Hanoi see and do guide: Cultural
Travel guides
  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Laos
  • Vietnam
Australia Travel guides
Cambodia Travel guides
Laos Travel guides
Vietnam Travel guides
         
         
         
         
Travel guides

    An independent selection of the best things to see and do in Hanoi. No paid placements, no advertorial.

    Hanoi see and do guide

    Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi

    Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi

    Vietnamʼs most important collection of painting, sculpture, lacquer and other objects is set in a French colonial building not... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi
    66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi
    www.vnfam.vn/en/
    40,000VND

    Map
    Add to plan

    Catholic Churches of Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh

    Catholic Churches of Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh

    The provinces of Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh around 2 hours by road south of Hanoi, are where Catholicism first took root in Vietnam... Read more
    Add to plan

    Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi

    Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi

    World Heritage listed Hanoi Citadel, also known as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, is one of Vietnam’s most important... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi
    Enter from Hoang Dieu St, Hanoi, nearby the Cot Co Tower.
    30,000VND

    Map
    Add to plan

    Old Quarter, Hanoi

    Old Quarter, Hanoi

    Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a warren of bustling lanes that have been the commercial heart of the capital for centuries. The 36... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Old Quarter, Hanoi
    From the north end of Hoan Kiem Lake

    Map
    Add to plan

    One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

    One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

    One of Hanoi’s most revered sights, the One Pillar Pagoda dates back to Hanoi’s founding and is a commonly used symbol of the... Read more

    Map

    Map
    One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi
    Ba Dinh Square Hanoi, nearby the Ho Chi Minh Museum
    Free

    Map
    Add to plan

    Temple of Literature, Hanoi

    Temple of Literature, Hanoi

    Along with the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, dates back to Hanoi’s founding 1000 years ago. Vietnam’s first... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Temple of Literature, Hanoi
    Quoc Tu Giam St, Hanoi
    20,000VND

    Map
    Add to plan

    Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi

    Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi

    Hanoi's Museum of Ethnology explores Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups looking at costumes, rituals and traditions. A very... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi
    Nguyen Van Huyen Rd, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
    www.vme.org.vn/

    Map
    Add to plan

    West Lake area

    West Lake area

    Hanoi's West Lake area is home to the city's oldest temple - Quan Thanh Temple, as well as the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Opposite West... Read more

    Map

    Map
    West Lake area
    West Lake, Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Bach Ma Temple, Hanoi

    Bach Ma Temple, Hanoi

    11th century Bach Ma Temple is Hanoi’s oldest place of worship and is easily visited while strolling through the Old Quarter.... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Bach Ma Temple, Hanoi
    76 Hang Buom St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi - in the Old Quarter
    Free

    Map
    Add to plan

    Hanoi Museum, Hanoi

    Hanoi Museum, Hanoi

    You’ll need to have a lot of time, patience and enthusiasm to make the journey out of town to Hanoi’s newest museum. Impressive... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Hanoi Museum, Hanoi
    Pham Hung Street, Từ Liêm, Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Hoa Lu and Tam Coc day trip

    Hoa Lu and Tam Coc day trip

    In classic tourist parlance, brochures describe the mystical Hoa Lu and Tam Coc  landscape as “Halong Bay on land” on account of... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Hoa Lu and Tam Coc day trip
    Ninh Binh Province - around 2 hours from Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Water Puppets, Thang Long Theatre

    Water Puppets, Thang Long Theatre

    Water Puppetry is a lively and fun Vietnamese story telling form that dates back centuries. It originates from northern... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Water Puppets, Thang Long Theatre
    57b Dinh Tien Hoang St., Hanoi - opposite Hoan Kiem Lake near Ngoc Son Temple
    +84 4 39364335
    80,000VND - extra for cameras.

    Map
    Add to plan

    Bat Trang Pottery Village

    Bat Trang Pottery Village

    More for those with a serious interest in purchasing pottery than for an experience of a traditional craft village.  There’s... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Bat Trang Pottery Village
    16kms south east of Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Van Phuc Silk Village

    Van Phuc Silk Village

    Another traditional craft village that is lacking in any real atmosphere of tradition, Van Phuc is for those with a deep... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Van Phuc Silk Village
    10kms south west of Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas, Ha Tay

    Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas, Ha Tay

    These two mountainside pagodas can be visited in a pleasant half day from Hanoi. Read more

    Map

    Map
    Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas, Ha Tay
    Ha Tay province around 30kms from Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Ca Tru traditional music performance, Hanoi

    Ca Tru traditional music performance, Hanoi

    Ca Tru is an ancient northern Vietnamese vocal music tradition performed Tuesday to Sunday nights in one of two old quarter... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Ca Tru traditional music performance, Hanoi
    42 Hang Bac St Hoan Kiem District Hanoi
    200,000VND

    Map
    Add to plan

    Street Food tours, Hanoi

    Street Food tours, Hanoi

    If all those Hanoi outdoor eateries of low tables, plastic stools and unrecognisable culinary concoctions, spark your curiosity,... Read more
    Street Food tours, Hanoi
    streetfoodtourshanoi.blogspot.com.au/
    Add to plan

    Co Loa Citadel, Hanoi

    Co Loa Citadel, Hanoi

    Co Loa Citadel dates back to the 3rd century BC and ties in with some crucial milestones in the past 2 millenia of Vietnamese... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Co Loa Citadel, Hanoi
    Co Loa, 16kms from Hanoi

    Map
    Add to plan

    Duong Lam Village, outside Hanoi

    Duong Lam Village, outside Hanoi

    Duong Lam is a surprisingly picturesque traditional village about 50kms from Hanoi. It's an enjoyable half day trip and the... Read more

    Map

    Map
    Duong Lam Village, outside Hanoi
    Duong Lam, Son Tay - 50kms from Hanoi
    20,000VND

    Map
    Add to plan

    Hanoi
    GALLERIES & VIDEOS

    30 years travelling Vietnam

    30 years travelling Vietnam

    video
    Postcard from Hanoi - the borders are open

    Postcard from Hanoi - the borders are open

    video
    2016 - the year in travel

    2016 - the year in travel

    gallery
    Hanoi's architectural heritage - a travel guide in photos

    Hanoi's architectural heritage - a travel...

    gallery
    View more galleries

    Hanoi OUR IDEAS

    Unique ideas for the curious traveller to Hanoi by Rusty Compass.

    Read more

    Vietnam BLOGS

    Questions TripAdvisor should answer about its hotel awards

    4 August 2015

    TripAdvisor's powerful. Its rankings can make or break hotels, restaurants, tourist services.... read more

    Time to close the firing range at Vietnam's Cu Chi tunnels?

    31 March 2018

    The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi is among Vietnam's most popular tourist attractions. But... read more

    How did Dunkin Donuts and Burger King get prime positions for Vietnam’s 40th anniversary victory celebrations?

    29 April 2015

    As nostalgic old soldiers wander along Saigon’s main street tomorrow, remembering their heroic... read more

    A day in Hanoi - thinking about America

    14 July 2017

    From guns to gays. A Hanoi Saturday spent thinking about the United States and Vietnam. Last... read more

    View more blogs