Hanoi blends tree-lined boulevards, lakes, and historic architecture with a lively street scene. You find a city that feels both traditional and modern, with a relaxed yet energetic pace.
Discover Hanoi
Discover Hanoi
Why visit Hanoi?
What to expect
Expect narrow Old Quarter streets buzzing with scooters, colonial-era buildings, serene lakes, and hidden courtyards. Sidewalks double as social spaces, and daily life often plays out at street level.
Plan your trip
Use Hanoi as a base to explore northern Vietnam, from Halong Bay to mountain towns in the highlands. Plan extra days to wander the city at an easy pace between sightseeing day trips.
Top sights in Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, then dive into the surrounding Old Quarter, where narrow streets, shophouses, and small temples sit alongside cafes and boutiques.
Temple of Literature
Visit this historic Confucian complex with peaceful courtyards, stone steles, and traditional architecture that offers a calm contrast to Hanoi’s busy streets.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area
Walk through the broad avenues and gardens around the mausoleum precinct, taking in the imposing monument, nearby museums, and preserved stilt house.
West Lake (Tay Ho)
Head to West Lake for waterside promenades, leafy streets, and a growing collection of cafes and restaurants with sunset views over the water.
French Quarter
Explore the French Quarter’s grand boulevards, theatre, and colonial-era buildings, which give this part of Hanoi a distinctly European feel.
Train Street area
See the narrow rail tracks passing close to homes and cafes, and experience how residents have adapted to living alongside an active railway line.
Museum of Ethnology
Learn about Vietnam’s many ethnic groups through well-curated exhibits and full-scale traditional houses in the museum’s outdoor area.
Experience Hanoi’s everyday rhythm
Getting around
Move around central Hanoi by taxi or ride-hailing services, which are convenient and widely available. For a slower look at the city, take a cyclo ride around the Old Quarter, then explore narrow streets on foot for the final stretch.
Local life & culture
You see morning exercise around lakes, bustling markets at dawn, and coffee shops that serve as social hubs throughout the day. Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm, from traditional trading streets to quieter residential lanes.
Where to unwind
Relax by Hoan Kiem Lake or West Lake in the early morning or late afternoon, when temperatures are softer and the light is gentle. Many parks and lakeside benches become informal gathering spots as the day cools.
A taste of Hanoi
Street food & local specialties
Seek out steaming bowls of noodle soup, grilled meats, and fresh herbs in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, where small stalls and family-run eateries line the streets.
Casual & modern dining hubs
In districts like Tay Ho and the French Quarter, casual bistros and modern cafes serve Vietnamese and international dishes, with menus designed for sharing so you can sample a range of flavours.
Signature & scenic dining
For a memorable evening, choose a restaurant in the French Quarter or overlooking West Lake, where elegant interiors or wide terraces pair your meal with skyline, lake, or boulevard views.
Retail therapy in Hanoi
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Modern shopping centres around the city offer international brands, cinemas, and casual dining, providing comfortable spaces where you can shop and relax in one stop.
Markets & local crafts
Browse the Old Quarter’s streets for silk, lacquerware, and souvenirs, and visit local markets or small artisan shops for handmade crafts and contemporary Vietnamese design pieces.
Evening retail scene
Night-time brings illuminated shopfronts and occasional night markets around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, which you can easily reach by taxi or ride-hailing after dinner.
Best time to visit Hanoi
Hanoi has four distinct seasons. The cool, dry months from November to March are shoulder season, with average temperatures around 17–22°C (63–72°F). April to June is warm and often humid, forming a shoulder season with averages of 25–30°C (77–86°F). July to September is typically the wettest low season, bringing short, heavy showers and temperatures of 28–32°C (82–90°F). October often offers comfortable weather and falls within the shoulder season as conditions transition.