Hanoi Travel Guide

The ancient Vietnamese capital Hanoi is a steadily flowing river of over three million motorbikes, cyclos and pedestrians. Northern Vietnam’s urban hub is a wonderful destination thanks to its remarkably preserved Old Quarter, the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, towering pagodas and a dearth of quaintly crumbling French colonial buildings. The whole scene is romantically hypnotic, even with the ever-increasing air pollution. 

Hanoi has been attracting visitors for over 1,000 years, and its undisputed historic center is the Old Quarter. This district of 36 streets is chock full of shops, pagodas and cheap lodgings. It’s also a wonderful place to explore on foot. The Hoan Kiem district encircles the landmark lake which forms Hanoi’s commercial core. Besides being a popular spot for the locals, many of the city’s cultural venues and museums can be found along the lake’s perimeter.

The northern edge of the city is home to West Lake, Hanoi’s upscale neighborhood. Just south of this is Ba Dinh, the former French colonial headquarters and home to the legendary Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The districts in Hanoi are fairly spread out, so you’ll need a cyclo to move between areas, but once there, your feet are the best way to get around.

Hanoi Attractions

Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum: only open in the mornings, this is your chance to see Ho’s remarkably preserved body on display in one of the most austere, serious environments imaginable.

Hoa Lo Prison: the original guillotine room and photographic exhibitions in the infamous Hanoi Hilton provide a gruesome but absolutely fascinating glimpse into the horrific conditions these prisoners endured.

Hoan Kiem Lake: Hanoi’s watery city center is a constant buzz of activity, and one of best spots in town for museums, people-watching, taking amazing photos and being harassed by vendors.

Old Quarter: this wonderfully charming, winding neighborhood of shops, locals, and places to eat and sleep, is the home of dozens of pagodas, including Bach Ma, the area’s oldest and most sacred. 

Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts: to get an idea of Vietnamese art from the 20th century into the modern era, check out this nicely presented museum.

West Lake: once the stomping ground of monarchs and spiritualists, this leafy district is not only where the posh hotels reside, but is also home to Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, Tran Quoc, and the interesting Ethnology Museum.