Hanoi

Introduction

strawberries in Hanoi

© emma78

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 - 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. Hours: 08:00am - 11:00am except for Monday and Friday, Price: VND25, 000
• 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 - 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. Address: Quoc Tu Giam St., south of the Mausoleum, Hours: Daily 07:30am - 5:30pm, Price: VND30, 000 dong
• History Museum - As its name suggests this museum is a showcase of Vietnam's history. Address: Tran Quang Khai Street, behind the Opera House, Hours: 07:30am - 11:30am & 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Closed on Monday
• Army Museum - 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. Address: Dien Bien Phu Street, the Ancient Citadel Area, Hours: 07:30am - 11:30am & 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Closed on Monday and Friday
• Hoa Lo Prison Museum - Home to US prisoners of war, the prison was often called the "Hanoi Hilton". Address: Hoa Lo Street, between Ly Thuong Kiet Street and Hai Ba Trung Street, Hours: 07:30am - 11:30am & 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Closed on Monday, Price: VND20, 000
• Women's Museum - 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. Address: Bao Tang Phu Nu, 36 Pho Ly Thuong Kiet, to the south of the Old Quarter, Hours: 08:00am - 4:00pm. Closed on Monday
• Thang Long Puppet Theatre - Water puppet show, where the stage is a pool of water surrounded by an exotic pagoda like set, behind which the puppeteers stand in the water. It is accompanied by singers and an orchestra. They charge a nominal amount if you want to take photos. Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hours: Starts about 4:00pm, and there are four shows each night, each lasting about one hour, Price: Admission VND100, 000
• Hoan Kiem Lake - Beautiful lake in central Hanoi. Jade Mountain Temple, or Den Ngoc Son stands on an island in the lake and to access cross the stunning Red Sunbeam Bridge or The Huc. In the temple there is a preserved giant turtle that died in 1968, and is part of the legend surrounding the lake. Address: Hoan Kiem District, Hours: 7am-7pm, Price: Admission VND30, 000
• St Joseph's Cathedral - Stunning Catholic cathedral inaugurated in 1886. Beautiful neo-gothic style architecture with amazing stained glass windows. Services are daily and fill up. Address: Nha Tho Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hours: 5:00am-7:00pm, Price: Admission free

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.

• Cow Racing Festival - Initially a solemn event, where family member pay tribute to those who have passed away by lighting candles and incense at temples. Afterward, this festival becomes much more lively and cow races are held. The field of the races is meticulously groomed for the festival and prepared long in advance. When the cows arrive, so do hundreds of spectators, who cheer on their cow for this grand event. This event occurs every March in Hanoi.
• Ba Chua Xu Festival - This festival celebrates the female goddess Ba Chua Xu, who is believed to promoste business success, health, fertility, domestic harmony, and academic success. During this four day celebration in May, devotees flock to temples to worship and offer her offer her gifts and animal sacrifices. During her festival, the markets around her temple light up with activity, and special events, including magic shows, beauty pageants, and sideshows are held in her honor.
• Buddah's Birthday - During this celebration, Buddha's life, enlightenment, and death are celebrated. Thousands of devotees gather in the streets and create processions that lead to the popular temples in the area. Lanterns are lit all around the city in remembrance of Buddah and the lessons he imparted to his followers. This event is held every April/May in accordance with the lunar calendar.
• Tet Doan Ngo - This is one of Hanoi's most celebrated events. This festival is also known as the "parasite killing festival", where locals hope to ward away illness and evil spirits with religious ritual. All of those who participate in the festival, must wake up early and eat the traditional dish of fermented rice called, ruou nep". This dish is intended to purify the body and purge the individual of all disease. This festival is held every year around the time when the weather changes from Spring to Summer.
• The Master Pagoda Festival - This important religious event occurs in March/April each year in accordance to the lunar calendar. This festival is in honor of Monk Tu Dao Hanh, who is believed to have achieved nirvana. This festival is in honor of Tu Dao Hanh's greatness and legacy. To celebrate, locals participate in a lot of religious rituals and perform a special dance that commemorates the birth, death, and reincarnation of this monk.

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 45 kilometres from the centre of Hanoi and is the biggest airport in northern Vietnam. 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, Melbourne, Danang, Nha Trang and Sydney.

To/from the airport

• Airport Transfers include shuttle services, minivans and regular taxis, taking 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
• There is a shuttle bus in front of the the Air Vietnam Offices just outside of the city centre starting at 5:00am and ending at 5:00pm.

