Hanoi

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 21.0341
• Longitude: 105.8372

On Travellerspoint

• 3 Hanoi Guesthouses
• 52 Hanoi Hostels
• 86 Hanoi Hotels

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Introduction

strawberries in Hanoi

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Sprawled along the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. Originally founded in 1010 by King Ly Thai To as Thang Long (city of ascending dragons), the city has since become a fascinating combination of East and West as strong Chinese and French influences have merged with the Vietnamese way. This is specifically reflected in the city's architecture which is now having to also make room for more modern developments alongside. Hanoi's past can be taken in at sites like Hoa Lo Prison and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Plenty of green areas, lakes and shady boulevards, as well as over 600 temples and pagodas, add to the appeal of Hanoi.

Neighbourhoods

The city consists of three main areas:

• The Ancient Citadel Area (11th century) was home to the Royal Family
• The Old Quarter (Ancient Business Area) dates back to the 11th century and is considered the city's centre.
• The French Quarter used to be home to French during their time in Hanoi.

Sights and activities

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Opening hours: 08:00 - 11:00 A.M except for Monday and Friday. Admission free) - Visitors are to be respectful both in dress (long pants and sleeved-shirts) and in attitude. Electronic devices are to be deposited before entering the mausoleum.
• The One-pillar Pagoda - One of the unofficial symbols of Hanoi, dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. The Pagoda symbolises a lotus blossom (representing purity) growing out of a sea of sorrow.
• The Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam St., south of the Mausoleum. Opening hours: Daily 07:30 - 17:30. Admission 5,000 dong.) - Built in 1070 as a place to worship Confucius and his disciples, it became Vietnam's first university 6 years later. The original area was burned down and destroyed by the French colonialists.
• History Museum (Tran Quang Khai Street, behind the Opera House. Opening hours: 07:30 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 16:30. Closed on Monday) - As its name suggests this museum is a showcase of Vietnam's history.
• Army Museum (Dien Bien Phu Street, the Ancient Citadel Area. Opening hours: 07:30 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 16:30. Closed on Monday and Friday) - History of the country and of its military. Artifacts include wreckage of B52 bombers, F111 fighter aircrafts and different kinds of weapons from the war.
• Hoa Lo Prison Museum (Hoa Lo Street, between Ly Thuong Kiet Street and Hai Ba Trung Street. Opening hours: 07:30 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 16:30. Closed on Monday) - Home to US prisoners of war, the prison was often called the "Hanoi Hilton"
• Women's Museum (Bao Tang Phu Nu, 36 Pho Ly Thuong Kiet, to the south of the Old Quarter. Opening hours: 08:00 - 16:00. Closed on Monday) - Includes tributes to women soldiers during the war as well as costumes worn by ethnic minority groups. There are often one-off exhibitions on the 3rd floor.

Events and Festivals

The Hanoians love any reason to celebrate, so all of Vietnam's major festivals are celebrated here. The main event is Tet, celebrated at the end of January or early February depending on the moon.

Weather

Hanoi has a warm tropical climate with generally two seasons. The hot and wet season lasts from May to September, while the cooler but drier season is from November to February. Temperatures can drop below 10 °C during this time, but generally you will have pleasantly warm weather. Most of the rain falls in July and August when hot and muggy weather prevails, with temperatures frequently hitting more than 30 °C. March and November are good months for a visit. Bear in mind that the months of September and October sometimes bring tropical storms, though these are not usually too severe.

Getting There

By Plane

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is located about 40 minutes outside of Hanoi. There is a shuttle bus in front of the the Air Vietnam Offices just outside of the city center starting at 5 am and ending at 5 pm.
About 30 airlines serve Hanoi and some main destinations include Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Vladivostok, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Paris, Beijing, Guangzhou, Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Singapore, Frankfurt, Kunming, Melboune, Danang, Nha Trang and Sydney.

By Train

The main Hanoi Train Station (Ga Hang Co, 120 Le Duan Street. Ticket office open from 07.30-11.30 and 13.30-19.30) serves trains heading south.

