Hanoi - Why Go, How to Get There, What to See, Where to Stay

General Information about Hanoi and Why Go Here for a Holiday

Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam and the second most important industrial center of the country after Ho Chi Minh City. The name Hanoi literally translates as "city between rivers," as it is located on the banks of the Red River. It is in the north of the country (Hanoi on the map of Vietnam) and is visited by tourists all year round. The capital's population is 7,600,000 people, which is almost half that of Moscow. At the same time, the total area of Hanoi is 3.3 thousand square kilometers, which is three times larger than Moscow. It is among the 17 largest cities in the world by area and among the ten most attractive cities for tourists in Asia.

For many tourists, Hanoi is just a starting point for traveling in northern Vietnam or Asia as a whole: near the capital is the world-famous Ha Long Bay with its picturesque landscapes, from here travelers go to the mountain town of Sapa, to the beaches of Cat Ba Island, to national parks in the north of the country, to the ancient capital Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province), or continue their journey through Asia to Laos.

However, Hanoi is not only the political capital of the country but also the cultural center of Vietnam, rich in sights. Here, the leisurely spirit of ancient exotic Asia and modern business bustle are mixed. A crazy stream of countless motorcycles flows like a river between ancient monuments, temples, and reminders of the recent history of Vietnam, while authentic cyclos take tourists along modern shopping mall buildings. This is a place where you can walk in circles around the same place – the famous Hoan Kiem Lake – and constantly see something new. Therefore, visiting northern Vietnam and not visiting Hanoi is simply impossible. Be sure to plan at least two full days for it.

There is no beach holiday in Hanoi at all. For a beach holiday, you need to go to the coast, to the resort towns of Vietnam. The nearest beach resort is more than 100 kilometers away – Cat Ba Island. But Hanoi is very interesting for tourists for sightseeing holidays. The city has a rich history and is full of historical, cultural, architectural, and religious sights. There are monuments here that tell the history of the city and state from its founding, and messengers of modern 20th-century history, such as the Lenin monument and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. There are several very significant and interesting museums in the city. As almost everywhere in Asia, the city is scattered with temples, pagodas, and other active religious attractions, but there are not very many of them if you compare Hanoi, for example, with Bangkok.

However, it's worth knowing about some drawbacks of the capital. Today's Hanoi is rapidly developing and changing, losing its historical appearance. It is very noisy and has a huge amount of traffic, mostly motorbikes, which won't leave you alone even on the sidewalks. Strolling leisurely and carefree along the streets here won't work: all sidewalks are occupied by goods, workshops, trash, and parked motorcycles. There are few entertainments for tourists here besides sightseeing, and there is almost nothing interesting for children. Generally, as for children, in our opinion, Hanoi is an uncomfortable and dangerous (due to traffic) place. So think twice before coming here with the whole family.

The basic tourist infrastructure in the city is fully represented: there is a huge number of hotels of all prices and categories; plenty of shopping opportunities both in shopping malls and local markets and street stalls; restaurants, cafes, travel agencies at every step. Well, the public transport system and the abundance of inexpensive taxis will allow you to easily and cheaply move around the entire city.

Nightlife in the city is poorly represented, and at night almost the entire city sleeps and there is not even traffic on the street. After all, Hanoi can rather be called the cultural capital, hence the corresponding evening entertainment: walks around Hoan Kiem Lake or the Old Quarter; opera; water puppet theater; and, of course, many restaurants and cafes. However, there is one very noisy and party street with bars and nightclubs here - Ta Hien Street. This is generally one of the coolest streets for entertainment in all of Vietnam, along with the same Bui Vien Walking Street at the other end of the country in Ho Chi Minh City. There are discos here too, but their visitors are mostly local youth, and tourists are better off not going there.

Our Videos about Hanoi

If you prefer watching videos instead of reading or want to visually understand the atmosphere of the resort, then for you we have made many thematic videos about Hanoi:

• Breaking Down Hanoi to the Bone, Part 1: Hotels, Transport, Currency, Food and Prices
• Breaking Down Hanoi to the Bone, Part 2: All About Shopping and Prices
• Breaking Down Hanoi to the Bone, Part 3: What Sights Are Here and What to See
• Breaking Down Hanoi to the Bone, Part 4: More About Sights and Conclusions
• Where Is the Best Place to Exchange Currency in Hanoi
• How to Get Around Hanoi: All About Transport in One Video
• Simple Lifehack: Where to Eat Tasty and Inexpensive in Hanoi
• City Buses in Hanoi – How Much They Cost, How to Use, and What to Know
• Almost a Deadly Trick – Crossing the Road in Hanoi
• Hanoi Metro – How It Works and How to Use It
• What to See in Hanoi - Victory Museum B-52
• What to See in Hanoi - Hoa Lo Prison Museum
• The Craziest Place in Hanoi – The Party Street of Sins Ta Hien
• Train Street in Hanoi – Tourist Trap or Still a Cool Sight
• Hotel Review in Hanoi – It Turned Out Too Emotional, but It's Been Building Up