By Train

The main Hanoi Train Station (Ga Hang Co, 120 Le Duan Street. Ticket office open from 07:30am-11:30am and 2:30pm-7:30pm) 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 4:00pm, arriving early in the morning at around 8:00am 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 7:00pm (SE1), 11:00pm (SE3), 12:25pm (SE5), 05:55am (SE7) and 10:05am (TN1) daily. The 10:05am train 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 northeast. Roads to the northwest 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 usually 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.

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 guesthouses 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 - but 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 undoubtedly be bombarded with offers as you walk down the streets of Hanoi.

Cyclos, bikes with a covered seat in front for passengers are also prevalent, but be careful and negotiate your price and destination up front. Can seat two adults and one child.

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

Since the mid 1990s, Vietnamese cuisine has grown in quality and variation. Most famous remains "pho ga" (chicken noodle soup) or "pho bo"(beef noodle soup). There are various dishes including chicken, beef, fish and seafood, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants nowadays in Hanoi catering to everyone's taste.

In Hanoi, 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. A bowl of noodle soup goes for 30-40,000 dong and market food stalls offer fruit portions, sausages, doughnuts and other foods for 15,000 to 25,000 dong. 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.

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 ca cuong, 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 are sold by pedlars almost everywhere, and cost about 5,000 dong. The experience consists of the vendor cracking the egg in front of you, and peeling the shell and dropping the contents in a plastic bowl, then garnished with julienned ginger, basil leaf and sprinkled with chili sauce. You can see the severed head and beak of your chick that fell off if you are lucky enough to have your first bite from a different spot.

For groceries, there is a large supermarket east of Hoan Kiem Lake (Finimart, 27A Ly Thai To, at Tran Nguyen Han).

• KOTO cafe (Know-One-Teach-One cafe) (59, Van Mieu Street) facing the Temple of Literature is a great cafe to have lunch or a snack after visiting the temple. The cafe is part of a registered charity in Australia that trains young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and links them with employment in leading restaurants around Vietnam. The charity is based on the philosophy of the founder, Jimmy Pham that "the greatest accomplishment for the person who has helped you, is to see you stand on your two feet and then in turn help someone else that reminds you of yourself, because if you Know One, you should Teach One". The cafe serves mainly western dishes such as pastas, sandwiches, cakes and some Vietnamese dishes such as the traditional Vietnamese pho at very reasonable prices, around 100,000 dong per person.
• Sen Restaurant (No. 10, Lane 431, Au Co Road, Tay Ho, Hanoi) is a busy restaurant serving buffet lunches and dinners with dishes from around 60 regions in Vietnam at a reasonable cost of about 100,000 dong per person. The restaurant is filled with lots of local people celebrating various occasions and there is a lot of noise. Nice, live music during dinner.
• Thai Express facing the Hoan Kiem Lake is great for a juice break or a light lunch or snack. The little cafe has a wide range of fresh fruit juices that are absolutely delicious, especially the Chiang Mai Mango special. Absolutely lovely to rest your tired feet after walking around the lake and browsing through the tiny shops selling Kipling bags and silk shawls and other souvenirs.
• Snake Restaurants (About ten minutes across the river from the city centre, take Bus 10, 15 or 17 and get off at the large mall" just beyond Gia Lam station, and walk 500m down the road at the right of the mall) - The suburb of Le Mat (aka Snake Village) has numerous restaurants specializing in cobra foodstuffs. Live cobras are stored on the premises much the same way one would find live lobsters at a Western seafood restaurant. If one orders cobra blood wine from the menu, the waiter will take a live cobra, kill it on the spot, drain the blood into a shot glass of rice wine and top it off with the cobra's still beating heart for you to gulp down. Not for animal lovers or the ecologically-minded. Cobras are not cheap, at around 400,000-1,000,000 dong (USD50+), but one snake becomes a dozen unique dishes, and enough to share between 3-4 people. Rượu rắn is cobra steeped whole in rice wine – or, especially in tourist areas, perhaps a cheaper, non-poisonous snake with similar coloring whose body has been stretched to give it the expected shape. Carefully investigate customs restrictions before deciding to bring a few bottles home, as some of the snakes used are endangered species.

