Works from the French colonial period, sidewalk shops selling local specialties, motorbikes wriggling on crowded streets… are the first impressions of visitors about Hanoi. For many people, Hanoi has all the interesting things to explore here in its own way.
What season is beautiful in Hanoi?
The most ideal time to travel to Hanoi is in the fall from August to November and spring from March to April. Many people think that autumn is the most beautiful time of the year in Hanoi, with The sky is clear blue, the wind may be cold, the leaves are falling, the smell of milk flowers is faint… In the spring, the weather is warm, the streets are like changing new clothes when the trees sprout, the flowers bloom . ..
Move
Hanoi is likened to the heart of Vietnam, so visitors can move conveniently to the capital by plane, train, passenger car, private car or motorbike from other provinces.
To move around the city, you can take a car, motorbike or bicycle. But the experience will be more poetic if you sit on a cyclo to see 36 streets, take a tricycle tour or an ancient Vespa . Another suggestion worth considering is the double-decker bus, fare from 130,000 – 599,000 VND.
Stay
Hanoi has many accommodation options for tourists such as budget motels, homestays, hotels, resorts… suitable for budgets and preferences. If you go for a walk in the old town, you can rent from “Western backpack” beds with dorm rooms for about 100,000 VND a night, to high-class hotels costing 3,000,000 – 5,000,000 VND a night.
Some special hotels such as Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi with French colonial architecture, just a few steps from the Opera House are Hilton Hanoi Opera , Apricot Hotel right on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake, famous hotels With a view overlooking the West Lake is Sheraton Hanoi and InterContinental Hanoi Westlake , Lotte Hotel Hanoi on the high floor of the 65-storey Lotte Center building…
Discover
Sightseeing
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a world cultural heritage located in the heart of Hanoi and has a history of more than 1300 years. This place contains unique relics and relics, proving the history of Thang Long – Hanoi and the history of the Vietnamese nation through many ages. Address: 19C Hoang Dieu, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh.
Hoan Kiem lake
Hoan Kiem is a natural freshwater lake of Hanoi city, connecting the streets of Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Cau Go, Luong Van Can, Lo Su… with the Western Quarter planned by the French more than a century ago. century are 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 two banks of the Red River, Long Bien Bridge is also a mark connecting the present and the old memories of the people who love Hanoi. Long Bien Bridge was built in 1898, also known by the name Song Cai bridge or Bo De bridge because it crosses Bo De wharf, Gia Lam, Hanoi. With a length of 1,682 m and a bridge section of 896 m long, Long Bien bridge is divided into 9 frames, each frame is 61 m long. According to the original design, the bridge has all 19 steel beam spans placed on 20 pillars higher than 40 m.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Located on the island east of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda used to be in the top of the most beautiful temples in the world. The pagoda has a history of 1,500 years, was the Buddhist center of Thang Long citadel in the Ly and Tran dynasties. The work was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1962. In 2003, the pagoda inaugurated the 15 m high lotus stupa with 11 floors.
Quoc Tu Giam Temple
This is the first university in Vietnam. Today visitors can visit the stele, the dignified campus with lotus ponds and water lily ponds. Temple of Literature is a rare peaceful and quiet place in the middle of a vibrant city. Visitors will feel the harmony between the ancient and the needle when coming here through the thousand-year-old walls.
Temple of Literature was built in 1070 under King Ly Thanh Tong. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong established the Quoc Tu Giam house.
This place also keeps many precious artifacts and documents, especially 82 doctoral steles recognized by UNESCO as “World Documentary Heritage”.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
For Vietnamese, this is one of the most important attractions in the country. Visitors come to pay their respects to President Ho Chi Minh. 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 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. If you miss it, you can safely take a walk around the city and come back here to participate in the flag-lowering ceremony at 9pm every day. A solemn atmosphere enveloped Ba Dinh square when the loudspeaker sounded to announce the upcoming flag-lowering ceremony. People lined up neatly, watching the military guard solemnly lower the national flag in the music of the song “Uncle still with us on the march”.
