Hanoi is one of the biggest city in Vietnam. And there is no doubt that you need more than a one-day plan to exploring this old city. What to do in Hanoi? Let’s find out with YourVietnam!
To ease the pain of planning your travel, we will separate the central city attraction and some distant location that may require travel a bit far. Also, we will update you with the most recent attraction to enhance your experience in our lovely city.
What to do in central of Hanoi
Most of gathering in the central area are places not to be missed when traveling to Hanoi. So you do not need to go far to conquer this city. If you need some help with finding transportation that works well in Hanoi, check out the previous article for how to get around Hanoi with ease.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Located in the center of the capital, Hoan Kiem Lake associated with the most important historical story of the capital. Around Hoan Kiem Lake is also a diverse historical architectural complex, becoming a destination not to be missed for anyone visiting Hanoi.
You can also find there are so many more places and activities in the area of Hoan Kiem Lake: Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower, Dai Nghien Tower, Hoa Phong Tower…
Hanoi Ancient Town
People usually say that “36 streets” is what made Hanoi’s reputation. Formerly as a residential area outside the Imperial City, the neighborhood has been bustling for several hundred years with handicraft and trading activities.
Till today, you can still enjoy the ancient space, tinged with the time of ancient-style houses, tile roofs, moss walls. Check out more tips to explore the old town in a day so as not to miss the best experience here!
To visit the Old Town: Bach Ma Temple, 87 Ma May Old House, O Quan Chuong, and of course, an indispensable “treasure” of cuisine here.
Dong Xuan market
Saigon has Ben Thanh market; Hanoi has Dong Xuan market. Founded since the 19th century, Dong Xuan Market is currently the largest wholesale market in North.
However, if you are a traveler wishing to buy some souvenirs, the market also retails some items such as fashion, accessories, household items… The market is located in the old town area, and you can easily walk from there.
Opening hours: 8:00 – 18:00
The Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House was built by the French, based on the model of Garnier Opera House (Paris), with the desire to turn this place into a cultural and art center of that time.
The current Grand Opera House is the main venue for important events and activities of the capital. Besides, the theater also has tours to combine with enjoying the unique Vietnamese Soul show to serve tourists in Hanoi.
- Address: 01 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District
- Opening hours: 10:30 – 12:00 Monday and Friday.
- Ticket price: 400,000 VND/person
Joseph’s Cathedral
It will not be hard to find a large church in the bustling old town area. With typical Gothic architecture, with lime walls that have faded over time, the cathedral brings an ancient atmosphere to the surrounding area.
- Address: 40 Chung Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem Dist
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 21:00
Ba Dinh Square
One of the capital’s most important historical sites, Ba Dinh Square, is the place where Uncle Ho once read the Declaration of Independence. Moreover, now it is the place where Uncle Ho’s mausoleum is remembered in his merits.
The area behind the mausoleum is the Presidential Palace ruins – where Uncle Ho lived and worked in the 1960s. There are stilt houses, fish ponds, idyllic gardens, giving visitors more information about the simple life of Uncle Ho.
- To visit Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum: only open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
- Season (April 1 – October 31): 7:30 – 10:30 (weekends open until 11:00)
- Season (November 1 – March 31): 8:00 – 11:00
Pillar Pagoda
Being the largest Buddhist center in Vietnam, Hanoi has many temples, but the most famous is still One Pillar Pagoda.
The pagoda is located inside the area of Dien Huu pagoda, has a small worship architecture, built on a stone pillar in the middle of a lotus lake, worship Buddha Avalokitesvara.
- Address: Doi Can Ward, Ba Dinh District (near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum)
- Opening hours: 6:00 – 18:00 daily
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Hanoi is the capital of most feudal dynasties, and a good deal of undeniable evidence for this is the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Thang Long citadel is a colossal monument complex with over 140 hectares, built over many dynasties. Over time and war, many relics remain and continue to be restored, in order to maintain the space of the old feudal court and preserve essential relics of the country’s history.
- Address: 18 Hoàng Diệu, Ba Đình District
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 11:30, 13:30 – 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday
- This area also including Flag Tower of Hanoi, Doan Mon, Dien Kinh Thien, Hau Lau, and Cua Bac.
Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam
Built since the 11th century, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam consists of two main works. One is the Temple of Literature, which worships the sages and saints of Confucianism.
The second is Quoc Tu Giam, considered to be the first university of Vietnam, initially intended for the children of kings and nobles, and later extended to civilians with more intelligence.
Today, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is the place where students come to pray for good luck in their studies and work, especially before exams, wishing to pass high.
- Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District
- Opening hours: 7:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Friday), 8:00 – 21:00 (Saturday, Sunday)
West-lake
Beside of Hoan Kiem Lake, there is also another famous landmark lake in Hanoi – West Lake. If you are looking for a Hanoi travel experience with the most typical cultural discoveries of the capital, do not miss the West Lake.
Surrounding the West Lake area are ancient villages and traditional villages such as flower growing, paper making… Furthermore, when the walk is tiring, take the time for a boat ride on the lake, watching the splendid sunset and peaceful scenery.
Places around West Lake:
- Nghi Tam ancient village, Nhat Tan village with the flower and bonsai growing.
- Ke Buoi village with paper making traditional style.
