Top Things To Do in Hanoi Rankings
The best attractions, experiences, and things to do in Hanoi.
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Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple — the jade-green lake at the heart of Hanoi, morning Tai Chi—
The Old Quarter (36 Streets) — the medieval merchant quarter, each street named for its trade—
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum — the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh, a pilgrimage for Vietnamese—
Ho Chi Minh Museum — the life and legacy of Vietnam's founding father—
One Pillar Pagoda — the 11th-century lotus blossom pagoda, one of Vietnam's most iconic images—
Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) — Vietnam's first university, founded 1070, beautiful garden complex—
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — the finest museum in Vietnam, exploring the 54 ethnic groups—
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum — three floors of Vietnamese art from prehistoric to contemporary—
Vietnam Women's Museum — the story of Vietnamese women in war, culture and society—
Vietnam Military History Museum — the definitive account of Vietnam's extraordinary military history—
Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) — the French colonial prison where American POWs were held—
St. Joseph's Cathedral — the Gothic cathedral in the heart of the Old Quarter—
The French Quarter — elegant colonial boulevards, the Opera House and finest restaurants—
Hanoi Opera House — the restored 1911 French opera house, attend a performance—
Long Bien Bridge — the 1902 French colonial bridge over the Red River, walk or cycle across—
West Lake (Ho Tay) — the largest lake in Hanoi, temples and upscale restaurants—
Tran Quoc Pagoda — the oldest pagoda in Hanoi on an islet in West Lake, beautiful at sunset—
Quan Thanh Temple — the black bronze deity in an ancient Taoist temple by West Lake—
Bat Trang Pottery Village — the thousand-year-old ceramic village, make your own—
Van Phuc Silk Village — the traditional silk weaving village just outside Hanoi—
Pho at Pho Bat Dan or Pho Thin — Hanoi pho is simpler, cleaner and finer than southern style—
Bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien — Obama and Bourdain made this grilled pork noodle famous—
Banh mi from a street cart — the Vietnamese baguette, extraordinary and cheap—
Cha ca La Vong — the Hanoi specialty, turmeric-marinated fish with dill, at the 120-year-old restaurant—
Nem ran (fried spring rolls) — the northern Vietnamese version, different from the south—
Bun bo nam bo — cold rice vermicelli with beef, the Hanoi lunch—
Egg coffee at Cafe Giang — the 1946 invention of a bartender who ran out of milk—
Bia hoi corner in the Old Quarter — the world's cheapest beer at a street-corner pub—
Street food breakfast in the Old Quarter — pho, banh cuon or xoi at the pavement stalls—
Night market in the Old Quarter — Friday to Sunday, Hang Dao Street closed to traffic—
Dong Xuan Market — Hanoi's largest covered market, four floors of wholesale and retail—
Hom Fabric Market — the best place to buy fabric and have clothes made in Hanoi—
Day trip to Ha Long Bay — UNESCO World Heritage limestone karsts, best by overnight cruise—
Day trip to Ninh Binh — Ha Long Bay on land, rice paddies and river boat through karsts—
Day trip to Sapa — the dramatic terraced rice fields and hill tribe villages—
Day trip to Perfume Pagoda — the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in North Vietnam—
Day trip to Duong Lam Ancient Village — the best-preserved ancient Vietnamese village—
Hanoi weekend mornings — the Old Quarter streets close to traffic, the whole city walks and cycles—
Water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre — a uniquely Vietnamese art form—
A Cyclo (rickshaw) tour of the Old Quarter — the most atmospheric way to see the ancient streets—
Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn — elderly Vietnamese doing Tai Chi, badminton and aerobics by the water—
The Hanoi Social Club — the best brunch and live music venue in Hanoi—
Manzi Art Space — Hanoi's most important independent contemporary art space—
The Note Coffee — the extraordinary walls and ceiling entirely covered in messages—
Mao's Red Lounge — the most atmospheric cocktail bar in the Old Quarter—
Tadioto — the legendary bar and restaurant by artist Nguyen Qui Duc—
Shopping for lacquerware and silk in the Old Quarter — the finest traditional Vietnamese crafts—
Watching Hanoi morning traffic from a café balcony — the organised chaos of motorbikes—
An evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake — when the lake is lit and the city breathes—
Lunar New Year (Tet) in Hanoi — the entire city transforms, flowers everywhere—