Most Recommended Things to do in Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and an ancient city with a thousand-year-old history. The city's profound culture has left a rich historical and cultural treasure and the most famous places in Vietnam can be found in the corners of the city, so let's come and see what to do in this beautiful city when you visit it.

1. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall

Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall is the resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the father of Vietnam's independence, who was committed to the cause of liberation of Vietnam and led Vietnam to victory in the War of Resistance against France. His noble moral sentiments and hard work and frugality have been deeply respected and loved by the Vietnamese people and working people of all countries.

Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall

After Ho Chi Minh's death, the Vietnamese government built the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall, which was officially completed on August 29, 1975. Inspired by Lenin's tomb in Moscow and incorporating the unique style of Vietnamese architecture, the hall is a magnificent and solemn place where Ho Chi Minh's body is preserved in a crystal coffin in the central hall for posterity. On the red granite wall in front of the hall, "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" is written in gold, showing the progressive thinking and noble character of Ho Chi Minh. It is important for visitors to note that there are strict rules of dress and behavior in the mausoleum, no fancy dress in the dress code and no loud noises when visiting the mausoleum to show respect to President Ho Chi Minh.

2. See the St. Joseph's Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral, also known as Hanoi Cathedral, is the oldest Catholic church in Hanoi. Built in 1886, the Cathedral is said to have been designed with reference to Notre-Dame de Paris, and this neo-gothic cathedral is one of the most representative French buildings in Hanoi.

St. Joseph's Cathedral

The Cathedral as a whole was built in a very grand way, and when you look at the top of it from the ground, the towering spire seems to be thrust into the sky. Although the exterior walls of the Cathedral are dull and drab after a century, the interior of the church is still beautifully decorated. The gorgeous stained glass inside the church is also a highlight. The exquisite glass reflects the sunlight with colorful light, making the church more holy. It is worth noting that the daily opening hours of the church are slightly different from the church mass hours, and interested visitors can contact us for more information on the visit.

3. Indulge In The Street Food

As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is home to a wide variety of street food from all over the country, becoming one of the reasons why Hanoi attracts so many tourists every year. Vietnamese shrimp and sweet potato fritters are one of the specialties of Vietnam, which are made with garlicky seasoned shrimp, and sweet potato sticks and then fried in a turmeric batter until golden perfection. The tender shrimp meat is combined with the crispy outer skin, and the crispy outside and tender inside are amazing. Furthermore, Vietnamese spring rolls are also one of the unmissable street snacks.

Street Food in Vietnam

Spring rolls are rich in variety and practice, wrapped together with favorite small ingredients through a thin layer of dough, and then accompanied by Vietnamese special sauce, which is very refreshing and delicious. In terms of cooking methods, visitors can also choose to fry, rich fillings with crispy crust, and the taste may be richer. In addition to shrimp and sweet potato fritters and spring rolls, Hanoi also has many special street snacks, such as Vietnamese rice noodles, Vietnamese crepes, egg coffee and more, which are not to be missed by visitors who want to have a taste.

4. See A Water Puppet Show

The Water Puppet Show is a traditional Vietnamese folklore performance, which is especially different from a performance on the ground, the stage of the water puppet show is the water surface, and the performers need to perform the whole show in the water. The puppets' limbs have movable joints, and the performers manipulate the puppets' limbs by manipulating the strings with their arms, so that the puppets can show vivid physical movements on the water surface.

Water Puppet Show

The content of the water puppet show is taken from Vietnamese historical stories, myths and legends, which is the epitome of Vietnamese traditional history and the precious crystallization of Vietnamese traditional culture. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most famous local puppet theater companies, with an exclusive theater venue where visitors can sit in front of the pool and enjoy the splendor of the puppet show up close. Interested visitors may not miss the wonderful water puppet show.

5. Soak up Vietnamese Coffee

Due to Vietnam's typical tropical climate, coffee farming is very prosperous in Vietnam. The aromatic Vietnamese coffee is very smooth in the mouth, and the traditional Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk is also very special which makes the taste of Vietnamese coffee more sweet and rich. In Hanoi, coffee is a popular among the local people. While walking down the street, you can see cafes everywhere, from the beautifully decorated to the plainly decorated, with prices ranging from low to high.

Vietnam Cafe

Needless to say, coffee has become a casual drink that locals cannot live without. Unlike coffee made in a coffee pot, Vietnamese coffee is made by using a special drip filter method of coffee extraction, with the coffee dripping down giving off a charming aroma. It can be a pleasure for you to drink such a cup of well-made and unique Vietnamese coffee on a sunny afternoon.

6. Learn History at Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Hoa Lo Prison Museum was built in 1896 in a village that was once known for its ceramic firing. The museum is an actual prison, which was used during French Colonialism to detain Vietnamese political prisoners and later the US prisoners of war at the Vietnam War and was notorious for the cruel way the French colonists punished them. After the end of the Vietnam War, the Hoa Lo Prison Museum has now been rebuilt into a prison museum with prisons, dungeons, and other venues.

Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Through models, pictures, and texts, the public can learn as much as possible about the reality of the inside of the Museum during the war and the persecution of the prisoners. The cruel punishment did not wear out the will of the forefathers to fight, this history is cruel but glorious, by visiting the Hoa Lo Prison Museum to learn this history, and you will have a lot of insights when you come here.

7. Visit The One Pillar Pagoda

Located near Ba Dinh Square, the One Pillar Pagoda is one of the most representative monuments in Hanoi. Legend has it that the temple was built by Emperor Li Taizong to pray for his wishes in a dream where Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, held a baby and smiled at him, and soon after waking up, Li Taizong's wife became pregnant and gave birth to a son. To this day, the One Pillar Pagoda still has many pilgrims who pray for the blessing of their babies.

One Pillar Pagoda

The original Pagoda was built in 1049 and was destroyed by the French army, and the current one was rebuilt on the site in 1955. The One Pillar Pagoda got its name because of a 1.25-meter-diameter, 4-meter-high stone pillar that serves as its foundation. At a distance, the Pagoda, the pillar, and its surrounding supports form a whole, giving the One Pillar Pagoda the appearance of a lotus flower blooming on the lake. Its unique architectural design and ingenious construction work are praiseworthy and well worth visiting.

8. Discover the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

If you want to learn more about the human history and ethnic culture of Vietnam, then exploring the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology must be a good choice that can not be missed. Opened to the public in 1997, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is the largest museum in Hanoi in terms of floor space and is very popular among the public. What makes this museum special is that it has a collection of different styles of Vietnamese ethnicity.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

It has the most comprehensive display of Vietnamese ethnic characteristics. The museum not only collects many precious ethnic relics, but also displays the clothing, working tools and ethnic music of each ethnic group according to the characteristics of different ethnic groups, such as the Mang and Sedan, and restores the scenes of daily life of each ethnic group through models and other scales. In the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, visitors can discover the most traditional Vietnamese culture and experience the different styles of Vietnamese ethnic customs.

Hanoi is both a historic and cultural city with a profoundly long history and a modern city that is constantly developing. It has a rich metropolitan culture and stunning city landscape, a relaxed urban ambiance with a plethora of special delicacies, and a captivating endless appeal. If you have any ideas or plans for a trip to Vietnam, please don't hesitate to contact us, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.