Travel to Hanoi – Hanoi is a fascinating travel destination, known for its rich history, diverse culture, and delicious cuisine. From exploring the ancient temples and historic landmarks to enjoying the vibrant street life and savoring the local specialties, there’s never a dull moment in this dynamic city.
1, The ideal time to visit Hanoi
The climate of Hanoi is divided into four distinct seasons, each with its own unique beauty, so you can travel here at any time of the year. However, according to the experience of Hanoi tourism, the most famous time to visit the city is during the flower seasons, especially in the autumn.
Flower seasons: Hanoi is immersed in flowers all year round, such as peach blossoms (January), ban flowers (February), milk flowers (March), lotus flowers (summer), milk flowers (September-October), and chrysanthemums (October-December)…
Autumn to early winter: Always romanticized in poetry, the time from autumn to early winter is the most beautiful time of the city. The weather at this time is less hot, with gentle sunlight and a cool breeze carrying the scent of milk flowers spreading throughout the streets.
(Photo: Internet)
2, Means of transportation in Hanoi
Motorbike: In Hanoi, you can rent a motorbike to wander around and visit tourist attractions in the city center. The rental price for a motorbike is only from 100,000 VND – 200,000 VND per day (depending on the type of motorbike).
Walking: Don’t forget to take a walk in the afternoon on the pedestrian street in Hanoi or wander around the Hoan Kiem Lake.
Bus: Similar to Saigon, bus routes in Hanoi are quite popular, and you can choose to save costs for your trip.
Taxi: It is a more expensive means of transportation, but you can conveniently move to unfamiliar tourist spots in Hanoi.
3, How to get to Hanoi and what transportation means to use?
According to the experience of traveling to Hanoi independently, there are many ways to move from other provinces to Hanoi quickly, depending on your budget, such as:
By plane: This is the most convenient means of transportation, but also the most expensive. However, you can book tickets at Gotadi or hunt for promotional tickets from airlines or book at least 2 months before your trip to get the best deals and save costs for your trip.
By train: Hanoi Station is located in the center of the capital, so it is very convenient for traveling. If you travel from the South, it will take you 2 days, but the ticket price is not cheaper than airfare. Therefore, according to the experience of traveling to Hanoi, this means of transportation is only suitable for those who depart from the Central or Northern provinces.
By bus: This is considered the most economical means of transportation to move from other provinces to Hanoi. However, if you are from provinces that are too far from the capital, this means of transportation may make you uncomfortable and consume a lot of your time.
(Photo: Internet)
4, Beautiful hotels and homestays in Hanoi
Hoan Kiem district: or simply the area around Sword Lake and the Old Quarter. This is the central area of Hanoi, the busiest, with many shopping areas and dining places, Sword Lake, Hanoi Opera House, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi walking street, Hanoi night market, and more. It is suitable for first-time visitors to Hanoi. See the list of hotels in Hoan Kiem HERE.
Ba Dinh district: more spacious and airy than Hoan Kiem district, with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh Square, Bach Thao Botanical Garden, shaded streets, beautiful scenery, and fewer dining places than other areas. See the list of hotels in Ba Dinh HERE.
Hai Ba Trung district: not in the central area but has countless hotels, motels, good and cheap eateries, cafes with beautiful spaces, and the famous Time City aquarium. This is the place to experience something more “Hanoi,” friendly, and welcoming. See the list of hotels in Hai Ba Trung HERE.
Tay Ho district: the area surrounding West Lake, quiet and spacious, with beautiful views. Most of the hotels here are high-end, but there are also cheap hotels. There are many beautiful cafes in Tay Ho district for you to check-in all day. See the list of hotels in Tay Ho HERE.
Cau Giay district: the hotels here are suitable for those who visit Thule Park, Thien Duong Bao Son, Son Tay, Ba Vi, and the Museum of Ethnology. Hotel prices in Cau Giay are very affordable, and there are many dining areas around. See the list of hotels in Cau Giay HERE.
Here is a list of the best and recommended hotels in Hanoi by tourists. You can refer to them to find a suitable place for your stay:
Melia Hanoi Hotel – No. 44B, Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem district – 5-star standard, room rates ranging from $199 – $274. This is a famous hotel in Hanoi, chosen by many tourists for their vacations. The interior is modern and luxurious. Staying at this hotel, you will surely have the most relaxing and memorable moments for your trip.
Fortuna Hotel Hanoi – 6B Lang Ha, Ba Dinh district, Dong Da district – 4.5-star standard, room rates ranging from $166. The hotel has a beautiful location, convenient for visiting famous tourist destinations in Hanoi.
(Photo: Internet)
5, Tourist attractions when traveling to Hanoi
HANOI CITY CENTER
Hoan Kiem Lake: A special feature of Hanoi’s geography is that there are many lakes within the city and surrounded by large rivers. Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the heart of the city with the ancient Turtle Tower situated on a small peninsula in the lake. Next to Hoan Kiem Lake are impressive architectural works and valuable heritage sites of the city such as the Pen Tower, the Ink-Slab, the The Huc Bridge leading to the Dac Nguyet Pavilion, and the Tran Ba Temple on the way to the Ngoc Son Temple.
