Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are two biggest cities in Vietnam. Many visitors prefer staying in Hanoi, while others love Ho Chi Minh City. I love both cities as each has its own unique charm.
In this article, I will compare the similarities and differences between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, and help you to decide which is the better place to stay and visit. I will focus on their location, accommodations, nightlife, shopping, food, and cultural & historical attractions.
I’m Vietnamese from Hanoi, and I’ve visited Ho Chi Minh City many times. I hope to share some helpful information about these two cities based on my local knowledge.
Hanoi is an older city with a history of more than a thousand years, Ho Chi Minh is a much younger city with a history of more than 300 years old. Hanoi is the traditional side of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City is the modern side of Vietnam with a more westernized atmosphere.
While central Hanoi (Old Quarter) is packed with small narrow streets and old shophouses, central Ho Chi Minh City (District 1) is packed with skyscrapers and wide streets.
Is Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City better to visit?
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the best places to visit in Vietnam for first-timers. They are the tourist hubs of Vietnam that offer a wide range of tourist amenities with great food, shopping, nightlife, and history &cultural attractions.
In my opinion, Hanoi is generally a better place to visit for those who want to experience the traditional side of Vietnam and explore the country’s most beautiful landscapes.
Hanoi is the transport hub in North Vietnam, making it the best place to explore this region. From Hanoi, you can easily visit to beautiful places such as Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, or Ha Giang.
I recommend choosing Ho Chi Minh City over Hanoi if you’re coming to Vietnam for nightlife, shopping, and to experience the modern side of Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh is the transport hub of South Vietnam, making it the best place to explore this region. From Ho Chi Minh, you can easily explore the Mekong river, Cu Chi tunnels, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, or Da Lat.
You can start your holiday in Vietnam by flying into either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Which one you choose depends on the available flights and the distance from your starting location to each one. Once you arrive in either city, traveling to other destinations within Vietnam will be a breeze!
They are located on a 2 hours flight journey, so you can consider visiting both cities if your time allows. There are many frequent flights and it’s relatively cheap.
My recommended hotel in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Luxury: Park Hyatt Saigon
- Mid-range: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel
- Budget: Hoang Lan Hotel
My recommend hotels in Hanoi:
- Luxury: Capella Hanoi
- Mid-range: The Rex Hanoi Hotel
- Budget: The West Hotel & Spa
Let’s look at the differences and similarities between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in terms of nightlife, shopping, accommodations, food, weather, safety, and cost of living.
Location and How to get there
Hanoi is located on the banks of Red River, North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is located on the banks of the Saigon River, South Vietnam. It’s 1600km south of Hanoi. It takes around 2 hours on the airplane to travel between these two cities.
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are easily accessible by air and by road. Each city has an international airport that serves as a gateway to its region.
Hanoi is served by Noi Bai international airport, located 30 km away from Hanoi old Quarter. Ho Chi Minh is served by Tan Son Nhat airport, located closer to Ho Chi Minh city center, only 7 km away. From both airports, you can easily use a taxi and Grab to get to its downtown area.
Additionally, you can get to these cities by long distance trains and buses. Taking the train ride is a popular way of traveling around Vietnam for many foreigners.
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for Nightlife?
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are the top places to go in Vietnam for nightlife. But, in my opinion, Ho Chi Minh has a better nightlife scene with many more nightlife options compared to Hanoi. If you come to Vietnam for nightlife, Ho Chi Minh is the place to go.
Ho Chi Minh City has more bars, rooftop bars, and night clubs open until early morning, you can easily go bar hopping all night.
Hanoi Old Quarter has a thing called midnight curfew. Policemen will go around the streets of the old Quarter around 12pm, reminding bars, pubs, restaurants to shut down and turn off electricity.
The nightlife in Hanoi for tourists is concentrated in the old quarter around Ta Hien Beer Street. This area is lined with vibrant Bia Hoi joints, bars and pubs with street-side settings. You can find some trendy bars and nightclubs in Tay Ho, which is the expat hub of Hanoi.
In Ho Chi Minh City, you can go to Bui Vien street where you can find many hot dance bars and clubs, as well as pubs that have pavement seating. This street is a good spot for cheap “bia hoi”, try street food, and watch street performances.
