If you are a new visitor to Hanoi, you might be wondering what are the must things to do in Hanoi. I am a local Vietnamese from Hanoi, so in this article, I will share with you a list of the best things to do and see in this beautiful capital of Vietnam.
Hanoi has an old quarter with plenty of cultural and historical attractions to explore. You can take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, visit St. Joseph Cathedral, Hoa Lo prison, Thang Long citadel, or Ho Chi Minh mausoleum.
You can browse souvenirs at many shophouses in Hanoi’s old quarter, have a relaxing body massage, try authentic Vietnamese food, or enjoy the nightlife at Ta Hien Beer Street.
The old quarter is quite compact, you can easily explore on foot. Most of the major attractions are located within walking distance from each other. If you are tired of walking, you can use a Grab taxi/ motorbike, which is one of the best ways to get around Hanoi.
While you can explore the city by yourself using paper maps or google maps, you can consider taking a guided jeep tour/ cyclo of the city, as well as cooking class or street food tour.
As a transport hub of northern Vietnam, Hanoi is a popular base for a day trip or overnight trip to nearby natural wonders such as Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, or Sapa. These places are only hours drive from Hanoi either by trains, sleeper buses, limousines, or private cars.
See more:
Let’s look at the must-see attractions and top things to do in Hanoi:
1. Take a stroll around the Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is the tourist heart of Hanoi and the first stop of many visitors to Hanoi. It is home to many historical and cultural attractions as well as many small old shop houses and narrow cobblestone streets.
The history of the old quarter began from the 11th century when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Thang Long (now Hanoi). At that time, a group of craftsmen started flocking into the old quarter just outside of the Thang Long Citadel to create goods for the royals.
Craftsmen who do the same products tend to stick together and organize themselves into guilds. That is why the street was named after merchandise sold there. For example, Hang Chieu (mat street) sells mats, Hang Tre (bamboo street) sells bamboo products, and Hang Bac (silver) sells jewelry and silver.
During the French colonial period, many traditional buildings were demolished or renovated, then changed to French architecture. You can find many French buildings in the French Quarter southeast of Guom Lake. They include the Opera House, Trang Tien Plaza, Hoa Lo Prison, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Lots of streets nowaday still have the same name in the past, some no longer trade the products related to their name. You can wander around the ancient streets to observe local life and browse for some Vietnamese souvenirs at many handicraft stores. Check out Hang Bac for silver jewelries, Hàng Gai for silk products, or Lan Ong for traditional medicine shops.
When wandering the old town, you can look for attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ma May House, Ba Da pagoda, St. Joseph Cathedral, Temple of Literature, Hanoi train street, Quan Chuong Gate, and Thang Long citadel.
2. Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of Hanoi. It is a popular tourist destination for both locals and tourists. You can take a leisure stroll around the lake, or just sit at one of its many chairs and watch people. On a hot day, you can grab an ice cream at the nearby shops at Kem Trang Tien, or Kem Thuy Ta.
You can have a look at many popular sights around the lake including the Turtle Tower (Thap Tua), The Huc bridge, Pen Tower (Thap But), or Ngoc Son Temple.
3. Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Hoa Lo Prison is one of the must-see attractions in Hanoi. It was a prison during the French colonial period and Vietnam-American War. It was called the Hanoi Hilton by US pilots who were arrested in North Vietnam.
Hoa Lo Prison is located on Hoa Lo Street. You can walk here from your accommodation in the old town. You can use Grab bike/taxi, which is a cheap and convenient way to get around.
Tickets are 50,000/adult and can be bought at the entrance. The museum is open daily from 8am to 5pm. You can spend one to two hours here exploring different areas and learning more about the Vietnam war.
4. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is located on Hoang Dieu street, just outside of the old quarter. It is, in my opinion, one of the top things to do in Hanoi. You can use a Grab bike to get here. You can buy a ticket onsite and spend a couple of hours here to explore the complex.
If you already visit the old royal palace in Hue, you may be disappointed with the Thang Long citadel. But in my experience, it is still worth a visit to learn more about the history of Hanoi. Additionally, the complex has an interesting underground bunker that was used during the Vietnam war.
You can check out Doan Ngo get, different exhibitions, Kinh Thien Palace, and explore the secret tunnel T1 and tunnel D67. You can head to the Archaeological site number 18 Hoang Dieu, and the romantic Phan Dinh Phung street, look for Cua Bac relics, the northern gate of Thang Long citadel.
5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex is a popular tourist attraction, located in Ba Dinh district. It is only a short Grab ride from the old quarter. Within the complex, you can explore Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Stilt House.
Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is the resting place of President Ho Chi Minh,located in the middle of Ba Dinh Square. The mausoleum is free to enter but remember to follow the rules, cover your shoulders and your knees.
6. Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda is a great place to visit, especially if you happen to be in Tay Ho district. It is the oldest Buddist temple in Hanoi, located on Thanh Nien Street, in the West Lake area. The temple is free to enter, remember to wear the right dress code, and keep quiet when inside the temple.
The temple is small, you can spend 30-60 minutes strolling around. After visiting the temple, you can take a small walk around the west lake, try ice cream at Kem Tay Ho shop nearby, or sit at one of many nice coffees with the lake views along the lake.
7. Hanoi Train Street
Hanoi Train Street is an interesting site to visit for many visitors. You can watch the train run through a track that is on a narrow alleyway and is very close to the local houses. You can sit at many cozy restaurants and cafes and watch the trains. Be sure to check the train schedule before coming.
The Train Street is a unique and charming spot in central Hanoi. It is a great place to take photos, but be sure to put your safety first. Do Not stand on the track for taking photos when the trains are running.