Cam Chan Quan, 108 K1 Giang Vo St & Ciputra Entrance, ☏ +84 12 3259 7696. This eatery has 2 outlets. The one at Ciputra Estate entrance has staff that speaks English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. A good pit stop for those craving for Asian food upon arrival or before departure, as they are at the mid-point of the city and airport. They serve Asian fare, Singaporean-influenced. Free Wi-Fi. Clean toilets. Their noodles as their not the usual pho, but a more typically Singaporean. Noodles, 65,000 dong.
Cha Ca La Vong, 14 Cha Ca St & 107 Nguyen Truong To St. This establishment is so famous, the street is named after it. There's only one dish on the (Vietnamese-only) menu, fried fish in grease, but they've been serving it now for five generations. The traditional shrimp paste is now an optional extra. If you really love fish and shrimp, this experience might be for you. Authentic as it may be, it is a rip-off according to the locals. For the same price, you could eat 3 meals at a decent cafe street-side. 170,000 dong, 1,000 dong charge per napkin.
Ciao Cafe, 2 Hang Bai St. Cosy place for coffee and cake. Not full of cigarette smoke Unlike many other cafes in Hanoi.
Huong Ly (Ly Thuong Kiet, close to the Melia Hotel). This is a fantastic bar and restaurant on the ground floor and top floor of a building. The middle floor is a clothes shop. Fantastic food, serving anything from traditional noodles to salmon steak, beautifully presented and delicious. Friendly staff. 55,000-120,000 dong for a main course.
Huyen Houng Restaurant, 20 Bao Khanh, ☏ +84 4 828 8430. Choose from a wide variety of seafood dishes (many of which are swimming around in tanks) and other Vietnamese specialities. Friendly staff complements the tasty food. 80,000-120,000 dong.
Kaiser Kaffee Restaurant, 34A Ba Trieu. Interesting little place which has excellent Vietnamese and Western food.
Little Hanoi, 21 Pho Hang Gai, ☏ +84 4 928 5333. Upscale cafe serving mainly Westerners in a pleasantly lit restaurant.
Mediteraneo (Nha Tho St, between La Salsa and Paris Deli). Authentic Italian food, probably the best you'll get in Hanoi. Prices are steep and portions small.
Moka Café (Nha Tho St close to the cathedral). Excellent selection of Western and Vietnamese food served in a coffee shop environment.
Paradieso Restaurant, 7 Nguyen Sieu (Old Quarter), ☏ +84 4 39974861. Small, warm restaurant with both local Vietnamese and Western food. Good quality and affordable prices. You can have traditional Vietnamese food: cha ca, bun cha, pho, nem (spring rolls), also can have very good crepes. All very good quality in a nice decor.
Paris Deli (Nha Tho St across from Moka Cafe). Offers delicious European fare for hearty appetites.
Pepperoni's (Near the Hang Gai end of Nha Chung). Part of a small international chain of pizza restaurants. Locally run, they do regular special offers such as free desserts, eat-all-you-can buffets and loyalty schemes, whereby collecting tokens with each take-out entitles you to a free pizza. Pizzas, burgers, ice cream and apple crumble. Pizzas, 65,000+ dong.
La Salsa (On Nha Tho St near the church in Old Town, across from Moka Cafe). French food and expat hang-out.
Tamarind Café, Ma May 80 (Old Quarter), ☏ +84 4 926 0580. Has a menu full of inventive vegetarian dishes, lots of fresh fruit juices, and a relaxed, stylish interior. Don't come here if you're hungry as the portions aren't very big, and it's a tad pricey.
Tan My Design Cafe, 61 Hang Gai (Inside the fashion shop), ☏ +84 4 3938 1451. One of the Hanoi's best shops for fashion where you can also get nice Asian and Western foods in a cosy ambience.
Green Tangerine, 48 Hang Be, ☏ +84 24 3825 1286. Daily 11:00-23:00. Excellent French restaurant offering rich and delicious French food with both an à la carte selection and a set menu. Popular with expats.
Le Petit Bruxelles, 25 Ly Quoc Su (Near St Joseph's Cathedral in the Old Quarter), ☏ +84 24 3938 1769. Authentic Belgian fare plus, surprise surprise, the beers.
Ly Club, 4 Le Phung Hieu, Hoan Kiem, ☏ +84 4 39363069, ✉ [email protected]. Daily 11:00-23:00. Top-notch Vietnamese and European cuisine in a French colonial mansion. On the expensive side for Hanoi, but the atmosphere and good quality of food make up for it. A pianist alternates with piped music. Starters 150,000, mains 350,000 dong.
Pane e Vino Italian Restaurant and Wine Shop, 3 Nguyen Khac Can & 98 Hang Trong (100 m east of Hoan Kiem Lake), ☏ +84 4 3826 9080, +84 4 3928 6329. Daily 09:00-23:45. Serves a wide range of traditional regional Italian dishes. An extensive wine list with Italian wines from Veneto, Tuscany, Puglia, Sicilia, and Piedmont. Friendly service. A great place to relax and get recover after a long walking and shopping day. A/c within, extensive seating outside. Pizza 150,000, mains 450,000 dong.
Press Club, 3rd floor, 59A Ly Thai To St, ☏ +84 4 3972 0888, fax: +84 4 3934 0899, ✉ [email protected]. Daily 11:30-14:30 & 18:00-23:30. Fine dining with Western cuisine and a good selection of wines. 70 seat restaurant, private wine room for 12 and another cosy private room for 4. A combination of old and contemporary features with a classically trained chef. Mains from 900,00 dong.

