20 Best Things to Do in Hanoi

I’m a Vietnamese who was born in the countryside outside of Hanoi, but worked and lived in the city center for a few years. I’ve explored many parts of Hanoi from touristy areas and local hidden gems. I’ve also taken many day trips from Hanoi to nearby national parks and villages.

In this article, I will share with you a list of the best things to do and see in this beautiful capital of Vietnam.

The heart of Hanoi is the old quarter where the majority of cultural and historical attractions are located. 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.

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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 Hanoi 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).

The movement of the King attracted craftsmen from surrounding areas to come to the area just east and northeast of Thang Long Citadel to create goods for the royals. The Old Quarter was founded from this period.

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. The Old Quarter is also known as Hanoi’s “36 Streets”.

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 nowadays 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, view the traditional Vietnamese tube houses, and browse for some souvenirs at many handicraft stores.

Check out Hang Bac for silver jewelries, Hàng Gai for silk products, or Lan Ong for traditional medicine shops.

The tube houses a unique architecture style of the Old Quarter. They’re narrow yet remarkably long structures. Most were built with a specific layout: an open front section to admit natural light, a middle area for trading, and an open-air courtyard at the rear.

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.

Hanoi Old Quarter is a relatively small area, and you can easily explore it on foot, Grab/ GreenSM motorbike, and cyclos within a couple of hours or half a day.

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. If you’re staying in the Old Quarter, you will have a chance to visit Hoan Kiem lake many times.

You can take a leisure stroll around the lake, or just sit at one of its many benches around the lake 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 19th century Turtle Tower (Thap Rua), The Huc bridge, Pen Tower (Thap But), or Ngoc Son Temple.

Hoan Kiem Lake has a different atmosphere in the morning, afternoon, and evening, so it’s a good idea to check out the lake at different times of the day.

In ancient times, the lake was called Luc Thuy Lake because the lake’s water was green all year round. It was called Hoan Kiem Lake or Sword Lake according to legend.

The story goes that when King Le Thai To launched his campaign against the invading Ming army, he captured a sword. This weapon accompanied him throughout his ten-year campaign, and he finally drove out the invaders and regained independence.

One day, while the king was sailing on Luc Thuy Lake, a golden turtle surfaced. The king drew his sword and pointed it at the turtle, which immediately took the sword in its mouth and dived back into the water.

Thinking that Heaven had lent him the sword to defeat the enemy, and now that the enemy was defeated, the divine turtle had come to reclaim the sword, the king renamed the lake Hoan Kiem Lake.

3. Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Hoa Lo Prison is one of the must-see attractions in Hanoi for history buffs. The prison was built in the French colonialist period by French administrators to detain Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers.

It was later used by the North Vietnamese government to detain the American pilots who bombed Hanoi during the Vietnam-American War. It was called the Hanoi Hilton by US pilots.

Hoa Lo Prison is located on Hoa Lo Street, in the French Quarter, within a short distance from the Old Quarter. 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.

Hoa Lo Prison was one of the biggest and most secure prisons in Indochina, with thick walls, high-security, and harsh detention conditions.

Due to the development of the city, most parts of the prison were demolished to build Hanoi Tower but a small part of it remained to work as the museum for visitors to learn about the city’s history.

4. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one of the must see attractions in Hanoi for those who are interested in the history of the city.

The citadel is located on Hoang Dieu street, just outside of the old quarter. You can use a Grab /Green SM taxi or bike to get here. If you are an active walker, like me, you can walk to the Citadel on foot from the Old Quarter for around 30 minutes.

You can buy a ticket onsite for 70k VND per adult and spend a couple of hours here to explore the complex.

Thang Long citadel is not as impressive as the Hue citadel, but there are several ruins on the ground of the citadel dating back to the Le and Nguyen Dynasties as well as relic sites of the Vietnam-American War.

Thang Long citadel was founded in the 11th century when King Ly Cong Uan moved the capital from Ninh Binh to Thang Long. With more than 1,000 years of history, the ancient capital of Thang Long witnessed countless changes under various feudal dynasties.

Wars have destroyed and buried many architectural and artistic works, but several historical structures remain along the central axis of the old Imperial Citadel, such as the Doan Mon Gate, the two monolithic stone dragons at Kinh Thien Palace dating back to the Le Dynasty (15th century), and the Hau Lau.

The North Gate and sections of Hanoi’s city walls remain relatively intact. You can check out secret tunnel T1 and tunnel D67 used during the Vietnam War.

Be sure to check out 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.

Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is where you can see the well-preserved body of President Ho Chi Minh. The mausoleum is free to enter but remember to follow the rules, cover your shoulders and your knees.

In addition to the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, within the complex, you can visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, and the relic site at the Presidential Palace where you can see the working and living place of Ho Chi Minh from 1954 to 1969.

