Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. Earlier, it was Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City as known currently. When the Japanese left from Vietnam, the Saigon emperor captured Hanoi and made it his capital. Later, it formally became the capital of Vietnam when North and South Vietnam merged in 1976. Hanoi has a combination of both tradition and modernity. It has plenty to explore and learn from. The local tourist spots in Hanoi may be covered in a single day. The different tourist spots are full of stories of Vietnamese culture, tradition and history. Following are some of the most popular ones:

Old Quarter

Old quarter, a part of the Hoan Kiem district, is the historical civic urban centre of Hanoi also referred as the 36 streets because of the 36 streets that make up this area. Each street has been named after a particular trade dedicated to that area. Walking through the Old Quarter streets gives a feeling of making your way through a gigantic puzzle while coming across old houses, shops, food stalls, vendors, temples, pagodas, and assembly halls. You will find many structures with French-Indo architecture around this place.

You may hire a red seat silver manual rickshaw (iconic of Vietnam) to explore the popular streets and places in this area. Exploring all of old quarter on foot is not everyone’s cup of tea.

At night, the lake area becomes a hotspot of activities with artistes performing on the streets, music blaring from cafeterias and restaurants. The walking street of Old quarter has one of the most vibrant night lives. It appears like all of Hanoi has descended on to this particular place. Do not forget to take a local layout map from your hotel or use google maps to come to your rescue in case you feel lost, because you will!

Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan market was established by combining two markets after the French settled in Vietnam. It is located in the old quarter and is a bustling wholesale market. You will find absolutely everything here. Since it is a wholesale market, the prices are very attractive if you buy in more quantity. If you buy 1 or 2 of anything, you will be offered the retail prices. You may bargain but please do not bargain uselessly and avoid offending the salespersons as they evidently remain very busy.

Hoan Kiem Lake

The name of this lake translates to The Sword Lake. It is also called the green lake due to the colour of its water. The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. It houses the turtle tower (pic under) with an interesting story behind it. According to legend, Lê Lợi (famous Vietnamese emperor) had the sword named Heaven’s Will given to him by the Golden Turtle God, Kim Quy. One day, after independence from the Chinese, Lê Lợi was out boating on the lake. Suddenly the Golden Turtle God surfaced, prompting Lê Lợi to return Heaven’s Will and thank the divine turtle for its help. The Golden Turtle God took back the sword and disappeared into depths of the lake.

There is a also a Jade Islet, which leads to the Ngọc Sơn Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) through a vermillion red wooden bridge, Thê Húc (a drop of light rests). The lake looks beautiful in the day but more so at night as it is glowing with the reflection of the lights of the buildings all around it.

Weekend Night market

It is a popular street market organized as a tourist attraction in the Old Quarter itself. The local shopkeepers or from the Dong Xuan market set up their stalls in the entire 3 km length of streets from Dong Xuan market to the Hoan Kiem lake which includes Hang Duong, Hang Dao, Hang Ngang streets. This was originally conceptualized as a tourist market. Therefore, you will find souvenirs being sold here in plenty.

St. Joseph’s cathedral

A Roman Catholic Church located in the middle of old quarter. It is built in Gothic style. It is huge and beautiful, although, a little worn out.

Hoa Lo prison

This one time prison used by French and later by North Vietnam to keep American Prisoner of Wars(PoWs) during Vietnam War, is now only a museum signifying its historical importance. During war, the American PoWs called it the Hanoi Hilton. The complex is now only the gateway of what was once a prison due to the demolition of the prison long ago. There are many relics and symbolic representations of the lives of the prisoners in that prison. The prison cells display how the prisoners lived in them.

Temple of literature

The temple is a dedication to Confucius, sages and scholars. It has Vietnam’s first national university, Imperial Academy. There are many pavilions, halls and statues inside in different courtyards. Its imposing gateway is the main attraction. Vietnamese 100,000 VND note features this structure on the back of it.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

It is a complex of several historical buildings that have been prominent through out the history of Vietnam in different periods. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most important parts include the Main Gate, The Flag Tower, The North gate, Rear Palace.

One pillar Pagoda

This pagoda is an iconic temple in Hanoi due to its peculiar structure. The peculiarity is in the fact that a single pillar holds up the pagoda. It is close by to the Citadel of Thang Long.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

This is the oldest pagoda in the city. Initially, the pagoda was by the red river. Later, encroachment on the sides of the river forced its displacement. Currently, it is in a lake. To make it accessible, a causeway leads up to the temple from the mainland. The lake has many lotus flowers symbolic of Buddhism.

Ho Chi Minh mausoleum

It is the mausoleum of Vietnam’s revolutionary and President Ho Chi Minh. It houses the embalmed body of the President in the central hall of the building in a glass box protected by the military honour guard. The mausoleum is at the centre of the Ba Dinh square and is open to public except on Mondays.

National Assembly building

This structure is just opposite to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum in the Ba Dinh square. This is the national legislature of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Presidential palace

The official residence of the current President of Vietnam. Built by the French architect of the Governor General of Indo China, this yellow building is a stark example of all European style constructions that populate the city.

Water puppets show

The water puppet show Theatre is located in Old Quarter near to the Hoan Kiem lake. It is a Vietnamese traditional music and water puppet show with colourful puppets used to convey different stories in a lively way. The ticket prices are about $8-$13 depending on the row you choose. Definitely check it out if you have interest in exploring more about the Vietnamese culture.

Places near Hanoi

There are several beautiful locations nearby Hanoi that are popular as landmark destinations in Vietnam. You may cover some of these places in 1 day tours while others may take 2-3 days to cover. Most popular among those are Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Cat Ba islands.

Ha Long Bay/ Bai Tu Long Bay

Ha Long Bay means where the dragon descends to the sea. This bay is UNESCO World Heritage Site with hundreds of natural limestone cliffs topped with rainforest jutting out of the sea in the Gulf of Tonkin. It leaves any tourist mesmerized with its beauty. You might have already heard too much about it. Nothing that has been said is compared to what you experience in being amidst the landscape. Click here to discover this paradise

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a city in Vietnam by the red river delta about 98 km from Ha Noi. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You get full day tours from Hanoi for about ₹2500-3000 per person. It takes one and a half hours in a comfortable AC bus to reach there. The trip includes 3 stunning places- the Hoa Lu temple, Trang An and Mua Caves. Click here to know all about the trip