10 Very Best Things to do in Hanoi
Get lost in a frantic whirlwind of motorbikes, visit fascinating historical sites, cruise peacefully amongst gigantic limestone karsts, encounter local life at Hoan Kiem Lake and experience a train screeching through a tiny neighbourhood street. There are so many wonderful things to do in Hanoi, read on to discover more and everything you need to know for your visit.
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Hanoi; a city unlike any other. A city with incredible frenetic energy you won’t know which of your senses to follow first. The delicious smells waft through the streets entice you in, the chaotic roads alive with motorcycles, and beautiful historical buildings waiting to be explored.
We love this helter-skelter city! Eating pho on the side of the road, haggling for souvenirs at bustling markets, manoeuvring your way around moving vehicles, exploring historical landmarks, experiencing local culture at Hoan Kiem Lake, cruising through the hauntingly beautiful Ha Long Bay; there’s no shortage of amazing things to do in Hanoi.
Hanoi’s unique charm and atmosphere are captivating. You may find the city overwhelming at first, but go with it and, we promise, you’ll find a side you love.
In this guide to the very best things to do in Hanoi, we’ll share our top 10 Hanoi highlights and everything you need to know before your visit including where to stay, the best time to visit and how long to spend there.
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Contents
Very Best Things to do in Hanoi
Get Lost in Hanoi Old Quarter
Getting lost in Hanoi Old Quarter is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Hanoi. It’s the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam and has a history spanning 2,000 years.
This bustling area is the business hub and main tourist destination in Hanoi. This maze of 36 frantic narrow streets and alleys is home to hundreds of small businesses and shopkeepers. Here, you’ll feel a world away from anywhere you’ve ever experienced!
Take your time exploring this area; there’s so much going on. One of the best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter is to perch on a plastic stool by the side of the road and enjoy a bowl of pho or Vietnamese coffee while you watch the frenetic daily life go on around you.
How many crates can he fit onto his motorbike in between his wife and two kids? How is she carrying that huge basket of vegetables on her head and her baby at the same time?
Watching local life in Hanoi Old Quarter is truly fascinating.
Also awaiting you are beautiful and authentic hidden gems such as Buddhist shrines, traditional Vietnamese art and vibrant street markets.
Our Top Tip: base yourself in Hanoi Old Quarter. Being completely immersed in the vibrant energy is the best way to experience this city. You’re also within walking distance of the top things to do in Hanoi.
Enjoy Local Life at Hoan Kiem Lake
Feeling overwhelmed with the liveliness of Hanoi Old Quarter? Head to Hoan Kiem Lake; one of the most charming places to visit in Hanoi, for some peace and quiet and to experience the city’s more serene local culture.
The legend behind Hoan Kiem Lake states that the Dragon King gave Emperor Le Loi a magical sword to drive the Chinese invaders out of Vietnam.
After succeeding, he went out to the lake and was approached by a giant turtle who explained he had been sent by the Dragon King to retrieve the sword.
Emperor Le Loi returned the sword to the lake and this is how it earned its name ‘Hoan Kiem Lake’, or ‘The Lake of the Returned Sword’.
On a small island in the middle of the lake known as Jade Island sits Ngoc Son Temple. This pagoda was built to remember the bravery of Tran Hung Dao against the Yuan Dynasty and is accessed by Huc Bridge or ‘The Bridge of the Rising Sun’.
Surrounding the lake are trees and shade where you can escape the heat and mayhem and witness a completely different side to the city. Couples having wedding photos taken, people playing chess on benches, people out for their morning workout.
Our Top Tip: Hoan Kiem Lake is great for getting your bearings. To the north is Hanoi Old Quarter and to the south is the tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter.
Visit the Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is the most distinguished academic landmark in Vietnam and one of the best Hanoi highlights. Built in 1076 to honour Confucius, some of the most brilliant minds in Vietnamese history have graduated from here.
Originally only allowing aristocrats and royals to study, it then opened its doors to gifted academics around the country. Attending this University was a huge honour.
