Hanoi: The Heartbeat of Northern Vietnam
Hanoi is where centuries of Vietnamese culture, French colonial architecture, and chaotic modern energy collide in the most beautiful way. With tree-lined boulevards, a thousand-year-old Old Quarter, some of the best street food in Asia, and a lake at its spiritual centre, this is a city that demands to be experienced slowly — bowl by bowl, corner by corner.
Why Hanoi Stays With You
Hanoi has a way of getting under your skin. It’s not the easiest city — the traffic is chaos, the pavements are obstacle courses, and the humidity can be relentless. But that’s exactly the point. It’s a city you live in, not just visit. You’ll drink egg coffee on a tiny plastic stool. You’ll weave through motorbikes to cross the street. You’ll wander down alleys that open into hidden temples. And somewhere between the first bowl of phở and the last view from Hoan Kiem Lake, you’ll understand why travellers keep coming back.
Why go now: Hanoi is still remarkably affordable compared to other Southeast Asian capitals, and the 2025–2026 season offers new direct flight routes from Europe and Australia, making access easier than ever.
Top Things to Do in Hanoi
1. Old Quarter Street Food Walk
The Old Quarter is Hanoi’s beating heart — 36 streets, each historically named after the guild that sold there. Today it’s an explosion of street food, motorbikes, and everyday life. This is where you’ll find the city’s best phở, bún chả, and chả cá, often served on toddler-sized plastic stools by the side of the road.
- Try Phở Thìn (13 Lò Đúc) — arguably Hanoi’s most famous bowl
- Bún Chả Hương Liên — Obama’s famous stop on 24 Lê Văn Hưu
- Chả Cá Lã Vọng — turmeric fish dill wonder, 107 Nguyễn Trường Tộ
- Walk down Hàng Mã Street for colourful offerings to the gods
- Try egg coffee at Café Giảng (39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân)
2. Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake — Lake of the Returned Sword — is Hanoi’s spiritual and social centre. Locals gather here at dawn for tai chi, at sunset for street food and badminton, and all day to snap photos of the iconic red Huc Bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple on a tiny island.
- Cross the iconic red Huc Bridge (early morning or sunset)
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple — dedicated to a 13th-century military leader
- Watch locals do tai chi at sunrise (5:30–6:30 AM)
- Stroll the lake’s 1.7 km walking loop at golden hour
- Find the Turtle Tower on the small island — Hanoi’s ultimate symbol
3. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Ba Dinh Square
This monumental complex pays tribute to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s revolutionary leader. The mausoleum itself is an imposing granite structure where Uncle Ho’s embalmed body lies in state. The surrounding grounds include the Presidential Palace and the iconic One Pillar Pagoda — a Buddhist temple on a single stone pillar dating to 1049.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum — open mornings only, arrives early
- One Pillar Pagoda — rebuilt after French destruction, a must-see
- Presidential Palace — beautiful French colonial architecture
- Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House — where he lived simply from 1958–1969
4. Dong Xuan Market & Night Market
Dong Xuan Market is Hanoi’s largest covered market and its wholesale hub. The building itself is a massive French-colonial structure from 1889. Inside, you’ll find everything from dried seafood and spices to cheap electronics and textiles. On weekend nights, the surrounding streets transform into the Hanoi Night Market — a 3 km pedestrian walkway filled with stalls, street food, and live music.
- Explore Dong Xuan Market in the morning for fresh produce and local life
- Shop the weekend Night Market (Friday–Sunday, 7 PM–midnight)
- Find silk scarves, ao dai, and conical hats as souvenirs
- Eat bánh mì and grilled skewers from night market vendors
5. Train Street & Creative Spots
Train Street is exactly what it sounds like — a narrow residential alley where a railway line runs between the houses, and trains pass within inches of people’s front doors. It’s one of the most photographed spots in Hanoi. Meanwhile, the increasingly vibrant creative quarter around Tô Ngọc Vân features independent galleries, street art, and rooftop bars with lake views.
- Visit Train Street (Phùng Hưng section) — trains pass at certain times
- Explore Tô Ngọc Vân area for street art and coffee
- Manzi Art Space — contemporary Vietnamese art in a French villa
- Work Room Four — community art space and cafe
6. Temple of Literature & Weekend Craft Tours
The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu) was Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076 to educate the nation’s sons for the imperial examinations. It’s a stunning complex of courtyards, pavilions, and gardens, with stone stelae listing the names of graduates. Beyond the history, Hanoi’s weekend craft tours from local cooperatives let you try your hand at traditional lacquer painting, pottery, and silk weaving.
- Temple of Literature — 30,000 VND (£1) entry, open 7 AM–5 PM daily
- See the 82 stone stelae — UNESCO Memory of the World listed
- Join a lacquer painting workshop at Craft Link (43 Văn Miếu)
- Visit Quốc Tử Giám — Vietnam’s oldest university pavilion
Cost Breakdown: Visiting Hanoi
Hanoi offers exceptional value for travellers. Here’s a realistic daily budget (excluding international flights):
Budget per person per day:
- Budget Traveller: $25–40
- Mid-Range: $50–80
- Comfort: $100–150
Sample Costs:
- Bowl of phở: $1–3
- Bún chả dinner: $2–4
- Egg coffee: $1.50
- Hostel dorm: $5–10 per night
- Private Airbnb room: $20–30 per night
- Museum entry: $1–3
- Taxi/Grab ride across town: $2–5
Best Time to Visit Hanoi
Autumn (September–November) is Hanoi’s sweet spot — cooler temperatures (20–28°C), blue skies, and low rainfall. The city is at its most beautiful. Spring (March–April) is also excellent with mild weather and blooming flowers.
Avoid: Summer (June–August) is hot, humid, and prone to downpours. Winter (December–February) can be surprisingly chilly (10–18°C) and overcast — pack layers.
Disclaimer: Prices are approximate and subject to change. Always check current exchange rates and local conditions before travelling. This guide is for general reference only.