Recently updated on August 12th, 2022 at 12:02 am

Hanoi Travel Guide:

Hanoi is a capital of more than a thousand years of civilization with ancient relics and peaceful life.

If you have been here before, surely you can not forget the typical atmosphere here, with Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, cafes, small streets, and street vendors.

Referring to Hanoi tourism is to refers to the land of more than a thousand years of civilization. If you have ever been here, you will surely have an unforgettable impression of the busy streets of 36 streets and the elegance of the people.

Best time to travel to Hanoi

The best and most beautiful weather of the year for you to travel to this city is in the fall from September to the end of November. This is a pretty cool time so it is very convenient to visit.

Winter begins from November to about January next year: This season is also quite interesting, peach blossoms have also begun to appear very beautiful.

At the same time, the cold feeling of the capital is also a wonderful experience for you.

Springtime is from February to April: This is the Tet – Vietnam Lunar New Year travel season, so visitors will come more.

At this time there are many festivals as well as many special programs, interesting for you to find the experience.

However, if you go at this time, you should pay attention to the price of services as service prices normally increase, and quite hard to book if you plan to book near the travel date.

Summer: There are some early rains that appear, but the scenery is also quite beautiful, and romantic, and certainly will not make you disappointed about it.

How to get to Hanoi

Come to Hanoi

Being the capital of Vietnam, there are many flights from other places to Hanoi, you can check the fare right at the airlines where you live.

Read more:

From Noi Bai International Airport to the city center  with a distance of 30 Km, you can choose one of the transportation to move to the city:

Taxi: To move from Noi Bai International Airport to the city center, you can choose a taxi from 350,000 VND – 450,000 VND (about 15 USD to 20 USD).

High-quality bus number 86: From T1 (2nd floor), T2 (2nd floor) to Hanoi railway station. Running time is about 60 minutes, and frequency is 25 – 30 minutes/trip.

This is a high-quality bus service, with room for big luggage for passengers, a Vietnamese and English audio system, an LED display, and free wifi.

The car is not crowded, but it should be noted that only 25 seats. The ticket price is 30.000 VND (about 1.3 USD).

Buses of airlines: Domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar, or Vietjet Air have buses from the airport to the city center, usually 16 seats or 45 seats.

Even if you do not fly these airlines, you can still take the bus. Vehicles often park at the airport door to passengers easily see.

You need to ask about the price and route before you go. Usually, these vehicles will have fixed routes but can be flexible depending on the passenger.

The price of these buses is usually 40,000 VND / person (about 2 USD).

Moving around

Bicycle: You can also rent bikes around the streets of Hanoi or the surrounding area. You can inquire about this service right at your hotel front desk for more information.

Cyclo: One of the unique features of Hanoi tourism is the old cyclo. Many visitors to Hanoi choose this medium to visit and explore the ancient beauty on each street between a busy and boisterous capital.

Electric car: If cyclo brings an antique look, then electric cars are a means of “green tourism” modern and very new tourism of Hanoi. You will discover a civilized, polite Hanoi at a modern pace.

Motorbikes: You can rent a motorbike to travel. The cost of motorbike rental in Hanoi is quite cheap, ranging from 50,000 VND to 200,000 VND (about US$2 to US$9) per day depending on the type of car (gear or scooter).

Note:

  • Renting a motorbike you need to prepare a map of the Hanoi sightseeing location for easy transportation.
  • Taxi: will take you to any location that you want quickly, safely, and conveniently (compensation for high prices again).

Where to stay? Nice and good Homestay & Hotels in Hanoi

In Hanoi from the homestay to the high-end hotel, there are many options for you. If you go on holiday, you are recommended to book accommodation 2-3 weeks before to avoid room unavailability or high prices.

Right in the city center, there are many homestays and hotels at very reasonable prices and you can book directly or through the travel company so you get better prices a lot more than you book directly with that hotel.

This is an experience when traveling to Hanoi you should pay attention to.

In addition, Booking.com is a very reasonable choice we would like to advise you with information and photos, very detailed service, as well as reviews of the people who have booked here.

Places to visit in Hanoi

Hanoi Attractions: Hanoi is an ancient and modern city, there are many places to visit. If you visit Hanoi for the first time should not ignore the following places.

