Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam, is appreciated by millions of international visitors thanks to its centuries old French style architecture, diverse culture, attractive points of interest, friendly people and superb cuisine. Check out our tips to explore the best Hanoi has to offer.
Best time to travel
Autumn, which falls from early September to late November, is an ideal time to visit Hanoi. The weather is milder and drier, without the scorching sun of summer, making it the perfect time for sightseeing.
However, visiting Hanoi later in the year is also an interesting experience as holidaymakers can enjoy hot and tasty dishes in the chilly winds of winter.
How to get there
There are a lot of airlines providing flights to Hanoi from all around the world, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar and Qatar. Visitors can also get in by train or sleeper bus.
Where to go and what to do
Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the highlight of the city’s tourism sector. With its dense population and busy trading activities, it is an ideal place to explore the traditional and unique features of Hanoi.
While Ho Chi Minh City is famous for Bui Vien, which is dubbed “Western street” for backpackers, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is known for its “international crossroad” at Luong Ngoc Quyen – Ta Hien intersection, where visitors can have a few cold and fairly cheap fresh beers at the end of the day for a price of only VND10,000 (US$0.43) for a tall glass.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a place you shouldn’t miss when in Hanoi. This was the place where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, marking the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The mausoleum is open to visitors every day, except Mondays and Fridays. Visitors to the site are required to wear appropriate clothes and to act with respect. The site is free for Vietnamese citizens, while foreigners have to pay VND25,000 for a ticket to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and VND25,000 to the President’s stilt house.
Another must-see tourist attraction in Hanoi is the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s oldest university. Tickets cost VND30,000, people with disabilities and students with ID cards enjoy a 50% discount, while children under 15 can visit free.
Where to eat and drink
Pho (Vietnamese noodles) is a perfect choice to start a new day in Hanoi. With prices ranging from VND25,000 to VND40,000, Pho can be served at any time of the day in Hanoi. Two of the most popular types of pho are beef noodle soup and chicken noodle soup.
Other suggestions for breakfast include banh cuon (steamed rice pancake rolls), mien luon (vermicelli with eels), xoi (sticky rice), and of course, banh mi (fresh bread with tasty fillings).
Bun cha, a delicious and filling dish comprising charred and crispy slices of seasoned pork served with a bowl of fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of herbs and rice noodles, can cost from just VND25,000 to VND35,000. Bun cha often comes with the delicious nem cua be (fried crab spring rolls).
Afternoon is a great time to have a cup of egg coffee. You might have to pay VND15,000 to VND20,000 to savour the creamy, rich taste of a sweet and eggy custard poured onto the dense Vietnamese coffee.
Fruit juices, smoothies and che (sweet beverages) are available at kiosks along Dinh Tien Hoang and Nguyen Huu Huan streets around Hoan Kiem (Sword lake).
For dinner, cha ca (grilled catfish seasoned with dill and shrimp paste) is a can’t miss dish for visitors to Hanoi. When the dark of night fills the sky, visitors can join Hanoians at the bustling corner of Ta Hien – Luong Ngoc Quyen streets to taste the iconic street food of Hanoi, including nem chua ran (fried fermented pork rolls), nem chua nuong (grilled fermented pork rolls), grilled chicken feet, and roasted quails with honey.
Where to stay
Over recent years, the home stay industry has mushroomed in Vietnam and Hanoi in particular, with prices ranging from VND 550,000 to VND1.5 million per night for a room.
Some suggestions include O'Hanoi (33B Pham Ngu Lao), Tuti Downtown (98 Hang Buo), and Little prince home (8B Yen Hoa).
There are also budget hostels with full accommodation and equipment from VND200,000 to VND800,000. For those who want to enjoy a luxury retreat in Hanoi, there are many five-star hotels such as the Sheraton and Sofitel Metropole.
How to get around Hanoi
You can take a taxi, a xe om biker or a bus to get around Hanoi. If you are brave enough to ride a bike through the hectic streets of Hanoi alone, you can hire a bike for between VND50,000 and VND150,000 a day to save money.
Recently, the city has launched a double-decker city Hop on - Hop off tour, offering visitors three price options, starting at VND 300,000 for a ticket valid for four hours, VND 450,000 for 24 hours, and VND 650,000 for 48 hours.