One Pillar Pagoda
The work is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi. The pagoda was built on a wooden trunk more than 1,000 years ago. In the 1950s, the original rotten wooden trunk should be replaced with a concrete pole. Westerners should come here to walk around this area because there are surrounding houses that are among the most beautiful and impressive in Hanoi.
Old Quarter
Let your feet lead the way, you will discover the most about the colorful nostalgic streets of the capital. No destination, no predefined route, only turn right, turn left or go straight. This street is full of toys, the other street is full of shoes, clothes, antiques or sometimes gravestones, motorbike parts.
If you come here at off-hours, the experience is even more interesting. You must always be ready to dodge the flow of people and cars on the road. Just like that, 1,000 years of Hanoi’s history flows through the streets like a stream of blood crept in each vein, blowing into life the breath of both the past and the present.
Museum
The destination not to be missed when coming to any city is the museums and historical sites. One of the places most visitors check-in is the Museum of Ethnology. The Museum of Ethnology currently keeps and displays 15,000 artifacts, 42,000 documentaries, pictures and thousands of other documents about 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Besides, visitors also come to Vietnam Women’s Museum , Hanoi Museum, National History Museum or Hoa Lo Prison , Hanoi Flag Tower… to learn about culture and history. of the city.
What to watch?
In addition to visiting scenic spots, visitors should enjoy art shows imbued with national identity in Hanoi.
Water puppetry: is theatrical art that tourists should see when coming to Hanoi. This art has a tradition of more than 1,000 years in Vietnam. There are two popular places to visit: Thang Long Puppet Theater at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang and Vietnam Puppet Theater at 361 Truong Chinh.
Listen to ca tru: Ca tru originated in the 11th century, the style bears many similarities to Japanese geisha rituals and opera performances. Initially, ca tru was considered as entertainment for the nobility in the royal palace, then, it entered the common cultural space of modern Hanoi. Ca Tru has five main performance spaces: Ca Tru Cua Dinh (singing at the gate of the communal house to worship the gods), Ca Tru Cua Quyen (enjoying Ca Tru of the authorities), Ca Tru at home, Ca Tru singing Thi, Ca Tru canteen. Visitors can listen to Ca Tru at Hanoi Ca Tru Club at 42 Hang Bac, Ca Tru Thang Long 146 Tu Hoa.
Real Scene Show: Essence of the North is a real scene show on stage at Thay Pagoda , at the foot of Thay Mountain, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. The play takes place on a lake of 4,300 square meters, bringing visitors into the life of farmers in the North through performances of sound and light. Most of the actors participating in the scene are farmers of Quoc Oai district.
In addition to the show, visitors can also experience the traditional culture of the North directly outside the stage with stalls selling spring rolls, rice cakes, sticky rice cakes, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, peanuts, and sweets. hump. Tourists can buy and eat between small chairs in the middle of the garden in the music of quan ho.
Where to play?
SUP rowing on West Lake : Waking up at dawn, you can drive to West Lake and experience water games such as SUP paddle and kayak. The appropriate time is usually 5 am-7 pm, or cool afternoon. You can find boats and boards for rent at shops on Lac Long Quan, Au Co, Trich Sai … with prices from 250,000 VND a day.
Panoramic view of Hanoi from above : Coming to Hanoi, you cannot ignore Lotte Observation Deck located on Lieu Giai Street, because this is the place where you can enjoy panoramic views of the capital from the 65th floor. Made from transparent glass, you can take creative check-in photos at any angle. The observatory is open from 9am to the end of the day.
Walking Street : Every week, Ho Guom walking street is open from 6pm on Friday to the end of Sunday, attracting a large number of both locals and foreign tourists. This space has a lot of fun activities, entertainment, 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 attractively prepared 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 the two addresses that Westerners whisper to each other to visit once if they have the opportunity to come to the capital. The market mainly sells flowers and fruits, but “requires” visitors have to stay up late, get up early to see all the bustling, bustling atmosphere of a very different Hanoi when night falls.
Located right at the foot of Long Bien Bridge, Long Bien wholesale market is bustling all year round, the most famous being the wholesale fruit market. From 20:00 the market begins to move, the more bustling at night. Quang Ba flower market is open all night, but the most crowded is around 3-4 am, busy buyers and sellers. Bouquets of flowers, large and small, were piled up on the car.
