Best Things to Do in Hanoi

Hanoi is a must-see city when taking a Vietnam tour. As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a city of modernity and classical beauty, where visitors can enjoy a feast of delicious food and breathtaking scenery, and feel the simple customs that welcome visitors from abroad. Hanoi's comfortable living atmosphere is charming, and its slow-paced lifestyle is enjoyable as well.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh, the main founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, was highly respected by the Vietnamese people for his lifelong commitment to the cause of the liberation of Vietnam and his leadership of the revolution. Therefore, the Vietnamese people regard Ho Chi Minh's tomb as a sacred shrine of great historical value.

The interior of the mausoleum is decorated with Ho Chi Minh quotes made of gold and the national and communist flags made of rubies, which are of great value. All the decorations and materials used in the construction of the mausoleum came from different regions of Vietnam, which shows the unity of the Vietnamese people and the common feeling of remembrance of Ho Chi Minh.

Before entering the mausoleum, you need to pass your accompanying parcels through the security check and hand over your mobile phone, camera and other electronic products to the guards before you can get them back when you leave.

Stroll Around the Old Quarter

The atmosphere displayed in the Old Quarter is representative of Vietnamese customs, and while there are some modern elements, many of the streets still hold on to the heritage of traditional craftsmanship.

In addition to these traditional handicraft products, another highlight of the Old Quarter is the authentic Vietnamese food specialties. Here are a few recommended store specialties - steamed fish in banana leaves and fried pilaf, beef in bamboo or duck in coconut sauce, grapefruit salad and beef in coconut sauce.

You can also visit Hanoi Bach Ma Temple, but be careful to dress appropriately and respect the life of the monks inside the temple.

Hanoi Old Quarter

Walk Around Hoan Kiem Lake

The environment of Hoan Kiem Lake is very quiet and peaceful, and it is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the beautiful scenery, which is a rare place in Vietnam. Locals sometimes come here for relaxation before starting their workday, or they may come here to enjoy the quietness during their free time on weekends. Even during the nighttime, Hoan Kiem Lake is still active.

Most parts of Hoan Kiem Lake are open to the public 24 hours a day and do not require a fee to enter.

The Turtle Tower (which can only be seen from a distance and cannot be entered) and the Hoek Bridge are famous here, and visitors from far away can come and visit them.

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Visit the Ngoc Son Temple

The Ngoc Son Temple was built to commemorate the military leader Tran Hung Dao and is located in a location by the lake. Therefore it is a building rich in monumental and historical value, where foreign visitors can come to learn about the history of Vietnam and the story related to the important figure Tran Hung Dao.

Some of the places to visit around Ngoc Son Temple are Hoan Kiem Walking Street and Ly Thai Thao Garden(Both are just a few minutes' walks from Ngoc Son Temple). Visitors can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of these places to experience the local customs and culture of Vietnam. In Hoan Kiem Walking Street, visitors can watch street performers, taste special food, and participate in traditional entertainment activities of local people. Ly Thai Thao Garden is filled with singing and dancing, which will catch your attention.

Ngoc Son Temple

See the St. Joseph's Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral is a sacred yet welcoming and warm place that opens its arms to visitors from all over the world, where we can get spiritual relaxation and soul nourishment.

The church has a distinctive style, typical of Vietnamese Gothic architecture, with a high dome and stained glass windows, and an asymmetrical architecture that has a special beauty when viewed from the outside. The interior of the church is painted in soft colors, mostly in beige, which makes people feel comfortable. The reliefs on the lintel and ceiling of the church are also full of a religious atmosphere.

St. Joseph's Cathedral is a holy place for Christians. Here, the congregation recites the Bible and performs a series of activities on a daily basis. If you believe in Christianity, you can attend some religious activities here, such as concerts, benediction and other ceremonies, in which you can feel the power that faith brings us.

Indulge in the Street Food

Vietnam has many local street food specialties that are both unique and delicious. Here are some of the recommended foods to try.

The first is Pho Cuon, which is a Vietnamese-style burrito. It is made by wrapping a variety of ingredients such as fried beef, onion, lettuce, etc. with a special dipping sauce, which is very refreshing and appetizing, perfect for summer.

The second type is Vietnamese pho, which is a noodle soup. It is usually served with common ingredients such as beef or chicken, bean sprouts, and some basil to add flavor.

The third type is egg coffee. When hearing this novel name at first, many foreign travelers may find this combination strange, but this coffee is a popular drink in Vietnam. It is made up of strong coffee, egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk, butter and cheese, and has a sweet taste.

Watch A Water Puppet Show

The water puppet show is a unique art form in the treasure house of Vietnamese art, if you want to enjoy a water puppet show, then coming to Vietnam is your choice.

The stage of the water puppet is a waist-deep pool. Depending on the background of the story, the artists will decorate the stage in different ways. They make the puppets move lively to the beat of drums, music or songs by controlling them on the water. For many foreign visitors, this form of performance on the water is very new and worth seeing.

Water puppets are usually performed during traditional festivals, such as New Year, harvest and other important occasions. This form of performance is popular with a large number of locals and tourists. It is highly recommended for visitors to watch the show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

Water Puppet Show

Visit the Temple of Literature

The Vietnamese Temple of Literature, built in 1070, is a place of history and literary heritage. It is dedicated to Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher, as well as to the highly respected scholars of Vietnam, representing the admiration for the contributions of Eastern scholars.