Where and What to Eat in Hanoi (with Prices)

You definitely won't have problems with food in Hanoi. All sorts of cafes, restaurants, food stalls, and banh mi baguettes are sold at every step, especially many of them in the tourist area around Hoan Kiem Lake. But even outside the tourist area you won't go hungry, because in Hanoi, as in Vietnam in general, street food is very well developed and relatively inexpensive.

However, regarding the cheapness of food in Hanoi, we have to disappoint you a bit. From our own experience, we can say that eating here cheaply, even by Vietnamese standards, is problematic. Prices here are noticeably higher than at beach resorts and in small towns of the country, and this is especially felt if you come here after resting at other resorts. For example, the minimum price for the simplest traditional dish of rice with chicken or vegetables in a local cafe in the tourist area is from 60,000 dong. For comparison, approximately the same dishes in other places in Vietnam we ordered from 30,000 to 50,000 dong. Classic Pho Bo also from 50,000. Soft drinks like "soft drink" are served here from 20,000 dong (in other places from 10,000, sometimes even 8,000). Beer cheaper than 30,000 dong is hard to find, although the standard price in other cities is from 20,000.

However, in fairness, it should be said that prices for products in stores and ready-made dishes in them are practically the same. Therefore, if you are willing to buy products and cook yourself, or will buy ready-made dishes in large or chain supermarkets, it will be very cheap. For this, chain stores in Vietnam have special dining areas where you can comfortably eat what you bought. There are usually tables and chairs, a sink with water, a microwave, cutlery, free sauces. In general, this is a pretty good option – if you need to save money.

Finally, another option to eat inexpensively is ordering food through the Grab app. Yes, the same Grab that does taxis. There is also food ordering from restaurants and cafes. The choice is huge, and in fact you can order delivery even from inexpensive local street eateries. Of course, it will be a bit more expensive than eating in local street cafes, but you'll save time and can immediately see the prices. In general, we recommend definitely trying this option, and then decide if it suits you or not. For Hanoi, orders with cash on delivery are available.

If there is no strict economy in your plans, then all the delights of local and international cuisine will open up to you. There is Korean, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Thai, and even Russian. There are chain restaurants Burger King, KFC, Mcdonalds, Lotteria, JolliBee.

A special place that we recommend definitely visiting is local establishments on Pho Gam Cau Street near the railway bridge. There, in inexpensive cafes with plastic tables right on the street, they serve local Nuong barbecue starting from 100,000 dong per person. We talked about it in a video, you can watch it here.

To summarize, here are the prices we ourselves focus on when planning expenses for Hanoi (one meal per person):

• Eating in a very inexpensive local cafe with a drink will cost from 80,000 dong / 3.04 USD.
• Eating in a normal local establishment with a drink – from 120,000 dong / 4.56 USD.
• Eating in a tourist cafe or hotel (with beer or soft drink) – from 200,000 dong / 7.6 USD.
• Snacking in supermarkets with a dining area – from 50,000 dong / 1.9 USD.

And to not deny yourself pleasures and also buy various "treats" like ice cream, bubble tea, shakes, coconuts and the like, you need to add another 100-200 thousand per day for each (3.8-7.6 USD).

By the way, regarding "treats," we can recommend the chain establishment for bubble tea and ice cream called Mixue. Ice cream is sold here from 10,000 dong, tea from 22,000. We also recorded a video about it on the channel.

Shopping in Hanoi

Hanoi is a huge trading platform; here everyone sells and buys something, and shops stretch endlessly along the streets. And at first glance, it may seem like a real shopping paradise where tourists can buy lots of inexpensive useful things and souvenirs for next to nothing. However, in reality, it's not that simple, and shopping in Hanoi has some nuances worth knowing about.

For example, the famous world guidebook Lonely Planet does not recommend shopping in Hanoi, advising to do it in other major cities of the country. This is partly true because a feature of the capital is very high prices for all goods that might attract tourists' attention. And it's not at all because life here is expensive per se, but due to the attitude of capital residents towards tourists: everyone tries to sell goods at inflated prices, sometimes dozens of times higher, and are very reluctant to bargain. Even at markets, we encountered a complete unwillingness of some sellers to communicate with tourists and bargain: when asked about the price, they might simply name an inflated price and turn away, indicating they won't bargain, or even dismissively wave a hand and remain silent in response.