Restaurants
Ha Thanh cuisine perfectly combines sour, spicy, salty and sweet flavors and shows the very image of the city of thousands of years of civilization: vibrant, quiet, attractive and attractive. You can easily enjoy Hanoi specialties at roadside sidewalk shops such as beef noodle soup, bun cha, banh mi…
Eat what
Pho: Coming to Hanoi, it is impossible to ignore pho, especially beef noodle soup, which usually has two main types: cooked and rare. Cooked beef are pieces of beef that are boiled in broth, while rare beef are thin slices of meat, quickly blanched in boiling water. Then, the seller will arrange those slices of meat on the noodle soup, pour the broth and serve the diners. Some reference addresses are Pho Thin, Bat Dan, Tu Lun, Pho Lam, Hang Vai street, Pho Tram Yen Ninh street.
If you want to try other versions, the recommended address is Nguyet restaurant at 5 Phu Doan, Cham restaurant 63 Yen Ninh, Lan Ong mixed chicken noodle soup or Ngu Xa noodle soup.
Vermicelli: Hanoians have a lot of noodle dishes. The most special are vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli…
Talking about the long-standing authentic specialty in Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention bun thang . The Ha Thanh people have skillfully processed leftovers after Tet into a sophisticated and sophisticated noodle dish. A bowl of bun thang costs 30,000 – 50,000 VND. Currently, in Hanoi, there are only a few places selling bun thang, such as Ba Duc restaurant (Cau Go), Ngoc Tuyen restaurant (Dao Tan), Thuan Ly restaurant (Hang Hom)…
Bun cha – a dish usually eaten at lunch. Similar to vermicelli with grilled meat in the South and Central, but Hanoi people’s vermicelli noodles are more sophisticatedly marinated. Those who like the old taste can go to bun cha restaurants in Hang Ma and Hang Dong. Those who like vermicelli sandwiched with bamboo should go to Buoi market and Dong Xuan market. Or visit the noodle shop in Ngoc Khanh, Giang Vo, Le Van Huu, Hang Manh are also famous shops in Hanoi.
Vermicelli grown in Hanoi costs 20,000 – 40,000 VND. This vermicelli dish is often sold at shops selling ribs, vermicelli, vermicelli, etc. Some famous delicious places in Hanoi include Ms. Loan’s shop (at the beginning of Dien Bien Phu street), Hang Luoc, Hang Trong. , Cau Go, Lane 18 Ham Long…
Finding vermicelli in Hanoi is not difficult, diners can go to noodle shops in Hai Ba Trung, Dang Dung, Hoe Nhai to eat hot noodles. A bowl of snail vermicelli has about 6-7 pieces of snails, filled with crab broth, beef topping, ear rolls, sometimes even duck eggs.
Another version is cold snail vermicelli or snail vermicelli. Some famous shops are Co Xuan snail noodle shop in O Quan Chuong, or snail noodle soup at the beginning of the Bui Thi Xuan intersection, or the famous Co Giang snail noodle shop on Luong Ngoc Quyen street. The price for each bowl is usually from 30,000 to 40,000 VND.
Bun bung is a popular dish of Hanoians. No one knows exactly when it appeared, but in the 1990s, this noodle dish was sold a lot on the sidewalks of the capital. “Bung” is the word for dishes that have to be boiled for a long time with a lot of water. Bun bung in Hanoi costs from 30,000 VND a bowl. This dish is often combined and sold at shops selling ribs and vermicelli. Some places that are frequented by Hanoi diners are restaurants on Cau Go street, Mrs. Minh (Dong Da)…
Cha Ca La Vong: Cha Ca La Vong was born in 1871, invented by the Doan family. From a rustic dish, Cha Ca gradually became the quintessence of Ha Thanh cuisine to this day. “Cha fish” is made from the most delicious fish, especially salmon. “La Vong” is the image of an ancient general, a talented person with the will to wait for a great opportunity.
