Search results for

With over 1,000 years gone by since its founding, Hanoi is one of Asia’s grande dames and is not lacking in historical attractions. The city’s many traditions are reflected in its top historic attractions, including stately pagodas, churches, and architecture. The more tragic modern history is not so apparent but can still be glimpsed in remnants and monuments throughout Hanoi.

The Vietnamese rise early and work hard, and a nourishing morning meal along with some rocket-fuel coffee goes a long way toward setting up the day. The breakfast staple is, of course, pho, and its warming goodness shouldn’t be missed. Western-style sustenance—from crepes to steak and eggs—is also easy to find within the city.

Overview

Overview

Overview

Just across the circle from the hotel, Hanoi’s Opera House is a shade younger than the Hotel Metropole—it was completed in 1911. Modeled on the Palais Garnier in Paris, it’s a visually thrilling piece of architecture that also serves a noble purpose—as a hall for ballet, symphonies, and opera (including Vietnamese opera). Performances might include a concert by the Asian Youth Orchestra, cofounded by the distinguished violinist Yehudi Menuhin, or the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, featuring music from Wagner and Tchaikovsky. Photo by Prashant Ram/Flickr.

Also known as the 36 Streets (though it’s made up of more than 36 streets), this neighborhood is a warren of alleys and lanes that was, according to some legends, home to 36 artisans’ guilds; streets here were named after the artisan items that were once sold on them (Hang Bo was the location for bamboo products; Hang Ma was where paper objects were sold). Each road today still specializes in a particular category, with some still related to the traditional item. Streets especially popular with tourists shopping for souvenirs, as well as those in search of photo opportunities, are Hang Bac (silver goods, now also filled with gift shops), Hang Ma (religious paper wares, then and now), and Hang Dau (oil products, though currently a center for shoe vendors). Among these timeworn businesses, visitors will also encounter outlet stores selling Gap, Banana Republic, and North Face clothing—some authentic and some fake. The quarter is also packed with hotels, hostels, restaurants, and bars, making it a busy destination at all hours.

Vietnam’s capital offers hotels with pockets of peace—lakeside tai chi sessions and ancient pagodas—amid the city’s motorbikes and hawker stalls. For a classic stay, book a room at the Sofitel Legend Metropole, a landmark in Hanoi’s French Quarter. Culture junkies should base themselves at the Hotel de L’ Opera Hanoi or the Hilton Hanoi Opera. InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is just north of the bustling Old Quarter, but offers a serene waterfront setting.

Alternative new venues underscore Hanoi’s status as the nation’s capital of understated hip. Hanoi has pop-up cafés in the homes of artists, cafés that strike the right balance between quality coffee and youthful atmosphere. Also, tucked-away you will find Hanoi’s bars and music venues purveying heady cocktails, and soundtracks covering all bases from Thai funk to hip-hop beats sampled from scratchy vintage Vietnamese records.

you only have three days in Hanoi there’s a lot to pack in. Spend a day wandering the Old Quarter and exploring the Ba Dinh District, where you’ll find the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Then devote your time to really exploring Hanoi’s myriad nooks and crannies, cafés and markets, with perhaps a side trip to Halong Bay and a relaxing boat ride on the water. Your 3 days in Hanoi will be busy, but we promise you will enjoy it all.

Hanoi has a charisma all its own, which means there are a lot of experiences you must-do. From delicious cups of coffee infused with whole eggs to the daily maelstrom of the city’s streets, there’s no place like it, even in Vietnam. Just strolling a few of Hanoi’s blocks can be an experience in itself. See a revolutionary hero preserved in state, drink the cheapest beer on the planet, and walk through a market of motorbike parts. Some diversions in Hanoi really shouldn’t be missed.

A perfect day in Hanoi begins in the early glow of morning and finishes as the city winds down in the wee small hours. In the quiet post-dawn period, watch graceful tai chi moves at the peaceful shores of Hoan Kiem Lake. Then pack your perfect day with an itinerary that includes storied architecture, street food favorites, classy lounge bars, and a night of Hanoi’s best live music to round off proceedings.

Hanoi’s surrounding attractions are nearly as compelling as those within the city. The karst-studded wonderland of Halong Bay is the top draw in this part of Vietnam. It is rivaled by its mellow neighbors Bai Tu Long Bay, the beautiful valley of Mai Chau, and the hugely underrated seaport city of Haiphong.

Vendors in conical hats tote their wares around the teeming streets of the Old Quarter. Early-morning markets brim with produce from North Vietnam’s agricultural heartlands. And small shops offer old Communist art posters. One thing’s for sure: a shopping expedition in Hanoi is bound to be extraordinary.

Ask most Hanoians, and they’ll tell you that the best place to eat in the capital is on the street or at one of the city’s many eateries lit by strip lights. But for those wanting a more relaxed and extended dining experience, the city also offers a decent number of pleasant, yet authentic, restaurants.