Delve into the bustling streets of Hanoi and you will capture the essence of Vietnamese life. The country’s capital is a burgeoning economic center that still holds strong ties to traditional culture and manages to be a showcase of both ancient and modern Vietnam. The old neighborhood area hums with action from street vendors; the cafes and restaurants are vibrant, contemporary scenes; and just trying to cross a road here can become an adrenaline-fueled escapade. When the hustle and bustle starts to wear you down, Hanoi has a number of places where you can escape for some peace and quiet. Hoan Kiem Lake is a relaxing getaway in the middle of the city, while the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Ethnological Museum provide plenty of opportunities to reflect on Vietnam’s great history.
1 Hanoi Historic District
For many visitors to Vietnam’s capital, the main attraction is strolling the streets of the city’s old core. This labyrinthine district of narrow streets is the commercial heartbeat of the city and has a history dating back 1,000 years. It is a wonderfully dilapidated place, where the strange piece of architecture from the Middle Ages has managed to adapt to the modern noise of motorcycles, street vendors and pulsating commerce. If you look up as you wander around, the area has a lot of local retail architecture, where traders traditionally lived above their shops in very long but narrow two-storey houses, squeezed together on the alleys. The backstreets here are a great opportunity to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Hanoi street life. As well as plenty of street food and many pavement vendors selling fruit and vegetables, there are also stalls selling traditional medicines and Buddhist religious paraphernalia.
A relic of French colonial rule, right in the heart of the old city centre, St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Nha Tho Street) was built in 1886 and is a fine example of neo-Gothic architectural style. The facade is intricately decorated, with two bell towers, while inside there are a number of delicate stained glass window details. The main entrance is kept locked except for mass. At other times you can access the interior of the church from the back through the offices for the Diocese of Hanoi.
Read also: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City
2 Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi’s most famous landmark is the tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake, nestled just on the southern edge of the old town. The main tourist attraction on the lake is the small island (reached via a red bridge) with the Ngoc Son Temple, dedicated to three great figures of Vietnamese history: La To (revered as the patron saint of doctors); the famous scholar Van Xuong; and the 13th century general Tran Hung Dao, who fought the invading Mongol army. Another small island on the southern part of the lake has the squat Turtle Tower – best seen from the bridge.
Adres: Dinh Tien Hoang Street
3 temple of literature
The city’s most interesting religious building is this beautiful and incredibly peaceful Confucian temple, originally built as a university in the 11th century. Today, the Temple of Literature stands as a tribute to the nation’s scholars. It was here, in the medieval era, that Confucian philosophy and literature was taught, and near the entrance road you can still see the names of students who studied here etched into a series of pillars. Inside, a series of manicured gardens lead to pavilions and a well-preserved pagoda where a statue of Confucius sits.
Adres: Quoc Tu Giam Street
4 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese. It is a vast complex in the city’s gardens with Ho Chi Minh’s tomb and several museums and monuments. The actual mausoleum itself is an austere marble building where Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body sits in a glass case. Also in the complex is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which has an eclectic collection of Ho Chi Minh’s personal memorabilia and plenty of information about the history of the Vietnamese Revolution. Also worth a visit is the excellently preserved stilt house, once home to Ho Chi Minh, and the single-pillar pagoda. This pagoda is a reconstruction of the original 11th-century temple, which was destroyed by French colonial forces.
Address: Ngoc Ha Street
Official site: www.baotanghochiminh.vn
5 Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
A must for museum buffs and history buffs, Hanoi’s Vietnam Museum of Ethnology houses the extensive national collection and tells the story of Vietnam’s diverse cultures in a series of excellently curated exhibitions. Here, the vast number of ethnic minorities that call Vietnam home are highlighted with beautiful displays of artifacts and art depicting wood carvings, metalwork and traditional costumes. The garden outside the main building has some of the most interesting exhibits. Here you can see the rural dwellings used by various ethnic minorities in Vietnam, as well as the fascinating Tomb of Giarai.
