Hanoi Travel Guide

Name - Hanoi
Area - 3,359 sq. km. (1,297 sq. mi)
Population – 8,053,663
Language - Northern Vietnamese
State: National Capital Territory
Currency - VND (Vietnamese Dong) 
Time zone - Indochina Time (GMT+7)
Religions and Beliefs - Vietnamese Folk Religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam

 See also 11 Interesting Facts about Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1976. Situated in northern Vietnam on the western bank of the Red River, this has forever been an important administrative center. It is one of the primary commercial centers since 1954 as well as the communication center for other major Vietnamese cities. Unfortunately, foreign aggression and civil war had destroyed centuries-old palaces and monuments but places like Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Water Puppet Theatre, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are some of the popular attractions for Hanoi travel.
 

1. Hanoi Old Town Quarter
2. Hoan Kiem Lake
3. Temple of Literature
4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
5. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
6. Hoa Lo Prison Museum
7. Water Puppet Theatre
8. Military History Museum
9. Fine Art Museum
10. Imperial Citadel

Strolling through the streets of this ancient city, Hanoi Old Town Quarter will take you back to the history of about one thousand years. In your Hanoi travel, one of the most well-known landmarks in Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake that also has the Ngoc Son Temple, which plays an important role in the citizens’ social life. The Temple of Literature, the first national university, incredibly peaceful and serene, will take you back to 11th century where philosophy of Confucianism and literature were taught. To find out more about history of the Vietnamese Revolution, visit Ho Chi Minh Museum.

 See more about Trip Planning in Hanoi:
How to Spend 2 Days in Hanoi      How to Make Most of Your 3 Days in Hanoi     Weekend Getaways from Hanoi
 

From December to around February, the temperature can go down to about 10 degree Celsius. The humidity and wind chill makes it a difficult time to tour around the city. April and May are great when the temperature is consistently above 20℃ (68℉) but you can experience some drizzle every now and then. June, July and August are the hottest months, when the temperature crosses 40℃ (104℉). It is also officially the rainy season. For your Hanoi travel, October to December seems to be the ideal time to visit when it is a sunny and drier fall season. Umbrella is a must to pack along with cotton clothes.

 See also Hanoi Weather
 

1. Cha Ca (Turmeric Fish with Dill)
2. Mien Xao Luon (Glass Noodles with Deep-Fried Eel)
3. Bun Thang (Rice Vermicelli with Chicken, Egg, Pork)

Hanoi local dishes are inexpensive but tasty treats. While on your stroll through the Old Quarter, do not miss out on Cha Ca which is a delicacy of white fish seasoned with garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Mien Xao Luon is a must for sea food lovers which are an eel-based broth. Bun Thang is ideal for both lunch and dinner and is made with 20 ingredients. Banh cuon (Rolled Cake), Banh Goi (Fried Dumplings), Xoi Xeo (Sweet Sticky Rice) and Pho Xao (Stir-Fried Pho) are some of the suggested street foods you cannot miss in Hanoi travel.

 See also Hanoi Street Foods     Breakfast in Hanoi

 Address - 6 Ngõ Hội Vũ, Hà Nội, Vietnam

The hip and trendy socialites of Hanoi frequent the place and have excellent Mediterranean cuisine to vegetarian options.
 Address - 132 Hùng Vương, Thành phố Hội An, Quảng Nam, 560000, Vietnam

A small walk from the Hanoi’s Old Quarter, this is one of the places to find Vietnamese cuisine in a high-end setting. Do not miss the bún chả and phở along with your favorite cocktails.
 Address - 33 Phố Lệ Mật, Phố Lệ Mật, Hà Nội, Vietnam

If you dare to find out what snake tastes like, try the snake sautéed, fried, steamed or even boiled in porridge.
 

15-minute walk of Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi Old City Gate, the hotels like Hanoi La Siesta Hotel Trend, Hanoi Royal Palace Hotel 2, Hanoi Marvellous Hotel & Spa are preferred stay options during Hanoi travel. They offer free Wi-Fi with other facilities and is a perfect choice for international tourists, business travelers and big group travelers. It is close to the major attractions like Japanese Bridge, Tay Ho, Old Quarter and others. It is easy to get the cyclos and motor bikes from the heart of the city center, making it easier for tourists to roam around.

 See also Accommodation in Hanoi: Best Areas to Stay & Hotels
 

The Noi Bai International Airport is about 35km (22 mi) north of Hanoi. It has some of the most reputed carriers such as Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Cebu Pacific, Qatar Airways… and connects Hanoi with the rest of the major cities. Taxis outside Terminal 1 & 2 to central Hanoi ranges from 300,000 – 350,000 VND (13 – 15 USD) and takes about 30 minutes. Bus 17 goes straight to the Old Quarter. Bus 7, 90 and Express Bus 86 from the airport to Hanoi city center take around 50 minutes to 1.5 hours and fare costs 8,000 – 35,000 VND (0.4 – 1.5 USD).

The best way to roam around the city is by taxi. The starting price for a taxi is about VND 10,000 (USD 0.4) and VND 12,000 (USD 0.5) and then at VND 4,000 (USD 0.2) to VND 6,500 (USD 0.3) per kilometer. Motorcycle taxis and pedicabs are a cheaper way for short trips. Motorcycle Taxis takes about 20,000 -30,000 Dong (0.9 – 1.3 USD) per 2 km. Cyclo costs as little as VND 20,000 (USD 0.9) for short ride. The standard ticket for public bus is priced between VND 5,000 (USD 0.2) and VND 10,000 (USD 0.4).

 See also Hanoi Train Station
 

Address: Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

This is the best place to get some fashionable silk items.
 Address: Hang Dao Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

Bustling gathering of stalls, this is the place only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 11pm. There is a row of shops that starts from Hang Dao Street and goes till the edge of Dong Xuan Market selling souvenirs to local foods. This is an exciting place to explore.
 Address: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

It is the largest market in Hanoi and has an imposing Soviet-style building. The four floors offer sale on various products from fabric to Vietnamese conical hat.

 See also Shopping in Hanoi     Best Souvenirs from Hanoi