1. Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) is known as the “heart” of Hanoi capital with its long history and poetic beauty that captivates people. This is not only a favorite tourist attraction of a large number of domestic and foreign tourists but also a place to preserve the precious cultural and historical values of the nation. Whether it’s early morning or late at night, Hoan Kiem Lake has its own vitality. This is a perfect location for you to take a scenic walk, visit historical sites. On weekends, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake also takes place many special festivals and art performances. If you want to feel the energy of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem lake is the destination that you are looking for.
Spotlight:
- Walking street (From 19:00 Friday to the end of Sunday)
- Turtle Tower,
- Pen Tower,
- The Huc Bridge,
- Ngoc Son Temple,
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
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2. Old Quarter
Located in the center of Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi’s old quarter with ancient houses and streets imprinted with historical memories of the capital has become one of the first and most attractive destinations that tourists visit. can not be ignored.
Known as “Hanoi’s 36 old streets”, each street is named after a typical item that has been sold on the street for a thousand years. Although many streets no longer sell traditional goods, this is still a destination where visitors can explore the lifestyle and culture of Hanoi people in the past and present. In particular, when you come here, you will get lost in a maze of famous street food, typical sidewalk cafes that you will not find anywhere else but Hanoi.
Spotlight
- Ta Hien street (Beer street)
- Nguyen Huu Huan street (Coffee street)
- Ma May street (Local food area)
- Phung Hung street (Train street)
- Hang Gai street (Souvenir area)
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3. Ho Chi Minh Complex
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum started construction on September 2, 1973, right at the historic Ba Dinh Square, where Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the place where Uncle Ho’s body is preserved for a long time so that the whole country and international tourists can come to show their respect and gratitude to the old father of the nation. This place has become a sacred space of Hanoi and the whole country.
Opening hours:
- From April to the end of October: 7:30 to 10:30 (Weekend from 7:30 to 11:00)
- From November to the end of March next year: 8:00 to 11:00 (Weekend from 8:30 to 11:30)
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4. St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Hanoi Cathedral is located at the intersection of 3 major streets: Nha Chung, Ly Quoc Su and Nha Tho streets (address 40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi). With the neo-Gothic style of the 19th century with typical European symmetry towers and shafts, you will feel like you are admiring the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of Hanoi. Standing inside the bustling and busy Old Quarter, but around the Hanoi Cathedral is strangely quiet and peaceful, it feels like the church stands alone with all the excitement and passion of this city. .
Until now, the cathedral has attracted people who are parishioners and tourists from all over the world to come here not only because of its religious significance but also many special features in its architecture and history.
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 5:30 and 18:15
- Saturday: 18:00
- Sunday: The time frames are 5:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00 (French ceremony), 16:00 (children’s festival), 18:00, 20:00 (adult ceremony).
Ticket price: Free entrance
Note: Dress neatly, be polite, keep order, absolutely do not say words that are offensive to religion or point to saints.
More details about St. Josepth’s Cathedral
5. Hanoi Opera House
Dubbed the “Opera Garnier in Paris” miniature in the heart of the French Quarter, Hanoi Opera House is an architectural symbol ranked as a national historical relic, possessing a unique architecture associated with important events throughout Vietnam history. Built by the French in the years 1901 – 1911, this is a place specializing in performing luxurious classical art repertoires such as Opera, chamber music, drama… for the mandarins or the elite in the past. Hanoi Opera House is not only valuable in terms of architecture, more broadly, since the beginning of the twentieth century, it is also the place to witness the first “contact” between Vietnam and Western culture and art, especially music and theater.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 – 12:00
Ticket price: From 120,000 VND
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6. Hoa Lo Prison
The most unique point when it comes to Hanoi is in the midst of a bustling, modern capital, always interwoven with ancient spaces, historical monuments with many ups and downs, nostalgia, evoking strong emotions in each person. Hoa Lo Prison is such a place.
More than 120 years ago, Hoa Lo Prison used to be the place to witness a lot of suffering and misery, as well as the indomitable and resilient spirit in the face of humiliation and death of patriotic Vietnamese children. Along with Con Dao Prison, Phu Quoc Prison, Hoa Lo Prison is likened to “hell on earth” during the period when the country was still at war.
Today, this place has become a tourist attraction imbued with French architecture in the last decades of the nineteenth century, as well as the cultural and historical significance of the Vietnamese nation.
Opening hours:
- Daily 8:00 to 19:00, except for some holidays or other special occasions.
- Specially, Hoa Lo Prison also has a night tour and experience program from 19:00 to 19:45 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Ticket price:
- Adults and children 15 years and older: 30,000 VND/person.
- Pupils, students, people 60 years old and older: 15,000 VND/person.
- People under 15 years old, people with disabilities: free.
Note:
- Wear formal clothing, no shorts, off-the-shoulder tops or short skirts.
- Do not touch artifacts, do not make noise or disorder when visiting.
- Maintain hygiene, do not litter indiscriminately.
- Only incense and flowers are allowed in the memorial area.
