle on Luong Ngoc Quyen street. The price of each bowl is usually from 30.000 to 40.000 VND.
To be continued
Read more: Hanoi travel: Places to explore, food to try and more things for you (Part 3)
Find out more about Hanoi tours here: Northern Vietnam Tours
The best center Vietnam tour: Tour in Vietnam
Bun bung is a popular dish of Hanoi people. No one knows when it first emerged, but it was sold on the capital’s sidewalks in the 1990s. “Bung” refers to foods that must be boiled for an extended period of time with a large amount of water. Bun in Hanoi costs 30,000 VND a bowl. This dish is often combined with selling in the noodles of ribs and sprouted vermicelli. Some places that are popular with Hanoi diners are the restaurants in Cau Go street, Ms. Minh (Dong Da)…
La Vong Cha Ca: La Vong Cha Ca was born in 1871, invented by the Doan family. From rustic food, fish paste gradually became the quintessence of Ha Thanh cuisine to this day. ” Grilled fish is made from the most delicious fish, especially albacore. “La Vong” is an image of an ancient general, a talented person who has the will to wait for a great opportunity. Grilled fish is carefully filtered, sweet, fragrant yellow and spicy. Dill vegetables, cut onions, and islands mixed in a hot fish pan. When eaten in combination with baked goods, vermicelli and shrimp paste – are indispensable to create a rich flavor. Some suggested addresses: La Vong fish paste No. 14, Cha Fish Street; Thang Long fish paste No. 21, Duong Thanh Street; Lao Ngu fish paste No. 171 Thai Ha…
West Lake shrimp cake
Vietnamese stuffed pancake
Thinly coated rice cakes stuffed with pork, wood ear, minced onions, dipped with sweet and sour fish sauce are always suitable for hot summer days. Walking on the street, visitors will encounter many rolling cake shops open in the morning, with clever, quick hands. Some suggested addresses are Ba Hanh rolls, No. 26b Tho Xuong; Ba Xuan rolls, No. 16 Hoè Nhai slope and Long Bien market food court.
Glutinous rice doughnut/Banh Ran/Vietnamese Donuts
In addition to famous dishes around the world, Hanoi also owns a treasure of cakes such as pillow cakes, pork filling, mushrooms, mashed eggs and quail eggs… To balance the flavor, the greasy doughnuts are served with garlic dipping sauce, chili peppers and herbs. Located on Ly Quoc Su Street, Gieng Da restaurant is a place to sell salty doughnuts, pillowcases, open from 10 am to 9:30 pm.
Coffee
Coffee is a feature in Hanoi, with many old-fashioned shops in the old town. Egg coffee is one of the specialties of Hanoi made from beaten eggs mixed with Vietnamese coffee. Egg coffee has a yellowish color in a small cup. Guests always have an extra baby spoon to enjoy the ice cream foam above like an “appetizer” before drinking coffee below. Good egg coffee is famous for Dinh, Lecture, Old Quarter Coffee, Loading T, All Day Coffee… The cost of each cup is 25.000 VND.
Sourvernier
In addition to apricots, rice cakes, lotus tea, visitors to Hanoi can find silk in Van Phuc village or Bat Trang pottery to make gifts for relatives and friends.
O mai/ salted dry apricot: With all the sour, spicy, salty, sweet flavors as the quintessential convergence of Ha Thanh cuisine, o mai is a gift that many people choose to buy as a gift when leaving Hanoi. The most famous address of this small gift is Hang Duong Street. Visitors can find here their favorite types of apricots, plums, ginger, crocodile, cinnamon, lemon, kumquat, pink, peach, toad, me… However, if you buy it as a gift for the South, you should choose the apricot umbrella, because it has a sweet taste made from the very characteristic sour fruit of Hanoi. Depending on the type, apricots cost about 100,000 – 150.000/kg.
Nuggets: The flavor of Vong Village has long made a very unique charm for the capital’s cuisine. However, because it is only in autumn, Hang Than nugget cake is a perfect alternative for many visitors. The nugget cake is plastic on the outside, the green bean paste with coconut fat inside, and sometimes the natural fragrance of grapefruit.
Lotus tea: Tay Ho lotus tea will be a precious gift for relatives and friends after visiting Hanoi. Because lotus tea is an art with a lot of time and effort. The dried tea leaves after being selected from the best will be marinated 5-7 times with lotus rice (white seeds on the head of the lotus) to absorb the flavor. The marinated lotus must be the type grown in the lagoon in the West Lake such as Nhat Tan, Quang Ba fragrant, and give the most rice.
Van Phuc silk: Thanks to its thin, soft, airy and durable color, fewer wrinkles, silk is very popular with visitors. Whether winter or summer, visitors here can find gifts like silk from scarves, shirts, dresses, bags… In addition to Van Phuc silk village (about 10 km from the center of Hanoi), you can also find silk at the stalls on Hang Gai or Dinh Liet street.
Bat Trang pottery: If you have the opportunity to visit Bat Trang village, do not forget to buy the ceramic products of the traditional village. With its characteristic glaze color and handicraft techniques, Bat Trang pottery items have a very unique beauty. Besides the commonly used cups, bowls, and cups, there are also products dedicated as gifts such as wind chimes, statues… Visitors to the pottery village can also make their bowls, jars, jars, cups to make gifts, both a meaningful and interesting experience.
Find out more about Hanoi tours here: Northern Vietnam Tours
The best center Vietnam tour: Tour in Vietnam
