Things to do in HANOI
Below are the things we were able to get through during our stay in Hanoi:
Train Street, Hoan Kiem
Once in the afternoon - 3:30pm
Hanoi is only complete once you have visited Train Street. This popular attraction allows you to wait on the side of train tracks with a coffee, waiting to be inches from a passing train.
The online times are confusing as they all say different things, but we can confirm that a train goes through at 3:30pm.
There are two main entrances to Train Street: the north, where Google will suggest Train Street is (Coffee 64 Pho Phung Hung) and the south (Ca Phe So 10 Pho Duong Tau – Kham Thien) which is slightly out of the way.
The north end is a lot more chaotic. It has guards who pressure you, along with those who own the coffee shops, into quickly finding somewhere to sit. The south end is a lot more relaxed and welcoming, and you can freely walk along the tracks without any problems.
Vietnam Military History Museum & Hanoi Flag Tower, Ba Dinh
8am-11:30am & 1pm-4:30pm
40,000VND per person
Vietnam Military History Museum is an exciting exhibit featuring detailed information, weapons, and photographs of wars against China, France, and the United States.
For the price and wealth of information, this is a museum that should not be missed. For a lover of military history, you can spend half a day or even a whole day here - it has that much!
The Hanoi Flag Tower, located inside the museum's grounds, is an observation post that symbolises Hanoi and provides a great view of the city.
Temple of Literature, Dong Da
8am-5pm
30,000VND per person
Covered shoulders and knees
The Temple of Literature is one of Hanoi’s most remarkable sights and is Vietnam’s first university. Established in 1070, it aimed to educate nobles and scholars on Confucian principles and values. In one of many structures, there is an abundance of information outlining Confucianism itself, but honestly, a large quantity of information went straight over our heads. This is why we recommend getting an audio guide to highlight the most significant information and to block out the crowds of people. Despite our little understanding, the complex is worth seeing - multiple courtyards, imposing gates, and magnificent architecture.
Vietnam National Fine Art Museum, Ba Dinh
8:30am-5pm
40,000VND per person
Vietnam National Fine Art Museum is a grand building minutes from the Temple of Literature. The museum allows an insight into Vietnamese culture and provides a respite from the chaos outside. During our visit, we visited four floors, all of which have very different artistic styles. The bottom floor displayed a collection of artefacts and objects dating back thousands of years, while the other floors displayed paintings and sculptures of various mediums.
Hoa Lo Prison, Hoan Kiem
8am-5pm
30,000VND per person
Hoa Lo Prison, formerly the most extensive French colonial prison in Vietnam, is now a museum sharing the cruel and brutal punishments that the French imposed on Vietnamese prisoners. The intention was to imprison any Vietnamese who were to threaten the French regime, even if it meant wavering conditions. Built to house 500 inmates, 50 years later in 1954, it housed 2,000 American prisoners during the Vietnam/American War.
St Joseph’s Cathedral, Hoan Kiem
Monday-Friday 5:30pm & 6:15pmSaturday 6pmSunday 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 4pm, 6pm, & 8pm
Appropriate clothing requested
St Joseph’s Cathedral is a Catholic gothic-style church in the Old Quarter. Originally the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda, St Joseph's Cathedral was reconstructed as a cathedral during the French colonial period. The first time we visited it was in late December, which meant the area had been decorated with Christmas decorations, including an enormous tree, wreaths, and a large nativity scene.Do note that you can enter but only during ceremonial times.
Tran Quoc Pagoda, Tay Ho
7:30am-11:30am & 1:30pm-5:30pm
Tran Quoc Pagoda is a beautiful complex situated on the edge of Truc Bach Lake. From walking along the riverside towards the gated entrance to the glossy golden statue to the Bodhi tree, the whole experience is memorable. This pagoda is known most famously for being the oldest in the city of Hanoi and housing a stunning 11-storey stupa. Red in colour and shaped like a hexagon, each storey presents six doorways displaying a Buddha statue.
Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem
8am-6pm
30,000VND per person
Covered shoulders and knees
Ngoc Son Temple is a Confucian/Taoism temple settled on a small patch of land on Hoan Kiem Lake. To enter this charming temple, cross over a visually captivating red bridge and walk through a gate decorated with a turtle and dragon. One of the two main areas was of great interest to us as it displayed the bodies of two giant turtles that once lived in this lake. If seeing huge turtles does not interest you, you may be interested in the other area, commemorating the 13th-century general.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba DinhApril 1st to October 31st 7:30am-10:30amNovember 1st to March 31st 8.00 am-11:00am
Covered shoulders and knees
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh. Because it is so significant to its people, it was decided that Ho Chi Minh’s body would be embalmed to allow the people to visit him when they wished. Despite the above times, we believe these are not set in stone. We attempted twice to get into the Mausoleum, but the times were forever changing, and we were unable to see Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body.
Presidential Palace, Ba Dinh
7am-4pm
40,000VND per person
The Presidential Palace is located in the Ho Chi Minh complex (which includes the Mausoleum) and is recognisable by its bright yellow colour and European architecture. The palace itself is closed to tourists, but the ground holds various buildings displaying items linked to President Ho Chi Minh. These include a wooden stilt house where he lived, a house where he worked, and a garage that housed his cars.
Day Trip to Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is an archipelago, 2 hours from Hanoi, known for its limestone mountains and emerald-green water. This area provides picturesque views and offers opportunities to kayak, venture into caves, and explore floating villages. We paid about £41 per person for a tour through GetYourGuide but we would not recommend doing this specific tour. If you want to see Halong Bay, splurge and stay overnight on a luxury cruise. The experience will be so much better!
Ha Giang Loop Tour, Ha Giang
Cheers Hostel
$199 per person for a 3-day tour
The Ha Giang Loop is a journey of a lifetime and an unforgettable experience. It is a circular route of North Vietnam highlighting some of the country’s most scenic landscapes. What makes the experience even more extraordinary is travelling by motorbike with the option to drive yourself or have a driver.
Alongside stunning scenes of mountains and small villages, you are immersed in life as a Hmong from the food they eat to the places they live. During our visit, it was late December and their off-season. This meant it was cheaper, and the group size was much smaller, but the disadvantage was freezing. I cannot recommend this activity enough. We would do this again in a heartbeat.
Accommodation in HANOI
Below are four accommodations we stayed in during our extended stay in Ha Noi:
Graffiti House, Hoan Kiem - GREAT
Pros:
Super soft bed sheets
Spacious room
Cons:
Noise traffic
Time curfew
= £21.05 per night
Hanoi Hanvet Hotel, Hoan Kiem - OKAY
Pros:
Great location
Cheap as chip
Cons:
Construction ongoing
Inconsistent service
= £14.51 per night
20 Hotel and Apartment, Ba Dinh - GOOD
Pros:
Lovely staff
Nice pristine bathroom
Cons:
No view
Lacking facilities
= £24.92 per night
Dream Central Hotel, Hoan Kiem - GOOD
Pros:
Quiet area
Spacious room
Cons:
No window view
Lacking character
= £23.10 per night
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