Top Things to Do in Hanoi
Top Things to Do in Hanoi
The Old Quarter is the heart and soul of Hanoi. It’s a maze of bustling streets packed with motorbikes, street food vendors, shops, and colonial-era buildings. Each street used to be dedicated to a specific trade, like silver, paper, or herbs. Today, it's a cultural melting pot that gives you a true taste of local life.
Highlights:
Ma May Ancient House
Dong Xuan Market
Street food and coffee shops
Great for walking tours or cycle rides
Located right by the Old Quarter, this scenic lake is central to Hanoi life. Locals walk, do tai chi, and socialize here daily. The iconic red The Huc Bridge leads to Ngoc Son Temple, which sits on a small island in the lake.
After two years of construction, President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum was officially inaugurated on 29 August 1975. This project was the result of a close collaboration between engineers from Viet Nam and former Soviet Union in order to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh, a great patriot who was later conferred the title of "World Cultural Activist" in 1990 on the occasion of his centenary birthday.
The mausoleum is divided into three floors. The first floor is a terraced stand exclusively used for grand meetings organized at Ba Dinh Square. The second floor is the center of the mausoleum, where the remains of the President are kept in a chamber, accessible through a series of passages and flights of marble stairs. The upper floor is the roof. The facade of the upper floor bears the inscription "President Ho Chi Minh" in dark violet, precious stone.
Opening time:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 7:30am - 10:30am in summer, 8:00am - 11:00am in winter
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 7:30am - 11:00am in summer, 8:00am - 11:30am in winter
*** Note: Tickets are required. Times are for reference only and may change depending on the specific time of your visit.
West Lake is the biggest lake in Ha Noi. Covering an area of 500ha in Tay Ho District, West Lake was created when the Red (Hong) River overflowed.
West Lake was once a relax site for mandarins and kings. Many palaces, including Thuy Hoa, Ham Nguyen, Tu Hoa, and Ngoc Dam were even built on the banks of the lake. The 17km path around the lake leads to Nghi Tam Flower village, Nhat Tan Peach Garden, Kim Lien Pagoda and Tay Ho Temple, built in honour of Princess Lieu Hanh. Today, many hotels of all sizes can be found around the lake.
West Lake is a very popular recreational place for everyone who comes to enjoy typical dishes such as Ho Tay shrimp cake, Ho Tay snail vermicelli and Ho Tay fish.