Hanoi is a dynamic city, where foodaholics, coffee-lovers, adventurers, night-lifers and even retrospectives can collide. There is a rainbow of things to do in the city, both touristy and local driven. Here are our suggestions for the Hanoi bucket list!
Hanoi Bucket List: Visit the Famous Attractions
Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the most attractive destinations for tourist
Hanoi boasts a wide collection of both nostalgic, historical spots and some more modern ones that you should definitely visit. Here are a few suggestions:
- Hoan Kiem Lake’s Walking Street
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- 19/12 Book Street
- Hanoimoi Newspaper
- West Lake
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- The “Hell on earth”: Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison is a perfect destination for those excited in Vietnam’s history
- Temple of Literature
- One of UNESCO’s World Heritages – Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- Hanoi Opera House
Hanoi Opera House features a classic French architecture
Find a hotel in Hanoi’s city center below:
Hanoi Bucket List: Taste Hanoi’s Celebrated Cuisine
Trying Pho is a must when you’re in Hanoi!
Hanoi is a city known for its mouth-watering street food, which comes in great variety and is sold on basically every corner. Let’s see how many of the dishes suggested below you will be able to taste!
- Egg coffee
- Authentic “Pho” at Pho Thin – 13 Lo Duc Street
- “Bun cha” at 74 Hang Quat Street
- “Nom Bo Kho” (Dried Beef Salad) at “Tuyet Beo” – 3 Nguyen Thiep, Hoan Kiem District
Try this refreshing dried beef salad on a summer day!
- “Bun Dau Mam Tom”
- Vietnamese “Banh mi”
- “Banh Tom” (Fried shrimp pancake)
- “Bia Hoi” on Ta Hien Street
Read more on Must-try Specialties in Hanoi
Hanoi Bucket List: Explore Hanoi’s Vibrant Culture
These are the activities for you to experience Hanoi’s “thousand-year-old culture”:
- Watch a water puppet show with your family at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
- Pay a visit to Quang Ba Night Flower Market to see gorgeous flowers
- Visit sacred pagodas and temples
Quan Thanh Temple is one of the most sacred institutions in Hanoi
- Go on a double-decker bus tour around Hanoi Old Quarter
- Grab a “Xich lo”
It is not very hard to find this traditional vehicle on the roads in Hanoi Old Quarter
- Watch street performers at the weekends
Seeing street performances is a great way to experience the dynamic spirit of Hanoi
Read on about Vietnamese culture
Hanoi Bucket List: Experience Some Local Must-dos
Try Shopping and Bargaining at Markets
Hanoi, as well as a lot of cities in Asia, has a distinctive wet-market culture that can be very appealing to tourists. Visiting and shopping at these markets will grant you a taste of the local way of life, as well as their tradition of bargaining.
See more Top Local Markets in Hanoi
Spend Your Time Like a True Hanoian
Wondering how a Hanoian would spend a day? These are just the basics!
- Visit West Lake
West Lake at sunset
West Lake Area is a center of fine-dining
- Wake up early and do some exercises
- Celebrate the victory of Vietnam national football team
- Observe contemporary art exhibitions at Royal City on Nguyen Trai Street
VCCA exhibition can satisfy your inner love for contemporary art
- Learn to cook some Hanoi’s special dishes
- Get yourself stuck in a traffic jam at rush hours
Hanoi Bucket List: Enjoy the Must-dos in Hanoi
Hanoi is a city with various distinctive features, which will fascinate you on every step of your exploration. If you find our guide useful, please help share it with your friend and stay tuned for more tips into Vietnam Travel.
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