Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, where travelers can find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, and unique museums within the city centre. Not only that, Ha Noi is also has preferential natural landscapes as well as the historical monuments, the intangible cultural heritage such as Ca Tru singing, etc. All of them have created the unique attraction of Hanoi.
Travel Guide
1. How to get to Ha Noi ?
Getting to Hanoi by air
There are no direct flights from Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, as well as most cities in East and Southeast Asia to Hanoi. The Noi Bai international airport is about 40km from the center. You can take around one hour by taxi or bus to the downtown area.
Getting to Ha Noi by bus
Hanoi is served by two mains terminals - in the North and in the South, that receive and send a bus to almost any provinces in Vietnam. Open tour buses usally drive you to the downtown area without stopping at the terminals. Check out Giap Bat and My Dinh bus station.
Getting to Hanoi by train
Hanoi train station is about 10 minutes by taxi from the city center. If you cross the border to Vietnam from China, it is likely that you will board the train in Lao Cai and arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. The North-South Express train connects from Hanoi to other major cities in the country on a daily basis.
There are no direct flights from Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, as well as most cities in East and Southeast Asia to Hanoi. The Noi Bai international airport is about 40km from the center. You can take around one hour by taxi or bus to the downtown area.
Getting to Ha Noi by bus
Hanoi is served by two mains terminals - in the North and in the South, that receive and send a bus to almost any provinces in Vietnam. Open tour buses usally drive you to the downtown area without stopping at the terminals. Check out Giap Bat and My Dinh bus station.
Getting to Hanoi by train
Hanoi train station is about 10 minutes by taxi from the city center. If you cross the border to Vietnam from China, it is likely that you will board the train in Lao Cai and arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. The North-South Express train connects from Hanoi to other major cities in the country on a daily basis.
2. Where to visit for Buddhist in Ha Noi ?
For Buddhists, there are some nice temples and pagodas to visit in Hanoi as below:
- One-Pillar Pagoda: A pretty peaceful Buddhist pagoda just behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum since the early 11th century.
- Tran Quoc Pagoda: The oldest Buddhist temple located on the edge of Hanoi's West Lake.
- Ngoc Son Temple: "Temple of the Jade Mountain" featuring the unique architecture in the center of Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Quan Thanh Temple: A Taoist temple which is one of four famous sacred temples in Hanoi.
- Quan Su Pagoda: The largest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi and the headquarters of the Central Buddhist Association of Vietnam.
3. Where to enjoy nightlife in Ha Noi?
Most of the young tourists will spend their night time at bars, pubs located in the Old Quarter. Some others spend their time drinking beer at Ta Hien street. The rest just would like to go around the lake, Hanoi walking street and the night market as well to enjoy the atmosphere of nightlife in Hanoi.
4. Top delicious food/dishes you must try in Hanoi?
Pho
Pho is one of the Vietnamese traditional food. The most delicious and typical brand of Pho in Vietnam is Ha Noi Pho with wonderful flavor. Pho is made from rice noodles, beef or chicken and other spices. Pho is a favorite food of almost Vietnamese and often served as breakfast. Pho is a popular in the international market for its pleasant taste and reasonable price.
Banh Mi
Bah Mi is pretty common in the world but Banh Mi in Vietnam is a portion of special food. It includes of many different topping such as eggs, bate, porl, vegetable, etc.
Bun Cha
Bun Cha is the top choice when it comes to lunch time in the capital. This is a street food which you need to try when visit Ha Noi. The street-side restairants in Ha Noi start grilling up small patties of seasoned pork and slices of maintained pork belly over a charcoal fire. Once they're charred and crispy, the morsels are served with a bowl of a fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of herbs and a helping of rice noodles.
Banh Cuon
Banh Cuon has a long-distance history. Banh Cuon is round, soft, rich in the sweet taste of rice flour, the aroma of onion, which is a food chosen by many Vietnamese people because of its flavor but the elegant taste from Banh Cuon can not be found in other dishes.
Che
Che is a dessert food of Vietnam people. There are many type of Che such as Xoi Che, Che Hat Sen, Che Do Den, etc.
Pho is one of the Vietnamese traditional food. The most delicious and typical brand of Pho in Vietnam is Ha Noi Pho with wonderful flavor. Pho is made from rice noodles, beef or chicken and other spices. Pho is a favorite food of almost Vietnamese and often served as breakfast. Pho is a popular in the international market for its pleasant taste and reasonable price.
Banh Mi
Bah Mi is pretty common in the world but Banh Mi in Vietnam is a portion of special food. It includes of many different topping such as eggs, bate, porl, vegetable, etc.
Bun Cha
Bun Cha is the top choice when it comes to lunch time in the capital. This is a street food which you need to try when visit Ha Noi. The street-side restairants in Ha Noi start grilling up small patties of seasoned pork and slices of maintained pork belly over a charcoal fire. Once they're charred and crispy, the morsels are served with a bowl of a fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of herbs and a helping of rice noodles.
Banh Cuon
Banh Cuon has a long-distance history. Banh Cuon is round, soft, rich in the sweet taste of rice flour, the aroma of onion, which is a food chosen by many Vietnamese people because of its flavor but the elegant taste from Banh Cuon can not be found in other dishes.
