After surveying over 10,000 foreign tourists visiting Hanoi, as a local tour guide, I will now give you a list of the 19 best things to do in Hanoi.
Besdies Top 21 things to do in Hanoi, you can find these articles below useful
I. Things to do & see IN Hanoi (Both Attractions & activities)
** Free Tour Guides
Free Local Guides are local university students taking travelers around Hanoi for free way to improve their English skills, travelers have chances of talking to locals and discovering Hanoi Capital to Many famouse site (Temple of literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi French Quarter)
Hanoi Free Tour Guides have got many 5 star-review on tripadvisor
Free Tour Guide reviewsStudent-led tours: Hanoi Free Local Tours offers a variety of city tours, all led by student volunteers. The group aims to provide visitors a better understanding of the city while giving Vietnamese students a chance to improve their English.
Free Tour Guide on Channel 8 Singapore (Video)
- Temple of Literature
If you want to the cultural signature of Vietnam then you have to go to Temple of Literature
Temple of Literature in Hanoi is not only a historical place representing the long progress of Vietnamese culture. It made a big contribution on both Confucian civilization in Vietnam and human culture in the world also. Temple of literature was ranked as the cultural and historical site on 28th April, 1962.
Information:
- Address: No.58 Quoc Tu Giam Street
- Opening hours: 7:30 – 18:00 from Monday to Friday and 8:00 – 21:00 from Saturday to Sunday
- Ticket Price: VND 30.000 (~$ 1.3)
- Recommended: Free Tour to Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature(Price $0) Hanoi Free Local Tours
Hanoi City Tour Map
2. Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh is considered as the great father of Vietnam, who dedicated his life to save the country from invaders.
The construction project started on the 2nd of September 1973 and completed on the 21st of August 1975.
When you come to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum at night , you will see a pretty and peaceful night space which attracts a lot of people’s eyes. It is Ba Dinh square that taking off and raising flag ceremonies are hold every morning and evening.
Information:
- Address: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District
- Opening days : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
- Opening hours : 07:30 -11:00
- Ticket Price: VND 25.000 (~$1)
Note:
- Dress code: No shorts or miniskirts.
- Other: Stay silent. No smoking, no arm cross. Only filming when allowed.
- Recommended: Hanoi City Tours (Price $0) With AZ Local NPO
3. Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake
Almost all travelers stay in the old quarter, this may take 10 minutes from your hotel to the first stop Hoan Kiem Lake (The Heart of Hanoi).
If your hotel is not in the old quarter, the best way to get the is taking a taxi (Uber or Grab are popular as well).
Activities: interesting cultural activities especially in the weekend – Walking Street (from Friday to Sunday)
Note:
- Dress code: No shorts or miniskirts.
- Other: Stay silent. No smoking, no arm cross. Only filming when allowed
- Recommended: Hanoi Free Walking Tours
4. Sightseeing from Long Bien Bridge
Interested in sightseeing?
Long Bien bridge becomes the usual spot for people to hang around at night. You might wonder what to do there?
Nothing could be better than seeing the Red River—while sitting in a small corner, eating some baked corns and potatoes by locals. It’s a cozy and relaxing experience.
5. Hoa Lo Prison
Maison Centrale in Hanoi, also known as Hoa Lo Prison or the ‘Hanoi Hilton’, housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and American POWs during the Vietnam War.
The fortress was once a vast colonial-style prison, most of which was torn down in the 1990s.
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 11:30 and 13:30 – 17:00
- Address: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Tel: +84 43 824 6358 Price Range: VND 30,000
- Recommended activities: Hanoi Free City Tour with HFLT
6. Visiting Hanoi Opera House
Inspired by the famous Opéra Garnier Theater in Paris, the Hanoi Opera House is actually a massive architectural work of its time
If you want to see the landmark of Hanoi—then you must check out The Opera House. The place is located in the French Quarter in Hanoi.
To get more about the Opera House
Information:
- Address: No.01 Trang Tien Street
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 22:00
- Ticket Price: VND 400.000 (~$20)
Or you can book a free tour for French Quarter Free French Quarter Walking Tour
7. A cup of special coffee
The top 1 drink in Hanoi, you should not miss, top 17 special coffee in the world, and Top 1 you will remember in Hanoi for a drink
- Recommended: Enjoy Hanoi Street Food Tour (Enjoy 7+ famouse dishes in Hanoi, Vietnam with Free Local Guide)
You can have the detailed information and get a free local guide to tell you information about Old Quarter Below.
This Hanoi walk takes us through the colonial architecture of the precinct known as the French Quarter. The Opera House, The Metropole Hotel, the Vietnam History Museum and other important architectural and historical landmarks are located here. And there are plenty of other interesting street scenes as well.
8. Shopping at Dong Xuan Market
If you are a shopaholic, you cannot miss Dong Xuan market – A paradise for shopping. Dong Xuan market is the busiest and most popular traditional market of Hanoi.
Information:
- Address: Dong Xuan Street.
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 18:00
Recommended: Hanoi Free Old Quarter Walking Tour
9. St.Joseph’s Cathedral
An Neo-Gothic Cathedral located in the heart of Hanoi Capital, Saint Joseph Cathedral is the representative evidence of the French colonial architecture.
Want to see some European construction?
You must go to St.Joseph’s Cathedral!
The church was built by the French in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.
Information:
- Address: No.40 Nha Chung Street
- Opening hours: Usually closed by noon
- Recommended: Hanoi Free Walking Tours
10. Visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda
If you love religious places then you should go to Tran Quoc pagoda.
