Tour riêng và hành trình thiết kế theo yêu cầu khắp Việt Nam

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Northern Vietnam

Hanoi

A thousand years of noise and quiet.

21.03° N, 105.85° EVietnam

Introducing Hanoi

Vietnam's capital, where lakeside temples, French boulevards and Old Quarter street kitchens share a few blocks.

Hanoi wakes early. By six the paths around Hoan Kiem Lake are full of people doing tai chi, badminton and slow laps, and the first pots of pho broth have been simmering for hours. The Old Quarter's narrow streets still carry the names of the goods once sold on them: silk, paper, tin. Each block has its own rhythm of motorbikes, hawkers and plastic stools.

Walk a few streets south and the city changes register. Wide, tree-lined avenues lead past ochre colonial villas, the Opera House and quiet pagodas. Hanoi rewards slow wandering more than a checklist. Give it two days and it starts to feel like a place you know.

Walk a few streets south and the city changes register.
Hanoi · Northern Vietnam
Overhead view of a vendor in a conical hat pushing a bicycle loaded with durians over fallen leaves, Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam

Why go

Reasons to go

  1. 01

    The best street food in the north

    Bun cha grilled over charcoal at lunch, pho for breakfast, banh cuon rolled to order. Much of Hanoi's cooking happens on the pavement, and it is very good.

  2. 02

    History you can walk through

    The Temple of Literature dates to the 11th century. The Old Quarter, the French Quarter and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex are all a short drive apart.

  3. 03

    The gateway to the north

    Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and the rice terraces of Sapa are all reachable from Hanoi, which makes it the natural start for any northern journey.

Things to do

What to do in Hanoi

  1. 01

    Early morning at Hoan Kiem Lake

    Join the city's dawn exercise crowd, cross the red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, then find a pho stall before the heat and traffic build.

  2. 02

    A street food walk with a local

    Follow a guide through the Old Quarter for bun cha, nem and banh mi, and stop at a corner for a glass of bia hoi, Hanoi's famously cheap fresh draught beer.

    Worker in a conical hat arranging fans of pink incense sticks drying at Quang Phu Cau village
  3. 03

    Egg coffee up a narrow stairwell

    Egg coffee was first made in Hanoi: whipped yolk and sugar over strong robusta. The best cups are served in small upstairs rooms, some looking over the lake.

  4. 04

    Water puppets and the Temple of Literature

    Water puppetry grew out of the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. Pair a show with a morning at the Temple of Literature, home to Vietnam's first national university.

Before you go

The practical details

Hanoi has four distinct seasons. Autumn (Oct–Nov) and spring (Mar–Apr) are the most comfortable for walking the city.

Best time to visit

Oct–NovAutumn
Clear skies, low humidity and warm days. Many Hanoians consider this the city's finest season.
Dec–FebWinter
Cool and often grey, with drizzle and evenings cold enough for a jacket. Tet, the Lunar New Year, usually falls in late January or February.
Mar–AprSpring
Mild and humid, with light rain and trees coming into flower along the lakes.
May–SepSummer
Hot and humid, with heavy afternoon storms. Save outdoor walking for early morning and evening.

Getting there

By air
Noi Bai International Airport has direct flights from across Asia and beyond. The drive to the Old Quarter usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.
By rail
The north-south railway connects Hanoi with Hue, Da Nang and Saigon. Overnight sleeper trains also run to Lao Cai for Sapa.
By road
Private transfers reach Ninh Binh in about two hours and the Ha Long Bay cruise ports in roughly two and a half hours by expressway.

Local tips

  • 01Cross the road at a slow, steady pace. Motorbikes will flow around you; stopping suddenly or running is what causes trouble.
  • 02Temples and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum have dress codes. Cover shoulders and knees.
  • 03The streets around Hoan Kiem Lake close to traffic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and the neighborhood turns into a promenade.
  • 04Carry small notes for street food and cafes. Cards work in most hotels and restaurants, far less often on the pavement.

Good to know

Visiting Hanoi

How many days do I need in Hanoi?

Two full days covers the Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature, the lake and a proper street food evening. Add a third if you want a slower pace or a day trip to a craft village.

Is Hanoi's street food safe to eat?

Busy stalls with high turnover are generally a good bet, since food is cooked fresh and eaten fast. If you have allergies or dietary needs, tell us when you enquire so we can plan around them.

What should I wear in Hanoi?

Light, breathable clothes for most of the year, plus a warm layer from December to February. Pack something that covers shoulders and knees for temples and the mausoleum.

Can I combine Hanoi with Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh?

Yes, and most travelers do. Our six-day Da Nang, Hoi An and Hanoi journey takes in Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh back to back, and the five-day Hanoi and Ha Long Bay trip pairs the capital with the bay. Either route can be adjusted to suit your pace.

If you want a route

Journeys through Hanoi

6 of our journeys include Hanoi. Every route can be reshaped around how you want to travel.

Khám phá tour
6 days

Da NangHoi AnHanoi +2

Da Nang, Hoi An & Hanoi

Central Vietnam and the north in six days: Hoi An's old town and Ba Na Hills, then a flight to Hanoi for an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay and a full day in Ninh Binh.

  • 6 days, 5 nights
  • Private journey
  • 5 places
View journey
5 days

HanoiHa Long BayLan Ha Bay +1

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Craft Villages

Five days in the north: a water puppet show, an overnight cruise through Lan Ha Bay, Hanoi's lakes and Old Quarter by cyclo, and a day in the incense, conical hat and pottery villages.

  • 5 days, 4 nights
  • Private journey
  • 4 places
View journey
2 days

HanoiHa Long Bay

Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise

Out of Hanoi on the expressway and a night on the bay: Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, a sunset party, and tai chi on the sundeck at dawn.

  • 2 days, 1 nights
  • Private or small group
  • 2 places
View journey

Ready for Hanoi?

Tell us how you like to travel and we'll build it into a journey that fits.