It would take hours to talk about the things to do in Hanoi where traditions and globalization found harmony. The 1000-year-old capital of Vietnam is blessed with rich culture, long history and, fabulous local foods and an authentic sense of lifestyle. Hanoi is no doubt the most important city of Vietnam. But have you ever wondered what makes Hanoi so different from other capitals on the world? Let's find us in our travel guide, exclusively with activities, attractions, day trips and detail itineraries selected by us.
1. Get Lost on The Maze-like Streets of Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter of Hanoi is the place to be for every traveler. It’s the top choice when it comes to exploring what is the real Hanoi, from cultural and historical landmarks to hidden spots of savory local street foods.
Old Quarter of Hanoi has its history dated back to even more than 1000 years ago when it started as a collective hub for handicraft guilds from all surrounding areas. As time went by, the quarter developed into a gigantic network of streets and markets where a huge number of handicrafts products were made and sold.
The common appearance of old houses in the Old Quarter is a combination of a narrow front and 2-story long body.
The streets of the Old Quarter were named after the product the store-owners sell. ‘Hang Bac Street” is the street of ‘silverware’ or ‘Hang Duong Street’ is the street that sells ‘candies’, dried fruits (o mai).
There are about 34 streets starting with the word “Hang” which indicates their specialization in selling a distinctive kind of product.
Come to the Old Quarter, don’t forget to visit the Heritage House at 87 Ma May and Bach Ma Temple to appreciate the traditional Vietnamese architecture.
2. Admire the vintage architecture in the French Quarter
Or in Vietnamese, “Big Church”, is a historical and religious landmark worth visiting in Hanoi. This is a Roman Catholic cathedral with a neo-gothic style resembling Notre Dame de Paris, which was built over 100 years ago by the French.
St.Joseph’s Cathedral
St.Joseph’s Cathedral is important historical evidence of the French Colonialism and religious venue for Catholics in Hanoi today.
Location: 40 Nha Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours:
For Outside visit: All time
For Inside visit: Visitors can only enter the Cathedral in Hanoi in the opening time of ceremonial practice as the following schedule:
Weekday: 5.30 am and 6.15 pm
Saturday: 6.00 pm
Sunday: 5:00 am, 7.00 am, 9.00 am, 11.00 am, 4.00 pm, 6.00 pm and 8.00 pm
Hanoi Opera House
Hanoi Opera House is the star of the French Quarter. Your French Quarter tour can’t be complete if you miss the Hanoi Opera House.
Location: No.01 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
For visiting inside:
Ticket Price: Visiting tour no more than 20 individuals for 70 minutes costs 120,000VND per person. Performance tour no more than 250 individuals for 90 minutes (performance for 30 minutes) costs 400,000VND per person.
Opening Time: Performance tour – Mon and Thu, 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM; Visiting tour – Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison is a much heavier dose than the other two landmarks of the French Quarter. Hoa Lo Prison is not only a national historic landmark but also war-crime evidence during the French Colonial Period.
Location: 1 Hoa Lo, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening Hours: Daily from 8:00 -17:00
Admission fee: 30.000VND/Adult
3. Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake located just right next to the Old Quarter, making it a place you can’t miss on your Hanoi city tour. Related to the popular legend, Hoan Kiem Lake was the place where the story of Emperor Le Loi returning his sword to a Golden Turtle God took place. After the legend, the lake’s name changed from Luc Thuy (Green Water) to Hoan Kiem (Lake of Returning Sword).
On the northern shore of the lake lies Jade Island where the Temple of Jade Mountain stands. The red wooden bridge called The Huc (meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge) is a popular sight of the whole complex.
Come to Hoan Kiem Lake you can take a walk around the refreshing and beautiful lake to enjoy the atmosphere, cultural space, and the food. Hoan Kiem Lake is absolutely a must-visit spot in Hanoi.
4. Temple of Literature
Come to the Temple of Literature to learn more about Vietnam under the influence of Chinese Confucianism. The Temple of Literature, besides its historical and cultural significance, shows light on how Vietnamese people appreciate education and enlightenment of the mind. You can also learn more about some of the brightest minds and literature talents throughout Vietnamese history.
Location: Quoc Tu Giam Street
Opening days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
Opening hours: In summer ( From April to October): 07.30 - 17.30; In winter (From October to April): 08.00 - 17.00 pm.