However, it's not all bad, and with skillful communication, you can haggle the price down quite well. Bargaining here is customary to do with a smile and not aggressively. Sometimes sellers' willingness to agree to your offered price only arises after you supposedly lose interest in the purchase and leave the store. And also, if you are looking for something specific, never ask about the price of that item first; it's better to first inquire about the price of something else, and then gradually move on to what you need.

Also, low fixed prices can be found in supermarkets and large shopping malls. Keep in mind that you can bargain even in stores with price tags, in hotels, travel agencies, except for chain supermarkets and grocery stores. Complete guide to shopping in Hanoi with prices and best shopping spots here.

Internet and Mobile Communication in Hanoi and Where to Buy a SIM Card

Russian operators in Vietnam work in expensive international roaming. Many tariffs automatically charge for a day even for an incoming call or the first byte of data, so if you don't plan to use roaming, disable data transmission at the departure airport or remove the SIM card. Study the tariffs in advance and connect options for savings.

On a short holiday in Hanoi, you can do without mobile communication, as Wi-Fi is available in hotels, cafes, and the airport.

If you need constant communication, it's better to buy a local SIM card at the airport, in street stalls, or in official mobile phone shops. In detail, all about the internet and buying a local SIM card we told here, and here is a brief instruction.

• Buying a SIM card at official operator offices. This is cheaper and more reliable, since the card will be registered in your name with a passport. This is especially necessary if you plan to stay in Vietnam for a long time, for example, several months. But registration in offices takes a long time; from our own experience, we spent more than an hour. Also, you first need to choose an operator and a tariff, and find the nearest office. So it's all tedious and makes sense only for a long stay.

• Buying a tourist SIM card (recommended). If you come for a few weeks or a month, it's easier to buy a tourist SIM card with an internet package or minutes. This will be an already prepared, activated SIM card with a ready-made tariff that will work immediately after installation in the device. You can buy it at the airport, travel agencies, and various stalls on the street. Most often, tourist SIM cards are sold with a double markup to the official tariff.

  But you can buy a local SIM card or eSim with a very small markup online and receive it at Hanoi Airport or with delivery to the hotel. We tested this method, the SIM card worked great for 30 days. You can buy it on trip.com and pay with a Russian bank card online:

  • Buy eSIM for Vietnam on trip.com
  • Buy physical card on trip.com with delivery or pickup at Hanoi Airport

  Important! Buying SIM cards on the Trip.com website works only when English language is enabled, and is not yet available in the Russian interface. And just in case, if the card doesn't work, then read here "What to do if trip.com does not accept the card".

Currency Exchange in Hanoi, ATMs, and Bank Cards

In Hanoi, you can easily exchange dollars, euros, yuan, baht, yen, pounds, and other world currencies. But a really acceptable rate is for cash dollars and euros, while yuan and rubles are accepted at a very poor rate. Read all the details carefully here:

• Cashless Exchange of Rubles. Caution!

  Currently, cashless rubles through Telegram chats are popular, including in Hanoi. According to this scheme, you transfer rubles to someone's Russian card and receive cash dong. And although this method of exchange is very actively promoted by "money changers" on Telegram, and sometimes they even write in private messages to participants of thematic chats, including in our chat about Vietnam, we advise caution on this matter.

  In fact, no matter how many times we tried and calculated such exchange options, it always turned out that at the moment exchanging through dollars or euros was more profitable. Even for cash dollars, these "money changers" offer a noticeably less favorable rate than at street exchange offices and banks. And finally, do not forget that there are cases of fraud, including using the "triangle" scheme. We advise you to read more on this topic in our updated article about money in Vietnam with calculations, and only then decide if it's worth getting involved.

• Where to Exchange Cash

  You can exchange money at Hanoi Airport upon arrival, but the rate there is about 1.2-1.5% lower. This difference is not very big, and you can safely exchange 50-100 dollars for the first time, and exchange the main amount already in the city.

  There are a huge number of exchange offices in the city, especially in the tourist area near Hoan Kiem Lake. Here they exchange at any travel agency, hotels, even just in trade stalls. But we advise against rushing and exchanging at the first place you come across.