The Temple of Literature is built similarly to the birthplace of Confucius; divided into 5 courtyards surrounded by walls and connected by passageways. These 5 courtyards symbolise the 5 elements forming the world: metal, wood, fire, water and earth.
Great efforts go into beautifully maintaining the gardens surrounding the Temple of Literature. They’re rich in ancient trees and are a tranquil place for students to relax. Many events also occur here; we saw a school graduation when we visited.
Visiting this historical site is one of the top things to do in Hanoi. It now serves as a memorial to education and literature and is one of the most important cultural places in Vietnam.
Our Top Tip: either before or after visiting the Temple of Literature, have lunch at the restaurant opposite; KOTO (Know One Teach One); one of the best places to visit in Hanoi.
KOTO is a hospitality training school opened by Mr Jimmy in the 1990s. Once the students graduate, they go on to some of the country’s finest hotels and restaurants.
Offering a mix of Vietnamese and Western dishes, you know your money is going towards fantastic opportunities. The food is delicious too for a very fair price!
Marvel at Train Street
Head to Train Street for one of the most unique and unforgettable things to do in Hanoi.
At first, it’ll appear like any other neighbourhood with locals going about their daily lives. Kids playing outside, adults sat having coffee with neighbours, hanging out washing and playing checkers.
You’ll soon notice there’s a train track running right in the middle of the row of houses…
Very popular with tourists and a haven for Instagrammers; enjoy a coffee or a cold Beer Hoi at one of the neighbourhood’s cafes with chairs and tables on the train tracks.
Suddenly, you’re ushered off your seats, tables, chairs and motorbikes are thrown inside, kids are told to go indoors and you’re pinned against the wall by a huge train hurtling past mere inches from your face!
This truly is one of the best places to visit in Hanoi.
Then, life returns to normal.
Our Top Tip: be patient, the train won’t arrive on time! It’s scheduled around 3pm but transport in Vietnam is unpredictable and finding any legitimate information is difficult. On our first day, it was an hour late and on the second, even later.
No point stressing, just bear this in mind when planning. Grab a drink and sit on the tracks soaking up the atmosphere of this quirky Hanoi highlight.
There’s also a train around 7pm going in the other direction, however, it’s probably a bit dark to take decent photos.
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Known by his people as ‘Uncle Ho’, this is Ho Chi Minh’s final resting place and one of the most visited things to do in Hanoi. Opened in 1975, the mausoleum ensures their treasured revolutionary leader ‘lives on forever’.
This Mausoleum was created against the wishes of Ho Chi Minh. He wished to be cremated and his ashes scattered over the North, South and Centre of Vietnam.
Instead, his body has been embalmed and is preserved in a glass case for visitors to come and pay their respects to.
The Mausoleum was constructed in Ba Dinh Square; an important site where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam independent in 1945.
Respectful dress and behaviour are a must. You can’t talk or take photos and you’re to keep walking through the room in a constant queue of people. There’s a changing of the guard ceremony performed mid-morning; mostly for the benefit of tourists.
Our Top Tip: The mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and is only open in the mornings every other day.
Enjoy Delicious Local Cuisine
One of our favourite things to do when visiting new places is eating local food. Get out of your comfort zone, ask for recommendations and try something you’ve never tried before.
Hanoi has a vibrant food scene and a stay here isn’t complete without sampling the cheap tasty delicacies the city has to offer.
The best food is found on the streets in Hanoi Old Quarter. Perch on a plastic stool by the side of the road outside what looks like someone’s kitchen and soak up the atmosphere. The greatest insight into the daily life of locals is eating like one.
Delicious, varied and balanced, it’s easy to see why Vietnamese cuisine is world-famous!
Pho and Banh Mi especially are very popular in Western cuisine. Pho is the most well-known dish of Hanoi. Rice noodles served with beef broth, seasoning, spring onions and coriander – so yummy and refreshing! Although traditionally served with beef you can also get chicken or vegetables.
