The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, can be quite hectic with the crowds and traffic. With plenty of historical sites and architectural attractions, sometimes it can be hard to notice the spaces of greenery. Luckily though, the natural attractions are not too difficult to find, as a handful of parks within the city’s boundaries can offer. Read on for some of our favorite nature attractions in Hanoi to escape from the hustle and bustle.
Thong Nhat Park
354A Duong Le Duan, Phuong Lien, Dong Da District, Hanoi
6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thong Nhat Park is one of Hanoi’s largest parks, offering plenty of space for various outdoor activities. The park is enjoyed by locals of all ages and foreign visitors looking to escape from the city’s traffic scenery. The park includes trails for jogging, cycling, and skateboarding that run along the area’s perimeter. You will often find group yoga and tai chi scenes or children playing tag with one another. Besides having great functional spaces for activities, the park also draws plenty of people looking to relax throughout the day.
The park surrounds Bay Mau Lake with the small Hao Binh Island at the center, similar to the well-known area of Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi.
Indira Gandhi Park
16 Lang Ha, Thanh Cong, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
4:00 AM – 12:00 AM
India’s first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, has garnered the Vietnamese people’s respect for her outspoken support of Vietnam. Indira Gandhi Park is a beautiful park known for its stone-paved path surrounding Thanh Cong Lake. A fountain display in the middle of the lake draws a crowd during nighttime. Like any park in Hanoi, many gather here to exercise and relax. The park is wildly popular in the morning among joggers to get a workout at the start of their day.
See more Things to do in Hanoi at night
Thu Le Park
Buoi Street, Thu Le, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu Le Park comprises an area of greenery featuring the oval-shaped Thu Le Lake in the middle. The park doubles as a historical site due to its origin as the ancient Thu Le village and its legends during the Ly Dynasty (1009 – 1225). In the present day, the park is now home to the Thu Le Zoo Hanoi, housing over 800 animals of 80 different species varieties, including monkeys, reptiles, and big cats. Visitors to the park can also get on a pedal boat and enjoy the peaceful lake atmosphere.
Hanoi Botanical Garden
3 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ngoc Ho, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
5:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Also known as the Bach Thao Botanical Garden, the garden is dedicated to preserving the native species of flora of Vietnam. The Hanoi Botanical Garden has been dubbed as one of Hanoi’s green lungs because of the concentration of trees and plants, including many rare species. The dense vegetation here also attracts many native bird species, creating a true oasis of nature in the city. The Hanoi Botanical Garden is on our list of top nature attractions in Hanoi, as it is the closest you can get to an actual forest.
Like most other parks in Hanoi, the botanical garden is open for recreational purposes. With separate areas for picnics and group exercises, locals will often take advantage of this and come to enjoy the park to its fullest. Tourists can stop at the garden for a break after visiting nearby attractions like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
Yen So Park
QL1A, Hoang Liet, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi
5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Yen So Park boasts the most open space out of Hanoi’s parks, making it the city’s largest greenery area. The park’s grounds are between five natural lakes and six individually themed gardens. Yen So Park is one of Hanoi’s green lungs, containing many water bodies and a broad range of trees and flowers. A popular way to navigate the park is by cycling, and rental bicycles are available at a reasonable price of about VND 40,000 per hour. Boat rentals are also available at about VND 60,000 per hour.
The park’s well-kept maintenance and size make it stand out as a green space in a densely populated city like Hanoi. The park is still under development, with plans to add a maze garden, an outdoor theater, an area dedicated to a cultural village display, and much more. With all that mentioned, it is easy to see why Yen So Park is one of the top nature attractions in Hanoi and will most certainly remain so as we advance.
Conclusion on The Top Nature Attractions in Hanoi
Even within Hanoi’s city limits, green spaces with tranquility are easily found. With these recommended nature attractions in Hanoi, we hope you can enjoy a small piece of nature in the heart of Vietnam’s capital.
Check out our Hanoi Outskirts – What to See and Where to Go blog for recommendations on natural attractions outside the city.