Hanoi, the capital of a thousand years of culture, the city for peace, is always the top choice for tourists when coming to Vietnam. When coming to Hanoi, tourists will remember the world-famous pho, bun cha and egg coffee. Let’s join Hanoi Green Tour to review some reference information before your trip to the capital of Vietnam.
Sidewalk stalls selling local specialties, motorbikes weaving through crowded streets… are the first impressions of everyone when traveling to Hanoi. The most ideal time to travel to Hanoi is in the fall from August to November and in the spring from March to April. Many people think that autumn is the most beautiful time of the year in Hanoi, with clear blue skies, cool breezes, falling yellow leaves, the scent of milk flowers…
Hanoi has many accommodation options for tourists such as budget motels, homestays, hotels, resorts… suitable for their budget and preferences. If you want to stay in the Old Quarter to conveniently explore Hanoi, you can rent a bed in a dormitory room for about 100,000 VND per night, up to a high-end hotel for 3,000,000 – 5,000,000 VND per night.
Some particularly high-end hotels include Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi with French colonial architecture, just a few steps from the Opera House is Hilton Hanoi Opera, Apricot Hotel right on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, famous hotels with a view of West Lake are Sheraton Hanoi and InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, Lotte Hotel Hanoi on the top floor of the 65-storey Lotte Center building…
Some famous tourist attractions in Hanoi
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a world cultural heritage located in the heart of Hanoi and has a history of more than 1,300 years. This place contains unique relics and artifacts, proving the history of Thang Long – Hanoi.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Located in the heart of the capital, Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle Tower are considered symbols of Hanoi. Not only does it have great historical value, Hoan Kiem Lake is also a place for entertainment for the capital’s residents and tourists amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Within the Hoan Kiem Lake area are impressive tourist attractions in Hanoi that always attract visitors such as: Nghien tower, But tower, The Huc bridge, Ngoc Son temple.
Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam
This is the first university in Vietnam. Today, visitors can visit the stone steles, the solemn campus with lotus ponds, and water lily ponds. The Temple of Literature is a rare peaceful and quiet place in the middle of a bustling city. Visitors will feel the harmony between ancient and modern when coming here through the thousand-year-old walls. This place also preserves many valuable artifacts and documents, especially the 82 doctoral steles that have been recognized by UNESCO as a “World Documentary Heritage”.
Vietnam Military History Museum
Vietnam Military History Museum, one of the must-see destinations in Hanoi, is not only a place to preserve valuable artifacts but also a symbol of patriotism and resilience of the Vietnamese people. The museum currently holds more than 150,000 valuable artifacts, including four national treasures, reflecting the heroic historical advances of the Vietnamese army. Not only is it a place to preserve and conserve historical heritage, the museum also plays an important role in inspiring patriotism and the heroic sacrifices of previous generations, helping the younger generation better understand history and be proud of the nation.
In addition to visiting scenic spots, visitors should enjoy art shows imbued with national identity in Hanoi.
Water puppetry: is a theatrical art that visitors should see when coming to Hanoi. This art has a tradition of more than 1,000 years in Vietnam. The props of the Water Puppetry art are elaborately handcrafted from wood, then covered with multi-colored lacquer. The artists will perform underwater puppetry to the captivating sounds of folk music.
Listen to Ca Tru singing: Ca Tru originated in the 11th century, its style has many similarities to Japanese geisha rituals and opera performances. Initially, Ca Tru was considered an entertainment for the nobility in the royal palace, then entered the common cultural space of modern Hanoi. Ca Tru has five main performance spaces: Ca Tru cua dinh (singing at the communal house gate to worship gods), Ca Tru cua quyen (enjoying Ca Tru by the authorities), Ca Tru at home, Ca Tru hat thi, Ca Tru ca quan
Hanoi cuisine perfectly combines sour, spicy, salty, sweet flavors and represents the image of the thousand-year-old city: vibrant, quiet, attractive and appealing. You can easily enjoy Hanoi specialties at street stalls such as beef noodle soup, bun cha, banh mi…
Pho: When coming to Hanoi, you cannot miss pho, especially beef noodle soup, which usually has two main types: well-done and rare. Well-done beef is beef that is boiled in broth, while rare beef is thinly sliced meat that is quickly blanched in boiling water. Then, the seller will arrange the slices of meat on pho noodles, pour the broth over them and serve the diners.
Bun cha: a dish often eaten at lunch. Similar to grilled pork noodle soup in the South and Central regions, but Hanoi people’s bun cha is marinated more elaborately
Coffee: Coffee is a specialty in Hanoi, famous for egg coffee. Egg coffee is one of Hanoi’s specialties made from whipped eggs mixed with Vietnamese coffee. Egg coffee has a slightly yellow color and is served in a small cup. Diners always have a small spoon to enjoy the cream foam on top as an “appetizer” before drinking the coffee below.
