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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
May 23, 2023
By Jinnie Lee
Hanoi is the charming capital of Vietnam. Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still holds many well-preserved French colonial buildings, ancient oriental pagodas, historic temples, unique museums, peaceful lakes and a lot of other amazing spots. This makes Hanoi a perfect starting point for any travel itinerary. Here is the list of top 10 tourist attractions in Hanoi you should not miss when you have a trip to Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is one of the most tourist attractions in Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Uncle Ho who had led Vietnam to independence and reunification. His body is preserved here in a glass case at the mausoleum, protected at all times by a military honor guard. Many Vietnamese and international visitors come here to express their admiration and gratitude towards him who still plays an immensely important role in modern Vietnam's ideology.
Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is free of charge but you have to follow a set of strictly enforced regulations. Do not wear short skirts, tank tops or hats. You may be requested to store day packs, cameras and phones before entering. Taking photos, talking, putting your hands in your pockets or finger-pointing are strictly prohibited inside the mausoleum. Visitors are expected to remain silent and walk in two lines slowly and steadily through the mausoleum.
Beside Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you can visit other places in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex such as Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh’s House on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda,House No.54.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a must-visit destination in your Hanoi one day tour. Coming here, you can learn more about Ho Chi Minh's life and his significance in Vietnamese history, as well as expand your understanding of the country through many nearby relics.
Address: 2 Hung Vuong, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District.
Opening time: 7:30am – 10:30am every morning except Mondays and Fridays
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Temple of Literature is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Located to the south of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Temple of Literature was founded in 1070, almost 1000 years ago, by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. The temple was considered as the first university in Vietnam – Quoc Tu Giam ( Imperial Academy) for royal family members, and it was later opened to talented students from all over the kingdom. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. Visiting the Temple of Literature you will discover historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties in a revered place that has seen thousands of doctors’ graduates in what has now become a memorial to education and literature.
Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu Ward, Dong Da District.
Opening time: 8:00 am – 18:00 pm.
The Temple of Literature
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, is an intriguing relic of Vietnam’s history and, signifying its historical and cultural importance, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Also known as the Hanoi Citadel, many artifacts and items dating back to between the 6th and 20th centuries were excavated in 2004, including foundations of old palaces, ancient roads, ponds and wells, bronze coins, ceramics and pottery from China and many places in Asia. The ancient site was the political center of the country for 13 consecutive centuries and served as the capital of Vietnam for eight centuries. A notable attraction in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was the Hanoi Flag Tower, a renovated 40-meter-tall stone fortress offering expansive views of Ba Dinh Square and Hanoi City Centre.
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an outstanding place in Hanoi that attracts many tourists around the world. If you have a chance to visit Hanoi, don’t miss this place in your itinerary.
Address: 19C Hoang Dieu, Dien Ban Ward, Ba Dinh District.
Opening time: 08:00 am - 17:00 pm, closed on Mondays
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Hoa Lo Prison - one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi which was built by the French in 1896 to intern thousands of Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary fighters. Located in the center of the capital of Vietnam, well-known as one of the most inhumane prisons with terrified punishment, Hoa Lo Prison is a symbol of strong will of prisoners and their sacrifice for their communist ideals. A visit to “the prison” can bring you mixed emotions, they may be sorrow, shock and even disgust. Hoa Lo Prison central displays mainly the suffering of Vietnamese prisoners detained here, which teach us the value of peace. Visitors can take photos, rent the audio guide to understand more the spirit of the revolutionary soldiers, and the humanitarian policy of Vietnamese people against the American pilots prisoner in the Vietnam War.
Address: 1 Hoa Lo street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District.
Opening time: 08:00 am - 17:00 pm
Hoa Lo Prison
Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi is known as the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the city. Prior to the construction of the cathedral in 1886, the French occupation demolished Bao Thien Pagoda, an important Vietnamese temple that was built during the Ly Dynasty. Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi was inspired by Notre Dame de Paris, boasting a neo-Gothic architectural style, twin bell towers, intricately-designed altar, and colorful paintings and stained-glass windows from France. Surrounded by plenty of trees and flowers, a statue of Mother Maria is also set within the courtyard in front of the cathedral.
Thanks to its beautiful architecture and good venue at the city center, the area surrounding the cathedral is always packed with hundreds of local people and tourists hanging out with friends for drinking, talking, and watching the street. It has become one of the tourist attractions in Hanoi that captivate many tourist’s hearts because of its quaintness but still bustlingness.
Address: 40 Nha Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem District
Opening time:
+ 8:00 am – 11:00 am & 14:00 pm – 17:00 pm from Monday to Saturday
+ 7:00 am – 10:30 am & 15:00 pm – 21:00pm on Sunday.
Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi
Hanoi Old Quarter is one of the most popular tourist destinations packed with charming colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and pagodas. For now, Hanoi Old Quarter has remained the original street layout and architecture of the old Hanoi. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city consisted of only about 36 streets, which is the reason why the Old Quarter is also called “the 36 Streets”. It is a perfect stop for those who want to discover Hanoi with a genuine desire to have a grasp of the city’s culture or a curiosity to travel back in time. With its old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses, it seems to nostalgically resist the flow of time while still actively trying to adapt to the dynamic atmosphere of the modern city.
Hanoi Old Quarter is an extraordinary place to chill out and relax. You also have a chance to experience the Vietnamese cultural activities as well as the traditional lifestyle of the locals.
Address: Hang Be Street, Cau Go Street, Hang Dao Street, Ma May Street, Ta Hien Street, Hang Bac Street, Dong Xuan Street
Hanoi Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake is regarded as the heart of Hanoi. Hoan Kiem Lake (Returned Sword Lake) is related to the legendary story of King Le Loi who got a Sword from and then returned to a sacred turtle after defeating Chinese Ming dynasty invaders in the 15th century. Located in the middle of one of the busiest streets of Vietnam's capital, a day in Hoan Kiem Lake changes from the early morning to late evening, from calm and peaceful to lively and bustling. If you move around Hoan Kiem Lake, you should pay a visit to some tourist attractions nearby the lake.
Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 18th century, which is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, a war hero in Vietnam in the 13th century. In the temple, you can find the altars, some artifacts and 2 preserved specimens of 2 giant turtles.
The Huc Bridge is a beautiful construction which was built to connect the Ngoc Son Temple and the lake bank. It was constructed of fine wood and stands out by its bright red color. The Huc Bridge is a famous tourist attractions in Hanoi, a symbol of Buddhist architecture and well-known as “the bridge where light is absorbed”.
Let’s take a look at Turtle Tower which stands out in the middle of the gentle Hoan Kiem Lake. This place is not only regarded as the soul of the capital but also a tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. If you are interested in Hanoi travel, do not miss out on this tower in Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake
If you desire to gain a deeper insight into Vietnamese history, there is not a better place than the Vietnam National Museum of History to discover Vietnam's cultural quintessence and longstanding history. The old building with ancient Indochinese architecture and valuable historical artifacts is a must-visit for a complete Hanoi trip.
Vietnam National Museum of History was founded in 2011, contains two separate exhibition spaces: one on Tran Quang Khai and one on Trang Tien street. Currently, the Vietnam National Museum of History is storing a heritage of over 20,000 documents and artifacts representing the entire historical flow of Vietnam, from the primary times to now. In particular, the museum has many national treasures, rare and precious antiquities compared to other similarly-themed museums in Hanoi.
Address: 216 Tran Quang Khai Street, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District.
Opening time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm & 13:30 pm – 17:00 pm, except for Monday.
Vietnam National Museum of History
Standing in the heart of Hanoi, the opera house was located in a beautiful intersection downtown, where five main city roads lead to. Completed in 1911 after 10 years of construction by two French architects, Hanoi Opera House resembles the Opéra Garnier de Paris. In August 1945, the Opera House Square was the political center of the country during the revolutionary days. Since then, Hanoi Opera House has always been the center of important conferences, meetings and art performances by art troupes domestically and internationally. It’s turning into one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Hanoi for both locals and tourists from overseas.
Address: 1 Trang Tien, Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District
Opening time: 10:30 am on Mondays and Fridays
Hanoi Opera House
Hanoi is a great destination for Buddhists with many ancient temples and pagodas. With its history of more than 1000 years, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi located in the middle of Thanh Nien Road nearby West Lake. Tran Quoc Pagoda is famous for sacred sanctuary and stunning scenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda used to be a favorite place for sightseeing of many kings of Vietnam in special festivals such as Tet holiday and full moon days. More than 1000 years have passed, the pagoda still preserves its fame and unique characteristics in its architecture in spite of urbanization. Thanks to its advantageous location, the pagoda becomes one of the most notable tourist attractions in Hanoi. Because it is a place of worship, if you come to Tran Quoc Pagoda, remember to dress conservatively out of respect for the monks and locals.
Address: Thanh Nien Street, Yen Phu Ward, Tay Ho District.
Opening time: 8:00 am – 16:00 pm
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Hanoi is full of history, rich culture, cuisine, character and hidden charms that make it so appealing in the eyes of not only tourists but also locals. Here are the top 10 must-visit attractions in Hanoi that tourists cannot miss when visiting this thousand year old city. Hopefully, you can use our information as a reference for your itinerary about numerous destinations for sightseeing and enjoying holidays in Vietnam. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact us for more information on Vietnam Package Tours.