Drink

Bia Hơi is abundant in the streets of the Old Quarter. At the crossing of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen five separate venues fill up with travellers in the evenings, but you can get more local atmosphere on some of the side streets.

Hanoi is a lively city on the weekends, but the Old Quarter closes relatively early (at midnight) on weekdays, so you might want to start your night early. Other places outside the Old Quarter stay open later and vary in closing times. Local young people gather around the cathedral located in Ly Quoc Su to have lemon ice tea (tra chanh) and sunflower seeds in street bars. After dark it gets quite crowded.

Sit on a plastic chair in front of one of the bia hoi (fresh beer) establishments which are invariably situated on the corners of many of Hanoi's Old Quarter streets. This preservative-free light beer is the perfect drink to sip as you watch the city's frenetic bustle. The beer costs less than twenty cents and gives you an excuse to relax and take photos of the passing local characters: should not be missed. In the Old Quarter, you will find that almost every corner is filled with stalls selling pho (Vietnamese noodle) and cafe (the name is not limited only to coffee, but also tea, sweets and grocery items, and even to pho).

On Tô Tich, a small street connecting Hang Quat and Hang Gai, you can help yourself to a refreshing fruit milkshake (sinh tố) at one of the stalls (~7,000 dong).

If you are looking for something less watery than Bia Hoi, excellent freshly brewed Czech or German-style beer is available at several breweries, including: Hoa Vien (Czech), Goldmalt (Czech), Legend beer (German), with several branches around the city; prices are around 45000-60000 dong for 0.5l.

Minh Jazz Club is a nice place for some after-dinner coffee or alcoholic drink while listening to some nice, live jazz music performed by the owner Quyen Van Minh and his band every night from 9:00pm - 11:00pm.
Green Lake (Ho Guom Xanh), 32 Le Thai To. A crowded bar with weekly performances by popular local singers. A place for the definitive Vietnamese entertainment scene. Has an 80,000 dong cover charge on the weekends. Seems to combine part live singing with drag performances and a host club.
Mao's Red Lounge, 30 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem (Down the street from Tet and Cheeky Quarter). Small, but lively bar in the heart of the Old Quarter. Has two levels, the top floor which is usually packed with Westerners smoking loads of cigarettes. Mao himself is usually in presence, playing all kinds of music from his iPod. He's extremely friendly and will strike up a conversation with anyone willing to listen. Daily specials and LaRue for about 20,000 dong.
Standing Bar, 170 Trấn Vũ, Trúc Bạch. 16:00-00:00. Wide variety of Vietnamese craft beer, mostly from the south, but with a limited selection from the local Long Bien brewery. Despite the name, seats are available upstairs.
Highlands Coffee (Opposite KFC). On the 3rd floor in a ship-shaped 5-storey building overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake and Vietnam's "Piccadilly Circus". Great spot to relax in scenic location where you can watch all the traffic and pedestrians go about their business below you along their outside balcony or stay inside their comfy air conditioned interior. They also serve food and beer. 45,000 dong.
Cong Caphe. Several locations across the city, although the most central is probably the one at 54 Ma May. Serves various coffees, chocolates and teas including their speciality coconut coffee smoothie (around 45,000 dong). Popular with a young and relatively hip but well off crowd, and open late.