Admission Fee: Adult: 30,000 VND (~US$ 1.3) for Vietnamese and foreigners; Students: 15,000 VND (~US$ 0.7) (ID, students card required); Children under 15: Free
5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square, by no mean, should be missed by you when visiting Hanoi. The mausoleum is the final resting place of the most iconic, most beloved leader in Vietnamese history.
From 1973 to 1975, the construction of the mausoleum finished with great effort brought together from all over the country. The building was made of granite, modeled on Lenin’s mausoleum in Russia. Around the mausoleum was hundreds of plants and flowers, among which the bamboo trees have the most meaning.
When visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, visitors are required to dress with respect (no hat, shorts, sunglasses, sleeveless shirts, and miniskirts). Cameras and bags are not allowed to enter the mausoleum.
Location: 25 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Opening days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Closing days: Monday, Friday afternoon
Opening hours: Morning – from 08:00 to 12:00; Afternoon – from 14:00 to 16:30
Admission fee: 40,000VND per person (HCM Mausoleum, HCM Museum)
Dress code: shorts, mini-skirts, sleeveless shirts, tank tops and so on are not allowed.
Camera rules: Cameras, mobile phones, and daypacks can’t be taken inside. The guards will collect those things before you enter the mausoleum. No shooting, video recording in restricted areas, especially inside the mausoleum. Putting your hands in your pockets and taking photographs is prohibited.
6. Watch a Performance at Thang Long Puppetry Theater
Water Puppetry is a traditional folklore performance of Vietnam which showcases the traditional daily life of Vietnamese farmers with activities like cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes or communal entertainment such as swimming contest dragon dancing.
Water puppetry has a certain attachment to Vietnamese people since it’s a traditional art that has been performed within the agricultural villages for centuries, by and for the farmers.
In real life, the villagers hold water puppetry performances in the village’s communal temple. Long bamboo sticks are used to control the puppets by the artisans standing behind the curtain.
Thang Long Puppetry Theater is the first place where this traditional folk art to be made on stage with light and music effects before an international audience.
With a convenient location, just across Hoan Kiem Lake, watching a water puppetry performance at Thang Long Theater is a must thing to do in Hanoi.
Show schedule: Jan – Apr & Oct-Dec: 15:00, 16:10, 17:10, 18:30, 20:00 | May – Sep 16:10, 17:10, 18:10, 20:00.
Tickets: 100,000VND per person, children under 1,2 meter: 60,000VND
7. Shop at Dong Xuan Night Market
Dong Xuan Market, the oldest market of Hanoi was built in 1889 by the French administration. As time goes by, the market has developed into the largest covered market in Hanoi where you can find anything from clothes, souvenirs, to household good and foods.
Originally, Dong Xuan is not a market for tourists but Dong Xuan Night Market is. On weekend’s nights (Fri-Sun), a 3-kilometer long line of stalls spreads on the middle of Hang Dao Street.
Here you can find hundreds of things full-on display: mostly souvenirs, clothes, bags, toys, accessories… The food section offers several choices for Vietnamese street foods as well as other Asian cuisines – Korean, Thai, Japan…
On Saturday evenings, traditional folk arts and cultural performances such as cheo, ca tru will be held. From 20.00 to 22.00, it’s the most crowded time. If you only want to shop, you should visit earlier.
Location: Old Quarter, Hang Dao Street
Opening hours: Fri, Sat, Sun evenings, from 18.00 – 23.00.
8. Enjoy a Cup of Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is famous worldwide, this is a well-known fact. Coffee in Vietnam tastes so much stronger, sweeter and more flavorful, with a lot of variations and combinations that will surprise you.
The French introduced coffee to Vietnam during the colonialism but Vietnamese people sure have made drinking coffee culture of themselves.
It’s a sight to happen only in Vietnam – people sitting on the sidewalks and waiting for the coffee to drip. Working people spend a lot of time to enjoy a cup of coffee, making it a daily habit.
Black coffee and brown coffee (a mixture of black coffee and condensed milk) are the most common and the cheapest. While variations that make use of yogurt, egg, and fruits have become so popular.
What to try: black coffee, ice brown coffee, egg coffee, coffee smoothie
Where to try: 117 Trieu Viet Vuong, Cong Ca Phe, Café Giang (for egg coffee), Café Pho Co
9. Photo Tour at Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge is the most unique place to be in Hanoi. Designed by Daydé & Pillé, Long Bien Bridge is one of the many constructions that were built by the French in the early 20th century and still remains until today.