- Phu Tay Ho worships Lieu Hanh Princess (one of the Four Immortals of Vietnam)
- Tran Quoc Pagoda: Located on the east side of West Lake, the pagoda was built in the Ly dynasty, until now there are still hundreds of years old statues.
What to do outside of Hanoi center
If you have some free time and try to explore all of Hanoi, not just the central area, you can visit these locations below for a unique experience
Duong Lam Old Village
Looking for old space in the heart of Hanoi? Come to Duong Lam. It is one of the rare ancient villages stills intact architecture and routine of the ancients.
Stop by Duong Lam, looking for old memories with village gates, banyan trees, water wharves, communal yards, tracing rough marble walls, eating a feast, or cycling around, breathing the fresh, nostalgic atmosphere.
How to get there: You can take a bus (route 70, 71, 77), taxi, or motorbike to get to Son Tay town and ask for directions to Duong Lam.
Bat Trang Pottery Village
As one of the most famous pottery villages in the country, Bat Trang today still retains the image of a traditional village. Spending a day in Bat Trang, you can experience making pottery by hand-making pretty small items like a real potter.
How to get to Bat Trang:
- Bus: From the center of Hanoi, you take the bus to Long Bien and then continue to route 47 to Bat Trang
- Motorbike: Just going along the Red River from Chuong Duong Bridge or Vinh Tuy Bridge.
Ba Vi National Park
If you are looking for an experience in Hanoi but still want to explore nature and mountains, head to Ba Vi National Park, only 30 km from the center of the capital is the vast forest surrounding the Ba Vi mountain range, with all the most romantic natural scenery.
Come to Ba Vi, do not be surprised with the beauty of Thien Son Suoi Nga, pine forest, Tan mountain peak, or the old beauty of Thuong temple, fallen church, cactus greenhouse!
- Entrance fee: VND 60,000/person; VND 20,000/student.
- Address: Tan Linh Commune, Ba Vi District
Note that if you travel by motorbike to Ba Vi, you need to prepare a full fuel tank and have much safety equipment ready.
Viet Phu Thanh Chuong
If you are the one who loves the nostalgic spaces, you will probably enjoy a trip to Viet Phu Thanh Chuong. Built to simulate an ancient Bac Bo village, the building will give you an overview of traditional architecture – culture.
You will see village gates, wells, communal yards, and especially the typical houses of the Northern peoples.
- Address: Doc Chay slope, Keo Ca dam, Hien Ninh commune, Hanoi
- Ticket price: VND 150,000 / adult, VND 120,000 / child, senior citizen and student
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Newest attractive places
We will update this list constantly to give you the most up-to-date information.
Ho Guom Walking street
Just be introduced recently, the pedestrian street has become a meeting place every weekend for capital residents. Spread on the streets are folk games like umbrellas, jumping rope, collective tug of war.
Joining the lively atmosphere is music from performing arts groups, ranging from the violin, saxophone, rowing, or reformed.
Operating hours: 19:00 – 24:00 Friday to Sunday every week.
Ta Hien street
Listing Hanoi’s travel experiences without West Ta Hien is a huge mistake. If you want to experience the youthful pace of the capital, or the atmosphere of Hanoi at night, then “do” right away a visit to Ta Hien.
Here, the restaurant only needs a few stools, small tables displayed along the sidewalk, and two sides of the road. Coming to Ta Hien, there is no need to be sophisticated, just a glass of lemon tea, a glass of beer, and a few sip dishes are enough for the overnight stories.
How to visit: You can find it near the old quarter, Hoan Kiem district.
Book Street 19/12
If Dinh Le is an “unofficial book street”, the Hanoi-er now has a new meeting place for book lovers – bookstore December 19. Just on a few hundred-meter roads, there are all the big and famous publishing houses, with numerous and updated titles continuously.
- Address: 19/12 Street, Hoan Kiem District (next to Hanoi People’s Court)
- Operating hours: 8:00 – 22:00 every day
Hanoi Creative City
As a new rendezvous of the creative and artistic community, Hanoi Creative City focuses on all the most popular entertainment and entertainment activities for young people today in a 20-story building.
You will never be bored, even if you spend the whole day here with dozens of big and small fashion brands, restaurants, attractive sports games such as archery, indoor climbing, racing, playing sports games…
- Address: 01 Luong Yen, Hai Ba Trung District
- Operating time: 8:30 – 22:00
VCCA Center for Contemporary Art
Another Hanoi tourist destination to art lovers is the VCCA Center for Contemporary Art at Vincom Royal City. A unique feature of the VCCA is that the exhibition themes will be changed periodically every three months, with the desire to spread the beauty of contemporary art to the people of the capital and visitors.
- Address: Floor B1 – R3, Vincom Megamall Shopping Center, Royal City, 72A Nguyễn Trãi, Thanh Xuân District
- Operating hours: 9:30 – 20:00 from Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 21:30 on weekends.
In addition to the above locations, there are still many tourist destinations around Hanoi. Just go away from the city a little hurriedly, one has experienced a completely different image of the capital already!
Don’t forget to check out others article in Yourvietnam.org
Let’s Travel Hanoi A-Z – Part 1: Welcome to Hanoi
Let’s Travel Hanoi A-Z – Part 3: What to eat? Where to stay?