Sleep

• Camel City Hotel (formerly Indochina Queen), 8/50 Dao Duy Tu Ln (Between Dao Duy Tu and Ta Hien St), ☎ +84 4 3935 2024. Check-in: anytime, check-out: noon. Centrally located, slightly to the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, has huge rooms to suit different budgets. All rooms come with hot water, satellite TV and free breakfast. Since it's tucked away in an alley, it's much quieter than most other hotels that are on the main streets. USD17-20.
• Especen Hotel, 28 Tho Xuong St, Hoan Kiem (30m from St Joseph's Church on a quiet alley off of Au Trieu St), ☎ +84 24 38244401, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: noon. Rooms are new, clean, bright, quiet, friendly staff. USD12-15.
• Hotel du Centre Ville (Hanoi Centre Ville Hotel), No 47 Luong Ngoc Quyen St, Hoan Kiem (20m from the corner of Bia Hoi), ☎ +84 4 3826 8459, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 08:00, check-out: 12:00. The rooms are spacious, safe, and newly renovated. Some rooms have wardrobes. The floors are hard tiled and very clean. LCD TV and refrigerator. Also a heater/air conditioner (the hot water 24/7); ironing boards, hair-dryers; Wi-Fi throughout; free Internet computers in the lobby and a wonderful breakfast. Be aware, like most hotels in this area, they lock the doors late. The staff is very friendly. But for English (or French) and negotiating, you need to ask for Tuan: he is a floating manager who can be easily summoned and is a knowledgeable concierge. Booking in advance is advisable. USD12-25, breakfast included.
• Hanoi Guesthouse, 14 Bat Su St, ☎ +84 4 3824 5732, e-mail: [email protected]. A small hotel very popular with backpackers. Friendly and reliable staff. All rooms air-con with en suite toilet and shower. Has a sister establishment, Hanoi Guesthouse 2. Double USD22, including breakfast.
• Hanoi Rendezvous Hotel, 31 Hang Dieu St, Hoan Kiem (In the Old Quarter), ☎ +84 4 3828 5777, e-mail: [email protected]. Run by an Australian couple. Private en suite rooms and shared rooms. Air-con, cable LCD televisions. Fully informed and equipped travel service for all destinations in Vietnam. Friendly English speaking staff. Free beer and spring rolls on Thursday nights. Laundry service. Good music in cafe. Free Internet PCs with Skype and free Wi-Fi in rooms. USD7.50-35. Full breakfast included.

Hanoi Triumphal Hotel, 4 Hang Ga St, Hoan Kiem District (10 min walk from Hoan Kiem Lake), ☎ +844 62700937. All rooms equipped with air-con, TV, telephone, sofa, desk, shower, and toilet with bathroom amenities. Restaurant, bar, room service, 24-hour front desk, concierge, laundry/dry cleaning, spa. From USD20.

