10 Must Experience Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam

1. Dine In Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular region for travelers to stay in due to its convenient location. Easily accessible to most of the attractions in Hanoi, the foods in the Old Quarter are also more appealing and budget-friendly, as most of the locals also choose to have their meals there.

During the weekend nights, the main street in Hanoi Old Quarter will also be sealed for the night markets. Local musicians take the opportunity to showcase their performance in the street, contributing to the lovely vibe travelers have been looking for.

Looking for souvenirs? Hanoi Old Quarter Night Market has them all. You’ll be able to find souvenirs, gifts, handcrafts, shirts, and all kind of street foods there. It’s crowded with narrow alleys, so you’ll need somewhere around an hour to check them all out!

2. Take A Stroll in Hoan Kiem Lake

Undoubtedly the best landmark of Hanoi city. The temple in the middle of the lake, Temple of the Jade Mountain has been around for more than a century. A perfect subject for all photography lovers especially during sunset hours.

Like the Old Quarter, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake are sealed, transforming into a huge square for locals to spend their time outdoors. You’ll find people playing badminton, strumming guitars, jogging or just chatting around while walking through the crowded street.

With a cheap entrance fee, you’ll be able to enter the Temples of the Jade Mountain, where you can find a preserved carcass of a giant turtle inside an enclosed glass chamber. There is a legend surrounding the giant turtle as well!

3. Try The Street Foods in Hanoi

Vietnamese street foods have made their name out to the world. Being one of the world’s healthiest cuisines, Vietnamese foods have a minimum amount of seasoning and artificial ingredients. With an abundance of greens in a single dish, you’ll know why the obese rate in Vietnam is so ridiculously low.

The best place to try them all would be waking up early and walk out to the streets in Old Quarter. Walk into the local restaurant with the most customers, it’s the best indicator of amazing food. Some locals will also push their stall around on their bicycle, selling pancakes and snacks.

4. Pay A Tribute in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Leader, Ho Chi Minh (widely regarded as Uncle Ho in Vietnam). A figure well-respected throughout entire North Vietnam.

Vietnam was once divided into North and South Vietnam, with communist ruling the north and USA at the south. The war that sacrificed millions and finally reuniting the north and the south was crafted into the book of history, known as The Vietnam War.

The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum would be in the early morning before the arrival of tourist groups. For your information, Hanoi is a popular destination for big Chinese and Korean tourist groups. Chances are, you’ll be queuing up with them for a photo with the Mausoleum. (There might not be any queues after all.)

In front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is Ba Dinh Square, named after Ba Dinh Uprising, an anti-French rebellion in the 1880s. A very well-maintained square where you can walk around if the weather is ‘skin-friendly’ enough.

5. Riding a Motorcycle Around the City

Hanoi is a huge city, and it takes a long time to explore them all. But if you don’t have that much time to stay for months in Hanoi like some backpackers, you’re probably going to need to rent a motorcycle and ride around the city.

Never rode one before? Well, if you’re adventurous and dare enough, you can literally rent one and practice for a while before riding out into the streets. The traffic polices do not check your license or anything, safety issues should be more of your concerns.

Here are some things you should know while renting a motorbike in Hanoi city. Your passport will be withheld by the rental agency as a deposit, helmets will be provided at no additional cost, and you’ll have to pay for your petrol.

I know the passport part is frustrating but that’s the way it works there.

And remember, the traffic in Hanoi is total chaos, so ride slowly and be aware of your surrounding at all time. How much is it? Well, you can get a scooter for around $5 for the entire day.

One more thing, do not accept the offer from some random locals. Always rent your motorbike from a proper rental company.

6. Indulge the Egg Coffee in Giang Café

Vietnamese coffee is famous enough in Southeast Asia but with an egg in it? It’s a gem. While it might sound awful for some at first (same goes for me), it’s unexpectedly delicious!

