Ranked as one of the top 5 most attractive cities in Asia by the American magazine Travel Leisure, Hanoi has always been a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists when traveling to Northern Vietnam.
Getting Around
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, so transportation is convenient and easy to get around. You can choose to travel by motorbike, car, train, or plane depending on the distance between your starting point and Hanoi, as well as your budget. This is suggests airfare prices for some popular routes to Hanoi:
- Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi: 1,400,000 VND - 2,000,000 VND
- Da Nang - Hanoi: 900,000 VND - 1,500,000 VND
- Nha Trang - Hanoi: 1,400,000 VND - 2,000,000 VND
(Prices above include taxes and fees; prices may vary depending on the flight time and date.)
Tourist Attractions
There are many tourist attractions in Hanoi; here are 5 of the places you should visit:
Hoan Kiem Lake:
Located right in the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake resembles a giant emerald mirror, surrounded by sturdy ancient trees and interspersed with small willow trees drooping down to the lake's surface. The area around the lake is home to a cluster of other famous tourist attractions with significant historical importance, such as the Pen Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, Turtle Tower, and The Huc Bridge.
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Hanoi Old Quarter
No matter how busy anyone is, a visit to Hanoi's Old Quarter is a must. Comprising 36 streets, the Old Quarter possesses a charming, ancient, and welcoming atmosphere. Most streets specialize in selling different goods. For example, Hang Bac Street is dominated by shops selling exquisite silver jewelry, while Hang Chieu Street offers a wide variety of mats, blinds, and carpets.
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Temple of Literature and National University
As Vietnam's first university, the Temple of Literature holds immense historical, cultural, and educational significance for a nation with a thousand years of civilization. Students and candidates often come here before exams to pray for good luck and success in their studies and examinations.
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Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is where President Ho Chi Minh's remains are kept. It is only open five days a week to welcome visitors from all over the country to pay their respects and express their gratitude to him. Visitors are required to dress respectfully, bring light belongings, and maintain order inside the mausoleum.
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Bat Trang Pottery Village:
Located about 20km from the center of Hanoi, Bat Trang pottery village is famous for producing high-quality and exquisitely crafted ceramic products. Here, visitors have the opportunity to try their hand at making their own ceramic items or buy beautiful ceramics as souvenirs at very affordable prices.
Hanoi cuisine
During a trip to Hanoi, visitors will undoubtedly be captivated by the city's specialties. The first dish to mention is Hanoi Pho, with its fragrant, mild broth that isn't overly sweet, and thinly sliced meat that will satisfy even the most discerning diners. Next is La Vong fish cake, famous for its elaborate preparation using various spices and herbs. Rice rolls are also a very popular Hanoi dish. The rolls are thinly made, filled with minced meat and wood ear mushrooms, and topped with fried shallots. They are eaten with a diluted sweet and sour fish sauce, making them easy to eat and not at all greasy.