• Hanoi Youth Hostel, 5 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 9 7858 6555. 17 rooms and dormitory with city view, air-con, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, en suite bath with tub and shower. Relaxation room on the 1st floor complete with a pool table, a dart board and a library. Free Wi-Fi, free beer, free tea, free coffee, free breakfast. Dorm bed USD4.50-6, private room USD15-30.
• Kangaroo Hotel, Hang Luoc St 71 (About a 10 min walk from Hoan Kiem Lake), ☎ +84 4 825 8044, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-out: noon. Small hotel in the Old Quarter. The rooms have comfortable beds, good hot water pressure for showers and air-con/fan combos. Amenities include satellite TV, free Internet and bathtub. Helpful staff with good English. From USD4.
• Little Hanoi Hostel, 48 Hang Ga St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3828 4461, e-mail: [email protected]. In the Old Quarter, close to popular attractions such as the water puppet show and Hoan Kiem Lake. Rooms are clean and furnished with air conditioning, TV, sofa chairs, a minibar, a dresser, and a bathroom with hot and cold taps and a bath tub. High-speed Wi-Fi is available as well. The English speaking staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and can help you book tours. From USD22.
• Old Quarter Hostel, 91 Hang Ma (A few minutes walk to Dong Xuan Market), ☎ +84 9 0229 1886, e-mail: [email protected]. Clean, spacious and secure rooms. The staff are very helpful. Free Internet and breakfast. Dorm bed USD6, single USD10-15.
• Stars Hotel, 26 Bat Su (Old Quarter), ☎ +84 4 3828 1911, +84 4 3828 1912, e-mail: [email protected]. Clean rooms with bath. Breakfast available. A few min by walk to Dong Xuan Market and Hoan Kiem Lake. Free Internet in some rooms and also at dining room at ground level. USD15-28.
• Hanoi 3B hotel, 99 Ma May St, Hoan Kiem Dist, ☎ +844 3 9351080, e-mail: [email protected]. In the heart of the old town, clean rooms, helpful staff with a good level of English. They can also arrange transportation and tours. Solo female travellers beware of booking here. It has been reported that the receptionist on Tet (Jan 2017) charged 70,000 dong for breakfast. The guests was charged again for it at check out. USD20-25 breakfast included.
• Hanoi Backpackers' Hostel, 48 Ngo Huyen St, Hoan Kiem (One block N of St Joseph's Cathedral. Signposted from there.), ☎ +84 4 828 5372, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: 24 hr. Run by two Australians who have lived there for many years. Clean air-con rooms (including female-only dorms plus double rooms), hot showers, tri-weekly BBQs on the rooftop, free Wi-Fi, and excellent staff who are always available to help. All dorm beds have a large personal locker (no extra fee), shelf, and nightlight. Part of the Hostelling International Association, so valid card-holders will get a discount. Quite popular during high season, recommended you book in advance. Dorm USD7.50, double USD30, breakfast included.
• Hanoi Central Backpacker's, 16 Ly Quoc Su and 45A Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem (Half a block N of the church on Ly Quic Su, in the alley next to June Fashion), ☎ +84 4 3948 1508. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: noon. Local friendly staff. Free Internet. Some guests report questionable hygiene. Free beer every night. 16-bed dorm USD5, double USD29, breakfast included.
• Hanoi International Hostel, 24 Tho Xuong (2 min walk from the N side of Hoan Kiem Lake), ☎ +84 4 3826 1212, fax: +84 4 3824 6010, e-mail: [email protected]. This guesthouse has basic but cheap rooms with a fan, hot showers and optional air-con; there's a steep climb up to all the rooms but they'll help with your bags for a tip. There is no housekeeping service in the sense that rooms won't be cleaned while you're occupying them. Helpful and friendly staff; "free" Internet access on the ground floor (the fine print limits this to 15 min/day). The café offers cheap food. They run a cheap and fair travel agency downstairs that doesn't try to rip you off. Bicycles and motorbikes for rent. Dorm bed USD3-6, discounts for long-term guests.
• Little Hanoi Hotel, 60 Au Trieu St, Hoan Kiem (NW of the lake in the Old Quarter), ☎ +84 4 3938 8648, e-mail: [email protected]. Comfortable, modern, clean air-con rooms and dorms. Doubles USD20, dorm bed USD6, breakfast and Internet included. edit

Victor Hotel, 24C Lý Quốc Sư (10 min walk from Hoan Kiem Lake). Dorms have air-con, free computer use, breakfast can be added for USD1. Dorms USD4.

• Mai Dza Hotel, 52 Yen Phu St, Tay Ho, ☎ +84 4 3715 2222, fax: +84 4 3715 2815, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 18:00, check-out: noon. All 50 rooms are spacious with the area from 30 m²-40 m² fully equipped with modern facilities: in-room IDD telephone, Wi-Fi, cable TV, safe, air conditioner, fridge. The rooms are bright and fresh with big windows and balconies. Guests from here can admire romantic beauty of West Lake and Red River.
• Aquarius Grand Hotel, 90B Nguyen Huu Huan St, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 24 3926 4537-38. Superior, deluxe and family room, all equipped with minibar, LCD cable TV, air-con. Free Internet access and Wi-Fi, restaurant and 24 hr room service. From USD41.60.

Continental Hotel, 24, Hang Vai, Hoan Kiem. Boutique-style hotel which has clean and spacious rooms. Courteous staff, walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake. Single USD24, double USD28, breakfast included.

