Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the political and cultural cultural center of the country. To visit Hanoi is to step yourself in history and legendary traditions, in a capital that has been inhabited for almost a millennium. The flow of time brought this capital various different names: Thang Long, Dong Do, Hanoi.
Hanoi, on the banks of the Red River, was established as the capital in 1010 during the Ly Dynasty era.
The drive from Noi Bai International Airport to downtown Hanoi takes less than an hour and provides interesting sights of Vietnamese lifestyle, currently under profound change due to the modernization of the country.
A lot of monuments and historic places are found in Hanoi, including the Old Quarter with its charming 36 streets and more than 600 pagodas and temples in the city. The current architecture of Hanoi dates mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the section of houses built by the French has largely remained intact.
Hanoi has huge lakes interwoven with its streets; the Westlake (Ho Tay), Hoan Kiem Lake (Ho Guom) and Truch Bach Lake are amongst the biggest and most famous in the capital, and their banks are full of trees, flowers and foliage. They give a poetic beauty to the city, which is very attractive to the tourists. Hanoi also has a strong background in craft making: bronze molding, lacquer, embroidery…
The gastronomy of Hanoi is also unique and delicious (for example, you can try the “Cha Ca” specialty dish and you will have an unforgettable meal).
As a result, Hanoi turns out to be a colorful city with so much to discover!
Hoan Kiem Lake
It’s the heart of the city. Virtually all hotels, tourists’ shops and coffee shops are gathered around the lake. The inhabitants of the Old Quarter come here early in the morning to exercise, jog or practice Tai Chi. Hoan Kiem lake is also one of the favorite places for young couples, who usually come here to take pictures for their wedding. In the vincinity of the lake, you can also find building with ancient architecture, such as Ngoc Son Pagoda and the Turtoise Tower.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
This imposing structure was erected in 1975 to commemorate the founder of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It is located at the limit of Ba Dinh Place, the place where Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Vietnam in front of half a million people, in 1945, after the abdication of Japanese troops. Nowadays, this mausoleum is somewhat a place of pilgrimage for the Vietnamese. The Mausoleum is open only on mornings, from 7:30am to 10:30am during the summer, and from 8:00am to 11:00 during the winter.
The One Pillar Pagoda
This pagoda emerges from a water basin covered with lotus flowers and water lilies. This elegant pagoda is 3 meters by 3 meters and was built for the first time in 1049 by an architect who wanted it to represent a lotus. After that, it was rebuilt multiple times. The original pillar was initially replaced by a pillar made of rough stone. Unfortunately, the last restauration in 1958 was sloppy, and the rough stone pillar was replaced by a new one of 1.25m of diameter, much less aesthetic and still standing up to this date.
Ho Chi Minh Museum
Opened in 1990 to commemorate the 100th birthday of Ho Chi Minh, the collection on display is showing the early life of the Vietnamese leader. Guides are available in several languages.
The Temple of Literature
Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, it officially became the first Vietnamese university in 1076. This place is one of the most beautiful to visit in Hanoi, largely due to its original architecture.
Quanh Thanh Temple
This temple is located near Truch Bach Lake. In the 11th century, King Ly Thai built this temple in honor of Mr. Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the genius and guardian of the North of the Citadel (one of the four guardians of the Citadel, along with Bach Ma Temple in the East, Voi Phuc Temple in the West and Kim Lien Temple in the South). That’s why the temple has two names and can be called either Tran Vu temple or Quanh Thanh – Tran Vu temple.
This site has undergone several renovations. In 1677, the temple was renovated and a statue representing Tran Vu was cast in black bronze and placed inside the temple. The statue weights 4 tons and measures 3m96 in height.
The Vietnam Military History Museum
This place was built in the late 20th century. During the French occupation, it served as a military base for the French Army. Today, it’s a museum that chronicles the multiple wars between the Vietnamese and their invaders. The collection comprises stunning photos, amazing objects and interesting posters, plus audiovisual documents recounting the battles of Dien Bien Phu and the liberation of Saigon in a very informative manner.
