🇻🇳 Vietnam

10 best places in Hanoi

Hanoi is a thousand-year-old capital where scooters weave past French colonial villas, Buddhist pagodas, and lakes wrapped in morning mist. In the Old Quarter's 36 craft streets, Vietnamese history and street food intertwine on nearly every corner.

Sight

Hoan Kiem Lake

A romantic lake at the very centre of the city, home to the red Huc Bridge and the legend of the emperor's magic sword.

Sight

Temple of Literature

Vietnam's first university, founded in the 11th century, with quiet courtyards and stelae honouring top scholars.

Sight

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

A stark granite monument holding the embalmed body of Vietnam's first president, a symbol of modern national history.

Museum

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

One of Southeast Asia's best museums, devoted to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups with full-scale traditional house reconstructions.

Museum

Hoa Lo Prison

A former French colonial prison later nicknamed the 'Hanoi Hilton' - a sobering but essential chapter of the city's history.

District

Old Quarter (36 Streets)

A maze of narrow streets, each historically dedicated to a single craft, from silk to silverware.

Market

Dong Xuan Market

Hanoi's largest covered market, three floors of textiles, souvenirs, and street food steps from the Old Quarter.

Park

West Lake (Ho Tay)

The city's largest lake, with a promenade for running, waterside pagodas, and sunsets over passing cyclists.

Café

Cafe Giang

The birthplace of Hanoi's famous egg coffee - whipped egg yolk and condensed milk atop strong Vietnamese espresso.

Restaurant

Bun Cha Huong Lien

A humble eatery that became world-famous after Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared a bowl of bun cha there.

FAQ

Best time to visit Hanoi?

October and November are the sweet spot, with March and April close behind: dry and moderately warm. Winter from December to February can be genuinely chilly and damp, and visitors routinely underestimate it and arrive without a jacket. Summer from June to August is hot, humid and prone to downpours.

How many days do you need in Hanoi?

Three days for the city itself: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, the Museum of Ethnology and a lot of eating. Add one or two more if you are tacking on Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh. Hanoi works well as the opening stop on a northern Vietnam trip.

Is Hanoi cheap?

Hanoi is still one of the cheapest major cities in Asia - street food, coffee and beer cost very little, and your budget mostly goes on accommodation and flights. Renting an apartment in a good neighbourhood is noticeably cheaper than in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Cash still matters, though cards and QR payments are spreading fast.

Can you live in Hanoi long term?

Vietnam is popular with remote workers, but there is no dedicated digital nomad visa: people generally stay on an e-visa with extensions or on a work visa sponsored by a company. Some nationalities get a short visa-free stay, but it is too short to live on. Vietnam's visa rules have changed several times in recent years, so check the current terms before planning a long stay.