If you want something with a high-end atmosphere, Nguyen Hue Street, a trendy nightlife spot, is the best place to go in Ho Chi Minh City. This area is more bustling during night time with restaurants, upscale bars/clubs, and rooftop terraces with city and river views.
Saigon Japan Town on Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung Streets is good option to go for nightlife. It has lots of Japanese style izakayas, bars, and nightclubs lining the narrow lantern-lit alleyways. Drinking in Saigon Japan Town is very expensive an the prices on the menu are before tax.
Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City Food
Both Hanoi and HCMC have vibrant food scenes. You can easily find typical Vietnamese food in both cities. I personally think Hanoi’s food, especially pho, is more traditional and authentic, while Ho Chi Minh City has a wider variety of food options.
Popular dishes in Hanoi and the North of Vietnam include pho, bun cha, and bun rieu; Popular food in Ho Chi Minh city and southern region of Vietnam include com tam (broken rice), hu tieu, and banh canh.
I personally feel like the casual restaurants and street food stalls in HCMC are generally cleaner than Hanoi. In Hanoi, trash and tissue paper are all over the floor.
In HCM, most restaurants don’t serve tissue paper on the table, only paid wet paper, so maybe it’s much cleaner?
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for Shopping?
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are the biggest metropolitan cities in Vietnam, making them the best places to go shopping in the country. Most things in Hanoi can be found in Ho Chi Minh city.
In Hanoi, you can find many narrow shophouses in the old quarter, selling everything from Vietnamese souvenirs and handicrafts to fashion clothes. In Ho Chi Minh city, you can do similar shopping at markets such as Ben Thanh market, Central Market, or Saigon Square.
Popular shopping streets in Hanoi old town include Hang Gai Street (for silk items), Hang Bac Street (for silver jewelry), Nha Tho Street, or Hang Dau Street (for shoes). For a market vibe, you can check out Dong Xuan market, which is a wholesale market where you can buy many goods at a cheap price. Always remember to bargain when shopping at any markets in Vietnam.
Hanoi has a vibrant night market area in the old quarter, stretching for several kilometers. On Weekends, you can go shopping for clothes, shoes, bags, and souvenirs on streets from Hang Dao Street to Dong Xuan Market.
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have many high-end shopping malls. In Hanoi, you can check out shopping malls like Trang Tien Plaza, Vincom Ba Trieu. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can see many up market shops in the Nguyen Hue & Dong Khoi area. Vincom Dong Khoi is a popular shopping mall in district 1.
Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City Weather
Hanoi has 4 distinct seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. It can be very cold in winter and very hot in summer. Autumn is the best season to visit Hanoi due to its nice weather and photogenic atmosphere (foliage season).
Ho Chi Minh has warm weather all year round. It has only two seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. I feel like its weather is more pleasant in Hanoi during summer.
If you want to experience different weather, Hanoi is the place to go. If you want warm sunny weather, Ho Chi Minh is a better place to visit.
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are heavily affected by air pollution. I personally feel that Ho Chi Minh is less polluted compared to Hanoi. Perhaps lots of factories are located in the north in the surroundings of Hanoi.
Accommodations
As the two biggest cities in Vietnam, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have a wide range of hotels for all budgets. Through my observation, Ho Chi Minh city has more high-end 5-star hotels with rooftop bars and pools in the central location of district 1 and 3.
In the central location of Hanoi, in the old Quarter and Hoan Kiem district, you have many choices of mid-range hotels and backpacker hostels. Of course, there are big luxury 5-star hotels in the French Quarter (Sofitel Legend Metropole and Capella ), but not as many as in Ho Chi Minh City center.
If you stay a bit further from the old quarter of Hanoi, you can find 5-star hotels in Tay Ho district including Sheraton or Intercontinental.
In Ho Chi Minh City, luxury hotels and highrise apartments are concentrated on Dong Khoi/ Nguyen Hue street area in district 1, and many at the the border between district 1 and 3. Popular international brand hotels include Park Hyatt, The Reverie, Caravelle, Sheraton, InterContinental, or Hotel Des Arts.
I stayed in several hotels and apartments in Saigon. The La Vela Hotel in district 3 is a great place to stay if you want a huge rooftop area with an infinity pool. Orchids Hotel is an excellent mid-range hotel in a quiet area, close to many popular attractions like Independence Palace and Ben Nghe food market.