The National Museum of Vietnamese History
It is located in the former building of the École Française d'Extrême Orient. Since 1958, it’s a museum depicting Vietnamese History from prehistoric times to the modern era. The rich collection of objects displayed in this museum will enable the visitors to learn more about the history of Vietnam.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
This place is both a research center and a public museum exhibiting objects and pictures of the different ethnic groups in Vietnam. By visiting this place, you will have a better knowledge of the 54 ethnic groups living in the country.
The museum is divided into two parts: an indoor one and another one outdoors. The indoor part consists of an exhibition building, a research center, offices, a library, a storage area, a technical laboratory and an auditorium, spread over 2,480m2 including 750m2 dedicated to the museum’s reserves. Outside, a range of traditional houses are displayed, representing the different architectural styles of houses where ethnic minorities use to live.
The Old Quarter & Dong Xuan Market
This neighborhood is called in different ways: the “Old Quarter”, the “Ancient Quarter” or the “Quarter of the 36 streets”. It’s bounded by the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake, the walls of the Old Citadel and the levees protecting the city from the Red River.
The 36 streets were conveniently named according to the type of products sold there or the discipline or craft that was practiced in the street: medical practice, jewelry, copper, fans, horsehair, coffins or chicken. This explains why the longest streets change names after a few blocks. Within this area, you will find Dong Xuan Market, the biggest one in Hanoi and where you can find almost everything, often at attractive prices and where you are invited to negotiate to get the best deals!
Trishaw
This transportation method dates from the colonial era. For tourists unwilling to visit the Old Quarter by foot, a tour by trishaw is the most appropriate way to explore the neighborhood. Most of the time, you can rent a trishaw with driver for one hour to visit the main historic and cultural sites.
HANOI’S PERIPHERY
Duong Lam village
At 50km from Hanoi, Duong Lam village is a charming place to discover the countryside and pleasant old houses.
Co Loa Citadel
It is located in Dong Anh district, at 18km from Hanoi, on the site of the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Au Lac Kingdom (214 - 208 B.C.), during the reign of King An Duong Vuong. The structure of Co Loa Citadel is similar to that of an oyster shell. According to a legend, this citadel was built under the advice of the Golden Turtle. There, you will be able to visit nice pagodas and temples, the remains of the old citadel and the surrounding countryside.
The Master’s Pagoda (Chua Thay)
This pagoda is 40km far from Hanoi and was built in the 12th century. It is dedicated to Tu Dao Hanh – a master and pioneer in the art of water puppetry. The site of the Master’s Pagoda is nice to visit, with its ponds, hills and ancient architecture. This place was the setting for the movie Indochine.
Tay Phuong Pagoda
Also known as Sung Phuc pagoda, it was built in the 13th century atop a hill which shape resembles a buffalo. This pagoda is known for its 76 sculptures carved from jackfruit wood, the sign of great artistic value during the 18th century when most of these sculptures were made.
The Perfume Pagoda
Located at approximately 70km northwest of Hanoi, in Huong Son commune (My Duc district, Ha Tay province), the Perfume Pagoda is a splendid place karst rocks are dotting rice fields and where a water stream flows. Above all, it is a place of pilgrimage for Vietnamese Buddhists.
Starting from the Duc pier, the boats bring the visitors on Yen River, where they can admire the beauty of this place. Huong Son commune is not only famous for its beautiful scenery, but also for its magnificent caves and impressive pagodas.
Van Phuc, the silk village
The artisans of Van Phuc (10km from Hanoi) are specialized in the production of natural silk that is extremely delicate, also called Ha Dong silk. There is a temple dedicated to the architect who popularized the traditional weaving technique to villagers. The reputation of Van Phuc silk now exceeds the borders, since it’s largely distributed around the globe.
Bat Trang village
Bat Trang is a village located at about 12km from Hanoi and specializing in ceramics called Bat Trang porcelain. The inhabitants of Bat Trang still work in a traditional way and make superb porcelain items that are famous in the country and abroad. The reputation of craftsmen from this village is not new: indeed, it dates back to the Antiquity, and artefacts from the village have been found around the world.
Le Mat village
At only 7km from Hanoi, Le Mat village is atypical and is renowned for breeding snakes, supplying the capital’s restaurants. The festival of Le Mat takes place on the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month, when you can assist to snake dance shows.