• Davula Home, 33 To Ngoc Van St, Tay Ho District (Bus 41 to Xuan Dieu St terminal. Walk to Ngoc Van St), ☎ +84 4 3718 5831, e-mail: [email protected]. 1-bedroom boutique serviced apartment. Bright and spacious, cozy lighting, bedroom & living room DVD/LCD-TVs, work desk with computer & free Internet, terrace with plants, views of Westlake villas. Great walks along the lake. Family friendly. On-site restaurant 08:00-23:00, tour arrangements, auto/motorbike rental and spa advice available. Also a wine and tapas bar/restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food caters for all tastes including vegetarians and children. The 3rd floor has a children's play room with free supervision as well as a children's menu. The place is a favourite with local expats. USD79-435, breakfast included.
• The Hanoi Club Hotel, 76 Yen Phu St, Ho Tay (Near Sofitel Plaza), ☎ +84 4 3823 8115, e-mail: [email protected]. A recreational club with 75 hotel rooms. Tennis courts, squash courts, fully equipped gym, 25m pool, 48 bay golf driving range, Chinese restaurant, lounge, and cafe. Peaceful with hardly any sounds of traffic. Rooms are modern with some rooms facing the lake. Complimentary Wi-Fi in rooms. From USD85. edit
• Hanoi Eclipse Hotel, 24 Hang Quat St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3824 3423, fax: +84 4 3824 6144, e-mail: [email protected]. Boutique hotel with clean and spacious rooms. Friendly staff speak English. USD30-55.

Hanoi Emotion Hotel, 26 Hang Bot St, Hoan Kiem (Next to Temple of Literature), ☎ +84 4 3848 9848, e-mail: [email protected]. Large bath, rooftop restaurant, bar with city view. The hotel is especially good for business travel as the surroundings are very quiet and well-sited. From USD49.

• Hanoi Eternity Hotel, 32 Yet Kieu St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3941 2262, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Business boutique hotel with 28 rooms, next to Hanoi train station. USD45+.

Hanoi Hibiscus Hotel, 52 Ngo Huyen St, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 4 3938 2113, fax: +84 4 3938 2115, e-mail: [email protected]. Centrally located in the Old Quarter, 3-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. 15-minute walk from Dong Xuan Market and Hanoi Opera House. Free Wi-Fi and TV. En suite all rooms, breakfast included and travel services available. USD30-35.

• Hanoi Rose Hotel, 59B Duong Thanh St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3938-1826. Non-smoking, air-con rooms, all equipped with LCD TV and CD player, minibar and coffee/tea maker. Bar and restaurant, airport and city transfer, fitness room/gym, spa, massage services and Internet access. USD27. edit
• Hanoi Royal Palace Hotel, 18A Quan Su St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3938 1763, fax: +84 4 3938 1765, e-mail: [email protected]. In the Old Quarter. Doesn't see much through-traffic and thus is quieter than most. Newly built boutique hotel with modern facilities and professional staff. TV, fan, air-con, hot shower, bathtub or Jacuzzi, and optional breakfast. In-room computer with Internet is included. USD40-85.
• Hanoi View 2 Hotel, 48 Ngo Si Lien Alley, Dong Da District, ☎ +84 4 62679888, e-mail: [email protected]. All rooms have air-con, cable TV and Internet. Restaurant, sauna, travel agency and massage service.
• Indochina Queen II Hotel, 67 Pho Thuoc Bac St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3923 3993, +84 4 3923 3996, fax: +84 4 3923 3966, e-mail: [email protected]. Rooms with satellite TV, air-con, safe, tea & coffee maker, and en suite baths. An on-site restaurant serves breakfast. Bar, car park, bicycle rental and babysitting are available.
• Lucky Hotels, 12 Hang Trong St, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 43825 1029. Three hotels in the Old Quarter, all clean and spacious. Staff skillful with good English and courteous. Walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake. Minibar/refrigerator, LCD cable TV and air-con. Free Internet access and Wi-Fi, restaurant and 24 hr room service. From USD35.
• Moon View 2 Hotel (Formerly Hanoi Viet Hotel), 61 Hang Than St, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 4 3927 4705, fax: +84 4 3927 4707. Check-in: 12:30, check-out: 11:30. 38 rooms and suites with private balconies. USD45.
• New Century Hotel, 12 Cha Ca St, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3824 4005. Check-out: 12:00. Spacious, clean rooms and a friendly owner. Rooms have TV, computer, bath and Internet. USD18-22.
• Serenade Hotel, 58 Hang Dao St, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 4 3928 6666. All rooms have air-con, free Internet and minibar. Restaurant, bar, room service and sauna massage. From USD55.
• Thaison Hotel, 7-9 Hang Voi, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3935 1666, +84 4 3935 1612, fax: +84 4 39351611, e-mail: [email protected]. Clean, spacious rooms. Hotel staff is courteous, friendly and warm. USD35-55, breakfast included.
• Trung Nam Hai Hotel, 27 Hoan Kiem, Hoan Kiem, ☎ +84 4 3928 8228, fax: +84 4 3928 8268, e-mail: [email protected]. In Old Quarter, all bedrooms have en suite bath with tub and shower, air conditioning and heating, mini bar, free Wi-Fi, safe, flat screen TV with cable television, hairdryer. All floors can be reached by an elevator. USD30-50, breakfast included.
• Il Faro Boutique Hotel, 98 To Ngoc Van-Villa 3 Tay Ho (North side of West Lake), ☎ +84 4 63271142, e-mail: [email protected]. This Italian Bed & Breakfast, boutique hotel is situated in a colonial villa far from the chaotic streets of downtown Hanoi, on the West Lake at Tay Ho. The rooms are spacious with delightful original interior fittings, such as the colonial style double doors and large windows. The ceiling fans, balconies, 4 poster beds with crisp white bed linen and cool terracotta floors give the rooms a unique and timeless elegance. All the bedrooms have air-conditioning and wifi internet, TV, mini bars and en-suite shower rooms. Guests have the chance to eat in the ground floor restaurant and may while away their time seated in the sunny courtyard under a shady tree with a glass of wine. The Italian and Vietnamese staff are always on hand to help with information. US 40-70.
• Daewoo Hanoi Hotel, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh District (15-20 min by taxi from the centre of town). Luxury hotel, part of a larger apartment and business complex that includes 7 restaurants and cafés, 2 banks and a dance club. There is a large pool, exercise room, business centre with translation services and free Internet in the rooms. From USD170.
• InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho District, ☎ +84 4 6270 8888. Hotel of 359 rooms and suites with private balconies. The property is built in an modernised version of traditional Vietnamese architecture.
• Melia Hanoi Hotel, Ly Thuong Kiet St. Rooms are big and offer views of the city. From USD139, breakfast included.
• Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi, 83A Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem District, ☎ +84 4 3822 2800, fax: +84 4 3822 2776, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 154 rooms and suites, 93 of which are non-smoking rooms and 20 connecting rooms. All rooms are equipped with LCD flat screen, wide selection of international cable TV channels. Minibar, IDD telephone, personal safe, tea and coffee making provided. Broadband cable and Wi-Fi is accessible in all rooms and throughout the public areas of the hotel. From USD140.
• Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, K5 Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu Rd, Tay Ho District. Large gardens and courtyards. Rooms are furnished with traditional décor and modern amenities.
• Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel, 15 Ngo Quyen St. French colonial-style hotel patronised by mostly older European travellers. The cuisine served in the restaurant is tasty and fresh.

