Hanoi is not only the capital of Vietnam, but also one of the world’s oldest cities. Its ancient past is everywhere you go, yet the events of the 20th century tend to dominate it. The ancient temples and fortifications here date back to at least the sixth century.
You start to see examples of Chinese and French colonial architecture the more you look around. It’s relaxing to the eyes and transports you to a new world.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Hanoi
Hanoi, like the rest of Vietnam, is a very fast-paced city. The honking of tens of thousands of scooters is a constant background noise. More so than a standard traffic light system, each one conveys information and defines priority.
Walking around Hanoi is an adventure in itself, with each new direction revealing more opportunities to experience the city’s rich culture, from traditional handicrafts to delectable cuisine.
Hanoi is a remarkable blend of Eastern and Western cultures. It’s a fascinating mix of Soviet block buildings, French colonial remnants, and Asian pagodas, and it’s full of exciting and unusual sights for the curious tourist.
1. Hoan Kiem Lake
This lake, located at the geographic heart of ancient Hanoi, is also known as the Lake of the Restored Sword. The name originates from a myth in which the gods bestowed a miraculous sword upon Emperor Le Loi, who then used it to defeat the invading Chinese.
Some time later, he was out on the lake in a boat when he was attacked by a big turtle, which promptly swallowed the sword and disappeared with it into the lake’s depths.
Before sunrise, locals gather on the beach to do traditional t’ai chi. Temple of the Jade Mountain, built in the eighteenth century, may be seen on Jade Island, which is located in the lake. The island may be accessed through the magnificent Morning Sunshine Bridge, which is painted a bright red.
2. Temple of Literature
The earliest university in the country was established here, and it also happens to be one of the Confucius temples. The temple was dedicated to all scholars when it was first constructed in 1070.
At the temple’s entrance today, calligraphers will be writing New Year’s greetings in Han characters to be distributed as gifts. The enormous grounds of the temple were designed to resemble the home where Confucius was born, and include five courtyards and numerous temples.
The Stelae of Physicians, a series of more than a hundred carved blue stone turtles that list the names of all those who pass the royal exams, are particularly noteworthy.
3. Hanoi Hilton (Hoa Lo Prison)
Originally constructed by the French to house Vietnamese political prisoners, Hoa Lo Prison was later jokingly dubbed the Hanoi Hilton by American POWs. During the Vietnam War, the facility was used by the North Vietnamese Army to imprison prisoners of war.
Famous people including Senator John McCain, James Stockdale, and Bud Day were among the numerous prisoners of war that were held here.
The prison was partially demolished to make way for the Hanoi Towers, with the remaining area being converted into a museum. The Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel opened in 1999 and was given a fitting name.
4. Presidential Palace
Some people believe that Ho Chi Minh actually resided in a modest stilt house beside his mausoleum in the 1960s, however others argue that it would have been too dangerous for him to do so during the war.
The home, which is a modern take on a rustic farmhouse, has been left exactly as Ho left it. It sits close to a pond stocked with carp in a beautifully landscaped yard.
The much grander Presidential Palace, constructed for the French Governor of the Indochina colony in the early 1900s, sits on the same grounds. Public access to the palace has been discontinued in favour of its use for official functions.
5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ba Dinh plaza, where Ho Chi Minh read Vietnam’s proclamation of independence in 1945, now serves as the site of his ultimate resting place.
It was designed to seem like a typical communal dwelling and was inspired by Lenin’s crypt in Moscow, yet many visitors mistake it for a bland concrete office building instead.
The embalmed body is on display in a plexiglass case, and visitors are asked to adhere to a clothing code that includes long trousers and sleeves, despite his wishes for a simple cremation. For a few months at year’s end, the mausoleum is inaccessible while the body is being serviced in Russia.
6. Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
An ancient kind of peasant theatre, originally performed in the rice fields over a thousand years ago, is being celebrated in this theatre. Traditional occupations, like as farming, or legends, such as the golden turtle and the emperor, were enacted by puppeteers using simple carved puppets and the water of the rice paddies as a prop.
Water and audience interaction are also used in this updated version. Puppets act out a story while musicians encourage the heroes and forewarn them using traditional Vietnamese instruments performing an opera to accompany the story.
Visitors to the theatre no longer have to stand in the rain during a performance of this old kind of drama; instead, they can relax inside with a meal and learn about it in comfort.
7. Vietnam Military History Museum
Although the Vietnam War’s events were tragic, they had a significant impact on America in the 20th and 21st century. The Vietnam Military History Museum is a great place to learn more about this important period in the country’s history.
The museum offers a unique perspective for visitors from other countries, especially the West. The conflict, as well as the engagements with the French, are examined from a regional perspective at the Military History Museum. A complete picture will emerge if your personal knowledge of these battles is added to the mix.
The displays are not shy about evoking strong feelings in visitors. There are three fighter planes and the skeleton of a B52 Bomber on display among first-hand accounts and a recreation of the famed Cu Chi Tunnels.
8. Trip to the Perfume Pagoda
Day trips are a terrific opportunity to escape the incredible (but tiring) city centre of Hanoi. Perfume Pagoda, also known as Chua Huong, is a wonderful choice. Located roughly 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Hanoi, this enchanted spot is set in rural countryside that spans in every direction.
While the Perfume Pagoda is located in a stunning setting, it is still worth your time and effort to see. After getting there by car, you’ll have to take a boat over a lake and then hike uphill. Visitors have been flocking to Perfume Pagoda for decades.
Nonetheless, it has become popular due to the variety of Buddhist temples that have been carved into the limestone cliffs that surround it. The ceiling is lined with dazzling stalactites, and they are set up in a labyrinthine pattern. The route is dotted with impressive Buddhist statues.
9. St. Joseph’s Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is an architectural gem located between Hanoi’s picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Town. The neo-Gothic structure, completed in 1886, took its design cues from Paris’s own Notre Dame Cathedral.
Although only a small percentage of the Vietnamese population being Catholic, in the decades after its construction, the cathedral has become an iconic component of the city’s skyline. St. Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi’s oldest cathedral, has become just as popular among the city’s visitors as it is during services.
Visitors to the cathedral may expect to see their foreign counterparts taking pictures of the church’s stunning front, which features two towers rising on opposite sides of a massive cross. Manicured gardens and trees offer shade from the scorching Hanoi heat.
10. West Lake
Hanoi’s largest body of water is West Lake, located in the city’s northwest. The morning sun dances through the trees as it reflects off surrounding buildings and across the placid lake. It’s beautiful here, but you’ll want to get out of the sun as soon as possible.
The enormous lake is surrounded by hiking trails that lead to stunning vistas and Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda. It stands at the water’s edge, 15 metres (45 feet) tall, and visitors are not charged. Make sure your shoulders are covered, though.
Vietnamese coffee is world-class. It’s accessible from anywhere close to West Lake. An early morning spent with a drink in hand exploring a tranquil green space is one of the most restful things to do in Hanoi.
