Travel guide · Vietnam
Hanoi travel guide
Guild streets, lakeside temples and street food on plastic stools
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quangnlnhe182394, CC0
Quick answer
Hanoi has been Vietnam's capital, on and off, for about a thousand years, and it shows: a dense Old Quarter of guild streets and narrow tube houses, French colonial boulevards around the 1911 Opera House, and the Confucian Temple of Literature founded in 1070. Hoàn Kiếm Lake anchors the centre, and on weekend evenings the streets around it close to traffic. The city's food — phở, bún chả, bánh cuốn, egg coffee — is eaten on low plastic stools along the pavements. Nội Bài Airport is about 30 km north, and Hanoi is the usual base for trips to Ha Long Bay and Ninh Bình. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are March–April and October–December.
Key facts
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best time to visit
- March–April and October–December
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- HAN
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$120 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Phở and Bún chả
Why visit Hanoi
- Hanoi's street food is the reason many people come: phở for breakfast, bún chả for lunch and fresh bia hơi at a street-corner stall in the evening.
- The Old Quarter's streets still carry the names of the goods once sold there, such as silver on Hàng Bạc and paper offerings on Hàng Mã.
- History is layered and walkable: the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, Hỏa Lò Prison and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are all within a few kilometres.
- Ha Long Bay, the karst landscapes of Ninh Bình and the craft village of Bát Tràng are all reachable as day trips or short overnights.
- Prices are low by international standards, so good hotels, meals and guided tours are within reach of most budgets.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Landmark · Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple
The 'Lake of the Returned Sword' takes its name from a legend in which a golden turtle reclaimed Emperor Lê Lợi's magic sword.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Old Quarter
Old Quarter guild streets
Each street in the Old Quarter once specialised in a single trade, and many still do: tin boxes on Hàng Thiếc, paper offerings and lanterns on Hàng Mã, silver on Hàng Bạc.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Ba Đình
Temple of Literature
Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this walled complex housed Vietnam's first university, the Imperial Academy.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Landmark · Ba Đình
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Đình Square
The granite mausoleum stands on Ba Đình Square, where Ho Chi Minh read Vietnam's declaration of independence in 1945, and holds his embalmed body.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with the grounds
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
Experience · Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Water puppet show
Water puppetry began in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta: lacquered wooden puppets glide across a pool, controlled by puppeteers hidden behind a screen, while musicians play traditional instruments.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Iconic
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Religious site · Ba Đình
One Pillar Pagoda
A small wooden shrine set on a single stone pillar in a lotus pond, designed to resemble a lotus flower rising from the water.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Where to stay
Old Quarter is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, food lovers and nightlife
Old Quarter
Narrow guild streets of tube houses, street stalls, motorbikes and beer corners
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and couples
Hoàn Kiếm Lake
The tree-lined lake at the centre of the city, with a weekend pedestrian zone
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and culture
French Quarter
Wide colonial boulevards, embassies and grand hotels south of the lake
$$ · Best for culture and quiet stays
Ba Đình
Government district of the mausoleum, embassies and the Imperial Citadel
What to eat
- Beef phở — Hanoi's version of the national noodle soup has a clear, slow-simmered beef broth, flat rice noodles, spring onions and either rare or well-done beef, with fewer herbs than in the south.
- Bún chả — Charcoal-grilled pork patties and pork belly served in a sweet-sour fish sauce broth with pickled green papaya, rice vermicelli and herbs to dip.
- Chả cá Lã Vọng — Chunks of turmeric-marinated fish fried at your table with dill and spring onions, then eaten with rice vermicelli, peanuts, herbs and fermented shrimp paste.
- Bánh cuốn — Paper-thin steamed rice sheets rolled around minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms, topped with fried shallots and served with dipping sauce and slices of pork sausage.
- Bún thang — A delicate Hanoi noodle soup of shredded chicken, thin strips of omelette and pork sausage in a clear chicken broth, traditionally made from leftovers after Tết.
- Phở cuốn and phở chiên phồng — Two Hanoi twists on phở noodles: uncut rice sheets rolled around stir-fried beef and herbs, and puffed, deep-fried squares of noodle topped with beef and vegetables in gravy.
When to go
The best times to visit Hanoi are October to December, when days are dry, mild and often sunny, and March to April, when the city warms up before summer. January and February are cool and grey, with Tết closures; June and July are the hottest months, combining heat, humidity and heavy downpours.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | February–April | Humid and often drizzly, warming steadily; festival season after Tết and blossom around the lakes. |
| Summer | May–August | Hot, very humid and wet, with thunderstorms and occasional storms; low prices and fewer tourists. |
| Autumn | September–November | Hanoi's favourite season: drier air, blue skies and comfortable temperatures, with the Mid-Autumn Festival. |
| Winter | December–January | Cool, grey and damp with chilly nights; good for walking, but bring layers and check air quality. |
Getting there and around
Nội Bài International Airport is about 30 km north of the centre. Taxis and ride-hailing cars take about 45–60 minutes to the Old Quarter depending on traffic, and the orange bus 86 runs to the Old Quarter and the railway station in about an hour.
The Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the French Quarter are walkable, though pavements are often blocked by parked motorbikes. For longer trips most visitors use ride-hailing cars and motorbikes, which are inexpensive and show fares upfront.
Plan your days
Two full days covers the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ba Đình sights. Four days adds the Museum of Ethnology, West Lake and a day trip to Ninh Bình; allow two more nights for an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise.
Practical information
- Currency
- VND
- Language
- Vietnamese
- Plugs
- Type A, C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.
- Emergency number
- 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditionally expected, but it is appreciated.
Traffic is the biggest hazard: cross slowly and steadily and watch for motorbikes on pavements. Bag and phone snatching by passing motorbikes happens, and overcharging by cyclo drivers and unofficial taxis is common. Air pollution is often high in winter, so check air-quality readings on still days.
Flights to Hanoi
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Hanoi?
Two full days covers the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ba Đình sights. Four days adds the Museum of Ethnology, West Lake and a day trip to Ninh Bình; allow two more nights for an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
The best times to visit Hanoi are October to December, when days are dry, mild and often sunny, and March to April, when the city warms up before summer. January and February are cool and grey, with Tết closures; June and July are the hottest months, combining heat, humidity and heavy downpours.
+What is Hanoi known for?
Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Phở, Bún chả, Egg coffee, Water puppets, Temple of Literature and Gateway to Ha Long Bay. Hanoi's street food is the reason many people come: phở for breakfast, bún chả for lunch and fresh bia hơi at a street-corner stall in the evening.
+Is Hanoi expensive?
Hanoi is very affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$120 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Hanoi?
No. Traffic is dense and unfamiliar for most visitors; use ride-hailing, taxis and walking in the city, and a car with driver or a tour for Ha Long Bay and Ninh Bình.