More details about Hoa Lo Prison
7. Temple of Literature
In your Hanoi travel itinerary, you must definitely spend time visiting the Temple of Literature – the temple of Confucius, Vietnam’s first national university built in the Ly Dynasty. Not only has it been the birthplace of many talented people for Vietnam for more than 1000 years throughout many generations, but the Temple of Literature is also a traditional symbol of Hanoi which carries important meanings in terms of architecture, culture, and history.
More proudly, the 82 steles of the Doctor at the Temple of Literature have been recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage and inscribed in the list of Global Memory of the World. These things have shown that the Temple of Literature is not only a valuable asset of Vietnam, but it has become an asset and cultural heritage of mankind. Over the years, the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, a spiritual relic, a symbol of wisdom, a tradition of studiousness, has become a relic, an attractive and attractive address for domestic and foreign tourists.
Opening hours:
- Open daily, including weekends or special holidays
- 8:00 to 18.00 (7:30 in winter)
Ticket price:
- 30,000 VND / person / visit.
- Free tickets for children under 15 years old
Note:
- Wear polite, neat, clean, dignified clothing
- Do not wear hats or smoke or carry flammable and explosive materials inside the Temple of Literature
- Only offer incense burning ceremony, only light 1 incense stick at the specified place
- Walk softly and speak softly to keep the environment clean
- Do not infringe on artifacts, do not write or draw, stand up, do not rub turtle’s head, Doctor’s stele and other exhibits
More details about The Temple of Literature
8. Thang Long Imperial Citadel
If you have ever bowed before the contemplative and majestic beauty of Hue Imperial Citadel, then surely you will not be able to ignore the archaeological site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi capital, a massive architectural work built through many feudal dynasties of Vietnam, and also one of the most important monuments in the system of historical monuments of Vietnam.
Through the ups and downs of history, Thang Long Imperial Citadel was destroyed many times, repaired and rebuilt on the old foundation, but up to now, most of the original works are gone. However, the area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel today is still the center of power of the country, preserving many historical values of the nation. Including the values of architecture, history, culture, …
With the historical and cultural values that this special architecture brings, in 2010, UNESCO recognized the Central Monuments of Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. scientific research as well as famous tourist attractions of Hanoi.
Opening hours:
- The central relic of Thang Long Imperial Citadel is open every day of the week, except Monday.
- 8:30 – 11:30 and 14:00 – 17:00.
Ticket price:
- Adults: 30,000 VND/person
- Students, students and people over 60 years old: 15,000 VND/person
- Children under 15 years old: Free
Note:
- You should bring drinking water, because you have to move a lot.
- You remember to follow the general regulations of the Relic, and it is best to visit according to the guide map to be able to go to all the works.
- From the end of 2020, Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center – Hanoi has opened the night tour “Deciphering the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long”, building cultural stories in various forms, bringing many entertainment and more attractive for visitors to have new experiences when visiting the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
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9. Dong Xuan Market
Referring to the land of Thang Long – Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention Dong Xuan Market, a famous market in the Northern region. Not only a busy trading place, Dong Xuan Market is also a cultural and historical symbol of Hanoi, which has appeared since 1889 under the Nguyen Dynasty.
Visiting Dong Xuan Market, you are free to shop for a variety of goods, from souvenirs, clothes, electronics, to fresh and dried produce. Moreover, having come to Dong Xuan Market, it is impossible to ignore Dong Xuan market alley, located just a short distance from the market, known as “super food alley in the heart of the old town”. The alley is only about 200m long, but there are hundreds of shops, selling unbelievably delicious Hanoi dishes like bun cha, banh mi, pho and so on …
On weekends, there will be Dong Xuan night market, extending from Hoan Kiem Lake through Hang Ngang, Hang Dao until the end of Hang Duong with a full range of affordable items. During the night market time, this place is extremely crowded, bustling with sellers, buyers and tourists. Not only shopping, Dong Xuan Night Market also premieres Xam singing, a very unique cultural form of Kinh Ky land, which takes place right in front of the market gate every Saturday night.
Opening hours:
- Daily from 8:00 to 18:00.
- Night market: Weekend from 19:00 to 22:30.
Note:
- Be careful and remember to keep your possessions to prevent pickpockets.
- Ask for the price in advance and bargain before shopping.
More details about Dong Xuan Market
10. West Lake
West Lake is a poetic little corner in the colorful landscape picture of Hanoi. This is the largest freshwater lake in the city, and has a total area of 500 hectares. With a circumference of about 17 km, many people consider the road around West Lake to be the most dreamy route and always attract a large number of locals as well as tourists to walk around, enjoy the cool air and watch the sunset.
Wandering to West Lake, you will feel the incredible silence and peace. Not only a “lung” to purify the air, West Lake is also a gathering place for the spirits of heaven and earth, an ideal destination for romantic souls who are looking for sufficient silence amidst the hustle and bustle.
However, West Lake, like somewhat of its name, is also an area with a large concentration of westerners. You can easily find pubs, European-style restaurants with most of the customers being foreigners here. Although the night life activities in West Lake may not be as many as in the center of the old town, there are still many interesting destinations that you want to explore.
Note: The areas crowded with foreigners in West Lake are Quang An and Xuan Dieu streets.
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