Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, offers both small town charm and big city attractions. Do not miss Halong Bay’s beautiful archipelago!
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam since 1010 and the country’s second city in size, can sometimes be seen as a bit of a small town. Low buildings, beautiful, French Colonial houses and thousands of cyclists. Hanoi is built along the banks of the Red River and you will meet the French heritage everywhere – coffee shops with cafe au lait, croissants and wide boulevards are just some examples. The sights in and around Hanoi are many, including Red river delta, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square and The Military Museum near Lenin’s statue. A nice way to discover the key elements of Hanoi is through so-called cyclo, bicycle taxis.
Tours & Excursions from Hanoi
If you want to have a real nature experience, you should ride on a boat excursion to Halong Bay’s beautiful archipelago. The area is rich in caves, isolated beaches and limestone formations.
Hanoi Hotel Deals
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Hanoi City – Our Guide
The Old Quarter is made up of the 36 streets that made up Hanoi during the 1800s and most were linked to a particular industry or trade as the modern day names bear witness. The population is growing at a rate of 3.5% per year, and the amount of families who have been settled for more than a couple of generations is limited. Local people are very friendly so do not be alarmed if strangers start to talk to you. It could well be the genuine desire to help someone in their city or just that they want the chance to practice their English.
Facts
- Hanoi has a humid subtropical tropical climate with the hottest months being June and July. Although it can never be considered cold January and February are much cooler than the other months.
- Hanoi has the highest number of cultural sites in Vietnam including over 600 Temples and pagodas.
- Hanoi is often referred to as the City of Lakes and the West Lake is the largest and most visited.
- Students now offer free tours of the area and this is a good way to find out about places you may not discover on your own. It is an organized company so it is safe to go along with them.
History
For 1000 years Hanoi was the capital of Vietnam and it managed to flourish even during the 1800s when the country was under the control of the French. The infamous prison known as the Hanoi Hilton still stands and is a popular tourist attraction.
Things to Do and See
In the Old Quarter there are plenty of places to eat and drink and while there you can visit the artists and craft shops that are based there. Silk is particularly popular. From Friday to Sunday night there is also the night market when you can sample local food and buy souvenirs. A lot of the museums focus on the military past and include an Army Museum, Air Force Museum and Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution. There is museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh and he also has a Mausoleum that is open to the public. Many of the buildings are an elegant mix of Vietnamese and French including the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts.
Nightlife
There are plenty of places to go for a drink, but many of them close around midnight. Seventeen Cowboys can be a bit expensive but provides live music while the Tet Bar has loud music and a smoky atmosphere. With local beer costing just $0.20 at some of the road side bars a little will go a long way.
Eating and Drinking
Pho is a popular soup with noodles and can often be eaten for breakfast as well as throughout the day. There are a number of specialist dishes such as cobra and dog. If you order cobra it will be killed in front of you and the blood be drained. You will be offered this with the heart on top and the rest will be served in different dishes. One cobra can cost $50 but will feed up to 6. Vegetarians are catered for at the Tamarind Café while the Paris Deli evokes a memory of the cities past.