Banh Mi are a fusion of Vietnamese and French warm crunchy baguettes with various fillings and to our surprise spread with dairylea!
With street food, it’s all about turnaround and serving as many people as they can, meaning food is served incredibly quickly. This gives you time to several dishes in different places and, as it’s so cheap, it doesn’t come close to breaking the bank.
Our Top Tip: don’t avoid a restaurant because the cleanliness standards aren’t what you’re used to; you’ll miss the best food. Just grab a stool and don’t think about your salad being dropped on the road and flung into a bowl of water on the floor to clean it (yes, speaking from experience!).
Explore Magnificent Ha Long Bay
Home to over 1600 limestone islets, this natural wonder proudly wears its World Heritage title and a cruise in Ha Long Bay is truly one of the most amazing things to do in Hanoi.
Legend has it that when Vietnam was being invaded, the Gods sent Mother Dragon and her two children down to defend it. They successfully drove out the invaders and stayed and lay on the lands they protected. The seas rose and the dragons now form the mystical islets we see today; hence the name ‘The Bay of the Descending Dragons’.
Explore the bay by kayak, enjoy a raft ride through brightly painted fishing villages home to over 1500 people and explore the huge networks of caves that the islets have given way to over time through erosion.
Once the sun starts setting and you have a refreshing drink in hand on the deck of your junk boat, watch as the sun reflects off the limestone karsts and turns the sky pink. Completely mesmerising and makes you feel incredibly small watching some of Mother Nature’s finest work.
Ha Long Bay is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit in Hanoi.
The best way to visit Ha Long Bay is on a junk boat. Tours vary in length and having done both a day and an overnight cruise; I’d 100% recommend an overnight option. Waking up to this mystical seascape is absolutely breathtaking!
Our Top Tip: opt for a cruise to Lan Ha Bay. Unfortunately, Ha Long Bay is overrun with visitors and boats which ruins the atmosphere and the sea is pretty polluted. Although Lan Ha Bay is still busy, it doesn’t nearly have the same volume of visitors. Please don’t let that put you off going; a trip here is absolutely worth it.
Reflect at Hoa Lo Prison
One of the best things to do in Hanoi for an insight into Vietnam’s harrowing past; visit Hoa Lo Prison. Also known as Maison Centrale and situated close to the French Quarter, this prison first housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and then later American Prisoners of War.
Preserved as a museum, wandering around the different rooms you can see some of the horrors that occurred during this century of torture. The prison was renovated to hold around 600 people, yet at times there would have been as many as 2000!
There are small windowless cells you can stand in that would have been so crammed full of people many would have suffocated. Figures have also been constructed to show how people were captured, shackled to the floor and beaten. Guillotines were used to execute.
Between 1954 and 1973, the prison was used for US soldiers. These were mostly Air Force pilots who were captured when their planes went down. They sarcastically gave it the nickname ‘Hanoi Hilton’.
John McCain was the most famous resident of Hoa Lo Prison. He was captured by the Vietnamese when his plane was shot down over Hanoi.
Although there’s a lot written by the survivors of Hoa Lo Prison, the museum reflects very little on the American Prisoners of War. Emphasis is on the Vietnamese revolutionaries and how they were treated.
Our Top Tip: do not pose by a guillotine for a photo. I saw people posing in inappropriate places and taking photos; have some respect. This prison serves as a reminder of some of the horrors Vietnam has faced in its past.
Watch a Water Puppet Show
This unique form of Vietnamese art originated over 1000 years ago when the fields in the north flooded and the villagers would stand waist-deep in the water with performing puppets. They were attached to long rods and made them appear as though they were moving across the water.
Today, the show is performed in a series of short stories that depict the daily life of Vietnamese farmers and convey Vietnamese folk tales and legends.
The famous story of Emperor Le Loi and the magical sword is acted out along with dances of mythical creatures and celebrations of the rice harvest.
An orchestra performs the music using traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as cymbals, bamboo flutes and drums.
