Vietnam · North Vietnam
Hanoi travel guide
A chaotic, charming capital with legendary street food
Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi. Photo: Cyril Doussin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hanoi is Vietnam's capital, a city of lakes, French colonial buildings and the busy, narrow streets of the Old Quarter, where each street was once a guild.
It's the best place for street food, egg coffee and water puppet shows, and the base for trips to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình and Sapa.
What Hanoi is known for
- The Old Quarter
36 historic streets.
- Street food
Bún chả and egg coffee.
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake
The heart of the city.
- Water puppets
A traditional show.
Top things to do in Hanoi
Where to stay in Hanoi
Best time to visit Hanoi
Best value: Sep–Apr. October to April: cooler and drier, with chilly evenings in December and January.
- Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
- PeakBusiest, highest prices
- QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
Getting there and around
About 11h 45m from London to HAN, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?
Walk the centre. Use Grab for cars and scooters.
Good to know
- Cross the road slowly and steadily: traffic flows around you.
- Weekend nights the lake streets are pedestrianised.
- Book Hạ Long cruises with good reviews.
Hanoi FAQ
How many days in Hanoi?
Two or three days.
Is Hanoi cold?
It can be cool from December to February.
More places in Vietnam
Hạ Long BayNature · North Vietnam
Hội AnHistory · Central Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh CityCity · South Vietnam
Phú QuốcIsland · South Vietnam
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