The red open top buses cover a route of 25 streets with 13 stops, taking visitors to the 30 most popular local tourist attractions. The 13.8 km tour operates from 9am to 5pm daily with a frequency of 30 minutes.
On educational cooperation, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh praised long-standing collaboration in training, research and academic exchanges, noting that the Vietnamese language now is taught at around 30 universities across China.
Technology is similarly enriching exhibitions at the Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi. Wartime letters, a typewriter and other artefacts linked to former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh have been digitally integrated with collections held at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Through projection mapping, 3D displays and a virtual reality recreation of the Paris Peace Agreement, visitors can engage more deeply with the life and achievements of one of Vietnam’s most prominent diplomats.
As international arrivals surge and global travel trends shift toward safer, culture-focused destinations, Vietnam is positioning itself to move beyond budget tourism and compete through high-value experiences and service quality.
Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council, called on Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers to continue serving society with mindfulness and compassion, uphold the noble traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism, and spread the light of kindness to foster a better life for all.
In recent years, many localities across the Dong Van Karst Plateau have strengthened efforts to integrate traditional culture preservation into schools. "Khen" performances, linen weaving, folk songs and traditional games are gradually becoming more familiar once again to younger generations.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird said: “We are thrilled to support this musical collaboration between Australia’s Matthew Ifield and Vietnam’s Mỹ Anh. Creative connections and exchange between young people in Australia and Vietnam will help build cultural understanding between our nations”.
The Vietnam Film Institute in coordination with the Embassy of Sweden will jointly organise the Vietnam–Sweden Children’s Film Week in Hanoi in early June, featuring free screenings of Vietnamese animated films and Swedish children’s classics.
Vietnamese Buddhism has consistently upheld the spirit of “protecting the nation and serving the people” while accompanying the nation in promoting social ethics, strengthening great national unity, and advancing national development.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, has officially launched the “Korea Season 2026” program series in Vietnam.
With a score of 69 out of 100, Hanoi stood out for its remarkable visual diversity, boasting more than 1.8 million unique colours captured across the analysed images.
The growing presence of Vietnam in international music videos is therefore more than a story of beautiful imagery. It is also a test of how the country positions itself within the global cultural landscape.
According to Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director of Agoda Vietnam, travellers are becoming more selective when choosing accommodation, prioritising properties with strong reviews, quality amenities and distinctive dining options. This trend reflects a growing emphasis on the overall travel experience, alongside peer-based quality assurance.
Hanoi is currently home to the largest number of craft villages in Vietnam, with around 1,350 villages engaged in traditional trades and handicrafts.
With its majestic landscapes, rich ethnic cultures and immersive tourism experiences, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Old Town of Lijiang are becoming increasingly attractive to Vietnamese travellers, while also contributing to stronger tourism and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and China’s Yunnan province.
The increase in flights from Russia, the CIS and Belarus to Da Nang not only helps diversify the city’s international visitor markets but also reflects growing confidence among international travel companies in Da Nang’s attractiveness and tourism capacity.
The Command Cave tour offers domestic and international visitors an opportunity to explore the values of the World Natural Heritage site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang while commemorating the victories and sacrifices of forces operating along the Truong Son route.
The introduction of a 10-year multiple-entry visa policy, together with a series of new tourism promotion programs, is creating fresh momentum for the Vietnam–South Korea tourism market in 2026.
The representative of the Vietnam Cinema Association stated that in the context of today’s fourth Industrial Revolution, the requirement to respect and ensure historical authenticity through cinema has become more important than ever, as digital platforms and cyberspace have enabled the widespread dissemination of cross-border media products.
According to the digital travel platform Agoda, travel searches by Vietnamese users show a clear shift toward lesser-known destinations offering more personalised and immersive experiences, spanning coastal, mountainous and cultural tourism.
PSNews - "We have always affirmed that the greatest strength lies in the people, and the greatest creativity also comes from the people. When millions of positive stories are shared and spread simultaneously, we are not only promoting the image of our country, but also helping to strengthen social trust, enhance consensus, elevate national prestige, and proactively counter false and distorted information about Vietnam in the international arena", said Trinh Thi Thuy - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of the Organizing Committee of the award.