Introduction
1. LOCATION
Lying on Red River’s banks, Ha Noi is among one of the world’s oldest capitals. This Northern city of Vietnam exudes the ancient and tranquil beauty through ancient pagodas, museums and a variety of old buildings in colonial architecture, which have been put under intensive maintenance to become tourist attractions.
2. BEST TIME TO VISIT
Like other cities in the North of Vietnam, Ha Noi is marked by four separate seasons, among which spring and autumn are the best time of the year for a visit.
Hanoi’s spring, from February to April, has the signature drizzles. With a mild temperature just around, 15 to 20 degree Celsius, this season is favorable for the blossom of many kinds of plants and flowers, putting on an invigorating and cheerful atmosphere for Ha Noi. There is also Tet Holiday, the most essential occasion for the Vietnamese. Should you pay a visit to Ha Noi during this period, it is highly likely that all new year’s vitality can be absorbed to the fullest.
Meanwhile, autumn, from middle September to the end of November, is a period of romance with warm sunshine and cool breeze. The city turns on a serenity mode as leaves start changing color and paddy fields turn green.
3. THINGS TO DO IN HANOI
Take time to enjoy these top picks of Hanoi tourist attractions:
Temple of Literature
Listed among the most signature sites in Ha Noi, Temple of Literature was established as a university in 1070 for Confucius and elite scholars’ education. Once honoring the graduation of noble doctors, this historical area has now been renowned for its celebration of education and literature.
The architecture represents Confucius’s hometown and is now put under intensive preservation and maintenance for tourism attraction.
Many highlights inside include a lake of literature, Heavenly Clarity Well, turtle steles, courtyards, etc.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 8:00 - 17:30
- Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu, Dong Da, Hanoi
- Price Range: VND 30,000 (about $1.3 USD)
Hanoi Opera House
Set up in 1911 under the French’s ruling, Ha Noi Opera House is the greatest Vietnam’s theatre, which play not only a vital role in Vietnamese mus development but also a milestone in cultural and historical growth. With Gothic theme from exterior to interior, this building is a majestic French architecture to keep you in awe. There are a multitude of operatic and classical performances as well as other local and international musical events in a hall of up 600 audience capacity.
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Acknowledged as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, this ancient relic plays a vital role in Vietnam’s historical and cultural development as home to a plethora of artifacts and remnants dating back to 6th-20th centuries.
Hanoi Flag Tower is one of the most famous destinations here. From this 40-metre-tall stone fortress, you can have a stunning view of Ba Dinh Square and Hanoi City Centre.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 08:00 – 17:00
- Location: 9 Hoang Dieu, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi Price
- Entrance: VND 30,000 (about $1.3USD)
Water Puppet Theater
As a traditional form of artistic performance, dated back to the 11th century, Water puppet has found its way onto stage as an attempt to preserve and treasure national cultural identity and now become famous worldwide.
Narrating in Vietnamese folk tales and legends, these performances employ artists standing in deep waters to control puppets by rods with the assistance of a orchestra playing traditional music.
- Opening Hours: Daily 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 & 20:00
- Address: 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Price Range: VND 60,000 - 100,000 (about $3 - 5USD)
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Containing a glass case preserving Ho Chi Minh’s body, Uncle Ho’s resting place has gained popularity as the most famous tourist attraction in Ha Noi. Not only an intriguing experience but also a respect to pay to the greatest leader of Vietnam is your visit.
- Admission is free
- Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 07:30 - 10:30, Saturday & Sunday 07:30 - 11:00
- Location: 8 Hung Vuong, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Hanoi Old Quater
As visiting Ha Noi Old Quarter, you easily recognize the most striking feature being that all streets are named after the original businesses like cotton, jewellery, herbs, silk...which have been thriving in such a commercial society but still treasuring valuable traditions.
