Hanoi Travel

When talking about Hanoi, many people will think about the ancient features of the old town and the historical relics of many feudal dynasties. But it continues, Hanoi also has the dynamic rhythm of a city that is developing day by day. 

Constructions from the French colonial period, street food vendors selling local specialties, motorbikes snaking on crowded streets... are visitors' impressions of Hanoi.

Traveling to Ha Noi

Hanoi is the heart of Vietnam, visitors can travel easily to the capital by plane, train, bus, private car, or motorbike from other provinces.

To travel around the city, you can go by car, motorbike or bicycle. But the experience will be more poetic if you sit on a cyclo and admire 36 streets, or take a tour on a three-wheeled motorbike, vintage Vespa, or jeep. Another suggestion worth considering is a double-decker bus, which will stop at famous attractions in Hanoi.

Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: Shutterstock

The ideal time to visit Ha Noi

In spring, visiting Hanoi, you will enjoy the cold weather, light spring rain, and the bustling atmosphere of Hanoi people preparing to welcome the new year.

In the summer, flower vendors all over the streets of Hanoi constantly wear shimmering flower shirts: lilies, lotus flowers...

The weather in autumn is extremely cool, suitable for walking around the streets, enjoying delicious food, and having a peaceful time with coffee.

Winter is the best time to come to Hanoi, get up early to enjoy a hot bowl of pho, a bowl of fish noodle soup, and watch the flow of people walking in the winter winds.

The best time to travel to Hanoi is in the fall from August to November and the spring from March to April.

Must-visit destinations in Ha Noi

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This is where millions of Vietnamese people head when visiting Hanoi. Tourists come here to pay their respects to President Ho Chi Minh. 

One of the special experiences here is the daily morning flag-raising ceremony and evening flag-lowering ceremony in historic Ba Dinh square.

Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays

From April 1 - October 31: 7:30 - 10:30 (open on weekends until 11:00)

From November 1 - March 31: 8:00 - 11:00

One Pillar Pagoda

The pagoda was built on a wooden trunk more than 1,000 years ago. In the 1950s, the original wooden trunk rotted so it was replaced with a concrete column. Western visitors should come here to walk around this area because the surrounding housing projects are among the most beautiful and impressive in Hanoi.

Address: Doi Can Ward, Ba Dinh District (near Uncle Ho's Mausoleum area)

Opening hours: 6:00 – 18:00 daily

West Lake. Photo: Shutterstock

Hanoi Citadel

In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long, and the citadel was built and expanded in later dynasties. Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a world cultural heritage located in the heart of Hanoi and has a history of more than 1,300 years. Typical projects include Hanoi Flagpole, Doan Mon, Kinh Thien Palace, Hau Lau, and Cua Bac.

Address: 19C Hoang Dieu, Ba Dinh District

Opening hours: 8:00 – 11:30, 13:30 – 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday

West Lake

Hanoi's mirror has an area of ​​more than 500 hectares with a history of several thousand years. This is also the best place to admire the sunset in Hanoi. When the afternoon light falls, patches of sunlight shine on the sparkling lake surface, creating a very poetic scene. The most beautiful spot to watch the West Lake sunset is on the lakeside across Thanh Nien Street.

Destinations around West Lake

Nghi Tam ancient village, Nhat Tan village with flower and ornamental plants growing, Ke Buoi village with the profession of making paper

Tay Ho Palace worships Princess Lieu Hanh (one of Vietnam's Four Immortals)

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Located on an island east of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda was once among the most beautiful pagodas in the world. The pagoda has a history of 1,500 years, being the Buddhist center of Thang Long capital during the Ly and Tran dynasties. The work was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1962. In 2003, the pagoda held the inauguration of the 15 m high, 11-storey Luc Do lotus stupa.

Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam. Photo: Shutterstock

Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam 

The ancient school of Thang Long capital and the first university in Southeast Asia. Up to now, the place preserves many precious artifacts, including 82 doctoral steles that have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage.

Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District

Opening hours: 7:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Friday), 8:00 – 21:00 (Saturday, Sunday)

Hoan Kiem Lake

Located in the heart of the city, Sword Lake is a place associated with the legend of King Le Loi returning the sword to the magical turtle. On weekends, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake become walking cities with many interesting cultural and artistic exchange activities for residents and tourists. Relics in Hoan Kiem Lake area: Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower, Dai Nghien, Hoa Phong Tower…

Address: Right in the middle of the old town, in Hoan Kiem district

Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi's Old Quarter still retains its ancient traditional culture with diverse trades. Hang Ma Street specializes in selling votive items and decorations during Tet holidays; Hang Bo specializes in selling garment accessories; Hang Duong only sells apricot fruit... This place is small, but even if you spend all day you still won't explore it all.

Places to visit in the old town: Bach Ma temple, ancient house at 87 Ma May, O Quan Chuong, and of course the indispensable culinary "treasure" here.

Hanoi Opera House

The Hanoi Opera House was built by the French based on the model of Opera Garnier (Paris), with the desire to turn this place into a large cultural and artistic center at that time. The Opera House is currently the main venue for important events and activities in Hanoi. 

Address: 01 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District

Tour time: 10:30 - 12:00 Monday and Friday. Ticket price 400,000 VND/person

Hanoi by night. Photo: Shutterstock

Long Bien Bridge

Built in the late 19th century, Long Bien Bridge is not only a bridge connecting the two banks of the Red River but also a place that preserves many memories of people who love Hanoi. The bridge is more than 1.6km long, built in 1898 including railway and road. The best place to see the panoramic view of the bridge is the coffee shop on Tran Quang Khai Street. From here you can see the image of the train from Gia Lam station going to Long Bien station on the historic bridge.

Gifts brought back from Hanoi

Com ( Vietnamese green rice): The smell of Vong village's green rice has long created a unique charm for the capital's cuisine. Hang Than green rice cake is the perfect choice for many tourists. The rice nuggets are sticky on the outside, with a layer of green bean filling mixed with greasy coconut on the inside, with a faint natural smell of grapefruit.

O Mai: With sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors that converge the quintessence of Hanoi cuisine, apricot fruit is a gift that many people choose to buy as a gift when leaving Hanoi. The most famous address for this snack is Hang Duong Street. Visitors can find favorite apricot varieties such as apricots, plums, ginger, Indochina dragonplum, star fruit, lemon, kumquat, persimmon, peach, toadstool, tamarind... 

Lotus tea: Tay Ho lotus tea will be a precious gift for relatives and friends after visiting Hanoi. Because marinating lotus tea is an art that takes a lot of time and effort. The marinated lotus must be the type grown in lagoons in West Lake such as Nhat Tan and Quang Ba because it is fragrant and produces the most rice.

Com and egg cafe. Photo: Giadinhxahoi

Travel tips for visiting Hanoi

Hanoi's Old Quarter is a crowded place to visit and shop, please consult carefully and bargain before purchasing.

Winter is very cold and summer is very hot, check the weather carefully to bring appropriate clothing

Hotels near Hanoi's Old Quarter often have a limited number of rooms, so you should book in advance.

Hanoi's roads are quite complicated with many alleys and crowded traffic. It's best to prepare a map in advance to avoid getting lost.

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