Pan Pacific (Formerly Sofitel Plaza), 1 Thanh Nien Rd, Ba Dinh District. 317 rooms. Renowned as the most scenic hotel in Hanoi with a zigzag façade and stepped architecture. Hotel is spotless and well-maintained with very friendly staff.

• Somerset Grand Hanoi, 49 Hai Ba Trung St, ☎ +84 4 3934 2342, e-mail: [email protected]. 185 apartments that range from one- to three-bedroom layouts, and a three-bedroom penthouse. Each apartment has a kitchen, IDD telephone with a private number, and furnishings.

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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 VND3,000 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

Vietnam's international dialing code is +84. To call to other countries from Vietnam, start with 00, followed by the international number, usually without the first 0. International and domestic phone calls are available in almost every hotel or internet café. International phone charges are high in Vietnam and hotels often add a mark up fee so it is smart to always check the rates before dialling. Public phones require phone cards, which are available at post offices.

Some common and useful phone codes are:

• 00 - International call prefix
• 110 - Operator
• 113 - Police
• 114 - Fire Department
• 115 - Medical Aid/Ambulance
• 116 - Directory Assistance
• 1080 - Information

Post

Vietnam Post is the government owned national postal service of Vietnam. Services are generally fairly reliable, cheap but not overly fast, except express services. Express Mail Service (EMS) ensures that letters and small parcels are delivered within 24-48 hours domestically. International EMS is associated with over 50 countries worldwide, with a delivery time ranging from 2 to 10 days. Regular services are cheaper but much slower. Most post offices keep much longer hours than most other official businesses, usually starting from 6:30am until 9:30pm and also open on Saturday and even Sunday. You can buy stamps here and they also offer other services like money transfers. You can also try other companies to send parcels, for example with DHL, TNT and UPS.

External Links

• Hanoi Official Governmental Website
• Hanoi Travel Guide