Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam is a huge city full of cultural landmarks, historical sites, amazing food and drink options, and a plethora of things to do. Whether you are traveling with kids or a solo traveler, there is something in Hanoi that will peak anyone’s interest. If you are a foodie or prefer to visit local cafés and relax, then Hanoi has some of the best restaurants and cafés around. Hanoi is influenced by many cultures, the architecture of buildings in the Old Quarter alone is worth visiting. There are temples, UNESCO sites, city parks all sprinkled within the city. Whether you are spending a few days or a few weeks in Hanoi, this post explores some of our most recommended things to do in Hanoi.
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Hanoi, Vietnam is an incredible city with so many attractions, sites, cafés and restaurants. It can sometimes seem overwhelming on where to start when first exploring this city.
We spent a week in Hanoi and did everything from Hanoi day trips and puppet shows to checking out local breweries and touring popular attractions. Plain and simple, there is something to do for everybody in Hanoi. Hanoi has a great nightlife, unique cafés, and is located within driving distance from UNESCO sites like Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. Whether you are looking for must see attractions in Hanoi, fun things to do, or things to see at night, here is a list of our recommended things to do in Hanoi.
1. Admire the Innovative and Fascinating Mopeds
One of my favorite things to do in Hanoi was to just wait outside a shop while Jill was shopping and watch the mopeds zip by. I’d watch as hundred of mopeds would drive by me and admire the innovative ways they would load items on their mopeds.
You’d think you’d seen it all after watching a moped carrying over 20 water cases on it, then 5 minutes later you would see a moped driving with a huge tree on the left side and a ladder on the right side. I even saw a moped carrying 5 people at the same time.
2. Attend the Thang Long Water Puppet Show
If you are looking for things to do at night in Hanoi, I highly recommend attending the Thang Long Water Puppet Show.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Show blew my expectations out of the water. I typically don’t do these types of shows or theater performances but I heard great things about Hanoi’s famous water puppet show, prices were cheap, and it was near my hotel.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Show has multiple performances a day. I’d recommend getting tickets in advance or having your hotel purchase the tickets.
This particular water puppet show dates back to the 11th century. The puppets perform in a pool of water with a temple as the backdrop. The themes are based off of traditional folklore and stories.
3. Check out the Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Hanoi is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a complex of buildings from the 11th century. This was constructed during the Ly Dynasty as the seat of power and still plays an incredible role in the history of Hanoi.
Today, visitors can walk the grounds, see the famous Doan Mon or Main Gate. There are a few small museums on the grounds. When visiting Thang Long Imperial Citadel, I recommend walking across the street to see the archaeological site. This covered area displays the foundation of structures from the Ly and Tran dynasties.
4. Day Trip - Take One or Many
One of the best things about Hanoi is its location and access to amazing sites in Northern Vietnam. Just a few hours of driving from Hanoi, you can be in world famous places like Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh, both UNESCO sites.
From Hanoi you can also venture into the outdoors and do a hiking tour of Sapa or go see the Perfume Pagoda which we didn’t do but I heard a visit to the Perfume Pagoda is worth visiting!
If staying in Hanoi for multiple days, I recommend at least two days to fully explore the city and at least one day for day trips. We were lucky to spend an entire week in Hanoi and did a day trip to Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. We also did a half day motorbike tour.
5. Do Some Local Shopping, Support Local
What better way to support the local economy then to shop at small locally owned shops? Trust me, there are a ton of unique shops around Hanoi, especially in and around the Old Quarter.
I am not much of a shopper but I found many interesting shops to purchase local souvenirs and stuff to bring back home. Of course, you can find every shop imaginable from pottery shops to places selling fresh coffee beans. You can also find a lot of shops that custom tailor clothes, dresses, and even suits.
There was a shop called Collective Memory that was recommended to us by a friend and we loved it. We bought honey, pho seasoning, hot sauce, and Jill bought earrings here.
6. Don't Forget the Temple of Literature
If visiting the Thang Long Imperial Citadel or Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, it is highly recommended to visit the Temple of Literature as they are in the same area.
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi dates back to the year 1070 and is a Confucian Temple.