Beyond shop-houses, this area is appealing with a perfect blend of colonial architectures and a variety of temples and pagodas with hustling cafes, bars and restaurants. All houses have such a limited narrow space, due to strict law of historic preservation that hardly can you imagine they provide capacity for families of many generations.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Serene and invigorating is what you can feel when it comes to this stunning lake around Ngoc Son Temple, which is located on Jade Island and can be accessed through Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge, two iconic bridges in elegant design of colonial era. As you pay a visit to the lake and temple, take time to wander around and indulge in the tranquility as you relish the panoramic view an local people on the go.
Dong Xuan Market
The 1889-established market is by far the largest indoor market of Vietnam, which offers a variety of products from food to souvenirs. Should you love a place to mingle with authentic lifestyle and get some Vietnamese stuffs back home, don’t miss out on this destination.
- Opening Hours: Daily 06:00 - 19:00
- Address: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
4. THINGS TO BUY
Silk Products and Embroidery
The highest-quality silk products must be in Ha Noi, with Ha Dong silk village being the most renowned for thousand years. There is a wide range of choices to opt for, either raw material or readily-used products like scarf, Ao Dai, tie, bag, etc.
As embroidery, the finest handcrafts are cotton and linen with a popular design of dragons or lotus flowers.
Do Paper
Make from a wide local plant, Do paper is a traditional hand-made paper used for folk forms of art, especially Dong Ho Painting, for centuries in Vietnam. It is a perfect gift for those who are keen on traditional art.
Lotus Tea
Ha Noi’s West Lake has the most scented and long-lasting perfumed lotus across the country. Tea artists for centuries have turned the finest lotus into the savory green tea with lotus’s rich fragrance lingering in your mouth after a sip.
O Mai (Salted or Sugared Dry Fruits)
It is a kind of local dried fruits like plum, apricot, peach, tamarind, kumquat dipped in various seasoning ingredients like sugar, salt, chili and ginger to create a harmonious and tasty combination. O Mai is considered a savory traditional delicacy, especially during Tet Holiday.
5. DOS AND DON’TS
DO’S
- Be cautious of pickpocket and remember to store all your personal items like cash, cards, tickets, passports in safety.
- Take care as you go out on street because of busy traffic.
- Take a hotel business card to show your taxi or motor driver as most of them can’t speak English.
- Dress properly since it is required in historical tourist attractions, which are a must-see in your visit.
- Take in more water than you may need since hot weather in Ha Noi can easily dehydrate you.
- Never take photographs without asking for permission.
DON’TS
- Bring along too much money in case of pickpocket.
- Put on valuable jewellery, for your own safety’s sake
- Wear revealing clothes like singlets, shorts, short dresses or sleeveless T-shirts to temples and pagodas.
Times & Distances
| From | To | Km | By | Duration | Road Condition |
| Hanoi | Ba Be | 250 | Car | 6h | Good |
| Hanoi | Cao Bang | 285 | Car | 6h - 6.5h | Good |
| Hanoi | Duong Lam | 60 | Car | 1h - 1.5h | Good |
| Hanoi | Mai Chau | 165 | Car | 4h | Good |
| Hanoi | Sapa | 450 | Car | 5.30 - 7h | Good |
| Hanoi | Tu Le | 210 | Car | 6.5 - 7h | Good |
| Hanoi | Hanoi airport | 30 | Car | 1h | Good |
| Hanoi | Halong | 180 | Car/ Bus | 3h | Good |
| Hanoi | Ninh Binh | 125 | Car/ Bus | 2 - 2.5h | Good |
| Hanoi | Da Lat | Plane | 1h 40min | ||
| Hanoi | Da Nang | Plane | 1h 10min | ||
| Hanoi | Dien Bien Phu | Plane | 1h | Good | |
| Hanoi | Hue | Plane | 1h 10min | ||
| Hanoi | Nha Trang | Plane | 1h 40min | ||
| Hanoi | Quy Nhon | Plane | 1h 40min | ||
| Hanoi | Saigon | Plane | 2h |
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