Hanoi, Vietnam: Best Places to Visit

Hanoi, one of the most ancient capitals in the world, is one of the most popular cities in Vietnam for tourists. It’s considered an antique city because of all the history here. There are so many ancient pagodas and temples, unique museums, and some truly amazing architecture. Not to mention the great foods and exciting nightlife! These are all of the best places to visit and things to do on your next trip to Hanoi, Vietnam!

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Places to Visit in Hanoi

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is more of a place to study than it is a religious landmark. The grounds are divided into five different courtyards and the gardens are perfectly manicured and well maintained. There are so many beautiful pavilions, altars, and statues here. Definitely worth a visit!

Dong Xuan Market

Our first stop in Hanoi was Dong Xuân Market, Hanoi’s largest indoor market. This 4-story market is huge and probably the best place to go for souvenirs. This is where we found postcards, magnets, and our traditional Vietnamese rice hats! Aside from souvenirs you can also find plenty of accessories, clothing, fresh produce, electronics, and more. There’s also a dining area where you can try some local Vietnamese foods!

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The final resting place of Ho Chi Minh (known to his people as Uncle Ho) and one of the most popular attractions in Hanoi. It’s definitely a unique experience as Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved and on display here in a glass case (though no photos are allowed). When planning your trip keep in mind that the mausoleum often closes in October so that his remains can be sent off to Russia for maintenance.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Strolling along Hoan Kiem Lake in the shade of the trees was a great break from the hectic city streets. For a small fee you can choose to walk across the iconic red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple as well.

Hanoi Train Street

Unfortunately, the infamous “Train Street” in Hanoi will be closing down soon. There have been too many close calls with tourists getting too close to the train when it goes past because they are trying to get photos. This has resulted in many complaints and the city has decided to close the street off to tourists.

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As of now (November 2019) there are still sections open where you can walk the tracks and stop at some of the cafes. Many other sections, however, have gates up along with guards blocking tourists from entering. It’s such a shame they’re closing it to the public because this was one of our favorite spots in Hanoi!

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Cathedral was way more beautiful in person than I expected it to be! As soon as we turned the corner and got our first glimpse, my jaw dropped. The grounds are well kept and the architecture was stunning.

St Joseph’s was built in 1886 making it the oldest church in Hanoi. It was built by the French colonist and the bell towers very closely resemble the Notre Dame in Paris. You are able to visit the cathedral grounds at any time but you may only go inside the Cathedral during times of ceremonial practice.

SF Spa Hanoi Waterfront

We were in Hanoi on our wedding anniversary so it was only right that we stopped for a couples massage while we were there. We went to SF Spa and it was absolutely amazing. They even decorated the massage room and had cake and wine for us when we arrived. It was so sweet!

Hoa Lo Prison

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If you’re a history buff you’ll want to visit the Hoa Lo Prison (also known as the most inhumane prison in Vietnam). It’s a great way to get insight into the living conditions and what the prisoners went through during their time here. The original guillotine is even on display. Yikes! It’s worth it to get the audio guide at the beginning of your tour so you can hear many of their stories.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

The water puppet shows started centuries ago when villagers would create entertainment by standing in flooded rice fields and performing with puppets over the water. It’s a tradition that’s mostly found in Northern Vietnam but is slowly becoming popular in other parts of the world.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi was one of our favorite parts of our whole trip to Vietnam. We had dinner first and turned it into a date night! The show was so much fun and the live music was great as well. There are multiple shows daily but tickets tend to sell out so I would recommend booking yours ahead of time.

Hanoi, Vietnam Travel Tips

1. Download the grab app. It’s basically the Uber of Southeast Asia and it’s the cheapest way to get a ride in Hanoi.
2. If you need a taxi, have someone call one from wherever you’re leaving. We noticed that taxis were much more expensive if we waved one down on the side of the road. If we were leaving a restaurant, we would just ask a staff member to call a cab for us.
3. Bring money to exchange at the airport. We noticed that the exchange rates in the airport were actually really good and it beats trying to find an ATM that will let you take enough cash out.
4. Don’t rent a vehicle here. Unless you’re already comfortable driving in Southeast Asia traffic, that is. Even just trying to cross a street while walking was a nightmare!

What are some of your favorite places to visit in Hanoi? Share in a comment below!

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Like ‘Places to Visit in Hanoi?’ Don’t forget to check out these other Vietnam posts:

• Navigating Noi Bai Airport
• Where to Eat in Hanoi
• One Day in Ninh Binh, Vietnam
• Trang An Boat Tours
• Hiking Mua Caves in Ninh Binh