As an added bonus, the Temple of Literature is located on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese Dong bill.
7. Explore Hanoi's Old Quarter
One of the top things to do in Hanoi is to visit and spend time in the Old Quarter. The Old Quarter is a historical area located in the heart of Hanoi.
The Old Quarter is lined with French architecture, amazing restaurants, world class attractions, and luxurious hotels.
If you are wondering where to stay in Hanoi and start your journey, I recommend the Old Quarter. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is walkable and tourist friendly.
8. I guess, Take your Photo in Front of the Cathedral
I found St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi to be a beautiful European Neo-Gothic style Cathedral. It didn’t feel out of place since it’s located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
We must have walked by this cathedral a dozen times and each and every time there were crowds of people taking selfies and photos of themselves in front of the church. I guess, it’s all about that Instagram shot?
9. Learn Some History at the Vietnam Military Museum
If you are interested in Military History and historic battles, then a visit to the Vietnam Military Museum is well worth a visit.
This museum is home to military equipment, vehicles, and weapons that were used by the French, Vietnamese, and United States during historical wars.
There are both indoor and outdoor sections to this museum. Unfortunately, the day I went the inside was closed to visitors. But the outside was still open and they charged half price.
Apart from looking at the collection of military vehicles, weapons, and other artifacts, visitors can pay a visit to the Flag Tower of Hanoi.
10. Let the Kids Ride Around on Electric Vehicles
If looking for things to do in Hanoi for kids, then there seemed to be plenty of kid friendly activities. From city parks to street performers but one particular activity seemed to be a big hit with the children and that was driving electric cars around the Old Quarter.
During the weekends and potentially holidays, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake are closed off to motor vehicles and become pedestrian only, with the exception of electric vehicles for kids.
There were lines in front of shops of electric vehicles that are available to rent. I saw everything imaginable from tanks to sports cars. The kids all seemed to love it!
11. Make Time for Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda is a beautiful Buddhist temple located on a small island on West Lake. History of this temple dates back to 1,500 years ago.
We walked here from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and walked back to the Old Quarter from here. Out of all the temples we saw in Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda was my favorite. Between the palm trees, vibrant colors, and unique architecture Tran Quoc Pagoda was a highlight of our trip and highly recommended.
12. Order the Obama Combo at Bun Cha Huong Lien
I am a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain and on his Parts Unknown episode while in Hanoi he shared a meal with former President, Barack Obama. What I liked so much about this meal between the two was that they didn’t go to a fine dining restaurant like you’d expect. Instead, Anthony Bourdain stayed true to himself and picked a typical Vietnamese restaurant. You know the type, cheap beer, plastic seats, and standards that probably would not be up to par in the Western world.
The two sat on their plastic chairs at a restaurant just south of the old Quarter called Bun cha Huong Lien, and they ordered Bun Cha. Bun Cha is a meal that consists of grilled pork in a broth with noodles and greens.
I tend to watch Anthony Bourdain’s television shows before I go on a trip, so I marked it on my maps and ventured to Bun cha Huong Lien one evening for dinner. The restaurant wasn’t packed at the time as we were seated ight away. You can order the Combo Obama, which is what the former President and Anthony Bourdain ordered. It comes with 1 Bun Cha, 1 Fried Seafood Roll, and a beer. All for 120.000 Vietnamese Dong which comes out to just under $5. Any other place in the world they would uptick the price because someone famous visited. Food in Vietnam is so cheap, I am still amazed.
Today, the table and chairs where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain sat are encased in a plastic covering. You can walk up to the 3rd floor to see and take pictures.
13. Sample Food and Lots of it
Let’s be honest, the main reason I came to Hanoi was to eat Vietnamese food. I’ve had Vietnamese food in the United States and Japan but other then Banh Mi and Pho, I was clueless about the food culture and other types of food in Vietnam.
Jill and I took a food tour in Hanoi on our first day, we stopped at seven different restaurants and sampled various dishes. Each dish was so much different then the last. After the food tour, we gained confidence and ate out by ourselves.