This cantilever bridge connects two banks of Red River, spreads on a length of 1682m, consisting of a total number of 20 piers. Long Bien is also the first bridge of railway running through Indochina and Hanoi – Hai Phong Route.
Undergoing two wars with the French and the American, Long Bien Bridge was bombarded many times and became a witness of history.
Nowadays, the image of the rusty red, age-old bridge spanning on the green fields of Red River’s mudflats has become something so precious to Hanoi people.
If you don’t mind straying further from the crowded Old Quarter, walking tour to Long Bien is a great thing to do. The bridge offers great landscape, angles for photography and new perspective into the local life.
10. Enjoy Pho Hanoi
Pho Hanoi is always different from Pho from elsewhere. It’ll be a pity to not have a hot bowl of Pho while in Hanoi. The dish is just so flavorful, nutritious and delicious with meat-based broth, beef or chicken toppings, and full of fragrant herbs.
Hanoi people can eat Pho for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Pho might look simple yet to make a good Pho, meticulous preparation of the ingredients, especially the spice mix, must be done.
A bowl of Pho Hanoi consists of three parts: the broth, the noodles and the toppings which must be cooked separately and only be put together at the last minute. Don’t forget to put the herbs into your bowl before diving in. They will add a lot of flavors to the final taste.
Where to eat Pho Hanoi:
1. Pho Gia Truyen
Location: 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hanoi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 6.00 am – 10.00 am
2. Pho Thin
Location: 13 Lo Duc, Hanoi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 5.00 am – 9.00 pm
3. Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
Location: 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hang Trong
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 6.00 am – 10.00 pm
11. Learn more about Vietnam at Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Among the rich collection of museums in Hanoi, the one that’s worthiest of your visit is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
The institute offers an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam. A visit to the museum is a great opportunity to understand more about Vietnamese diversity in culture and identity.
Address: On Nguyen Van Huyen Street
Opening hours: 8.30 – 17.30 pm, closed on Mondays
12. Attend a cooking class in Hanoi
Vietnamese food made into top healthiest cuisines in the world. It’s such a lovely thing to come back home, being able to cook the foods from the place you’d traveled to. A wide range of cooking classes available in Hanoi will help you do this.
Most of the cooking classes feature a market tour and 3 to 4 hours of cooking. There is always a chef to introduce the dishes, how to eat, and give instruction on the cooking process.
The standard menus feature the most essential dishes of Vietnamese cuisine such as Banh Xeo (Sizzling Pancake), Spring Rolls, Claypot Fish, or Pho. After done cooking, you can enjoy the dishes you just made. The chef will also show you how to eat for each dish just like the locals do.
The average price for a half-day cooking class, including a shopping tour to a local market, ranges from $30 to $50 USD. Advanced classes have more difficult dishes, longer hours and higher prices.
13. Hanoi Nightlife - Enjoy a beer at Ta Hien Street
Just like any touristic city, Hanoi also has a street for foreign tourists to enjoy the city night scene – an ‘international crossroad’. Ta Hien Street, once called Geraud, is only 200 meters long, yet every night, especially on weekends, it hosts crowds of tourists from all over the world coming here to enjoy a glass of drought beer and street snacks, packed on the sidewalks.
One thing that has made Ta Hien Street so famous and special is its atmosphere. It is a street where the old and the new meet on a background of French colonial vestige.
The dishes you can enjoy in Ta Hien are definitely the highlight of Vietnamese cuisine.
In the morning, Pho and other noodle soups are the main dishes. A chain of restaurants, pubs, and clubs offers even more choices for your lunch/dinner. But if you want to stick to the sidewalk, you might find a plate of basil roasted peanuts, a serving of meatball skewers and fried potatoes are excellent choices to accompany ‘Bia Hoi’ – a popular local cheap beverage (yet it tastes so good in a hot day).
14. Ride on Hanoi Hop-on Hop-off City Bus
Officially opened from 2018, the brand new Hanoi Hop-on hop-off bus service offers city tour to at least 15 attractions around the capital of Vietnam. Visitors can hop-on and hop-off at any stop during the tour.
Highlighted attractions are Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem (Sword Lake), Ngoc Son temple, Hoa Lo prison, historical relic site, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Quan Thanh Temple, West Lake, Temple of Literature, Thang Long Royal Citadel and Hanoi Opera House.
The bus is equipped with an automatic interpreting system of many languages like English, French, Russian, Chinese, Indonesian, German, giving detail information on every historical landmark of Hanoi.