Hanoi – the Star of Vietnam
Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam, located in the north of the country. The city is home to many historic sites, great eateries and fantastic cafes, and the architecture has a strong French influence due to its colonial past.
You’ll find lots to see and do in the city, from temples, museums, and palaces, to relaxing lakes and the craziness of the old quarter. Hanoi is also a perfect base to explore more of Vietnam, whether on one-day trips or longer excursions out of the city.
This city has got to be one of the most mental places I’ve ever visited. It’s no exaggeration to say I almost died multiple times on this trip. Mopeds whiz along the streets, seemingly without rules. Cars won’t stop for you, and if you visit the train street you’ll come very close to falling under a train! The region also frequently finds itself in the path of typhoons, one of which skirted by while I was visiting. This craziness only adds to the experience, and I’d do it again for the delicious food and great coffee! The people are also very friendly, welcoming, and happy to help!
Things to do in Hanoi
- Train Street
- The Old Quarter
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ngoc Son Temple
- King Le Thai To’s Temple
- St. Joseph Cathedral
- Hanoi Opera House
- Temple of Literature
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Museum and Palace
- Quan Thanh Temple
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Thuy Trung Tien Temple
- Day Trip – Ninh Binh
- Drink Coffee
Train Street
Hanoi Train Street is a narrow street lined with cafes and bars. Several times a day a train travels through the street, passing close to the buildings and coming perilously close to patrons of the cafes. It’s so close that you can reach out and touch it, and if you’re not careful you risk being hit.
The street is colourfully lit and many Vietnamese and communist flags hang between the buildings. On either side of the narrow street you can enjoy drinks from the many cafes and bars. It’s a good spot to try some Vietnamese coffee.
When a train is approaching staff will alert you. They’ll call you off the tracks and tell you to get inside, and blow a whistle at you if you’re too slow. All the tables and chairs are pulled in as the train nears. It arrives quite slowly, creeping its way down the street. It’s a very unique experience and one that adds to the craziness of Hanoi!
The Old Quarter
Hanoi Old Quarter is located to the north of Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s an area of narrow streets packed with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. It’s also where you’ll see hundreds of mopeds dodging around pedestrians.
It’s a great area to wander around. You can pick up souvenirs, get a massage, or try some local food. You can find Banh Mi 25 here, a famous Banh Mi restaurant serving delicious sandwiches.
At night the streets of the Old Quarter are even busier, with market stalls extending out into the road and bars on beer street crowding the street with tables and chairs.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you might also see festival events taking place here. If not, you’re sure to still catch a street performer singing or dancing in the Old Quarter.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake, located near the Old Quarter, is a fresh water lake in Hanoi with historic significance. The name of the lake means “Lake of the Returned Sword” or “Lake of the Restored Sword,” stemming from the legend of Emperor Le Loi (Le Thai To) and his victory over Ming China in Vietnam.
You’ll find many locals walking, exercising or relaxing around the lake. There’s a lot going on by the lake, and this extends into the night as the area surrounding the lake bleeds into the Old Quarter. You might also see events happening around the lake – when I visited the 2025 Hanoi Book Festival was taking place on the east side.
On a small island in the lake is Thap Rua, or Turtle Tower. The current tower was built in 1886 and stands as a symbol of the city and the whole of Vietnam. On a separate island in the lake, you’ll find the Ngoc Son Temple.
Ngoc Son Temple
The Ngoc Son Temple sits on a little island in Hoan Kiem Lake. To reach the temple you cross an arched red bridge that lights up at night.
The temple itself is quite small, but inside one of the display rooms you can see a preserved Hoan Kiem turtle, a possibly extinct species of turtle that once inhabited the lake.
King Le Thai To’s Temple
On the west side of Hoan Kiem Lake you’ll find King Le Thai To’s Temple. This small temple pays tribute to Emperor Le Loi (Le Thai To) and has some information about Vietnam’s history.
Le Thai To founded the Later Le dynasty and became its first emperor. He drove the Chinese Ming dynasty out of Vietnam and established the longest lasting dynasty in Vietnamese history. Today he is considered one of Vietnam’s greatest heroes.
st. Joseph Cathedral
Another site close to Hoan Kiem Lake is the St. Joseph Cathedral. This cathedral was opened in 1886 and is the oldest church in Hanoi. It was built when Hanoi was under the rule of France, and it was made to resemble Notre Dame in Paris.
Unfortunately I couldn’t get inside for a look when I visited, but the outside is impressive and worth seeing when passing.
Hanoi Opera House
Like the St. Joseph Cathedral, the Hanoi Opera House is another building built during the French rule. This opera house opened in 1911. If you don’t fancy watching an opera, then the surrounding area is also home to lots of designer shops and pedestrian streets.
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is a temple dedicated to Confucius. It was built in 1070 and hosted the Imperial Academy, the first national university in Vietnam. Although the academy has since moved to the city of Hue, remnants of its history remain as people were taking graduate photos when I visited.
