Hà Nội · 21 Places · Best October-December and March-April
Hà Nội (Hanoi) is the capital of Vietnam and its cultural heart, a city of lakes, tree-lined French colonial boulevards, and a thousand-year-old Old Quarter where every street once specialised in a single trade. Visitors come for street food such as phở and bún chả, egg coffee, water puppet theatre, temples and museums, and easy access to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, and the northern mountains.
Hà Nội sits on the Red River delta in northern Vietnam and has been a capital for over a thousand years, since Thăng Long was founded in 1010. The compact Old Quarter, with its 36 traditional guild streets, centres on Hoàn Kiếm Lake and its Ngọc Sơn Temple, while the French Quarter to the south holds the Opera House, the Sofitel Legend Metropole, and wide boulevards. Major sights include the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long (UNESCO), Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and the Hỏa Lò Prison. Street food is the main draw: phở, bún chả, chả cá, bánh mì, and cà phê trứng (egg coffee). The city is hot and humid in summer and cool and drizzly in winter. Nội Bài International Airport lies about 30 km north, and a growing metro network, buses, and ride-hailing apps make it easy to get around. Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, and Sa Pa are popular onward trips.
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The 21 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1076 under Emperor Ly Nhan Tong and dedicated to Confucius. Five walled courtyards hold gardens, gates and the Doctors' Steles, 82 stone tablets on turtle bases recording the names of scholars who passed royal exams from 1442 to 1779 (UNESCO Memory of the World listing).
The Lake of the Returned Sword in the centre of Hanoi, ringed by a 1.7 km walking path. Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island reached by the red-painted The Huc (Rising Sun) Bridge and honours the general Tran Hung Dao and scholar Van Xuong; a preserved giant turtle is displayed inside. Streets around the lake are pedestrianised on weekend evenings.
Marble mausoleum on Ba Dinh Square where the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh (died 1969) lies in state. The grounds also include the Presidential Palace (viewed from outside), Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and carp pond, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Visitors queue in silence and must dress modestly; cameras, bags and phones are checked in.
Modern museum next to the Mausoleum, displaying photographs, documents and artefacts from the life of Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam's struggle for independence, arranged around a large lotus-shaped structure with abstract art installations.
A small wooden pagoda on a single stone pillar rising from a lotus pond, first built in 1049 under Emperor Ly Thai Tong and rebuilt after 1954. The structure is designed to resemble a lotus blossom and is one of Hanoi's best-known symbols.
Remaining wing of the French colonial Maison Centrale prison built in 1896, used to hold Vietnamese revolutionaries and later American airmen (nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton). Exhibits include cells, a guillotine and the captured pilots' section, with a strong colonial-era focus.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Historic 1901 French colonial hotel in the French Quarter beside the Opera House, known for its Le Club bar, Angelina Cafe and the wartime air-raid bunker discovered under the property. It sits about 1.5 km from Hoan Kiem Lake on foot.
Check rates on Booking.comBoutique luxury hotel behind the Hanoi Opera House with 47 rooms and suites in an art-deco style inspired by the 1920s French Indochina era and Sarah Bernhardt-themed interiors.
Check rates on Booking.comFrench colonial style 5-star hotel facing the Opera House in the French Quarter, with an outdoor pool and Hilton Honors lounge.
Check rates on Booking.comNeoclassical MGallery hotel next to the Opera House, with a French-Indochina design, patisserie-style restaurant and spa.
Check rates on Booking.comCafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Small two-storey eatery on Lê Văn Hưu that grills pork patties and belly over charcoal and serves them in a sweet-sour broth with rice vermicelli. It became internationally known after a 2016 meal there, and the set is still sold as the 'Combo Obama'. Listed in the Michelin Guide Vietnam.
Famous for phở tái lăn, in which raw beef is stir-fried with garlic before being placed in the bowl, giving a smoky, garlicky broth. The Lò Đúc branch is a plain, crowded dining room with bowls made in quick succession.
Legendary phở shop where diners queue at the counter, pay first, and carry the bowl to a shared table. The broth is clear and light and the beef is boiled or rare with no stir-fry.