The place is very peaceful and visitors will be impressed by the atmosphere of the place when they come to visit.

The Temple of Literature covers a total area of over 54,000 square meters and is surrounded by ancient brick walls, which shows how old this temple is. Nearly a thousand years have passed, but the Temple still retains its status.

Please pay special attention: don't wear super short skirts, tank tops or hats when entering the Temple of Literature!

Soak up Vietnamese Coffee

As a part of Vietnamese food culture, Vietnamese coffee is a classic that is essential to the experience. Based on traditional coffee, Vietnamese coffee adds its own unique creativity to make it a special food.

There are many types of representative and popular coffee in Vietnam, the following are the highlights: filter coffee (Ca Phe Sua Nong), yogurt coffee (Sua Chua Ca Phe), and egg coffee (Ca Phe Trung).

Vietnamese coffee brewing is entertainment and enjoyment, with a focus on mastering the use of filters. Coming to Hanoi as a foreign tourist, it is perfectly possible to come and have an experience and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Overnight Tour to Halong Bay

Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site recognized by the United Nations and one of the New Wonders of Nature in 2007, is visited by a large number of people every year.

Halong Bay has a tropical climate, so many tourists tend to choose to come here in spring and autumn because they can feel the relatively pleasant temperature.

Besides the beautiful scenery, Halong Bay is also home to many wild animals, including 450 species of mollusks and over 200 species of fish.

In Halong Bay, besides seeing the scenery, you can also watch the Beach Volleyball World Tournament that is held on Tuan Chau Island.

It is worth mentioning that Halong Bay also holds Halong Carnival in April or May every year at the 30th square in Halong City, Quang Ninh Province, which is a grand and lively celebration. It is highly recommended for foreign visitors to experience the joyful festival of Vietnam and feel the active atmosphere.

Halong Bay Cruise

Learn History at Hoa Lo Prison Museum

The Hoa Lo Prison Museum is a place full of history. It tells the history of the early war in Vietnam and shows the heroism of the prisoners who died bravely for the ideals of communism. When you enter the museum, you will feel the solemn atmosphere and the shock of the rich history.

The Hoa Lo Prison Museum was once a prison for prisoners of war and revolutionaries, which was very huge. While it was later renovated and turned into a museum for tourists, the overall structure of the place still maintains its former appearance and the structure has not changed much.

The Hoa Lo Prison Museum is a place that history enthusiasts will surely enjoy. Although today it no longer functions as a detention facility and is only a tourist attraction, the historical stories presented to people here, as well as the defiant spirit and patriotic ideals of the Vietnamese revolutionaries are something to admire and marvel at.

Visit One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda is a very famous attraction in Hanoi. Here, the building is built on a column 4 meters high and 1.2 meters in diameter, a construction that is hard to see in other places.

The design concept of One Pillar Pagoda is derived from the lotus flower, which is the appearance of a flower held on a tall stem. The lotus flower is the national flower of Vietnam, which shows the status of the One Pillar Pagoda in Vietnam and its pivotal role in carrying culture. At the same time, the pagoda's double dragons facing the moon symbolize the sacred power and the faith of the Vietnamese people.

The pagoda is a Buddhist shrine, so it is recommended for Buddhist believers to visit.

Explore and Photograph Hanoi Train Street

Hanoi Train Street has a history of over 100 years and it is a very novel experience to see the trains going by on this street.

The train street is lined with residential furnishings that match the train tracks in an unusual and unconventional way.

The buildings on both sides of the street are colorful and these buildings are for the locals to live in. The pace of life of the locals is not very fast and we can reap peacefulness here. In addition, these colorful buildings are a good backdrop for taking pictures, and visitors can take satisfying photos here.

Since this place is very popular, you can often see a crowd of people saving up. However, due to the crowds and the trains passing by, you need to take care of your safety. Since this place is very popular, you can often see a crowd of people saving up. However, due to the crowds and the trains passing by, you need to take care of your safety.

Hanoi Train Street

Take a Cooking Class

There are many specialties in Vietnam that are rich in local flavors and cannot be tasted in other countries. As a foreign tourist, if you want to learn how to make authentic Vietnamese dishes, you can enroll in a cooking course in Hanoi. In this way, you will learn how to cook Vietnamese food and then you can taste the authentic Vietnamese cuisine through your own effort when you return home.

Cooking courses in Hanoi include a variety of contents, such as the method of making egg coffee, the process of making special vegetarian food, the skills of making wine at home and so on. The classes are mostly billed by the hour, so you don't have to worry about having too many classes to complete during your trip, which is perfect for foreign tourists.

Discover the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi contains a rich and attractive collection of exhibits that encompass the culture of different ethnic groups in Vietnam.

The Museum of Vietnamese Ethnology is divided into two parts: an indoor exhibition and an outdoor exhibition. The indoor section focuses on the introduction of each ethnic group, giving visitors a general understanding of each ethnic group first. The outdoor part focuses on natural landscapes, including native trees, streams, bridges, etc. This landscape full of Vietnamese characteristics provides foreign visitors with a more vivid way to further understand the ethnic culture of Vietnam.

Explore Hanoi with Odynovo

Hanoi is a popular tourist city and is a great destination for many foreign tourists taking Vietnam tours. If you come to Hanoi, you must experience the local culture, taste the special snacks, and feel the local customs of Vietnam, then you will definitely return with a full heart.

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