Founded over 1000 years ago, Vietnam's capital is steeped in history, with the streets of the ramshackle Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Wander these tree-lined streets past the facades belonging to the old town. Ruined terrain will take you back in time. However, the Hanoi of today is much different from the past. The old city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants and interesting art galleries. When the sun goes down, you have a choice of drinking places, from sophisticated rooftop bars to boisterous draft beer.

Welcome to Hanoi, the vibrant capital of Vietnam! This city is full of life and culture and is a wonderful place to explore. From the unbelievably beautiful streets of the Old Quarter to the tranquil lakes of Hoan Kiem, Hanoi has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway or an exciting adventure, this Hanoi Travel Guide will help you make the most of your time in this beautiful city.

Top Things To Do In Hanoi

1. Take A Stroll In And Around Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Hanoi Old Quarter is an interesting area for a traveller to discover. With its French colonial architecture and many tree-lined boulevards and alleyways, it is an exciting place to explore on foot and have street food at night. Walkthrough the most popular attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Especially, with a guide, you can walk inside the Old Quarter to see the real-life small and very narrow houses and roads of Ha Noi.

2. Duong Lam Ancient Village

Address: Duong Lam Village, Son Tay Town, Hanoi, Vietnam

Far from Hanoi city about 50 km, Duong Lam Ancient Village is one the unique ancient village in Hanoi. The village is the unique laterite museum for the mossy ancient houses over 400 years old. It is the museum for the rural lifestyle and agriculture village. There are many ancient houses that remain as original as well as traditional crafts and careers keep here. It makes a wonderful time to explore the countryside and the old values of Vietnam

3. Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Address: Bat Trang, Gia Lam District, Hanoi

Bat Trang traditional ceramic village is a tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists. It is 60km from Hanoi city centre. Bat Trang shows products in different shapes and styles. The price here is quite reasonable thanks to family companies. Travellers come here to buy their favourite ceramic products. Visiting this ceramic village, travellers can take part in many entertainment activities such as riding a buffalo vehicle to visit the village.

4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Located on Hung Vuong – Dien Bien Street, this is the place to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh. In Hanoi, everyone wants to visit Uncle Ho’s mausoleum once. Besides, there is Ba Dinh Square where Uncle Ho read the declaration of independence giving birth to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Here you can also visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum where keep a lot of Uncle Ho’s memorabilia. It is a very interesting sightseeing spot for those who first come to Hanoi.

5. Tran Quoc Pagoda

It is situated on Thanh Nien Road on the eastern shore of West Lake and has a history of about 1400 years. Tran Quoc pagoda is the oldest temple in Hanoi city in particular and in Vietnam in general. The construction of this pagoda started in 541 and was completed in 545 under the reign of King Ly Nam De on the bank of the Red River. For the first time, the pagoda was named Khai Quoc meaned National Founder. The pagoda is considered a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism where worshipping Buddha and other famous characters. Among the collection of pagodas in Hanoi, you cannot ignore this pagoda when visiting Hanoi.

6. Temple

Of Literature Dubbed as the first university in Vietnam, the Temple of Literature is not only a famous Hanoi historical monument but also a place of the quintessence of previous feudal historical periods and preserving the traditional values of Vietnamese soil. Today, the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam is also a place for organizing poetry festivals. The place to praise outstanding and excellent students and a famous tourist attraction attracting a large number of domestic and international visitors. At the same time, this is also a rendezvous for “please calligraphy” of the people of Hanoi in the traditional Tet holidays. With the wish of a peaceful new year or in important exam seasons of the country with the successful faith of the “scholars.”

7. West Lake

West Lake is located in the Northwest of Hanoi inner city with an area of about 500ha, the road around the lake is nearly 20km long. This is the most romantic corner in the colourful picture of Hanoi, the world of clear winds, liberal and poetic. West Lake is not only a fun place in Hanoi that attracts visitors but it also contains national cultural values. Around the lake are now more than 20 temples, pagodas have been ranked with many famous monuments with many valuable documents such as more than 100 steles, 165 couplets, 140 diaphragms, nearly 20 ancient bells, 60 deities, over 300 bronze, wood and stone statues.

8. Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial City is one of the oldest cities in the world. Factually, Hanoi certainly has its own way to stand out from fellow Southeast Asian cities. Thanks to its rich culture, Thang Long Imperial City reflects one of the most ancient historical sites. The large central sector of Thang Long Imperial Citadel of Hanoi was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 Location: Next to Ba Dinh Square, opposite the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and also near the Vietnamese Presidential Palace.

9. Ngoc Son Temple

Located in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple is one of the most notable Hanoi Temples, and one of the city’s most-visited. Also known as the Temple of the Jade Mountain, it was initially built in the 18th century (though has undergone many renovations) on a small islet that is steeped in myth and legend. Walk through the famous The Huc Bridge with red colour, Ngoc Son temple is dedicated to three national heroes. They are General Tran Hung Dao who is celebrated for defeating the Mongols in the 13th century; La To, the patron saint of physicians; and the scholar Van Xuong. Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and then make visiting Ngoc Son temple is the perfect time for your walking trip to Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Hanoi?

When should we go to Hanoi? Hanoi is located in the tropical humid monsoon climate. So there are two distinct types of weather: hot, humid, rainy in summer and dry, cold in winter. Travelling to Hanoi is always beautiful in any season. Each season has its characteristics. In particular, autumn tourism in Hanoi (from early September to the end of November) is the most beautiful, this is a pretty cool period, and no sunshine is very convenient for sightseeing. Of course, coming to Hanoi in the winter is also very interesting, feeling the cold, and enjoying the typical dishes is also a very attractive suggestion.