If you are looking for a smaller budget hotel in central Saigon, the cozy Hoang Lan Hotel is a good choice. It has a clean room, homey breakfast, and an onsite cafe. Another good mid-range place in district 1 is Sky Gem Hotel near Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi Street.
In Hanoi, I recommend staying at the Rex Hotel. We stayed in different rooms on different floors and they were all clean. The hotel has a prime location, just a few minutes walk away from Ta Hien beer street. It has a huge rooftop area/ sky bar where you can have sweeping views of the city.
If you don’t mind having a rooftop area, West Hotel & Spa is a good choice. If you are traveling as a backpacker, I suggest Little Charm Hostel. It is a quiet and safe backpacker in the heart of Hanoi. I stayed in the female dorm rooms and they were very clean and spacious lockers.
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Historical influence
Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam for more than 1000 years. It became the capital city of Vietnam in the 11th century when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu Ninh Binh to Thang Long (now Hanoi).
Hanoi Old Quarter and Thang Long Imperial Citadel were established through the King’s movement. Craftsmen and traders settled in the Old Quarter for commerce and guild organization.
The Old Quarter is the collection of 36 old streets, each street specialized in a trade such as silk, silver, paper, bamboo. The street was named after the products that were sold there such as Hàng Bạc for silver and Hàng Gai for silk.
The city remained the capital city for centuries under Lý, Trần, and later dynasties, producing scholars, mandarins, and national identity. From 1802 to 1945, the capital city was moved to Hue in Central Vietnam, but Hanoi was still an important city in the northern region.
Ho Chi Minh City was founded in the 17th century, during the Vietnamese expansion southward period when Nguyen Lord sent Huu Canh to the South to establish Gia Dinh Prefecture. Before the 17th century, the area was the small Khmer fishing village called Prey Nokor.
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during the French colonial period from the mid-19th century to 1954. The French government made Hanoi the capital of French Indochina, Ho Chi Minh City the economic and trade hub of the southern region.
French planners built broad avenues, hotels, banks, administrative buildings, and villas, with European styles. Today, you can visit French architecture buildings in both places.
Famous French colonial sites in Hanoi are the Hanoi Opera House, Long Bien Bridge, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, or the President Palace. In Ho Chi Minh, there are Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Saigon Opera House, and Ben Thanh market.
During the American Vietnam war, Hanoi was the headquarters of the communist government, led by Ho Chi Minh. The city suffered major aerial bombardments by the U.S during this period.
Saigon was the seat of the anti-communist government, heavily supported by the U.S in the American Vietnam war period. The Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975) is a key event of the city, marking end of the war.
In both cities, you can find many museums to learn about the history of Vietnam during the Vietnam-American War. Ho Chi Minh City has more prominent sites such as the Independence Palace, Cu Chi Tunnels, and the War Remnants Museum.
Today, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are major cities in Vietnam. Hanoi remains the capital and political center of the country while Ho Chi Minh city is the country’s largest city and commercial hub. No matter which city you visit, you’re sure to have a fun time exploring.
Safety – is Hanoi safer than Ho Chi Minh City?
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are overall safe places to visit. As the biggest and most popular in Vietnam, you should look out for petty crimes and common scams like fake taxis, overcharges, shoe polish scam, or phone/ bag snatchers.
Alway ask for price and menu before ordering the food/ drink, check the bill before paying, count the money when receiving the change to make sure they give you the right amount. Go with Grab taxi and pay with cash if you don’t want to link to your card. Always bargain when buying things at the markets.
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Historical and Cultural Attractions
Both cities have plenty of historical and cultural attractions to visit. As Hanoi has a longer history, it has a more ancient feel compared to modern Ho Chi Minh City.
The feudal period’s attractions
Hanoi was the capital for centuries under the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties, so it has many cultural attractions dating back to the feudal period. You can visit the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake.
The 11th century Temple of Literature (aka Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam) is the first university of Vietnam where Confucian scholars were trained.
The Old Quarter is the historic heart of Hanoi. It’s where you can find ancient houses, temples, traditional tube houses, 36 guild streets, and narrow cobble stone streets. You can take a stroll along the old streets in Hanoi Old Quarter which you cannot find in Ho Chi Minh City.
French colonial period attractions
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are packed with French colonial buildings and attractions. Both cities have a French Quarter with wide boulevards, churches, opera houses, and French colonial style villas.
