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Things to do in Hanoi

  Mar 14, 2023

  By Thao Le

Hanoi is the thousand-year-old cultural capital of Vietnam, with many famous tourist attractions that cannot be missed by visitors. To explore Hanoi, many visitors should find out what things to do in Hanoi to not miss out on any special tastes of the capital city. Our article below will provide some useful information to answer your doubts about your trip to Vietnam.

Visit Hanoi 

Explore Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi has a lot of worth-visiting places; however, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the landmarks that visitors must visit when traveling to Hanoi. The ramshackle Thap Rua lying on an islet in the middle of the lake is used as an emblem of Hanoi. Around the lake are a lot of giant old trees, which provide fresh and cool air for tourists when strolling around. Nghien Station, But Tower, the Huc Bridge, and the Ngoc Son Temple are just a few of the stunning Hanoi tourist sites that can be seen inside the grounds of Hoan Kiem Lake. The houses and structures dazzle at night with lights that reflect on the water's surface and provide a vibrant scene. Here, visitors may stroll around the lake to take in the scenery and explore the nearby Old Quarter. You will get the chance to learn about Hanoi's characteristic culture as well as the distinctive qualities of Vietnamese architecture, food, and lifestyle.


Dive into the Old Quarter 

Hanoi's Old Quarter is the most popular site in the city and is a must-see destination. It is situated in the Ba Dinh district close to the commercial center. This area consists of 36 streets, but normally, visitors usually walk around Hoan Kiem lake.  When you visit this location, the architecturally French-influenced historic villas, homes, and buildings with their yellow exteriors might enchant you. This area consists of 36 streets, but normally, visitors usually walk around Hoan Kiem lake. When the sun goes down, the busy industrial streets will appear to attract the eyes of any tourists. Here, you can find almost every specialty of Hanoi, especially in street stalls with very reasonable prices and good tastes. 


Coffee at the railway train 

Along the railroad track, little coffee shops have sprung up from the Tran Phu-Phung Hung street crossroads. Between the two sides of the railway track, a lot of tiny coffee shops have sprung up, drawing several tourists, particularly foreigners looking to find a unique location in Hanoi. Although each business has a different decorating flair, they all have the same basic design with tightly spaced tiny tables and stools.

In this peculiar tourist destination, hanging out with friends, sipping coffee while people-watching, and posing for retro-styled pictures next to the rails are just a few things to do in Hanoi by visitors.


Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The historic Ba Dinh Plaza in Hanoi, where the "old father of the nation" proclaimed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's independence, is one of the city's top attractions and should not be missed. Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, which is situated inside the plaza, is where former president Ho Chi Minh's body is kept.

Uncle Ho's tomb is open in the morning on the following days of the week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Visitors may expand their understanding of Vietnam's history, which is mirrored in the complex's components, in addition to learning more about Ho Chi Minh's life and place in Vietnamese history, by visiting the complex.


Try local food and drink 

Banh Mi

The banh mi is one sandwich you definitely should not miss if you're visiting Vietnam. This well-known sandwich has frequently been rated as among the greatest in the world. Although having French roots, the Vietnamese have made it uniquely their own. Broadly speaking, it is a light Vietnamese baguette with a thin, crispy crust that is baked with a blend of wheat and rice flour.

Depending on what region of the nation you are in, it is packed with pork, pâté, cured ham, a variety of Vietnamese herbs, and vegetables including coriander, cucumber, carrot, slices, radish, and more. You will enjoy each bite's spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and fragrant qualities thanks to the variety of textures and flavors.


Egg Coffee

Ca phe trung, also known as egg yolk coffee, is made by combining espresso, sugar, condensed milk, and egg yolk. The combination of coffee, sugar, condensed milk, and egg yolks is known as Vietnamese egg coffee. As the top layer is essentially whipped condensed milk and egg white, it is sweet, frothy, and creamy. The espresso coffee that is produced below is made from the best Vietnamese Robusta coffee and is rich and black. It doesn't taste all that different if you picture the flavor of liquid tiramisu.


Pho 

One of the best things to do in Hanoi highlights of Vietnam is Pho Vietnam, often known as Vietnamese noodle soup. Pho is now the only meal that can really capture the spirit of Vietnamese cuisine. Pho offers a remarkable variety of textures and tastes despite its exterior simplicity. Vietnamese pho is often made with soft rice noodles called "banh pho," a few slices of meat, traditional herbs, and consommé, which is produced by cooking chicken, hog, or cattle bones. You can taste the nat Eating pho for breakfast is a habit of any Hanoians because a bow of pho can provide staple nutrients and serve good taste for the entire morning. 


Bun Cha 

When President Obama first visited Hanoi, he fell in love with a meal called bun cha. That makes sense, considering that this is one of the most savory and exceptional meals in Vietnamese cuisine. Bun cha is a cuisine that includes grilled, fatty pork served with white rice noodles, herbs, and a dipping sauce on the side. The flavor of this dish could be described as a harmonious mix of sweet, sour, and savory. If you are a spice fanatic, add some slices of chilies and sprinkle on top some black pepper to arouse the rich flavor.


Bun Dau Mam Tom 

Bun Dau Mam Tom is the perfect combination dipped into the unique ingredient which is fermented shrimp paste. At first, when you just smell the flavor, you might feel a bit unpleasant because of shrimp paste, however, when you give it a try, you might change your mind and enjoy this meal. This dish's ingredients include vermicelli, deep-fried tofu, and fermented shrimp paste, as the name would imply. Other toppings such as boiling pig's leg, pork belly, pig offal, green rice, pork nuggets, and fried spring rolls are now readily accessible for consumption.


Hopefully, you can use our information as a reference for your itinerary about Things to do in Hanoi. If you are interested in the Vietnam package tours, you can consider Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh 10-Day Tour to give you the best experience in Vietnam.