Hanoi
Discover Hanoi
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội), the capital of Vietnam and its second-largest city, is a fascinating blend of East and West, with Chinese influence from centuries of dominance, and French je ne sais quoi from its colonial past. It was largely unspoiled by the modern architecture of the 1970s and 80s, and is now undergoing a rapid transformation that makes it a rising star in Southeast Asia. Invading forces from every direction agree: Hanoi makes a fine capital. It has held that title for more than a thousand years, through several invasions, occupations, restorations, and name changes. The Chinese conquered the imperial city of Đại La in 1408 and renamed it Tống Bình. Le Loi repelled the invaders in 1428 and applied the name of Lê Thái Tổ (黎太祖). For his efforts, he received the crown and a slew of legends about his heroic exploits, many centred around Hoan Kiem Lake. The Nguyen Dynasty gave the city its modern name of Ha Noi in 1831, but they had transferred power to Hue by then. Hue remained the capital until 1887, when the French made Hanoi the capital of all Indochina. It changed hands again in 1954, when it was ceded to Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh after almost a decade of fighting, and it became the capital of North Vietnam. Upon reunification in 1975, it assumed that title for the entire country. (See also: Indochina Wars).
What to Experience in Hanoi
Taste of Hanoi...
Hanoi's most famous (and prevalent) dish is phở soup: "phở gà" (chicken noodle soup), "phở bò" (beef noodle soup), or "phở chay" (tofu noodle soup). Another local specialty is bún chả, grilled fatty pork over a plate of white rice noodles and herbs with dipping sauce. There are hundreds of street restaurants in small kiosks on the sidewalk, with plastic tables and chairs on the pavement. Eating at these restaurants is a great way to experience the local food and culture. It is worth mentioning that food quality, freshness, and hygiene can vary greatly. On average, a bowl of noodle soup goes for 40-60,000 dong (June 2024) and market food stalls offer fruit portions, sausages, doughnuts and other foods. Check your change as a few vendors seem to forget to give it, and learn a little Vietnamese because vendors often will not speak any or much English (e.g. "bao nhiêu ?", meaning "how much?"). Next to Beijing, Hanoi is probably the second in the running to the world's exotic food paradise. A local delicacy in the Hanoi area is dog meat (thịt chó), which is especially popular in the winter. There are a number of dog restaurants in the Tay Ho district. Another exotic regional taste is cà cuống, an extract from the belostomatid or giant water bug. Just a few drops are added to noodles for the unique aroma. Boiled duck foetus eggs (trứng vịt lộn) are sold by pedlars almost everywhere.
Climate
The Tết holiday (Lunar New Year) usually falls between late January and 20 February. In 2026 it will span 9 days, from Feb 14th to 22nd. In spring, flowers are most beautiful during this time of the year. The weather warms up, with occasional light rain during the week. Locals believe that these light rains bring prosperity and luck in the new year. Summer, on the other hand, borders on intolerable. The heat alone would be alright, but it's coupled with oppressive humidity and frequent rainstorms. At this time, visitors should be wary of mosquitoes as they abound. Hanoi has a perfect climate for the proliferation of insects. In autumn, the weather is at it's most perfect, with less humidity in the air. The temperature drops, allowing people a chance to flaunt their sweaters and jackets. Milkwood trees ("cây hoa sữa"), which only flowers in autumn, commonly lines many streets.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are direct international flights from all major South East Asian capitals, most major Chinese, Taiwanese, South Korean and Japanese cities, and also from Bali, Sydney, Melbourne, Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul, Munich, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, and London. No direct flights from North America for now – Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei, Seoul or Tokyo will usually be the most convenient interchange. Domestic flights, by Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air, serve Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho, Vinh, Dien Bien Phu, and Phu Quoc island. Public and express buses depart from the arrivals level at the International Terminal, second road, at pillar 2 (turn left after exiting the terminal). From the Domestic Terminal they leave from between the Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air terminals. The Reunification Express goes all the way to Ho Chi Minh City ("Saigon"), although there is very little 'express' about it....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Getting around Hanoi can be a challenge: traffic slows to a crawl for most of the day, and the public transport system has not kept up with the city's explosive growth. Metro Line 2A connects Cát Linh (west of the Old Quarter) to Yên Nghĩa in the southwestern suburbs. Metro Line 3 connects Cầu Giấy to Nhổn in the northwestern suburbs. The lines are not connected but this will change when the underground stretch between Cầu Giấy and Hanoi Station opens around 2027. Metro Line 2A is useful for getting to Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, one of Hanoi's largest shopping malls, which is within walking distance of Thượng Đình station. Scam-free, cheap but a bit difficult to comprehend at first, the buses in Hanoi are relatively fast, air-conditioned and surprisingly comfortable. Find your bus stop (there are usually blue signs) and wait for the bus to arrive. Go and sit in the bus, the bus assistant will come to you.