Hanoi has the Hanoi Opera House modeled on Paris’ Palais Garnier, Ho Chi Minh City has Saigon Opera House which is smaller than Hanoi’s but in Belle Époque style.
Hanoi has beautiful Gothic-style St. Joseph’s Cathedral right next to the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. HCMC is home to the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon right next to the Central Post Office.
Hanoi is also home to the Long Bien Bridge on the Red River, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel. There are also dozens of French style villas and buildings on Trang Tien street, and in the Ba Dinh district. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can see colonial-style hotels on Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue street.
Attractions related to Vietnam-American War
Both cities have museums and historical sites to explore for those who are interested in the Vietnam-American War. The popular places to visit in HCMC to learn about the war time are the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, and Cu Chi Tunnels.
The War Museum has documentary and photographs on the effects of the Vietnam War on civilians and the U.S. military involvement. The Reunification Palace was the former South Vietnamese president’s Palace. It was also the site where South Vietnam surrendered in 1975, ending the war.
The Cu Chi Tunnels, outside of the city center of Ho Chi Minh, is well worth visiting for history buffs. It is an extensive underground network used by Viet Cong guerrillas. You can learn about the underground warfare and life of the Viet Cong.
In Hanoi, you can visit the Hoa Lo Prison, which was called Hanoi Hilton by American POWs. The prison was originally built during the French colonial period but later used by North Vietnamese to hold American prisoners.
I also recommend visiting the Vietnam Military History Museum to view weapons, tanks, and planes used in the war, emphasizing North Vietnam’s defense strategies.
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Day trips
Hanoi is the hub to explore north Vietnam. From the city center, you can easily take a one day trip to nearby attractions in Ninh Binh, Tam Dao, Ba Vi, Duong Lam, or Bat Trang Ceramic village.
From Hanoi, you can easily book a tour, bus, trains to popular places in the North including Halong Bay, Sapa, Mai Chau, Moc Chau, and Ha Giang. These areas have beautiful landscapes.
Ho Chi Minh, you can take easy day trips to Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong delta, or Vung Tau. You can also visit other popular places such as Mui Ne, Da Lat, and Nha Trang.
Transportation
As major cities in Vietnam, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have many transportation options. They both have an international airport that connects to many cities in the world. While Hanoi serves as the transport hub of the north, Ho Chi Minh is the transport hub of the South.
Both cities are well-connected by roads with other places in Vietnam. Buses, cars, and trains are plentiful. You can easily get around each city by renting a motorbike or using Grab.
Grab is probably the most convenient and safe way to get around in not only Vietnam but many other countries in Southeast Asia. It is cheap and you don’t have to bargain when ordering the traditional xe om (motorbike taxi driver).
Affordability/ Cost of living- Is Saigon more expensive than Hanoi?
Vietnam is a cheap country to travel to, especially if you come from developed countries such as the USA, England, Australia, South Korea, or Japan.
With more than aud 80/ night, you can easily find good 4-star hotels with a rooftop sky bar and pool. You can’t find these accommodations at this price range in western countries.
Food and drink are also usually cheaper, especially if you go into the local areas. In the touristy areas, it is more expensive (compared to local price) but still a reasonable price compared to western standards.
The affordability/ cost of living of Hanoi and HCMC are quite similar. But In my experiences, the prices of food and drink in Hanoi don’t have huge differences between different areas.
In Ho Chi Minh City, if you dine or drink in the Nguyen Hue/ Dong Khoi area, the prices are much more different in other areas. For examples, a can of Tiger beer in a bar in Saigon Japan town can cost 120,000VND while drink it on Bui Vien street only like 25,000VND.
Expat and long term travelers
Expat area in Hanoi is in Tay Ho district around West Lake, not far from the old quarter. Expat area in Ho Chi Minh City is in Thao Dien district 2, very far from district 1.
Ho Chi Minh is a more businesslike and cosmopolitan city with many more job opportunities. Hanoi is more polluted in winter while HCMC has more blue skies.
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You can watch the comparison between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in my video here:
These are my opinions about Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the aspect of nightlife, shopping, food, accommodations, and weather. If you want a vibrant modern city and lots of nightlife, head to Ho Chi Minh City. If you want the cultural, historical, traditional side of Vietnam, head to Hanoi.
You can check direct flights from your city to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, and from there you can easily visit another city.
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