One of the most famous sites here is the Khue Van Cac. This has become a symbol of Hanoi, and even features on the 100,000 Dong banknote.
Inside the halls of the temple, you’ll find altars to Confucius and his disciples. It’s all very impressive and worth seeing when in Hanoi.
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a sprawling complex of historical buildings and sites. I entered via the North Gate, though at this part there isn’t much to see, so I’d instead recommend entering on the west side which brings you closer to the historical buildings.
From south to north you start with the Hanoi flag tower. This tower is 33.4m tall, but unfortunately you can’t go right to the top. You can however head to the second tier of the tower’s base for a better view.
North of the flag tower is the main citadel building, which finished construction in 1011. You can walk all around this building and go up to the top for a view over the entire citadel complex.
Beyond the citadel building there are parks and streets with smaller temples and gates. It was in this area that I watched a lion dance.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Imperial Citadel is the D67 building and bunker. This building was built in 1967 during the Vietnam war, and served as the headquarters for the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. You can see where the meetings took place, take a look at war maps, and even head down into the bunker.
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Museum and Palace
Ho Chi Minh was the founder and first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and is today considered one of the country’s greatest heroes for his fight for independence, first against the Japanese, then the French, and finally the Americans.
Ho Chi Minh’s resting place is in the Mausoleum. You can enter in the morning for a look inside, though entering is a bit like going through airport security. It’s recommended that you don’t wear clothing that’s too revealing (I wore shorts and was asked to pull them down to my knees, though no one cared when I pulled them back up). You have to go through metal detectors and check your bag, then stick to the red carpet as you approach the mausoleum. Soldiers stand guard with empty holsters, then small groups are allowed inside the mausoleum. The whole thing is a bit of a farce, especially since you’re in and out of the mausoleum in less time than it takes to walk from the gate to the entrance. There’s no photography allowed inside, but it’s essentially a dark room with four soldiers standing guard round a plastic model of Ho Chi Minh. You can decide for yourself if that’s worth seeing in person.
When you exit the mausoleum you’ll come to the entrance of the Presidential Palace. Entering here only lets you see the palace gardens and Ho Chi Minh’s car collection. You can’t enter the palace itself (though you can sneak a picture through the gates so long as an angry soldier doesn’t spot you).
Within the grounds you can also see the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple originally built in 1049. It’s small, but is a unique temple to see.
The last point of interest here is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, detailing the life of Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s struggle against foreign occupation. Entry is cheap, making it a good way to cool down after sweltering in the humidity of the palace gardens.
Quan Thanh Temple
The Quan Thanh Temple is a Taoist temple on the south side of West Lake. It is believed to have been built some time in the 11th century.
It’s a small temple but the interior is worth seeing. You can find a four metre high statue of Tran Vu, a Taoist Deity, that weighs almost 4 tons inside.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
On a small island near the southeastern shore of West Lake is the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. It was originally constructed in the 6th century.
You can look inside the temple halls here, but the most impressive part is the pagoda. Each level of the pagoda features seated Buddha statues.
Thuy Trung Tien Temple
The Thuy Trung Tien Temple is located close to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, on the same bridge that crosses West Lake. It’s a much smaller temple and one I imagine is often overlooked in favour of the grander pagoda, but it’s worth popping in for a look when passing.
To reach this temple you cross a little bridge into a small courtyard where you’ll find just one hall. There was little information there about the temple, but from what I read elsewhere it may be for worshipping the Deity of the Dog.
Day Trip – Ninh Binh
There are lots of options for day trips from Hanoi, with Ha Long Bay being a popular choice amongst travellers. I opted for a trip to Ninh Binh, which I booked here.
This day trip started in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. We got a quick tour round the site as typhoon rains approached.
After that the tour guide took us cycling through some beautiful limestone mountains. It was great to see, but the weather made it a bit challenging. If you can, hold off booking a trip until the last minute so you can guarantee good weather.
After lunch we took a small river boat through Trang An. The river ran through the incredible mountains and through low caves where we had to duck. The whole ride was about two hours, with the woman rowing using her feet the entire time.
The final stop was Hang Mua, a short hike for some incredible views. The hike is short but the stairs are very steep, and after typhoon rains also very slippery! You’ll see some goats clinging to the mountainside much better than the tourists.
There are two peaks, the first offering views over the mountains and fields.
The second has a great view over a river, and at the top there is the dragon statue. It’s a bit precarious to reach the dragon, so only head up that way if you’re wearing good shoes and are a confident hiker, otherwise you’ll join the queue only to turn back.
The whole day trip was worth it so I’d definitely recommend going if you want a break from the craziness of Hanoi.
Drink Coffee
You can’t visit Hanoi without trying some of the huge variety of coffee on offer. There are cafes everywhere in the city, with loads to choose from in the Old Quarter or on Train Street, and also plenty of choice on nearly every street, including this old double decker coffee bus!
There are many unique options for styles and flavours of coffee in Vietnam, but I’d definitely recommend trying the salt coffee, coconut coffee, and egg coffee.
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