Let Go Explore Vietnam team list out the list of destinations you should visit:

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Hồ Gươm, is a lake in the historical center of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. (Hanoi Attractions)

Hoan Kiem Lake is a famous landmark in Hanoi. It is located between Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Cau Go, Luong Van Can, and Lo Su streets… and the French Quater like Trang Thi, Hang Bai Dinh Tien Hoang Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Ba Trieu streets planned by the French for more than a century ago.

In the middle of the lake is the ancient Turtle Tower, surrounded by ancient cultural heritage – long histories such as Pen Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Huc Bridge leading to the Dac Nguyet …

These are the symbols that make up the beauty of the capital for thousand of years of civilization.

With a clear space, fresh, this place is crowded young people preferred, the couple selected as the wedding photographer.

Not only that, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the Hanoi attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Vietnamese Revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Hanoi Attractions)Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located on Hung Vuong – Dien Bien streets where the remains of President Ho Chi Minh are kept. Arriving in Hanoi, everyone wants to visit Uncle Ho’s mausoleum once.

There is also the Square Ba Dinh where Uncle read the independent declaration of birth in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Here you can also visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, where many memorabilia are on Uncles. It is a very interesting place for those who first come to Hanoi.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, is located on a small island near the southeastern shore of Hanoi's West Lake, Vietnam. (Hanoi Attractions)Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on a small peninsula east of West Lake. The oldest 1,500-year-old temple in Hanoi has recently entered the list of the 16 most beautiful temples in the world.

The temple is home to many religious and historical values that attract many Buddhists and tourists to visit.

Hanoi Cathedral

Hanoi Cathedral is considered typical church architecture and is one of the most beautiful catholic church in the capital and the country. (Hanoi Attractions)The Grand Cathedral is located at 40 Nha Chung Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

In general, the works are of the Gothic style of European architecture, but still have the combination with the local architecture shown in the roof tile system, the interior decoration bold traditional Vietnamese.

So it is the product of cultural exchange East-West very special.

Hanoi Cathedral is considered typical church architecture and is one of the most beautiful catholic churches in the capital and the country.

Temple of Literature Quoc Tu Giam

The Temple of Literature is a Temple of Confucius in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. The temple hosts the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university. The temple was built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông. (Hanoi Attractions)Named the first university in Vietnam, the Temple of Literature is not only a famous historical site in Hanoi but also contains the quintessence of the previous period of feudal history and keeps the traditional values of Vietnam land.

Today, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is also the place where the poetry community is organized. It is a place of praise for excellent students and a popular sightseeing destination that attracts a large number of domestic and international visitors.

At the same time, this is also a point for the “text” of Hanoi people in the traditional New Year with the hope of a happy new year or in the important seasons of the country with the passage of the ” students before exams”.

And of course, the Temple of Literature is one of the Hanoi attractions that visitors should visit.

Hanoi Opera House

The Hanoi Opera House, or the Grand Opera House is an opera house in central Hanoi, Vietnam. It was erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911. (Hanoi Attractions)The historical-themed theater in the heart of Hanoi is the venue for major art shows by many of Vietnam’s top musicians and artists.

You can admire the great architecture of the Hanoi Opera House or buy tickets to see one of the regular performances held to be able to see firsthand the magnificent interior of the theater.

West Lake

West Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Tây) is the biggest freshwater lake of northwest center of Hanoi, Vietnam. A small part of West Lake is divided by Thanh Nien road to form Trúc Bạch Lake. One district of Hanoi is named after the lake, Tây Hồ District. (Hanoi Attractions)West Lake is one of the top attractions in Hanoi located in the North West of inner Hanoi with an area of about 500ha, the road around the lake is nearly 20km long.

This is the most romantic corner of Hanoi paintings; it is the world of clear breeze, liberal and poetic. West Lake is not only an attraction in Hanoi that attracts visitors but also contains cultural values.

Around the lake, there are more than 20 temples, pagodas, temples, and other valuable objects such as more than 100 stone steles, 165 parallel sentences, 140 horizontal ones, nearly 20 ancient bellies, 60 deities, over 300 bronze, wood, stone… statues

Hanoi Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the name commonly given to that part of Hanoi that has been in existence since imperial times and which used to be located outside the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long. (Hanoi Attractions)Hanoi Old Quarters are the streets, houses, and street corners with French architectural styles in the nineteenth century.