The raising and lowering of flag ceremonies in early morning and late evening in front of Ba Dinh square is also an interesting activity to see in the complex. You can come early around 6am for the raising flag ceremony then spend the rest of the morning visiting the mausoleum, museum, and One Pillar Pagoda.

6. Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the best temples to visit in Hanoi. It is an ancient temple located on Thanh Nien Street, on West Lake, near the Thang Long citadel and the Old Quarter.

This is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, with history dating back more than 1500 years ago. It was built during the reign of King Ly Nam De (544-548) on the banks of the Red River in Yen Hoa ward (now Yen Phu) and was originally called Khai Quoc Pagoda (opening the country).

During the reign of King Le Hy Tong at the end of the 17th century, it was given the name Tran Quoc Pagoda. By the end of the 18th century, the pagoda had fallen into ruin, and the villagers repaired it, erected statues, and cast bells.

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, visit the nearby Quan Thanh pagoda, 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 a very tourist spot but still an interesting site to visit for many visitors. The area is around 1-2km along Phung Hung street, to Le Duan street. It is lined with a nicely decorated cafe on two sides of the train track where the train runs through a very narrow street.

The prices of the cafes are tourist prices but still a good place to have a look. Be sure to check the train schedule before coming. 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 capital city of Vietnam with more than 1000 years of history. It’s packed with cultural and historical attractions to explore. You can find many museums around the city to learn more about Hanoi and Vietnam history and culture.

I recommend visiting the Vietnam National Fine Art Museum, Vietnam History Museum, Museum of Ethnicity, Hoa Lo Prison Relic, Military History Museum, or the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

You can choose to visit the one that appeals most to you. If you have to choose one museum to visit due to time being tight, I recommend visiting the Hoa Lo prison.

11. The Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature, known as Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is considered the first national University of Vietnam. It’s a good place to visit to learn about the history and culture of Vietnam through exhibitions and some of the relics dating back to the Le and Nguyen dynasties.

The Temple of Literature is located in Dong Da district, around 30 minutes walk from the Old Quarter. You can easily use Grab/ Green SM motorbike and taxi to get to this place within 5-10 minutes for around 40-50k VND.

The Temple of Literature is open everyday from morning to late afternoon. Somedays it’s opened for evening shows. The entrance ticket is 70k VND per adult, and you can buy it directly at the entrance.

The complex includes two parts: Van Mieu (temple of Literature) and Quoc Tu Giam (the school). Van Mieu was built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to worship Chinese philosopher Confucius.

6 years later in 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong built Quoc Tu Giam behind Van Mieu to teach people in the royal families. In 1253, King Nhan Tong allowed children of common peoples with excellent talents to study at Quoc Tu Giam.

The 82 Doctor’s stelae are one of the highlight of Quoc Tu Giam. It was built from 1484 under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong to honor high achievers and lay the foundation for the tradition of valuing learning. This stelae was recognised as a Unesco world heritage documentary.

Inside the complex, you can see the iconic symbol of Hanoi and the image on the 100,000VND bank note. It is Khue Van Cac, which was built in 1805 under the Nguyen Dynasty. It’s a popular spot for taking photos.

12. Walk Cross Long Bien bridge

Long Bien bridge is the historic steel cantilever bridge spanning over the Red River, right next to the Old Quarter. It was built in the early 20th century under the French colonialist period. The bridge is 1.6km long and has architectural influence from the Eiffel Company.

When wandering around the old quarter on foot, I recommend checking out the bridge, walking part of it or walk all the way to the other side of the river for the river views and visit the neighborhoods on the other side of the old quarter.

There are train tracks running on the bridge as well as vehicle paths and pedestrian walkways on two sides of the bridge. On the Old Quarter side of the bridge you can check out Long Bien station, which is also a historic station dating back to the French colonial period.

13. 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.

14. Try local food- Banh My, Pho, Banh Cuon

Breakfast buffet at a small hotel in Hanoi

Hanoi has a great food scene and a great destination for foodies. There are many good authentic places to eat in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. You can try 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.

15. 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.

There are many nice decorated cafes in the Old Quarter on every street. Many places have second floors with balconies and views of the street below. The first floor also has outdoor seating where you can enjoy a cup of Vietnamese Cha Da (iced tea) or Vietnamese traditional iced black coffee while watching the people go by and the traffic.

I’m not a fan of coffee, but if you need some good places to check out, I recommend visiting popular cafes including Giang Cafe, Cafe Dinh, Cong Caphe, Cafe Pho Co, and The Note Coffee.

16. 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.

17. Go shopping

Hang Gai st - Old Quarter — Hang Gai st – Old Quarter

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.

18. 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:

19. Day/ night 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.

20. 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.