Curator’s statement
This capital city of Vietnam, influenced by Chinese and French cultures, is the perfect place to either kickstart or end your Vietnam trip. With its bustling streets, nonstop motorbikes, and vibrant markets, it’s a great introduction to city-life in Vietnam. Beloved Vietnamese dishes are aplenty on the streets of Hanoi, along with northern Vietnamese grub only found in Hanoi. Try a frothy egg coffee, sweet and savory bún chả, or the unexpectedly delicious phở trộn (dry phở) to get a sense of what’s to offer here.
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Things to do in Hanoi
Take a walking tour of the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. This is a great way to acquaint yourself with your new surroundings, and get food and activity recommendations from your local guide.
Visit Train Street, where an active railroad is steps from houses and shops. It’s a chaotic but incredibly unique experience.
Treat yourself to a cocktail at the Unicorn Pub. Some of the most unique cocktails I’ve ever had were at this bar. They have a phở cocktail that was absolutely delicious!
Visit a night market for snacks and souvenirs.
Take a food tour from locals who can show you the best places to eat and help widen your knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine.
Relax with a massage at any of the local shops after a long day of walking around the city.
Visit the beautiful temples, pagodas, and lakes around the city, including the Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Watch a water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. It’s a unique experience that’s about 45 minutes long and all in Vietnamese.
Places to eat & drink in Hanoi
Cafe Trứng: The birthplace of the famous egg coffee! It was our favorite egg coffee we had in Hanoi—it’s a must-do.
Cong Cafe: Good for coconut coffee.
5 Ng. Hàng Chỉ: Tucked away in an alley, this place has the best dry pho!
46 Nguyễn Hữu Nghiêm: Amazing bun cha—definitely give it a try!
Nem Nướng Nha Trang Quế Hoa: The classic cuon set is the best—it’s basically a deconstructed spring roll with yummy meats and crunchy vegetables.
Nê Cocktail bar: Known for its iconic pho cocktails.
Need to know
Hanoi is a great place to start your Vietnam trip. From here, you can choose the adventurous Ha Giang Loop, relaxing Da Nang and Hoi An, a fabulous cruise in Ha Long Bay, or many other options!
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Vietnam page.
Travel Advisor
Bethany Bitler
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