During the war period, when the milk is not easily available, the local Vietnamese had a creative idea to substitute the milk with raw egg yolk. And it worked wonders. The aroma of coffee is still there, with a more soothing taste and texture.

The best place to try Vietnamese egg coffee is at Giang Café, a small café near Hanoi Old Quarter where everything started. The café is crowded with both locals and foreigners most of the time so you might have to queue a little.

It’s a little tricky to order since most of the staff there do not speak English, but I love the way they treat their customers. An egg coffee costs 25,000 VND, around $1.25.

7. Have A Drink in Legend Beer

Located just beside Hoan Kiem Lake, with one of the best views in Hanoi city lies Legend Beer. This most well-known bar in Hanoi City has multiple floors of open-air bars, with all sorts of cuisines (mostly Western cuisines) and beers for your selection.

Beer drinking has been a culture of the Vietnamese people. And even though a high rate of family abuse came from drunk husbands, I still appreciate the good side of the culture.

Inside there, you’ll find a variety of foods, like German-style dishes of pork knuckles and sausages. I wouldn’t recommend having Vietnamese cuisines here though, there are a lot better ones in the morning in Old Quarter.

Great social space for meeting up friends and getting to know other travelers!

8. Go Shopping in Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan Market has been around in Hanoi city for more than a century, as it’s built back in 1889. Although it’s been renovated several times due to different factors, Dong Xuan Market is still welcoming hundreds, if not thousands of locals every morning.

Inside the market, you’ll find a wide variety of groceries, clothes, tools, basically everything you’ll find in a supermarket. Besides that, there’s a food court in there serving various Vietnamese cuisines too. So if you’re traveling in Hanoi, have your breakfast in there and go shopping around the market!

An excellent place to blend into the locals and learn their way of life in Vietnam!

9. Watch The Water Puppet Theatre

Believe it or not, the water puppet theatres in Hanoi is so famous that it got booked out on almost every weekend night. In fact, there are several shows every day to compromise the demands of foreigners.

Yes, it’s kinda expensive for some people, but this ancient form of art is a part of the Vietnamese culture.

In the show, the puppets are controlled by the puppet masters working behind the screen, featuring some legends and stories, like the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le. It’s a legend related to the Hoan Kiem Lake, which also leads to the preservation of the giant turtle mentioned above.

The best place to watch the water puppet shows is at Thang Long Puppet Theatre. But remember, buy your tickets beforehand, preferable hours before the show begins to secure yourself a seat for the show. You don’t want to be disappointed for missing it.

10. Visit The Perfume Pagoda

Now we’re talking about some Hanoi attraction far away from the city. Located about 60km southwest of Hanoi city in Huong Son Mountain range lies the Perfume Pagoda. Built around the 15th century, it’s one of the oldest pagodas in entire Vietnam.

Most visitors to the Perfume Pagoda have a wish in mind. The stalagmites and stalactites inside the cave have been named according to different blessings that they can bestow.

Inside the cave, you’ll see plenty of statues carved from the green stones for decoration, including Lord Buddha statue and Buddhist Goddess, Quan Am. You’ll also notice the temperature difference as soon as you enter the cave, as it’s very cool inside.

The Perfume Pagoda will be very busy during the Chua Huong Festival from January to April. Check the exact dates if you’re planning to watch the festival yourself!

Ready For These Exciting Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam?

That’s all for the things to do in Hanoi city. Hope this article served its purpose to help you in trip planning. Thanks for reading, enjoy your time in Hanoi and happy traveling!

About the Author: Yen from Wondering Journal is a full-time university student who always takes full advantages of his holidays to travel for new experiences. He’s been to New Zealand for Working Holiday before having his road trip, volunteered in Kathmandu, Nepal and exchanged in California along with several backpacking trips through Southeast Asia. Having spent months in foreign countries, he gives in-depth travel tips and guides in his travel blog, Wandering Journal.

Images were provided courtesy of Wandering Journal and our own photography library from Hanoi.