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

    Hanoi see and do guide

    Long Bien Bridge

    Long Bien Bridge

    A Hanoi icon in all senses, the Long Bien Bridge - formerly known as the Paul Doumer Bridge - was one of the greatest... Read more
    Long Bien Bridge
    Up the ramp from Hang Khoai in the Old Quarter
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    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
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    Walking Hanoi - Part 3 - Old Quarter to Ba Dinh Square

    Walking Hanoi - Part 3 - Old Quarter to Ba Dinh Square

    This self-guided Hanoi walking tour by Rusty Compass takes us along the edge of the Old Quarter, past stunning colonial villas... Read more
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    Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi

    Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi

    Ba Dinh Square is where several of the Hanoi’s most historic sights are located - Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s house... Read more

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    Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi
    Ba Dinh District Hanoi

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    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

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

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    Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi

    Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi

    There may be museums dedicated to Ho Chi Minh in cities and towns across the country, but this is the definitive effort, set in... Read more

    Map

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    Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi
    19 Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh, South of Ho Chi Minh
    40,000VND

    Map
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    Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, Hanoi

    Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, Hanoi

    The simple timber house on stilts, in a lovely garden setting, from which Ho Chi Minh ruled wartime North Vietnam prior to his... Read more

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    Map
    Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, Hanoi
    Ba Dinh Square behind Ho Chi Minh
    40,000VND

    Map
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    Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Hanoi

    Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Hanoi

    Ho Chi Minh's Mauloleum is the imposing Soviet style block in which President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed corpse lies. Located at the... Read more

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    Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Hanoi
    Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi. Enter at Southern end near Ho Chi Minh Museum.
    Free of charge. No cameras or bags. Modest dress required.

    Map
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    Military History Museum, Hanoi

    Military History Museum, Hanoi

    The ultimate museum tribute to Vietnam’s twentieth century struggles against larger and better equipped enemies - the French... Read more

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    Military History Museum, Hanoi
    28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoi
    20,000VND

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    Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi

    Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi

    Vietnam’s best account of its thousands of years of history is set in one of Hanoi’s finest buildings. A refreshing break from... Read more

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    Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi
    1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi - in the French Quarter
    20,000VND - more for cameras

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    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

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

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    Hoa Lo - Hanoi Hilton Prison, Hanoi

    Hoa Lo - Hanoi Hilton Prison, Hanoi

    Most of the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, aka Hanoi Hilton, was demolished to make way for an office and apartment complex in the... Read more

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    Hoa Lo - Hanoi Hilton Prison, Hanoi
    1 Hoa Lo St, Hanoi, Vietnam
    20,000VND

    Map
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    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

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

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    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

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    West Lake area
    West Lake, Hanoi

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    St Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

    St Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

    Hanoi’s main Catholic cathedral, the beautifully faded St Joseph’s, sits at the head of one the city’s most attractive streets. Read more

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    St Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi
    40 Nha Chung St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

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    Ba Da Pagoda, Hanoi

    Ba Da Pagoda, Hanoi

    Ba Da Pagoda is a delightful and historic pagoda on Nha Tho St a short walk from St Joseph’s Cathedral. Read more

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    Ba Da Pagoda, Hanoi
    3 Nhà Thờ, Hoan Kiem Hanoi

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    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

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

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    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

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

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    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

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

    Map
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    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

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

    Map
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    Museum of Vietnamese Revolution, Hanoi

    Museum of Vietnamese Revolution, Hanoi

    If you’ve been travelling in Vietnam a while, you’ll recognise the pattern here - a huge collection of photos peppered with some... Read more

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    Museum of Vietnamese Revolution, Hanoi
    25 Tong Dan St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (there's another entrance on the opposite side)
    Free

    Map
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    Vietnamese Women's Museum, Hanoi

    Vietnamese Women's Museum, Hanoi

    The newly renovated Women’s Museum is one of Hanoi’s best in terms of contemporary curation and story telling. This is less... Read more

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    Vietnamese Women's Museum, Hanoi
    36 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

    Map
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    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

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

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    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

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

    Map
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    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
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    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