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Hà NộiNorthern Vietnam21.03° N · 105.85° E
A thousand years of history, wrapped around lakes, temples and the best street food in Vietnam. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
Hanoi has been the heart of Vietnam since 1010, when Emperor Ly Thai To moved his court here and named it Thang Long, the City of the Ascending Dragon. A thousand years later the capital still wears its history openly: Confucian temples and pagodas sit beside French colonial villas, wide boulevards and narrow tube houses, all wrapped around a scattering of tranquil lakes.
At its centre is Hoan Kiem Lake, where the city gathers at dawn for tai chi and again at dusk for a stroll. Just north lies the Old Quarter, a maze of 36 streets once named after the goods made on them. It is the best place in Vietnam to eat on the street, from a morning bowl of pho to bun cha at lunch and an egg coffee in a hidden café.
Most travellers spend two or three nights in Hanoi before heading out to the limestone bays of Ha Long and Lan Ha, the rice fields of Ninh Binh or the mountains of Sapa. Use this guide to plan what to see, what to eat, where to stay and when to come.
Every journey below is private and tailor-made, so you can spend longer in the capital or head straight out to the bays and mountains.
We tailor every trip. Want more time in Hanoi, a different pace or a mix of places? Design my trip →
How our local guides would spend one unhurried day in the capital, from sunrise by the lake to street food after dark.
Join locals doing tai chi, dancing and jogging as the mist lifts off the lake and the red Huc Bridge.
A steaming bowl of pho on a low plastic stool, the way Hanoi starts its day.
Built in 1070 and home to Vietnam's first national university, with quiet courtyards and stone stelae.
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace gardens and the tiny lotus-shaped pagoda.
Grilled pork, rice noodles and fresh herbs: Hanoi's favourite lunch.
Wander the 36 streets, then slow down over a creamy egg coffee, a Hanoi invention.
Watch the sky turn gold beside Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in the city.
A centuries-old art born in the rice paddies, then the lively streets around the lake.
The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
Cross the red Huc Bridge to the little temple on the lake, the calm heart of the city. Come at dawn to see Hanoi wake up.
Lanes still named for the silk, silver, paper and herbs once made on them. Best explored on foot or by cyclo.
Vietnam's first national university, with five peaceful courtyards and stone stelae carried by turtles.
A UNESCO World Heritage site where a thousand years of royal history lie beneath the gardens.
The country's most visited memorial, with the tiny lotus-shaped pagoda next door. Open mornings only.
A moving look at the city's colonial and wartime story, inside the walls of the old prison.
Life-size traditional houses from Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, set in a peaceful garden.
Taste bun cha, banh cuon and nem with a local foodie guide who knows every stall.
A creamy, sweet coffee invented in Hanoi in the 1940s, often served up a narrow staircase.
Cycle or stroll around Hanoi's largest lake to its oldest pagoda, beautiful at sunset.
Walk the century-old steel bridge over the Red River as trains rattle past.
A centuries-old art form on water, then the traffic-free streets around the lake on weekend evenings.
Plan your private, tailor-made Vietnam trip for 2027 now and get $100 off. Tell us your travel dream and we will design it with you.
Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm. Pick the one that sounds like you, or let us surprise you.
In the middle of the street food and the evening strolls around Hoan Kiem Lake. Busy, colourful and full of character.
Grand hotels and leafy boulevards around the Opera House, a short walk from the lake and the Old Quarter.
Quiet streets, cafés and sunset walks by the water, about 15 to 20 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Tell us your style and our consultants will hand-pick a stay you would never find on your own.
A restored heritage house, a quiet lakeside villa or a family-run boutique: we match the hidden gem to you, and reveal it with your itinerary.
Ask for a surprise stayNoi Bai International Airport has direct flights from across Asia and connections from Europe, Australia and beyond. Daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City take about two hours, and Hanoi is linked by rail and road with Hue, Da Nang and the north.
The Old Quarter and the lake are best explored slowly, on foot.
Best for: Old QuarterA pedal rickshaw ride through the 36 streets, relaxed and photogenic.
Best for: SightseeingApps such as Grab offer cars and motorbike taxis at fixed prices.
Best for: Short hopsIncluded on our journeys for sights further out and day trips.
Best for: Day tripsPlaces that pair well with Hanoi, with approximate travel times.
October to April is the most comfortable time. Autumn (October and November) and spring (March and April) are mild and pleasant. December to February is cool and sometimes drizzly, so pack a warm layer. May to September is hot and humid, with heavy but short showers.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppTwo full days cover the main sights at a gentle pace. Three lets you add a cooking class, a day trip or simply more time to eat. Most of our journeys pair Hanoi with Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay and Ninh Binh.
October to April is the most comfortable. Autumn and spring are mild and pleasant, while December to February can be cool and grey. May to September is hot and humid with heavy showers, though it is also greener and quieter.
Start with Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, then visit the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area. In the evening, catch a water puppet show and join a street food walk.
Pho for breakfast, bun cha for lunch, banh cuon, cha ca with dill, crispy nem spring rolls and an egg coffee in the afternoon. Busy stalls with plenty of locals are usually the best choice.
The Old Quarter suits first visits and food lovers, the French Quarter suits those who want elegant hotels and calmer streets, and West Lake suits families and longer stays. Your travel consultant will match the area to your style.
Hanoi is generally a safe and friendly city. Keep an eye on bags and phones in crowded places, agree prices before short rides, and take care crossing the road: walk slowly and steadily, and the traffic flows around you.
Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples, pagodas and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and take off your hat inside. A light scarf is handy in summer.
Noi Bai International Airport is about 45 minutes from the Old Quarter, longer at rush hour. Your travel consultant will arrange a private transfer with a name-sign welcome as part of your journey.
Tell us what you have in mind and a local travel specialist will design a private itinerary around you. Free, with no obligation.
Three quick questions and we will match you with the right journeys.
