Ha Noi Travel Guide from A to Z

The capital of Vietnam

With a long list of amazing natural landscapes and delicious specialties in the North plus the unique festivals being held periodically … Hanoi is always a must-come destination for tourists at least once in their life to have a great experience.

Traveling Hanoi

Hanoi is said to be Vietnam’s number one cultural center, with tangible and intangible cultural relics. This land is the cradle of folklore with many legends, songs, proverbs, heroes, folk-praised celebrities and historic folk festivals.

Come to Hanoi – visitors will feel the bustling life in this city. The image of lines of people and vehicles following each other at rush hour … but when the sun falls, Hanoi returns to the true nature of an old town, quiet, ancient and strangely peaceful.

Hanoi is a city worth living, to explore and to experience! Certainly, going to every corner of the capital, you are also confident to know why people do it like this, why there are streets like that … It’s great, Hanoi culture has thousands of years of culture. .

Short facts

  • Nuggets, Cakes, Lam Tea, Cha Cha, Crocodile, Pho Hanoi, Pho Ngu Xa, Hot Cast Cake, Bun thang, Obama Cha Bun, Trang Tien Ice Cream, ..
  • Dong Xuan Night Market, Ta Hien Beer Street, Buom Food Street, Long Bien Bridge, West Lake, Sword Lake, Old Town Night Market, Lemon Tea Street Church, Opera House, Imperial Citadel, Van miu, Mausoleum Uncle, Tran Quoc pagoda, Red river rocky beach, Nhat Tan flower village ...
  • Noi Bai Airport Taxi

Weather

Hanoi is a capital city characterizing a tropical monsoon and a little of sub-humid tropical climate. Hanoi’s weather is divided into four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Spring usually starts in January and ends in April. The summer is from May to July. The fall is around August, September and October. The winter mostly comes in November, ends in January next year.

Tourists can visit Hanoi at any time of a year, because each season features its own characteristics. Hanoi is constantly changing, the city brings to you different feelings in each time period. However, Hanoi will be most beautiful in the fall (from August to October). At present, the weather is dry after rains, the sky is blue, clear and sunny, not too harsh. In addition, temperature is neither hot nor cold, cool… All these weather factors are favourable conditions for you to have a great trip to Hanoi.

Where to stay in Hanoi

There are 3 favourite districts in Hanoi : Hoan Kiem district, Ba Dinh district, Tay Ho district.

  • Hoan Kiem district : Hotels around the area are near many must-see spots such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater …in Hanoi and quite, taking tourists about 5 minutes to walk to Hoan Kiem lake. Especially this area is known as the old town center with many places for entertainment and relaxation.
  • Ba Dinh district : Hotels around the area are tranquil and appropriate for rest. But night activities in the district are not as vibrant as in the Old-Quarters.
  • Tay Ho district : The West lake in the district is the largest lake in Hanoi surrounded by many famous sites including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Phu Tay Ho Pagoda, Flowers Valley. Many beautiful and high-class hotels are located with wide view towards the west lake, so you can enjoy fully nice sceneries around the area.
 

Getting around

  • Bus: If you want to save and freely explore Hanoi with safety, you can go by bus at rates ranging from VND 7,000 to 10,000.
  • Bicycle : you can rent a bicycle to travel slowly on stunning roads with rows of trees on the 2 sides and discover all street corners in Hanoi by the flexible vehicle.
  • Motorbike : If you want to be free and active in traveling, you can hire self-driving motorbikes at rates ranging from 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND / day

Kinh nghiệm du lịch Hà Nội - hinh01

Must-visited sites

  • Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: This UNESCO World Heritage Site, often used as a symbol of Hanoi, stands at 40 meters high. The complex comprises of the royal enclosures built during the Ly Dynasty. Close to many other attractions in Hanoi. Closed on Mondays.
    • Address: Quan Thanh, Ba Đinh, Hanoi
  • Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre : The ancient art form of water puppetry has long been associated with Hanoi. Watch as puppets dance elegantly, controlled by a whole troupe of puppet masters, telling a story of the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le which is about Hoan Kiem Lake and the giant tortoise.
    • Address : 57b Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum : Ho Chi Minh is one of the most important leaders Vietnam has ever seen. In the mausoleum, his body is preserved, laid to rest in a glass case for visitors to pay their respects. Please behave and dress respectfully.
    • Address : 25 Hung Vuong, Đien Bien, Ba Đinh, Ha Noi
  • Hoan Kiem Lake : Hoan Kiem Lake (Turtle Lake) is a popular hangout spot for locals and foreigners alike. On an island in the center lies Ngoc Son Temple, linked by a graceful red bridge. This serves as a beautiful background for photos, and perhaps you may even catch couples doing their engagement photoshoots.
    • Address  : Hang Trong, Hoàn Kiem, Hanoi
  • Dong Xuan Market : Dong Xuan Market is the largest market in Hanoi. Four storeys tall, you can find all sorts of apparel, electronic items and food. Great for some shopping or to just experience the day-to-day life of the locals. You can practice some bargaining here as it is a popular tourist market, and prices quoted may be slightly inflated.
    • Address : Đong Xuan, Ha Noi
  • Temple of Literature : This charming temple complex hosts the Imperial Academy, the oldest university in Vietnam. It was originally built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty to serve as a center of learning, dedicated to the Chinese scholar Confucius.
    • Address  : 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu, Đong Đa, Ha Noi
  • Hoa Lo Prison : This prison was built by the French in the 1880s. American POWs sarcastically named this as the “Hanoi Hilton.” “Hoa Lo” literally means “stove”; it was surely no Hilton. Senator John McCain was held here after his capture, and his uniform is on display.
    • Address  : 1 Hoa Lo, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
  • One Pillar Pagoda : This pagoda is built on a single wooden pillar of 1.25meters in diameter. The story is that heirless emperor Ly Thai Tong dreamt that he met Quan The Am Bo Tat, the Goddess of Mercy. Soon after, he married a young peasant girl who gave him a son. The pagoda was built in 1054 to express his gratitude to the event.
    • Address  : Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi

