Hanoi, Vietnam

Top places to visit in Hanoi

6 places worth your time in Hanoi, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Old Quarter

Thirty-six streets historically organised by guild and trade, still partly arranged that way, in a dense tangle north of the lake.

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Tip: Crossing the road works by walking steadily and predictably. Stopping suddenly is what causes accidents.

2. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

The centre of the city's public life, with a red bridge to a small island temple and tai chi on the shore at dawn.

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Best time: Very early morning, or the weekend evenings when the surrounding streets close to traffic

3. Temple of Literature

Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, with courtyards of stone stelae recording doctoral graduates on turtles' backs.

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4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and stilt house

The embalmed body lies in a granite mausoleum; the modest stilt house behind it is the more revealing visit.

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Best time: Morning only; closed Mondays and Fridays
Tip: Strict dress code and no bags or cameras inside. It closes for several weeks a year for maintenance.

5. Train Street

A residential lane with a working railway running within arm's reach of the houses.

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Tip: Access has been repeatedly restricted on safety grounds and cafés are periodically shut. Check the current situation rather than assuming.

6. Ha Long Bay day trip

Limestone islands in a shallow gulf, about two and a half hours away. Overnight cruises see far more than day trips.

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Best time: October to December for clearest weather

Watch outBoat quality varies enormously between operators selling nearly identical itineraries; photographs shown at the point of sale are frequently not the actual vessel.