23 Must-Visit Attractions in Hanoi, Vietnam

This Unesco World Heritage site, often used as a symbol of Hanoi, stands 40m (130ft) tall. The complex comprises the royal enclosures built during the Lý Dynasty and is close to many other attractions in Hanoi. It’s closed on Mondays.

The ancient art of water puppetry has long been associated with Hanoi. Watch as puppets dance elegantly – controlled by a whole troupe of puppet masters – telling a story of the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le, which is about Hoàn Kiếm Lake and a giant tortoise.

Ho Chi Minh was one of the most important leaders in Vietnamese history. His body is preserved in this mausoleum, laid to rest in a glass case so that visitors can pay their respects. Modest dress and quiet reverence are prerequisites while you’re inside the mausoleum.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Turtle Lake) is a popular hangout spot for locals and foreigners. On an island in the centre lies Ngoc Son Temple, linked by a graceful red bridge. It serves as a fabulous background for photos, and you might catch couples doing their engagement photoshoots here.

Đồng Xuân Market is the largest market in Hanoi. It is four storeys high, and you can find all sorts of apparel, electronic items and food here. It is great for some shopping or to just experience the day-to-day life of the locals. You can practise bargaining here, as it is a popular tourist destination, and prices quoted are likely to be inflated.

Hanoi Old Quarter is a lively area where travellers can enjoy many fine examples of colonial architecture packed into narrow streets. This is the ultimate shopping spot in the city, and it is full of cafes and restaurants, where you can indulge in some delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

Built in the 15th century, this series of Buddhist temples has been carved into the rock of the mountain range, with rich forests and flowing streams all around. It’s a little way from Hanoi – about 60km (40mi) – but definitely worth the trip.

Located around two hours from Hanoi, Ba Vì National Park is a nature reserve famous for peaks, viewpoints, waterfalls and old French colonial churches and prisons. You can even find natural hot springs on the forest floor. It’s easy to spend a whole day here exploring before enjoying a meal at the restaurant near the entrance.

Built in 1911, this is one of the most elegant buildings in all of Hanoi, and visitors can enjoy opera and dance performances here to this day. It was modelled on the Paris Opera House, and the intricate design is even more magnificent at night when the cream-coloured floodlights are turned on.

This charming temple complex hosts the Imperial Academy, the oldest university in Vietnam. It was built in 1070, during Emperor Lý Thánh Tông’s dynasty, to serve as a centre of learning and was dedicated to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

This prison was built by the French in the 1880s and was sarcastically named by American prisoners of war as the Hanoi Hilton. Hoa Lo literally means “stove” – it certainly was no Hilton. Senator John McCain was held here after his capture, and his uniform is on display.

This museum showcases the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam, all under one roof. It is interesting to browse through the displays and learn about the ethnic history of Vietnam. It’s closed on Mondays.

This pagoda is built on a single wooden pillar that’s just 1.3m (4.3ft) in diameter. The story goes that heirless Emperor Lý Thái Tông dreamt that he met Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy. Soon after, he married a young peasant girl who gave him a son. The pagoda was built between 1028 and 1054 to express his gratitude to the goddess.

This was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina. Construction began in 1882 and finished in 1886, and the whole church was built in a neo-gothic style, modelled after the Notre Dame in Paris. Mass is still held inside several times a day.

This is one of the seven national museums in Vietnam and is perfect for those interested in wartime artillery. There are both indoor and outdoor displays of military artefacts, some dating from as far back as the Hung Vuong era, which is considered the official start of Vietnam’s history.

Designed by the French and built by the Vietnamese with indigenous construction material, this bridge runs across the Red River, connecting the two districts of Hoàn Kiếm and Long Biên.

This is the biggest freshwater lake in Hanoi. Located right in the centre of the city, it makes for a perfect evening walk. You can easily get to other places nearby, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops here to explore. Great photo opportunities await.

This museum is dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh, referred to lovingly as Uncle Ho. His life is chronicled in eight different sections, running from his upbringing and youth to his travels, ideologies and founding of the Vietnamese communist party. English descriptions are available, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

This theme park features carnival rides, a small zoo, an aquarium and various restaurants, making it ideal for a family outing.

This is a narrow street in the Old Quarter, where train tracks running right down the middle allow trains to pass terrifyingly close to the houses. The daily life of the locals has to be packed up multiple times a day when trains are scheduled to pass. It’s somewhat similar to Maeklong Railway Market in Thailand.

You can not visit Hanoi and not eat Pho. Hanoi is the birthplace of the national dish of Vietnam, and there are literally countless places serving this dish that fall on a spectrum between upscale fine dining venues and small carts off the side of the road with a few stools out front. Head over to our favorite pho joint in town, Pho Gia Truyen. They have a secret recipe that has been passed down for decades that makes the perfect bowl of pho. Bun Cha is another dish that originated in Hanoi but it wasn’t popular until Anthony Bourdain invited President Obama to try this heavenly dish during his presidential visit to Vietnam. You can try it in the same restaurant he went to – Bun Cha Huong Lien, but do not expect to find a seat for a good few minutes, all thanks to its new found popularity.

Egg coffee is another Hanoi specialty. Don’t let the name put you off. You will not find a yellow yolk floating in black coffee, but instead a whisked-up egg yolk forming a rich frothy layer on top of the coffee. Think of it as liquid tiramisu. Café Giang is where it all started and thus where you need to go for the best cup. Mr. Giang, ran out of fresh milk during war time and used egg as an alternative. The rest is history. Vietnam is also famous for its coffee culture and you will find many cafes lined up along its streets and hidden in alleyways. Some you can check out are Cong Ca Phe, The Note Coffee, Café Nola, and Café Dinh.