Hanoi is a bustling old city full of traffic, colour and action. Be ready for a sensory overload, especially with the endless horn beeping from the motorcyclists. This is their way of letting you know they are there, be warned, it is organised chaos! But within this madness there are some great cultural experiences for the whole family and they don’t need to break the budget!
- HOAN KIEM LAKE (Sword Lake) This is the solitude in the middle of the madness! It was our saving grace while staying in Hanoi. Strolling along the lakeside path is a daily ritual for many locals and it quickly became ours, too. You can watch tai chi and dance classes, see gym and fitness groups and spot fish and turtles in the lake. It is particularly nice at dawn or dusk.
- WATER PUPPET THEATRE This is a must when visiting Hanoi. The Vietnamese tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century is a unique experience for the whole family! Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is located on the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake and is very popular with tourists. They hold multiple shows each day and you can book your tickets at the ticket counter located at the front of the theatre.
- NGOC SON TEMPLE Another attraction at Hoan Kiem Lake is the striking red bridge taking you across to a small island housing the Ngoc Son Temple. The island is a place of tranquillity on the lake, with views across the lake to Turtle Tower. Apart from the temple, the island also features a small garden and fish pond as well as a tribute to the two rare giant turtles that called the lake home. Note, there is a fee to cross the bridge and visit the temple.
- NOTE COFFEE If you’ve visited the northern part of the lake you’ve probably heard them call to you from this lively café. They are often seen out the front, welcoming you in to enjoy their coffee and more. If you’re an Instagram influencer you’ll feel right at home here! But for good reason, as it’s four storeys are covered with post-it notes! Grab a table by the window to watch the busyness of Hanoi from above, while enjoying your coffee and crunchy croissant. Afterwards, contribute to the wall with a thoughtful or witty message to share with other diners. You could spend hours in here reading all of the notes from travellers from all over the world.
- TRAIN STREET One of the famous streets in Vietnam where the train runs right down the middle of the street, witnessing this is a truly unique experience. Get there well before the scheduled train time to settle in at one of the many cafes lining the street, and wait with anticipation for the train to come through. You can check online for the train timetable, but it doesn’t run like Swiss trains so arrive early to avoid disappointment!
- FOOD Hanoi is known for its street food and for good reason. You can find amazingly tasty, fresh and cheap food everywhere! A welcome surprise was the café culture here, with lots of great coffee and pastry shops, including great digital nomad spaces.
- WEEKEND WALKING STREET If you get a chance, stay in Hanoi over the weekend. This bustling city transforms into a playground on Saturday and Sunday, with the largest street surrounding the lake closed to traffic. This opens up for families to stroll along, children riding bikes or rollerblading. Along with this come the street performers, market stalls and entertainment. Our kids loved the little electric cars for hire that they could drive on the road!
- MAO BOOKSTORE I love seeking out a good bookstore wherever I am and this place was worth it, despite not being able to read a single word in the books! It was difficult to find, but that was all part of the fun! Head to ‘Book Street’ (5 Dinh Le Street) in the south of the lake and you will find a number of bookstores next to each other. The entrance to Mao Bookstore, the oldest in this street, is positioned between two bookstores down an alleyway. It may feel wrong, but keep walking and up a staircase, past another bookstore and you’ll eventually you’ll find it! Inside, the spiral staircase and colourful shelving makes for a great photo.
- CYCLO TOUR Although a little cheesy, a cyclo or rickshaw tour allows a great opportunity to see Hanoi without having to worry about the traffic. There are plenty of rickshaw operators around the city and your accommodation may even throw in a free thirty-minute ride. Hanoi is broken into streets based on what they sell, for example Beer Street, Fabric Street, Toy Street, etc. Going on a rickshaw tour is a great way to map out the area and save places on your phone so you can go back to them.
- TEMPLE OF LITERATURE Although a little way out of the Old Quarter, The Temple of Literature is a great place to stroll through the gardens, with beautiful old trees and fish ponds. It was founded in 1070 and is the home of Vietnam’s first University with beautiful old buildings and temples. They offer some paid interactive activities for children, our kids enjoyed making their own scroll using traditional printing techniques.
See these ‘edventures’ in our visual diary. We hope you find our recommendations useful for your visit to Hanoi, let us know your favourite!