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Vietnam
Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter's street food, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison, with Ha Long Bay and Trang An a day trip away.
The best of Hanoi, according to 3 travel creators
We read 3 Hanoi itineraries and counted which places come up again and again. Higher on the list means more creators recommend it.
Save to PinterestBest things to do in Hanoi
1.Hanoi Train Street
Hoan Kiem3 of 3 creators recommendFree
Narrow residential strip with cafes where trains pass inches from homes.
Tip: Officially off-limits: Hanoi has banned business on the tracks since 2019 and cut train services in Feb 2026. The sanctioned view is from the cafe inside Long Bien station.
2.Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ba Dinh3 of 3 creators recommendFree
Granite mausoleum holding Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body, on Ba Dinh Square.
Tip: Mornings only; closed Mondays and Fridays. Cover shoulders and knees.
3.Hoa Lo Prison Relic
Hoan Kiem3 of 3 creators recommendfrom $1.93
Museum in the remaining gatehouse of the French-built prison later called the 'Hanoi Hilton'.
4.Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem3 of 3 creators recommendFree
Central lake with Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple.
6.Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Hoan Kiem3 of 3 creators recommendfrom $3.86
Theatre for traditional water puppetry, by Hoan Kiem Lake.
7.Ha Long Bay
Quang Ninh, about 170 km E of Hanoi2 of 3 creators recommend
UNESCO-listed bay of limestone karsts, visited by day trip or overnight cruise.
8.Hanoi Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem2 of 3 creators recommendFree
Dense grid of trade-named streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake.
9.Long Bien Bridge
Hoan Kiem / Long Bien2 of 3 creators recommendFree
Early-1900s steel cantilever bridge over the Red River.
10.Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem2 of 3 creators recommendfrom $1.16
Temple on an islet in Hoan Kiem Lake, reached by the red The Huc Bridge.
11.Temple of Literature
Dong Da2 of 3 creators recommendfrom $2.70
11th-century Confucian temple and site of Vietnam's first national university.
12.Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tay Ho2 of 3 creators recommendFree
Hanoi's oldest pagoda, on a small peninsula in West Lake.
13.Vietnam Military History Museum
Ba Dinh (old site) / Nam Tu Liem (new site)2 of 3 creators recommendfrom $1.55
National museum of Vietnam's military history, associated with the Hanoi Flag Tower.
Tip: The museum moved to a new building on Thang Long Boulevard in late 2024: check the address before you go.
14.Bach Ma Temple
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendFree
One of Hanoi's oldest temples, on Hang Buom Street.
15.Dong Xuan Market
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendFree
Hanoi's largest covered market, in the north of the Old Quarter.
Where to eat in Hanoi
1.Ta Hien Beer Street
Hoan Kiem2 of 3 creators recommendfrom $0.12
Old Quarter street of bia hoi stalls and bars around Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen.
2.Banh Cuon Ba Xuan
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $1.16
Old Quarter stall for steamed rice rolls.
4.Bun Bo Nam Bo Bach Phuong
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $2.32
Shop on Hang Dieu serving bun bo nam bo, a dry beef noodle salad.
5.Bun Cha 74 Hang Quat
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $1.93
Lunch-only Old Quarter shop for bun cha and crab spring rolls.
6.Bun Cha Huong Lien
Hai Ba Trung1 of 3 creators recommend
Bun cha restaurant known for the 2016 Obama and Bourdain meal.
7.Ca Phe Duy Tri
Tay Ho1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $0.97
Long-running cafe known for yogurt coffee.
8.Cafe Dinh
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $0.97
Upstairs cafe off Hoan Kiem Lake, known for egg coffee.
10.Cha Ca Thang Long
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $4.98
Restaurant serving cha ca, Hanoi's turmeric-dill fried fish.
Where to stay in Hanoi
1.Capella Hanoi
Hoan Kiem (French Quarter)1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $572/night
Opera-themed luxury hotel near the Opera House.
3.Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel
Hoan Kiem1 of 3 creators recommendfrom $4/night
Social Old Quarter hostel with free breakfast and a free-beer hour.
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