Che
Che is a dessert food of Vietnam people. There are many type of Che such as Xoi Che, Che Hat Sen, Che Do Den, etc.
5. Must-try activities in Hanoi?
1. Discover Dong Xuan Market
2. Drink Beer in Ta Hien street
3. Try Vietnamese Egg Coffee
4. Wander around Ha Noi Old Quarter
5. Visit Vietnamese Woman's Museum
6. Enjoy tasty Hanoi Street Food
7. Discover the highlights of Vietnamese culture in the Temple of Literature
8. Enjoy the peace and quiet of West Lake
9. Join a Cooking Class to learn how to make Vietnamese Spring Roll
10. Visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village and make your own pottery
2. Drink Beer in Ta Hien street
3. Try Vietnamese Egg Coffee
4. Wander around Ha Noi Old Quarter
5. Visit Vietnamese Woman's Museum
6. Enjoy tasty Hanoi Street Food
7. Discover the highlights of Vietnamese culture in the Temple of Literature
8. Enjoy the peace and quiet of West Lake
9. Join a Cooking Class to learn how to make Vietnamese Spring Roll
10. Visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village and make your own pottery
6. Top tourist attractions in Ha Noi ?
1. Thang Long - The Imperial Citadel
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an interesting sample of Vietnam's great history, now registered as one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The multi-story citadel stands 40m high and the central flag tower is the most recognizable feature and is often used as a symbol of Hanoi. This was the center of ancient Hanoi and served as the political center and notable place for emperors to receive dignitaries, for almost eight centuries. The Imperial citadel of Thang Long is located in Ba Dinh district.
2. Water Puppet Show
The ancient art form of water puppetry show has a long association with Ha Noi and especially with the northern region and there are several theaters in Hanoi's Old Quarter where travelers can enjoy this uniquely Vietnamese cultural show. One of best places to enjoy this show is at the Thang Long Puppet Theatre by Hoan Kiem Lake. Puppets dance and slide elegantly over the liquid stage, controlled by a whole troupe of puppet masters hiding behind a screen.
3. Ho Chi Minh Complex
With a view to commemorating the Vietnamese great leader, Ho Chi Minh Complex is one of the most visited places for both domestic and foreign tourists.
4. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake is a central feature of Ha Noi and is a popular hangout for both locals and tourists who are keen to meet and speak with Hanoian. The adjoining Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island in the lake and linked by a wooden bridge (Huc Bridge), which makes a beautiful background for photos.
5. Ha Noi Old Quarter
Centrally located and an ideal place to stay with a define local atmosphere where old and modern Hanoi meet. The Old Quarter is a fascinating area consisting of 36 narrow, lined streets where travelers can enjoy many fine examples of colonial architecture packed along narrow streets. Shopping here is a must-do as well as checking out the bars and restaurants and even going on a food tour in a cyclo.
6. Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is a charming temple complex in the center of Ha Noi that was originally built to be a center of learning to date back over 1000 years ago. The best time to visit the temple is around the early morning and the late afternoon when it is quiteter and more atmospheric.
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an interesting sample of Vietnam's great history, now registered as one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The multi-story citadel stands 40m high and the central flag tower is the most recognizable feature and is often used as a symbol of Hanoi. This was the center of ancient Hanoi and served as the political center and notable place for emperors to receive dignitaries, for almost eight centuries. The Imperial citadel of Thang Long is located in Ba Dinh district.
2. Water Puppet Show
The ancient art form of water puppetry show has a long association with Ha Noi and especially with the northern region and there are several theaters in Hanoi's Old Quarter where travelers can enjoy this uniquely Vietnamese cultural show. One of best places to enjoy this show is at the Thang Long Puppet Theatre by Hoan Kiem Lake. Puppets dance and slide elegantly over the liquid stage, controlled by a whole troupe of puppet masters hiding behind a screen.
3. Ho Chi Minh Complex
With a view to commemorating the Vietnamese great leader, Ho Chi Minh Complex is one of the most visited places for both domestic and foreign tourists.
4. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake is a central feature of Ha Noi and is a popular hangout for both locals and tourists who are keen to meet and speak with Hanoian. The adjoining Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island in the lake and linked by a wooden bridge (Huc Bridge), which makes a beautiful background for photos.
5. Ha Noi Old Quarter
Centrally located and an ideal place to stay with a define local atmosphere where old and modern Hanoi meet. The Old Quarter is a fascinating area consisting of 36 narrow, lined streets where travelers can enjoy many fine examples of colonial architecture packed along narrow streets. Shopping here is a must-do as well as checking out the bars and restaurants and even going on a food tour in a cyclo.
6. Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is a charming temple complex in the center of Ha Noi that was originally built to be a center of learning to date back over 1000 years ago. The best time to visit the temple is around the early morning and the late afternoon when it is quiteter and more atmospheric.
7. When is the best time to visit Ha Noi ?
The best time to visit Ha Noi is Autumn, from August to November. During autumn, Hanoi seems more relaxed at any time of the year. Everything is just so beautiful. Every scene is worth a postcard snapshot and it's a sin not to bring a decent camera during your visit.
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Copyright © 2006 - 2020. All Rights Reserved.