North bound trains depart from Tran Quy Cap Station behind the main station.

There are 2 trains a week between Hanoi (Vietnam) and Beijing. Trains from Hanoi leave on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6.30pm, and arrive two days later at 1.30pm at the Beijing West train station. From Beijing trains depart on Sundays and Thursday around 4pm, arriving early in the morning at around 8 o'clock in Hanoi. The journeys requires a train switch at the border town of Dong Dang. Other intermediate stops include Nanning, Guilin and Zhengzhou, all in China.

Trains also travel south towards Ho Chi Minh City and depart at 19.00 (SE1), 23.00 (SE3), 12.25 (SE5), 05.55 (SE7) and 10.05 (TN1) daily. The 10.05 is generally not recommended as there are only hard sleepers and hard seats available. Trains SE1-SE8 on the other hand, have air-con soft sleepers (4-berth), air-con hard sleepers (6-berth), air-con soft seats as well as an air-con restaurant car.

By Car

You can hire a car with driver or a motorcycle from most travel agencies in Vietnam. Road conditions are generally good around Hanoi and to the North East. Roads to the North West however, a little ropey. As an example a 6 day trip in a 4WD (including the car, driver and petrol) should cost around US$275 - US$550.

By Bus

Hanoi is the end or the beginning of the open bus ticket. Many different companies operate open bus tickets and remember to ask around before buying into one company for the journey all the way south to Ho Chi Minh City. For more information on the open bus ticket read the Ho Chi Minh City article.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

A popular and probably the easiest way to see Hanoi is by taxi. Fare is normally approximately 11,000 dong to 17,000 dong for the first kilometre and then around 9,000 dong after that. Be aware of scams and try to stick to reliable companies such as Hanoi Taxi.

By Public Transport

Hanoi has no metro service, so the only way to get around by public transport is by bus. There are now over 60 public bus lines and these serve many areas of Hanoi as well as a few destinations on the outskirts. Generally, the buses are clean and comfortable, but can get very overcrowded during peak times. Most Guest Houses should be able to provide you with a bus map and/or timetable.

By Foot

Central Hanoi can easily be navigated on foot. Walking around this city is the only way to experience the sights, sounds (and smells) it has to offer. Walking around the city makes you part of the traffic - good or bad, it is the easiest way to have that true local experience. The Old Quarter in particular is best experienced on foot due it's narrow alleyways and small, crowded streets.

The New York Times has a well commentated walking tour of the old quarter here. It is a good start for a self guided walking tour of the old quarter.

Note: Try to study the map discretely and know your next turn before arriving at an intersection. If you ask for directions, motorbike taxi drivers will just implore you to hire them for a ride and even try to confuse you. Learn to look for distinct rooflines. Just a short time in the Old Quarter will have you distinguishing a Chinese temple or community house from a tube house or more French-influenced construction. Most streets will have signs giving the road name.

By Bike

Bicycles and motorcycles are also great ways to get around Hanoi, but are not for the faint-hearted! Many hotels and guest houses can rent you a bicycle for around US$1-US$2 a day.

Xe Om (or motorbike taxis) are readily available for longer distances and often work out cheaper than a taxi for single travellers. You'll no doubt be bombarded with offers as you walk down the streets of Hanoi.

Hiring a motorcycle yourself is a lot of fun, but should only really be attempted by confident driver. The traffic in Hanoi can be pretty crazy, especially during rush hour. If you can get the hang of it though, you'll feel like you've truly experienced Hanoi and seen more than the average traveller. Hotels and guest houses can rent you a motorbike or scooter for around US$6 a day. Scooters are strongly recommended for first-time Asian-city-drivers.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• Vietnam National University
• Hanoi University of Technology
• Hanoi National University of Education
• Hanoi Architectural University
• Hanoi University of Agriculture

Keep Connected

Internet

With online dance and battle games popular amongst Vietnamese youth, there is no shortage of high speed internet cafés around Hanoi. Rates can be as low as 3000 dong per hour and some of the better internet cafés that can be found in the Old Quarter carry popular software like Skype.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

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