Foods

  • Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup) : The lines may often be long (a good sign) compared to other Hanoi pho shops, but the wait is well worth it when the reward is cheap bowls of soup with ultra-fresh ingredients and slow-cooked, melt-in-your-mouth slices of beef. Though super casual, Pho Bat Dan is one of the best restaurants in Hanoi.
    • Address  : 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
  • Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup): Tucked away on an alley near the Hanoi Hilton, Pho Lam serves the kind of Chicken Pho that we could easily eat every day without getting bored. Eating here is a full-on experience starting with the women cooking the soup over coals and continuing inside the bare bones restaurant with long community tables and wooden benches. It’s the soup, though, that steals the show with its clear broth and tender chicken. Don’t even get us started on the condiments…
    • Address  : 7 Nam Ngu, Cua Nam, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam
  • Cha Ca (Grilled & Fried Fish with Rice Noodles) :  Cha Ca, a Northern Vietnamese specialty involves pan-fried chunks of meaty, fatty skinned fish, turmeric, dill, peanuts, shrimp paste and rice noodles. If you haven’t tried it before, then Cha Ca may be the most unique food to try in Hanoi.
    • Address  : 107 Nguyen Truong To, Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam / 84 Tran Quoc Toan, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
  • Bun Cha (Grilled Pork & Noodles) : If Pho is Hanoi’s number one dish, then Bun Cha is easily number two when it comes to being a Hanoi local food favorite. And who can blame the locals for loving this dish where grilled pork and rice noodles are the stars and fresh herbs, sliced papaya, red chili and garlic are the supporting players? If these ingredients aren’t enough for you, then add fried spring rolls called Nem to the mix.
    • Address : 74 Hang Quat, Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam /  24 Le Van Huu, Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi, Vietnam
  • Xoi (Sticky Rice): Sticky rice may be the ultimate Hanoi comfort food. We especially like the version at popular Xoi Yen, where they flavor the glutinous rice with green mung bean paste and lots of chicken fat. Topped with meat and paired with a cheap bottle of beer, Hanoi sticky rice is a true guilty pleasure.
    • Address: 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
  • Bun Bo Nam Bo (Beef & Noodles) : No worries if you don’t eat pork, head over to Bun Bo Nam Bo for the Southern Vietnamese dish of the same. Unlike Pho and Bun Cha, this dish is not a Hanoi creation, but it’s still worth eating in Hanoi at Bun Bo Nam Bo for the melange of ingredients (grilled beef, veggies, herbs, peanuts and crispy onions) artfully served together in one big bowl.
    • Address : 89 Hang Dieu, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam
  • Bun-Mien Ngan (Rice Noodles with Muscovy Duck): For the uninitiated, Muscovy ducks are indigenous in the Americas and can be found in countries as far away as Australia and New Zealand. We don’t know why the large, meaty ducks are so popular in Vietnam, but curious diners can enjoy Muscovy duck at eateries around town in versions ranging from soups to noodle dishes. Pick your passion!
    • Address : 63 Cua Bac, Quan Thanh, Ba Đinh, Ha Noi, Vietnam
  • Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls) : when we think about our time in Hanoi, a key memory will likely be sitting on small plastic chairs and eating Banh Cuon for the first time at Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh. We had never eaten this dish before, and we immediately fell in love with the big pieces of fermented rice noodles served with fresh herbs and bowls of pork, mushroom and minced shallots. Our love for Banh Cuon did not fade when we later heard a rumor that the dipping sauce may have been flavored with ca cuona, the essence of a giant water bug. If the rumor is true, then we got some extra protein.
    • Address : 66 To Hien Thanh, Bui Thi Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam.

Suggestion

  • Carry a map when walking around the Old Quarters to find easily ways.
  • Pay attention to Bus routes on local map.
  • When shopping in Hanoi markets as Dong Xuan market, Hang Dao night market, you should bargain price in advance.

Hopefully, the above information is useful for your reference. Have a wonderful trip to Hanoi!

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