Our Top Tip: buy tickets in advance as they sell out. This event is very much made for tourists but it’s worth it to learn about traditional Vietnamese agriculture and to see the skilful techniques used in water puppetry.
Bargain Hunt at the Night Market
One of the best things to do in Hanoi on Saturdays and Sundays is to explore the Night Market. With countless stalls selling low-cost clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, anything you can think of; it’s a great place to stock up on trinkets to take home.
The streets are blocked off to traffic; although you will find the odd motorbike pushing its way through! Before we attempted to make sense of the situation, we found a bar with a rooftop overlooking the market and soaked up the lively atmosphere.
After you’ve had your fill of walking around the market bargaining over souvenirs, head to the numerous delicious food vendors. Bun cha, pho, rice noodles, grilled meats and fish, spring rolls and other noodle dishes.
You’ll be spoilt for choice and want to try it all. Around the food stalls, you’ll find locals playing traditional Vietnamese music, singing karaoke and playing games while enjoying their dinner.
Then head to the bars on Ta Hien Street where you’ll see locals and tourists lining the roads on little plastic stools with some of the cheapest beer in Asia. You’ll also see street performers making their living.
Our Top Tip: offer at least 50% less than what’s offered. Unless you’re super skilled at haggling they probably won’t accept that low but meet somewhere in the middle. But also remember that what isn’t very much to you, will mean a lot more to them.
Also, as this area is very busy, it’s a popular place for pickpockets so be wary.
Everything To Know Before You Visit Hanoi
How long for the top things to do in Hanoi
We’d recommend at least 3 nights to explore the best things to do in Hanoi and to really get a feel for the city.
Getting around Hanoi
The best way of getting around Hanoi is by walking. Most of the Hanoi highlights are within walking distance, allowing you to discover hidden gems you’d have otherwise missed.
Some hotels offer bicycle hire, just be wary of the traffic. Motorbike taxis, ‘Xe Om’ are a great inexpensive way of getting around Hanoi. You’ll find them easily around the city, especially in the tourist areas. There’s no meter so haggle on a price first. We’d recommend asking your hotel for a rough cost for your journey.
If there’s a group of you, a taxi would probably be cheaper than several motorbikes. These can be a slower way of getting around Hanoi however, due to the extreme traffic.
Hanoi is served by local buses which stop at most of the Hanoi highlights and are the cheapest way to travel. Tickets are payable in cash so carry smaller bills.
Cyclos are a popular way of getting around Hanoi Old Quarter, however, they’re a bit of a squeeze for 2 people. Ensure you settle on a price before agreeing to the trip as these are a common way to scam tourists out of more money.
When to visit Hanoi
The best time to visit Hanoi is October to April when the temperatures are cooler and the sun is mainly shining. June to August brings high heat and humidity, although it’s a good time if you want to travel with fewer crowds and keep costs down.
Where to stay in Hanoi
We’d recommend staying in Hanoi Old Quarter so you’re immersed in the hustle and bustle and can experience what Hanoi is all about. You’re also close to the top things to do in Hanoi so you can get around by walking.
For somewhere quieter and less hectic, Hanoi French Quarter provides a more peaceful alternative. Here, you’ll find wide tree-lined boulevards with a lot less traffic on the roads but you can still reach Hanoi Old Quarter easily.
Chances are, Hanoi is either the start or end of your Vietnam adventure. Either way, it’s a place unlike any other; a true Asian metropolis.
The city has so much to offer and gives you a fantastic insight into the Vietnamese way of life so make sure you save this list of the very best things to do in Hanoi to make your stay truly memorable.
As always, feel free to leave a comment or contact us if you have any questions.
Also, make sure to check out our other Vietnam guides below.
2 thoughts on “10 Very Best Things to do in Hanoi and Complete Guide”
Hanoi is a city with a blend of antiquity and excitement. I’m impressed with the cuisine here. The dishes are varied and all are amazing!
Hanoi has a captivating charm, and these suggestions are spot-on in terms of truly experiencing the best the city has to offer!