Fish meat is carefully filtered, bones are sweet, fragrant and fragrant. Dill vegetables, sliced scallions mixed in hot fish pan. When eaten in combination with grilled rice paper, vermicelli and shrimp paste – an indispensable thing to help create a rich flavor. Some suggested addresses: Cha Ca La Vong No. 14 Cha Ca Street; Thang Long fish cake No. 21 Duong Thanh; Lao Ngu fish cake number 171 Thai Ha…
West Lake shrimp cake
Rolls
Thin rice paper cakes stuffed with pork, wood ear, minced onions, dipped with sweet and sour fish sauce are always a suitable dish for hot summer days. Walking on the street, visitors will encounter many banh cuon shops that open in the morning, with skillful and quick hands. Some suggested addresses are Banh cuon Ba Hanh, No. 26B Tho Xuong; Banh cuon Ba Xuan, No. 16 Hoe Nhai slope and the food court of Long Bien market.
Donuts
In addition to famous dishes around the world, Hanoi also owns a treasure of cakes such as pillow cakes, pork, mushrooms, ground vermicelli and quail eggs… To balance the taste, the greasy donuts. served with garlic, chili and herbs dipping sauce. Located on Ly Quoc Su street, Goc Da restaurant is a place specializing in selling savory donuts and pillow cakes, open from 10am to 9.30pm.
Coffee
Coffee is a feature in Hanoi, with many old shops in the old town. Egg coffee is one of Hanoi’s specialties made from beaten eggs mixed with Vietnamese coffee. Egg coffee has a slightly yellow color in a small cup. Diners always have an extra spoon to enjoy the creamy foam on top like an “appetizer” before drinking the coffee below. Famous egg coffee shops include Dinh, Giang, Old Quarter Coffee, Loading T, All Day Coffee… Price per cup from 25,000 VND.
What to buy as a gift
In addition to o mai, rice cake, lotus tea, visitors to Hanoi can buy silk in Van Phuc village or Bat Trang pottery as gifts for relatives and friends.
O mai : With enough sour, spicy, salty and sweet flavors like the convergence of the quintessence 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 snack is Hang Duong street. Visitors can find here their favorite types of apricots such as apricots, plums, ginger, crocodiles, star fruit, lemons, kumquats, persimmons, peaches, toads, tamarind, etc. , you should choose the type of umbrella apricot, because it has a sweet taste made from the sour fruit very typical of Hanoi. Depending on the type, apricot umbrella costs about 100,000 – 150,000 a kg.
Com : The incense of Vong village has long created a unique charm for the capital’s cuisine. However, because it is only available in the fall, Hang Than rice cake is a perfect alternative for many tourists. The rice cake is soft on the outside, with a layer of green bean paste mixed with greasy coconut inside, with a faint natural scent of grapefruit.
Lotus tea: Tay Ho lotus tea will definitely be a precious gift for relatives and friends after visiting Hanoi. Because marinating lotus tea is an art with a lot of time and effort. The dried tea wings, after being selected from the best, will be marinated 5-7 times with lotus rice (white seeds on the lotus stamen) to absorb the flavor. The marinated lotus must be the type grown in the lagoons of West Lake such as Nhat Tan, Quang Ba because it is fragrant and gives the most rice.
Van Phuc silk: Thanks to its thin, soft, cool and durable color, less wrinkles, silk is very popular with tourists. Whether it’s winter or summer, visitors coming here can find gifts from silk such as scarves, shirts, skirts, bags… In addition to Van Phuc silk village (about 10 km from the center of Hanoi), You can also buy silk at stalls on Hang Gai or Dinh Liet streets.
Bat Trang Pottery: If you have the opportunity to visit Bat Trang, do not forget to buy ceramic products of the traditional craft village. With its distinctive glaze color and skillful craftsmanship, Bat Trang ceramics have their own unique beauty. Besides commonly used cups, bowls, glasses and cups, there are also products dedicated as gifts such as wind chimes, statues… Visitors to the pottery village can also make their own bowls. , jars, vases, cups for gifts, both meaningful and interesting experiences.
($1=24,000 VND)
Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net)