Be aware of scams here. If a police officer sits there and tells you that you can’t go that direction, you can check other directions. Some friendly locals or cafe owners will approach you and ask to take you to the cafes where you can see the train passing. Just ignore it, and check the schedule before you arrive.
8. Enjoy the nightlife at Ta Hien Beer Street
Hanoi’s old quarter has a great nightlife scene, especially around Ta Hien Beer Street. Lots of bars, pubs, and nightclubs in this area open until midnight. You can grab a cup of cheap Beer Hoi (fresh beer) at one of the many Vietnamese style bars with street-side settings.
Ta Hien Beer Street is a great place to experience local nightlife, hangout with friends, and observe local life. If you stay until 12am, you can watch local police go around and ask the shop’s owners to turn off the music and shut down the light. It is called curfew. It can be an interesting thing to see for visitors.
This is a crowded nightlife area, so I recommend taking care of your belongings to avoid pickpocketing. Drug deals and street hookers can approach you if you are outside in the early morning and late night, just say no to them, you should be fine. For solo female travelers, I recommend avoiding walking alone at night.
9. Hanoi Weekend Night market
The night market in Hanoi is a bustling place to visit and explore. The market is open in the evening from Friday to Sunday (6pm to 11pm). It stretches for a few kilometers from Hang Dao Street, through Hang Ngang, Hang Duong, to Dong Xuan market.
You can find most things at the market, including souvenirs, traditional crafts, clothes, accessories, and food. Be sure to practice your bargaining skill when buying goods here. Also take care of your belongings to avoid pickpocketing.
10. Visit museums
Hanoi is the cultural and historical heart of Vietnam. It has many museums to explore, including the Fine Art Museum, History Museum, Museum of Ethnicity, or the Women’s Museum.
You can choose to visit the one that appeals most to you. We visited Hoa Lo prison and highly recommend it. We also visited the Military History Museum but there are not many things to see, as all the tanks, helicopters and airplanes have been moved to another place.
11. Cycling around West Lake
West lake (Ho Tay) is one of the most popular lakes in Hanoi, beside Hoan Kiem Lake. This area has a large population of expat living in Hanoi. You can consider taking a bicycle tour around the lake to see local life. You will pass lotus lakes, beautiful villas, temples, and see local fishing around the lake.
You can rent a bike and explore at your own pace; or look at the Hanoi bicycle group on Meetup.com. I used to use it for cycling around Hanoi when I lived in the city a few years ago.
12. Try local food- Banh My, Pho, Banh Cuon
Hanoi has a great food scene and a great destination for foodies. The city is known for its authentic and traditional dishes such as pho, banh my, banh cuon, cha ca La Vong, or bun cha.
There are many nice street food stalls and restaurants all around the old quarter. You can just use Google to find the best restaurants near you. For Pho, you can look out for Pho Thin, Pho Suong, or Pho Bat Dan.
You can also consider taking a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese dishes, and join a street food tour where tour guides will show you good places to eat.
13. Try Egg coffee, Coconut Coffee
Vietnam is one of the largest coffee exporters in the world. Trying iced coffee, Coconut Coffee, or egg coffee is one of the top things to do in Hanoi, especially for coffee lovers.
Popular cafes include Giang Cafe, Cafe Dinh, Cong Caphe, Cafe Pho Co, and The Note Coffee.
14. Having a body/foot massage
Having body/ foot massage is one of my favorite things to do in Vietnam, especially after a day tired exploring and shopping. There are lots of quality massage shops in the old quarter with a very reasonably-priced.
To choose the right place to do massage, be sure to have a quick check about their reviews on Google, and look for some special offers, you can save some cash. I usually tip 50,000 to 100,000 VND depending on my satisfaction.
15. Go shopping
The old quarter of Hanoi is packed with shops where you can buy clothes, bags, shoes and sportswear. You can browse many shops on Hang Gai, Hang Bac, and Hang Dau Street as well as markets like Dong Xuan market or the night market.
Be sure to bargain when shopping in individual shops or at markets. Also bring cash with you because most shops only accept cash. You can transfer money via bank but it can be complicated when using an international bank account.
16. Take jeep tour/a cyclo tour of the city
You can explore Hanoi at your own pace by walking or using Grab; but you can also consider taking a jeep tour of the city or a cycle tour around the old quarter. We didn’t take these tours in Hanoi, but tried jeep tours in Ho Chi Minh City and highly recommend it.
These tours can be a good option if you have a short time in the city, you want to have a deeper understanding of the place you visit, or just to avoid the heat in summer.
You can watch my youtube video here:
17. Day trips/ Overnight trips to Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Sapa
Hanoi is a popular base to explore the northern part of Vietnam, which has the most beautiful landscape in the whole country. While it is recommended to spend at least one night in Ninh Binh, you can easily take a day trip to Ninh Binh, to visit attractions like Trang An, Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, or Bai Dinh.
For Halong Bay, I recommend staying a night on a cruise to experience the best of the bay. For Sapa, maybe spend at least two nights to enjoy the cool weather and stunning natural landscapes.
18. Day trips to nearby villages – Bat Trang, Duong Lam, Dong Ho
If Ninh Binh or Halong Bay will need a long day trip from Hanoi, you can easily take leisure day trips to nearby villages such as Bat Trang ceramic village, Duong Lam ancient village, Van Phuc silk Village, or Dong Ho Painting Village.
See more:
- How many days in Hanoi is enough
- Best Time to Visit Hanoi
- Is Hanoi Safe to Visit?
- 10 Best Family-friendly Hotels in Hanoi
These are my suggestions for some of the must-see attractions and best things to do in Hanoi. My favorite things to do in Hanoi is just wandering around the old quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, try different street food, and have a relaxing body massage. If I miss anything, feel free to add to the list at the comment down below.
This is an absolutely very useful website.