One-Pillar Pagoda: Hanoi is the center of religion and Buddhism in Vietnam, so there are many temples and pagodas within the city walls that are hundreds of years old. The most famous is the One-Pillar Pagoda, which has a unique lotus-shaped architecture that can be said to be the most unique in Vietnam, and is also an unmissable attraction when traveling to Hanoi. Besides, there is Tran Quoc Pagoda, a ancient and historic temple built since the reign of King Ly Nam De (6th century).
Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam: This is the place to worship Confucius, place of doctoral steles and also the first university of Vietnam. Nowadays, Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam has become a popular destination for Hanoi tourism, where students with excellent achievements receive awards. Before each exam, students often come here to pray for good luck.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral: A typical architectural work of Hanoi. The open and pleasant scenery makes this place a favorite destination for young people in Hanoi as well as tourists. In the morning, sitting on the characteristic pavement coffee, enjoying the cold weather of Hanoi’s climate. In the evening, gathering with friends for a chat over a cup of lemon tea.
Old Quarter: The highlight of Hanoi tourism. The 36 streets of Hanoi with ancient houses and streets still retain the appearance of the 19th century. You can wander around all day on the ancient streets, exploring the peaceful and simple places of Hanoi. Coming here, you will feel the beauty of the people of Hanoi, close and familiar.
Hanoi Opera House: A smaller version of the Opéra Garnier in Paris, located at No. 1 Trang Tien, the central street of the city. The Opera House is also the venue for many important events of the country.
Ba Dinh Square – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: You cannot miss the political center of Vietnam with the National Assembly House, the Presidential Palace, etc.
AREA AROUND HANOI
Bat Trang pottery village: located 20km from the center of Hanoi on the banks of the Red River, you can take a motorbike or bus to get here. For generations, Bat Trang has been famous throughout the country for producing high-quality ceramics. You can wander around the village and visit many pottery workshops. Along the village streets, there are unique coal-fired walls or rustic old houses. If you come here, you can walk to the riverbank, where you can explore Bat Trang on a unique “buffalo cart.” In small pottery workshops, you can create your own favorite ceramic products or draw on cups and souvenirs made of pottery to give to your friends and family.
Duong Lam ancient village: This ancient Vietnamese village still preserves material and non-material values of the ancient way of life. Tourists can enjoy a traditional rustic lunch in the courtyard of an ancient house or listen to stories and visit moss-covered walls. The most interesting thing is to rent a bicycle and ride around the village. This is also a place where many beautiful photo sets are taken.
Viet Phu Thanh Chuong: Located at the foot of Soc Son mountain in Hien Ninh commune, Viet Phu Thanh Chuong is a destination you can visit in a day. This is a complex of ancient houses that recreate the old space of the Vietnamese people. The world of Viet Phu Thanh Chuong is in contrast to the noisy streets. Here, you can immerse yourself in the fresh nature, sit and relax on a long bench or swing on the porch of a three-room house. There are no modern objects here, but instead, it is a journey to find the memories of each tourist.
Ba Vi National Park: The first advantage of this place is the cool, fresh, and pure nature with shady rows of trees. You can stroll around the cactus park, a small conservation area, or visit the ancient buildings built by the French. There is also a temple to worship President Ho Chi Minh and a temple to worship Saint Tan Vien. You can also climb to the top of Vong Canh to admire the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and forests.
Nui Tram is located in Phung Chau commune, Chuong My district, less than 30km from the center of Hanoi, taking about 45 minutes to 1 hour by motorbike. This mountain is not too high but has an extremely beautiful terrain with many caves and winding paths in flat valleys where you can camp, organize picnics, etc.
6, What to eat in Hanoi?
Huong Mai Rolled Pho
Huong Mai Rolled Pho is famous for its various dishes made from pho, such as traditional soup, mixed, rolled, and fried pho… The taste of the food is rich and delicious.
Address: 16 Pho Duy Tan, Dich Vong Hao, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Bo Gia Salad Restaurant
Bo Gia Salad Restaurant is rated as one of the affordable restaurants. The dishes here are diverse, delicious, and hygienic.
Address: 1 P. Nguyen Trung Truc, Nguyen Trung Truc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su is a famous traditional pho shop in Hanoi. Here, you can enjoy the full flavor of a traditional pho bowl with rich broth and moderately chewy pho noodles.
Address: 112 c9 To Hieu, Dich Vong, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Giang Cafe
Giang Cafe was established in 1920 in Hanoi by Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. In 1930, to cope with the food shortage, Mr. Giang based on the cappuccino and replaced the milk with eggs. Gradually, egg coffee became the signature drink of Giang Cafe.
Address: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Ha Thanh Tra Pork Congee
Ha Thanh Tra Pork Congee is a flavorful and delicious pork bone broth with crispy, crunchy breadsticks. The price is reasonable, and the restaurant is clean and airy.
Address: 93 Giang Van Minh, Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
7, Notes when traveling in Hanoi
You should check your luggage each time you move and keep your belongings safe to avoid losing important items such as wallets, phones, train tickets, etc.
When encountering health problems, you can contact the hotel reception or homestay staff for the best support.
When going out alone, remember to bring a business card or take a picture of the hotel address to prevent getting lost.
For tourists with a history of high blood pressure, heart disease, etc., remember to bring special medications for prevention.
You should consult and research reputable places to buy goods in Hanoi to avoid buying counterfeit or faulty goods.
Be careful about prices when taking a taxi or buying something. You should make sure you want to buy the item before asking for the price and bargaining. Additionally, be wary of any “tricks” by locals trying to scam tourists.
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