Located on a small peninsula on West Lake, Tran Quoc is extremely magnificent. The pagoda is considered as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years. In 1962, Tran Quoc pagoda was listed as historical heritage of Vietnam.
Information:
- Address: Thanh Niên Street
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 20:00
Note:
- Dress code: No shorts or miniskirts.
- Other: Stay silent. No smoking, no arm cross. Only filming when allowed.
All things above are cover by Hanoi Free Tours with locals
Hanoi City Tours for Free
11. Visiting Museum of Ethnology
Are you interested in different cultures of vietnam?
If so then go to Museum of Ethnology .
Coming to Museum of Ethnology you get to see the traditional features of 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. You will learn about how different ethnics group carry out their marry, funeral, their clothing and their entertainment.
Information:
- Address: Nguyen Van Huyen Street
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 20:00
- Ticket Price: VND 40.000 (~$2)
- Recommended: Hanoi City Tours (Price $0) With AZ Local NPO
12. Visiting Bat Trang Village
Interested in Vietnam traditional porcelain?
Come and join pottery class—have an interesting experience in how to make pottery product by yourself.
Bat Trang Pottery Village has the longest tradition of making pottery in Vietnam. The pottery here is diverse in their styles and shapes. One of the best thing here is you can see for real the artisans making pottery. You can also create your own pottery products by joining a workshop.
Information:
- Address: Bat Trang Commune, Gia Lam District.
- Distance: 10km or 30 minutes by car/motorbike.
- Opening hours: 8:00 – 20:00
13. Drinking cold beer
Drinking cool beer is a common thing to do in Hanoi at night, it can also be considered the best thing to do in Hanoi at night.
Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Street are the most popular places to grab some beer. It’s always crowded at night when a lot of locals and foreigners enjoy beer together. Now it has become a gathering destination for party lovers. Grabbing some beer, feeling the music and having fun with locals and foreigners would be great to spend your night.
Information:
- Address: Ta Hien Street, Luong Ngoc Quyen Street
- Price: 20.000 VND (~$1)/glass or 80.000 VND (~$4) for a bottle
14. Watching Water Puppet Show in Hanoi
Interested in traditional cultural art?
You should see Water puppet show in Hanoi.
This traditional performing art has been existing for more than a thousand year. And now it has become the symbol of art of Vietnam. Water puppet show is a Vietnamese folk culture performing the life of Vietnamese farmers (catching fishes, tending buffalo, cultivating …) or historical legends.
Information:
- Address: 57b Dinh Tien Hoang Street
- Opening hours: 15:30, 17:00, 18:30, 20:00, 21:15 and Sunday at 09:30
- Ticket Price: Around VND 60.000-100.000 (~$3- 5)
15. Visiting Skyline Observation Deck
Want to explore a different view of Hanoi?
Go to Hanoi Lotte observation deck, which is near by Skywalk. Standing on the 65th floor of Lotte center, at that height, you can clearly see the beautiful and sparkling view of Hanoi.
Information:
- Address: 54 Lieu Giai Street (Lotte Center buiding), Ba Dinh district.
- Ticket Price: 200.000 VND (~$9)
16. Eating Street food
If you are a true foodie then you must go to Hang Buom Street at night. You could not imagine how many things you could do and could eat there.
At night, there are many kinds of tasty Street food being served in every single corners. There are so many kinds of food for you to try including: barbecued beef, Che, Banh Troi Tau, hot pot and so on. Nothing could be better than having some food while walking on the Street enjoying your night.
Information:
- Address: Hang Buom Street
- Ticket Price: VND 20.000-30.000/dish (~$1,5)
II. Things to around & Out of Hanoi
17. Visiting Ninh Binh Province
Trang An complex in Ninh Binh is the best choice for busy travelers. Just one day tour package includes dozens of must-see sites.
Trang An now draws more and more attention to its tourism activities. The tour covers religious worship, history, boating, excavation learning, and an optional cycling choice for those who loves biking.
- Address: Ninh Binh Province
- Distance: 100km from Hanoi, 2.5 hours by car/bus
- Ticket Price: VND 200.000/pax (~$8) for boating.
- Recommended Tour: Hoa Lu Tam Coc (Ask for advice from them they are top.1 Tour operator in Ninh Binh)
18. Visiting Ha Long Bay
As one of the top things to do in the northe Vietnam, recommended by Tripadvisor Halong Bay is totally worthy
Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bay is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam’s number one tourism hub.
—
Losts of travelers do not know How many days they should spend in Halong Bay
Activities to do in Ha Long bay includes: Floating on the boat, visiting caves, sun set party, cooking class, enjoying kayaking to discover Halong Bay…
Information:
- Address: Quang Ninh Province
- Distance: 180 km from Hanoi or 4 hours by bus
- Recommended: Day trip: Halong Bay one day tour
Tips to Choose Halong Bay Cruises
- Visiting Sapa
The natural landscape of Sa Pa is combined with people’s creativity along with the terrain of the mountains, the green of the forest.
The picture of Sa Pa is arranged in a harmonious arrangement to create a region with many romantic poetry and attractive scenes
Information:
- Address: Lao Cai Province
- Distance: 317km from Hanoi or 5 hours by bus.
You’ve seen all 21 things to do in Hanoi and around.
With this list – from now on – you won’t be run out of things to do in Hanoi.
And other 8 best Hanoi Travel Agencies
Let’s grab your belongings and start your journey.