Well-known phở restaurant near St Joseph's Cathedral with a clean, air-conditioned interior, offering clear beef broth with tender brisket and rare beef. Popular with travellers looking for a comfortable first bowl.
Historic restaurant credited with originating chả cá, turmeric-marinated fish fried tableside in a pan with mounds of dill and spring onions. The dish is eaten with vermicelli, roasted peanuts, shrimp paste and chili. The street that houses it, Chả Cá, is named after the dish.
A rival chả cá house on Đường Thành, serving catfish cooked at the table with dill and served with noodles and prawn paste. Often quieter than the original.
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Hà Nội's transport is dominated by motorbikes and ride-hailing. Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) is about 28 km north of the Old Quarter and connects by bus 86, taxi, Grab or Xanh SM. Within the city, Grab and Xanh SM are cheap and convenient, city buses cost 7,000-9,000 VND, and two metro lines run from 05:30 to about 22:00. Long-distance trains leave from Hà Nội Station (120 Lê Duẩn) toward Lào Cai, Hải Phòng, Ninh Bình, Huế, Đà Nẵng and Sài Gòn. A rental car is not recommended for visitors.
Daily spend by tier in VND, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 250,000 VND (~$9.60) | 1,000,000 VND (~$38.50) | 4,000,000 VND (~$154) |
| Food (per day) | 200,000 VND (~$7.70) | 500,000 VND (~$19.20) | 1,500,000 VND (~$57.70) |
| Transportation | 100,000 VND (~$3.80) | 250,000 VND (~$9.60) | 500,000 VND (~$19.20) |
| Activities | 100,000 VND (~$3.80) | 250,000 VND (~$9.60) | 500,000 VND (~$19.20) |
| Daily total | 650,000 VND (~$25) | 2,000,000 VND (~$77) | 6,500,000+ VND (~$250+) |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Hà Nội.
Emergency numbers: police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115. Most operators speak limited English, so ask a hotel to call for you.
Crossing the street: walk slowly and steadily at a constant pace; motorbikes will flow around you. Never stop or run mid-street.
Motorbike snatch theft occurs in the Old Quarter; carry the phone and bag on the side away from the road and do not walk holding a phone at the curb.
Use Grab or Xanh SM electric taxis, or well-known taxi brands such as Mai Linh and Vinasun, instead of unmarked cabs. Taxi meter scams are common outside the airport.
Agree the price before a cyclo or motorbike taxi ride or use a fixed-price app.
Drink bottled water and eat where locals queue; ice in restaurants is generally commercially made and safe, but avoid it at very informal stalls if you have a delicate stomach.
Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly advised; quality hospitals include Vinmec International Hospital (458 Minh Khai Street, hotline 1900 2388) and the French Hospital of Hanoi (1 Phuong Mai Street, +84 24 3577 1100).
Air pollution peaks October to February; check an air-quality app and use a mask when the AQI is over 150.
Take the hotel's business card with the address in Vietnamese to show taxi drivers.
Most nationalities can apply online for a 90-day e-visa at evisa.gov.vn, and citizens of a number of countries are visa-exempt for 14 to 45 days depending on nationality. Requirements change, so confirm with the Vietnam Immigration Department or your nearest embassy before traveling.
October to December and March to April offer the most comfortable weather, with mild temperatures and lower humidity. Summer (June to August) is hot, humid, and rainy, while January and February are cool and drizzly, and the Tết holiday closes many shops for several days.
The distance is about 30 km. Options are the public bus 86 (about 45,000 VND, or ~$1.75, to the Old Quarter and railway station), a Grab car (roughly 250,000-350,000 VND, or ~$9.60-13.50), or a metered taxi. The trip takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.
Hà Nội is the birthplace of phở, and is also known for bún chả (grilled pork with rice noodles), chả cá (turmeric fish with dill), bún riêu, bánh cuốn, and cà phê trứng (egg coffee). Many of the best dishes are served at small street stalls for 40,000 to 80,000 VND (~$1.55-3.10).
The top attractions include Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, and the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum complex. The Hỏa Lò Prison, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre are also widely visited.
The cities below have their own guides — hotels, attractions and where to eat, in depth.
