Ho Chi Minh Complex is one of the few green and unoccupied areas of urban Hanoi.

Bat Trang Ceramic Village on the left bank of Red river and about 10 km from Hanoi in East.

Hanoi Cyclo Tour - Visit Hanoi by cyclo to dive in the soul of Hanoi.

Hanoi Water Puppet show has its roots in an art form that dates back to the 11th century

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975.

Hoan Kiem Lake is regarded as the heart of the city.

Museum of Ethnology is considered as the finest modern museum in Vietnam

One Pillar Pagoda was constructed by Emperor Ly Thai Tong in AD 1049.

Royal City Complex fully furnished apartments with a balcony and self-catering facilities.

Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius, was founded in 1070.

The Presidency Palace

Fine Art Museum a museum in the system of Vietnam's national museums, is considered as a museum that occupies the most important position in maintaining and promoting the treasures of Vietnamese cultural and artistic heritage.

The Old Quater of Hanoi is an area well-known for the history, the architecture, the enormous amount and diversity of products and even the everyday life of its residents.

The Old Quater has attracted so many tourists over the years is its Old Quarter (36 old streets and guilds).

West Lake has a circumference of 17km and houses many of the city’s historic places of interest around its perimeter – including Vietnam’s oldest pagoda and one of Vietnam’s four sacred temples.

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital lies in the North of the country and is one of the country’s top tourist hot spots.

Hanoi offers French-colonial architecture, a rich food culture and a long history (the city celebrated its millennium in 2010.)

Hanoi overview

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located in the country’s north. This is also one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam, with its Old Quarter, ancient pagodas, top museums, and amazing street food, making it a very worthwhile stop.

Surrounded by natural lakes, Hanoi is peaceful and charming with friendly people. It’s also a very liveable city with old quarters and local markets, providing a very authentic view of Vietnamese life with its traditional values.

Why visit Hanoi?

1. Explore Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
2. Visit one of the many unique museums
3. Enjoy street foods in the old town of Hanoi
4. See a traditional water puppet show.
5. Walk around the city’s central lakes.
6. Make Hanoi your main base to explore northern Vietnam

Best time to visit Hanoi

The best time to visit Hanoi is from January to April, and from October to December when the temperature range from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. 

How to travel to Hanoi?

Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi airport) is the largest airport in northern Vietnam, located only about 30km from downtown Hanoi, making it very convenient to travel to Hanoi by taxi, private transfer, or local bus as well as popular northern Vietnam destinations such as Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau, Ha Giang and many other highlights of Vietnam.

And, it is easy to reach to:
Halong Bay 3hr 35min drive
Mai Chau / Hoa Binh 4hr drive
Sapa 6hr drive / 10hr overnight train
Danang 1hr 20min flight
Hue 1hr 20min flight
Ho Chi Minh City 2-hour flight.

Attractions in Hanoi

1. Hoan Kiem Lake (the heart of Hanoi)
2. Hanoi Old Quarter
3. Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the HCM Museum, HCM Mausoleum, the Stilt-house, and One Pillar Pagoda.
4. Quan Thanh Temple
5. Tran Quoc Pagoda
6. The Temple of Literature
7. Hoa Lo Prison
8. Ethnic Museum
9. Hanoi zoo
10. Handicraft villages, including Bat Trang Ceramic Village, Dong Ho folk painting village, Van Phu Silk Village…

Things to do in Hanoi

A city tour around Hanoi will allow you to discover historical, social, cultural, and natural sites such as the Ho Chi Minh Complex with the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Stilt-house, and One Pillar Pagoda, as well as Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda.

In the heart of Hanoi, it is Hoan Kiem Lake so it is also a delight to see, especially lit up at night. And, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison as well as Ethnic Museum may also interest you.

Remember to take a Cyclo Ride, especially if traveling with children because your children can easily take a cyclo ride around Hanoi’s old town (Hanoi Old Quarter) to experience local daily life as well as the best Hanoi.

Aside from that, take your kids to see a Water Puppet Show, which is one of the most interesting activities for any child because water puppets are very skillfully controlled by puppeteers hidden behind a screen, and the show lasts only about 1-2 hours, and it is simple to find a reasonable ticket for this show at Thang Long Theater, which is located near Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi.

Hanoi’s food specialties

Hanoi is very famous for its local and inexpensive food such as Pho (noodle soup), Bún Chả, (grilled pork and noodles), and Chả Cá Lá Vọng (an original grilled fish dish) as well as Xoi Xeo (a specialty dish of sticky rice often eaten for breakfast), to name a few.

These local treats are not only delicious but also are cooked quite differently than in other cities. And, on the street, it’s also an experience to just see the locals cook and learn their own methods.

Activities for children in Hanoi

If you travel to Hanoi with children, then the Hanoi Zoo (Thu Le Park), Vincom entertainment, the Royal City complex, and the Ethnic Museum as well as West Water Lake would all entertain a variety of ages.

Besides these central attractions, just outside of Hanoi, there are traditional handicraft villages. And, Bat Trang Ceramic Village, for example, tourists can learn to work on ceramic products by hand…

Or, take a short trip to Van Phuc Silk Village and see some expertly made silk products like silk towels, bags, or clothing. And, Dong Ho Village is also interesting where children have the chance to learn how to make a painting like the locals still do, by describing the life of the Vietnamese people in the past.

Travel to Hanoi, you should include the best highlights of Hanoi, including walking around the Hanoi Old Quarter, trying street food, seeing natural lakes, exploring ancient pagodas and temples, discovering museums, going to entertainment places, enjoying rooftop coffee, and taking a cyclo tour.

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