Experiencing the ups and downs of history and the change of time, this place still retains its original architecture. It can be said that the old town is a soul, a characteristic of Hanoi.

In the old town of Hanoi, tourists will feel the soul of the capital as well as the elegance of the Trang An people – Hanoians.

Hanoi Cuisine

Hanoi Noodles

Hanoi Noodles (Hanoi Cuisine)

Pho is the first dish that you should enjoy when coming to Hanoi. In Famous Pho restaurants such as Pho Ganh in Hang Trong, the shop is a small row of goods, located on the sidewalk, with only a small chair, the shop only opens in the afternoon.

This is a restaurant that has been around for a long time, although there are no comfortable seats to eat.

There is also the best beef noodle soup Pho Ly Quoc Su, the best chicken noodle soup is located on Quan Thanh Street, Pho Hanh noodles are sweet and sour on Lan Ong Street or Luong Van Can Street.

Hanoi Grilled Fish

Chả cá Lã Vọng is famous specialty of Hanoi. This dish is processed as follows: Fish is fried in small oil pan. Served with multi-baked cake, vermicelli, roasted peanuts, coriander, basil, smooth cucumber, fresh onion with shrimp sauce.(Hanoi Cuisine)

Hanoi Grilled Fish (Chả cá Lã Vọng) is a famous specialty of Hanoi. This dish is processed as follows: Fish is fried in a small oil pan. Served with multi-baked cake, vermicelli, roasted peanuts, coriander, basil, smooth cucumber, and fresh onion with shrimp sauce.

The sauce is made with lemon juice, chopped spinach, tomato stalk, a few drops of white wine, and one tablespoon of fat and sugar then beat for bubbling up. This dish has a sweet taste, fatty and fatty.

Bun cha Hanoi

Bun cha Hanoi sauce is sweet and sour with vinegar, garlic, peppers, pepper mixed with green paprika sliced. This dish is served with vermicelli and raw vegetables and shiso leaves. (Hanoi Cuisine)

“Chả” is made from lean meat and then seasoned with marinated spices, then squeezed into round pieces and put on the grilled charcoal until the golden batter is sprinkled and the aroma is up.

Bun cha Hanoi sauce is sweet and sour with vinegar, garlic, peppers, and pepper mixed with green paprika sliced. This dish is served with vermicelli and raw vegetables and shiso leaves.

Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls

Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls. (Hanoi Cuisine)

Bánh cuốn is a folk dish of the Hanoians. Ingredients for making rolls are delicious rice that is ground into powder, then mixed with water, and then coated in the kitchen into slices of thin paper.

The filling is made from pork, and mushrooms when the cake is rolled up sprinkled with shrimp. This dish is served with fish sauce, basil, and cinnamon rolls.

Thang Noodle (Bun Thang)

Bung Thang is a dish that contains many essence of Ha Noi cuisine. Ingredients to make noodles include chicken tear milling, fried eggs, yarn spinning. The broth is made from bones, shrimp. The pot of water must be delicious, the smell is soft, the smell of shrimp sauce. (Hanoi Cuisine)

Bun Thang is a dish that contains many essences of Ha Noi cuisine. Ingredients to make noodles include chicken tear milling, fried eggs, and yarn spinning.

The broth is made from bones and shrimp. The pot of water must be delicious, the smell is soft, the smell of shrimp sauce.

Young Rice cake

Banh Com Hanoi (Young Rice cake) (Hanoi Cuisine)

Up to now, only Nguyen Ninh’s house at 11 Hang Than is still preserving the traditional handmade cake.

The green cake inside is the same as the green beans, yellow cake, coconut, and green beans. And come to Hanoi you remember to buy cereal as a gift.

Some other Hanoi travel experiences should be noted

  • If you travel to Hanoi in the summer, choose a sweat dress because the weather is quite hot, in the winter should bring your jacket.
  • Pay attention to dress carefully, and dignifiedly when you visit President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, museum, or temple.
  • If you are visiting the old town, take a map with you because the road is quite drab and tricky.
  • When shopping at the market you should pay attention when bargaining because many sellers are difficult, so agree before buying.

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