Vietnam · Hanoi

Plan your Hanoi trip

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Places on the map Hoan Kiem Lake The small, legend-wrapped lake at the city's centre, where a giant turtle supposedly reclaimed a magic sword from a 15th-century emperor. Ringed by walking paths, it is the social heart of Hanoi at every hour. Old Quarter (36 Streets) A dense medieval grid where each street still carries the name of its founding guild trade. Wander without a map — getting lost here is the actual point, and every alley opens onto a new food stall or hidden temple. Temple of Literature Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070, a serene sequence of courtyards, ponds and stone stelae carried on the backs of stone turtles honouring centuries of scholars. A rare pocket of quiet in the city. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Presidential complex The embalmed body of Vietnam's founding leader lies in state in a grey granite mausoleum modelled on Lenin's, set within a vast ceremonial complex that also includes his modest stilt house and the ornate French-built Presidential Palace. Train Street A narrow residential lane where the train tracks run so close to people's front doors that cafe tables are cleared away twice a day for the train to pass, close enough to touch. A genuinely surreal five minutes. West Lake (Ho Tay) & Tran Quoc Pagoda Hanoi's largest lake, ringed by cafés, running paths and the city's oldest Buddhist pagoda, its red-tiered tower rising from a small peninsula near the shore. The best sunset in the city, without question. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology A thoughtful, well-curated museum on Hanoi's outskirts covering the customs, dress and architecture of Vietnam's 54 recognised ethnic groups, with full-scale traditional houses reassembled in the outdoor grounds. Hoa Lo Prison Museum A sobering former colonial-era prison, used first by the French to hold Vietnamese political prisoners and later, ironically, by North Vietnam to hold captured American pilots who nicknamed it the 'Hanoi Hilton.'

01Your itinerary

02Where to stay

Old Quarter

Best for first-timers and food-focused trips

Loud, dense, and endlessly walkable, with the lake, night market and the city's best street food all within a ten-minute stroll. The trade-off is noise — motorbike horns and karaoke bars run late.

La Palm Boutique Hotel

Look a block or two off Hang Bac or Ma May rather than directly on the busiest strips, and ask for a room away from the street-facing side.

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The Oriental Jade Hotel & Spa

Several mid-range hotels here punch above their price with a small rooftop pool and lake or Old Quarter rooftop views.

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Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel

Right in the beer-street action — great for solo travellers and social nights, less so for early risers.

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French Quarter

Best for a classic, refined base

Wide colonial boulevards, mustard-yellow villas, and the city's grandest hotels, a short walk south of the lake. Calmer, greener, and noticeably more polished, at a matching price.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

The Metropole and its peers anchor this district; expect old-world service, spa facilities, and a price well above the Old Quarter average.

$$$$

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Thang Long Opera Hotel

Walking distance to the lake and the Old Quarter, with quieter streets and easier taxi access than the historic core.

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West Lake (Tay Ho)

Best for longer stays and remote workers

Leafy, lakeside, and increasingly expat-favoured, with a slower, more residential pace and the best sunset views in the city. Further from the main sights, but connected by a short Grab ride.

Lakenest Realty 12, 111 Xuan Dieu

Best for stays of a week or more — kitchens, lake views, and easy access to Tay Ho's café and yoga-studio scene.

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Legend Westlake Hotel

Smaller and quieter than the Old Quarter equivalents, with genuine water views from a fraction of the guest rooms.

$$$

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03Tickets & tours

Hoan Kiem Lake

The small, legend-wrapped lake at the city's centre, where a giant turtle supposedly reclaimed a magic sword from a 15th-century emperor.

Tip Come at sunrise on a weekend, when the surrounding streets close to traffic and the lake fills with tai chi groups, badminton games, and outdoor aerobics classes.

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Old Quarter (36 Streets)

A dense medieval grid where each street still carries the name of its founding guild trade.

Tip Duck into the narrow alleys (ngo) off the main streets; the real neighbourhood life, and often the best food, happens out of sight of the main roads.

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Temple of Literature

Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070, a serene sequence of courtyards, ponds and stone stelae carried on the backs of stone turtles…

Tip Visit on a weekday morning; it is a popular graduation-photo spot on weekends and can fill with gown-clad students and their entourages.

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Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Presidential complex

The embalmed body of Vietnam's founding leader lies in state in a grey granite mausoleum modelled on Lenin's, set within a vast ceremonial complex…

Tip The mausoleum keeps very specific, limited opening hours and closes for two months a year for maintenance — check ahead, arrive early, and expect a strict,…

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Train Street

A narrow residential lane where the train tracks run so close to people's front doors that cafe tables are cleared away twice a day for the train to…

Tip Access has tightened due to safety crackdowns and sections open and close unpredictably; check current status locally and never trust the schedule blindly, this is a…

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West Lake (Ho Tay) & Tran Quoc Pagoda

Hanoi's largest lake, ringed by cafés, running paths and the city's oldest Buddhist pagoda, its red-tiered tower rising from a small peninsula near…

Tip Rent a bicycle and circle the lake's roughly 17-kilometre perimeter road at a slow pace rather than trying to see it from one fixed spot.

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Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

A thoughtful, well-curated museum on Hanoi's outskirts covering the customs, dress and architecture of Vietnam's 54 recognised ethnic groups, with…

Tip It is a Grab ride from the centre rather than walkable, but budget half a day; the outdoor architecture garden alone is worth the trip.

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Hoa Lo Prison Museum

A sobering former colonial-era prison, used first by the French to hold Vietnamese political prisoners and later, ironically, by North Vietnam to…

Tip Rent the audio guide; the exhibits' framing is worth understanding rather than skimming, and it adds real context to the rest of the trip.

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Day trips from Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

Vietnam's most famous natural landmark, thousands of limestone karsts rising out of emerald water, reachable as a long day trip but genuinely better…

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Ninh Binh (Trang An & Tam Coc)

Often called 'Ha Long Bay on land' — the same karst scenery without the sea, explored by small sampan boats gliding through river caves beneath the…

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Duong Lam Ancient Village

A well-preserved laterite-brick village about an hour from the city, with centuries-old communal houses, temples and a slower, rural pace that is a…

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Browse tickets, tours and activities

Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours and day trips, all in one place on Booking.com.

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04Getting there & around

Getting around

The Old Quarter and French Quarter are best done entirely on foot, and honestly must be — the streets are too narrow and too clogged with parked motorbikes for any vehicle to be faster than walking for short hops.

Flights

Compare fares into Hanoi and pick dates that suit the days you planned.

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Airport transfers

Book a private or shared ride from the airport so the first evening starts at your door, not at a ticket queue.

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Car hire

Only worth it for day trips beyond the city — in town, the plan above works on foot and public transport.

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