We tried pizza at Pizza 4P’s, had Banh Mi sandwiches multiple times from local vendors making them fresh on the streets, and tried so many other dishes. Everything we ate was so refreshing and satisfying. They add fresh vegetables to most their dishes, so I felt I was eating somewhat healthy.
Food in Vietnam is dirt cheap as well. I’m talking $1-3 for some meals including a beer.
One of our favorite dishes in Hanoi was Nen Nuong Nha Trang at Nem Nuong Nha Trang Que Hoa. This was a platter with meat and piles of vegetables. You get rice paper and wrap the ingredients up like a burrito and dunk it in sauce.
14. See the Giant Turtles at Ngoc Son Temple
In the middle of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is Ngoc Son Temple. This Temple sits on an island on Hoan Kiem Lake. The temple itself is a beautiful Confucian temple. But the main reason I recommend the Ngoc Son Temple is to see and visit the preserved specimen Giant Softshell Turtles on display.
There are two giant softshell turtles here on display. The giant softshell turtles grow to be huge upward to 250 Kg. The first turtle passed away in the 1960’s and the second turtle passed away more recently in 2016. Currently, there are no known giant softshell turtles that live in Hoan Kiem Lake.
15. Spend the morning at Hoa Lo Prison, aka The Hanoi Hilton
Another place to visit in Hanoi that is a must is the Hoa Lo Prison otherwise known as the Hanoi Hilton.
I found Hoa Lo Prison to have a very sad history yet it was very interesting to visit. Hoa Lo Prison was built by the French in the late 1800’s. It was first built to house political prisoners. Afterwards it was used by the Vietnamese to keep US Prisoners of War.
During French occupation, the prison was in bad shape and the prisoners were kept in horrible conditions. Sicknesses were easily spread, food was limited, and the prison was at max capacity. On the other end, the US Prisoners of War seemed to have had much better conditions.
The name “Hanoi Hilton” was a name given to Hoa Lo Prison by US Prisoners of War.
16. Take a Hanoi City Food Tour
I highly recommend taking a Hanoi City Food Tour. I also recommend booking a tour on the first day or two of arrival. That way you can kind of figure out the food scene, what restaurants to look for, and learn a bit more about the food culture in Vietnam.
We booked a tour through Viator, and it was a night Food Tour. We met our guide in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and visited around 7-10 establishments. We went to a few restaurants and drinking establishments that were recommended by our food guide. Of course we tried the traditional Pho and Banh Mi sandwiches, but we also tried food that I’ve never heard of or seen.
The guide took us to small outside restaurants that I would have never found on my own. We found ourselves walking through narrow dark alley ways to find some of the best food places Hanoi has to offer!
17. Try the Coffee, Especially Egg and Coconut Coffee
Vietnamese Coffee is good, it’s unique, and it’s abundant. There are cafés all over Hanoi, you can’t walk a block without seeing 2-3 coffee shops, to me that is a good thing!
I like the traditional Vietnamese Coffee, but what stood out to me the most was the unique egg and coconut coffee. I even dedicated a whole post to it, 5 Mist Visit Cafés in Hanoi for Coffee Lovers if you want to learn more about the coffee and visit some highly recommended cafés in Hanoi.
To me, the coconut coffee was refreshing, perfect for a hot summers day while the egg coffee seemed more of a dessert with a strong shot of espresso.
18. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a Mausoleum dedicated to the beloved leader of Northern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. In fact, his embalmed body is located here.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is open to visitors where you can get a chance to see his preserved body. When visiting the Mausoleum, keep in mind there are strict rules. You must go through security, cover up, and be respectful!
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is free to visit and open from 8:00 am until 11:00 am. Closed on Monday and Friday
Conclusion
Hanoi is a fantastic city to explore with a plethora of things to do and see. From walking around the Old Quarter and grabbing a Banh Mi Sandwich to exploring the historical sites like the Temple of Literature and Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi has a lot to offer for any type of traveler. We spent a solid week in Hanoi and never ran out of places to see and things to do. If visiting Hanoi, I highly recommend at least 2 full days in the city with an extra day for a day trip to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh. If you are planning to visit Vietnam, add Hanoi to your itinerary!
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