Address: Nguyen Van Huyen Street
Official site: www.vme.org.vn
6 Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Built by the French colonial government in the late 19th century, the Hoa Lo Prison Museum was originally used to house Vietnamese revolutionaries and dissidents from French rule. However, to many foreign visitors it is better known as the prison where American prisoners of war were held during the Vietnam War. The prison’s most famous foreign ex-inhabitant is John McCain. The prisoner area contains the communal prison cells, solitary cells and a courtyard, and the guillotine used by the French can also be seen. There is an abundance of information here about Vietnam’s long struggle against France’s colonial rule, which includes details of the brutal regime prisoners had here. Two rooms also tell the story of the American POWs held here, with a video documenting their captivity and eventual release along with the prisoners’ personal memories.
Address: Hoa Lo Street
7 Waterpoppentheater
Hanoi’s water puppet shows are a great way to get a taste of traditional Vietnamese artistry and entertainment and are an excellent evening activity if you have kids in tow. This ancient art form first developed in the rural areas of Vietnam during the months of monsoon paddy flooding. Nowadays it is usually performed in custom water baths rather than outdoors. Performances usually revolve around well-known local legends and are accompanied by a live band with traditional Vietnamese instruments. Hanoi is the heart of contemporary water puppet theater with five shows a day at the Municipal Water Puppet Theater.
Adres: Dinh Tien Hoang Street
Official site: www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org
8 Military Historical Museum
The courtyard in front of this museum displays an eclectic mix of weapons and military machines, including shot-down French and American planes, tanks and a Soviet MiG fighter plane. Inside the building is a vast amount of information on the wars with both France and the US, along with displays of weapons, which will be of interest to those with a taste for Vietnam’s 20th century history. For the average visitor, however, the displays and information panels are not particularly well elaborated, and many find the museum most worth seeing for its aircraft-filled courtyard surrounding a squat flag tower.
Address: Dien Bien Phu Street
9 Fine Art Museum
Art lovers and museum enthusiasts should definitely make a pit stop at this museum that houses a collection of Vietnamese art from the prehistoric era to the country’s contemporary artists. Some of the treasures on display here include terracotta and stone sculptures from the Tran Dynasty and the Champa Dynasty, Buddha statues from the Mac and Le Dynasties, and the intricate statues of the goddess Guan Yin. There is also an extensive collection of ceramics from the 11th and 12th centuries and an extensive gallery dedicated to folk art.
Address: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
Official site: www.vnfam.vn
10 Imperial Citadel
Although it may not look like much at first, Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel area was once the essential seat of military power here, and continued in an important strategic role until the 1960s and the Vietnam War. The site was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010 for its long role in Hanoi’s past, and the area’s 1,000-year history is highlighted by archaeological work that laid the foundations of several palaces that once stood on the site. There is also a bunker dating from the Vietnam War, where military maps and utensils are displayed.
Address: Hoang Dieu Street
Official site: www.hoangthanhthanglong.vn
11 western lake
Tay Ho (West Lake) is Hanoi’s largest lake and its coastline stretches for 15 kilometers. Many locals come here to exercise by walking or cycling along the path that goes around the coast, but there are also two interesting temples nearby. Tay Ho Pagoda is extremely beautiful and dedicated to the Mother Goddess and Trấn Quốc Pagoda is one of the oldest standing temples in Vietnam (although it has been rebuilt several times). For most travelers, West Lake is a great place to view a skyline of the new Hanoi, as well as enjoy fresh seafood at one of the many restaurants that sit close to the shore. West Lake is located off Thuy Khue Street.
12 Memorial House
For anyone interested in what life must have been like for the locals of Hanoi in an earlier era, a trip to Memorial House is a must-do while in the city. This beautifully restored merchant’s house is located in the old part of the city and is decorated to look like a typical merchant’s house, full of antiques and everyday objects from the centuries before. The house has many traditional architectural features, set between courtyards to give outdoor space and depart according to the age-old tradition of feng shui, which allows good energy flow to the house. In some rooms you can see traditional artisans in residential work on calligraphy and basketry.
Adres: Ma May Street
Where to Stay in Hanoi for Sightseeing
We recommend these high-quality hotels in Hanoi, close to top attractions such as the Old Town:
- Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi: Colonial-style luxury, near the Opera House, multiple restaurants, luxurious bedding, a beautiful garden, a heated outdoor pool.
- Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel Trendy: mid-range value, fantastic location, great staff, stylish rooms, breakfast included.
- Little Hanoi DX Hotel: affordable prices, elegant boutique hotel, friendly staff, fresh roses in rooms.
- Hanoi Holiday Center Hotel: budget hotel, exceptional staff, city center, modern rooms.
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