Where to Stay
Beware if arriving at your hotel on a weekend. Some streets in the Old Quarter and lake side can get closed to cars, so your taxi or minivan might have to drop you off early, leaving you to walk a bit with all your luggage. See common scams; they're more prevalent at the budget end of the market, but no more in Hanoi than in other cities. The heart of the Old Quarter - potentially noisy and busy - but closest to the bars on Ma May and Ta Hien. Ta Hien is Hanoi's unofficial backpacker street, and there are numerous backpackers' hostels nearby to cater to that market. The narrow streets around St. Joseph's Cathedral offer a (relatively!) quieter and less hectic option than the main part of the Old Quarter, which is still only a five- to ten-minute walk. An interesting alternative area to stay, is in one of the many modern apartment blocks above the giant basement level shopping mall of Times City. Apartments can be rented privately from 1 million dong per night.
Money & Budget
ATMs are everywhere — see Money on Vietnam#Buy for general information. Money exchange can be done at jewellery shops, which usually offer better rates than banks. The most popular ones are located along Ha Trung Rd (5-min walk from Hoan Kiem Lake) and Hang Bac. Just walk into the shop and ask them if they change money. Ask 5 or more shops to see which one gives the best rate. Hotels also often provide currency exchange service, but at terrible rates. Don't exchange money with people in the street, as the risk of getting counterfeit notes from them is high. Although most grocery shopping still happens in street markets (see above), supermarkets and convenience stores are becoming more common.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The simple act of walking can be intimidating, especially in the narrow streets around the Old Quarter. As is the case everywhere in Vietnam, traffic in Hanoi is dominated by an incredible number of motorbikes, all of which seem to be making a mad, desperate dash for something just out of reach, all of the time. There is no such thing as one-directional traffic in Vietnam. When you leave the curb, look not only left and right, but to the front and back. Even up and down would not be amiss. Take each step deliberately but resolutely. Patiently allow the motorbikes to pass. Don't rush and don't make any erratic movements. Stop in place if necessary but never walk backwards. This way the drivers are aware of you, and can anticipate your behavior (along with all of the other motorbikes). As a rule of thumb, motorbikes will swerve around you, but cars and trucks will run you over. It may look chaotic, but be patient and pay attention and you'll be fine. Be vigilant when taking a taxi.
Glimpses of Hanoi
a train track running through an alley way
brown and white concrete building near green trees under white clouds during daytime
This one was one of the most interesting moments I’ve ever captured. The storm passed by and left some clouds in the sky in "magic hour". The wind velocity was very strong so you can see the light changed every minute. It’s totally free but don't forget to credit to me when you use it for your work ;) - Minh Luu - Email: luuquangminhphoto@gmail.com - Website: https://minhluu.com/
Sipping Coffee above the intersection in Hanoi, Vietnam
red and white train on rail road during daytime
A train traveling down train tracks next to a crowd of people
St.Joseph’s Cathedral in the weekend
people riding motorcycle on road near building during daytime
a Sidewalk Cafe in Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
a train track running through an alley way
brown and white concrete building near green trees under white clouds during daytime
This one was one of the most interesting moments I’ve ever captured. The storm passed by and left some clouds in the sky in "magic hour". The wind velocity was very strong so you can see the light changed every minute. It’s totally free but don't forget to credit to me when you use it for your work ;) - Minh Luu - Email: luuquangminhphoto@gmail.com - Website: https://minhluu.com/