  The most favorable rate is traditionally in jewelry stores and workshops. If you want to get the most favorable rate almost in all of Vietnam, then go straight to the jewelry streets:

  • Hang Bac Street, located in the tourist area north of the lake (street on the map)
  • Ha Trung Street, located west of the lake within walking distance (street on the map)

  

  There you need to go into jewelry stores and ask if they exchange currency, as there are usually no signs about it. It's better to visit several jewelry stores and compare rates. New-style dollars are bought here at a rate even higher than the official one!!! Old-style dollars and euros are also accepted without problems and at a good rate.

  Usually the most favorable rate is in jewelry stores where many locals and Chinese gather, there they actively buy gold and jewelry, bargaining loudly. At the same time, be very careful when counting money so as not to be deceived.

  For example, here is information about dollar rates on one day:

  • Official dollar rate – 26,075
  • At the airport new/old-style dollar – 25,870 / 25,000
  • At a street travel agency new/old-style dollar – 26,000 / 25,500
  • At a jewelry store new/old-style dollar – 26,300 / 26,000

• ATMs and Cards

  UnionPay and Mir cards work for payment and for cash withdrawal in Vietnam. But don't rush to rejoice, there are features here.

  UnionPay cards in Vietnam now work only from one major bank – Rosselkhozbank. All other UnionPay issued earlier, including Gazprombank, Russian Standard, and Tinkoff, no longer work.

  RSHB issues free cards in rubles and yuan, servicing is also free under certain conditions. But using a ruble card is not very profitable. We did many test purchases and calculations, and in the end, the loss from rubles to dong through the card turned out to be 4-6% compared to exchange through cash. And if you withdraw cash from it, then to these losses will be added quite large commissions for cash withdrawal at third-party ATMs and the commission of the Vietnamese ATM.

  A currency card in yuan shows itself much more profitably for payment. If you top it up in the bank's app or from a brokerage account within the bank just before the purchase, then the losses compared to cash are already only 2-4%. True, the yuan card has higher commissions for cash withdrawal, and here it loses to the ruble one.

  

  As for Mir cards, it's even more complicated and sad here. Mir works only in ATMs and payment terminals of VRB bank (Vietnam-Russian Bank), all other banks in Vietnam do not accept them due to sanctions. There is a list with addresses of retail outlets on the VRB bank website where they work, it is posted here as a PDF file. This list has store names and addresses, but there is no geographical map with the location of these stores. So for payment for purchases, the effectiveness of using Mir tends to zero.

  You can withdraw cash with Mir again only at VRB ATMs, and there aren't very many of them. Fortunately, there are exactly two such in Hanoi. Their addresses are again in the list via the link above (on the last page List of MIR card accepting ATM nationwide), but it's much easier to find them on Google Maps by searching for VRB ATM VIETNAM, only look carefully, because the map "highlights" some other ATMs by mistake. Conditions are as follows*:

  • You can withdraw at VRB up to 2,000,000 or 5,000,000 dong per transaction (approximately 76.04-190 USD), the commission from VRB bank for two transactions per day is not charged.
  • Your Russian bank will also charge a commission for withdrawal at a third-party bank and abroad, its amounts need to be clarified in the card tariff. The commission may not be charged if you have a subscription connected, premium options or tariffs included in the bank, or simply as a bank promotion. We repeat again that all this needs to be clarified with the Russian bank that issued the card.
  • Debit occurs at the official exchange rate of the Bank of Russia + commission up to 4.9%.

  

  We tested cash withdrawal at VRB bank ATMs many times at different times and calculated everything. The result turned out so-so: losses of about 6-8% compared to cash. On the one hand, it seems that this is not much at all, and it really is for small amounts, which is suitable for a short holiday with small cash expenses. But on the other hand, if you have a long trip and need a lot of cash, it turns out that from 10,000 rubles you lose at least 600 rubles on commissions through the ATM, from 50,000 rubles the loss is already at least 3,000 rubles. But of course, it's up to you to decide.

  And perhaps the most important point regarding bank cards is their unreliability! Given the current situation, cards can stop working at any moment, and forever. Therefore, we do not recommend relying on them as the main means of payment in Vietnam.

  More about ATMs and plastic cards in Vietnam in our updated article here.

  We use Mir cards from T-Bank (former Tinkoff). This is the only bank that does not charge a commission for cash withdrawal at ATMs in Vietnam. At least, we haven't found other such banks, but if you know, share in the comments. From a T-Bank card in Vietnam, you can withdraw up to 100,000 rubles per month completely without commission, then there will be a commission of only 90 rubles per withdrawal. Of course, this applies only to debit cards, as credit cards are not very suitable for cash withdrawal. You can apply for a T-Bank card under a promotion via these links, and get additional bonuses:

Hotels in Hanoi and Where to Stay

In Hanoi, there is a huge selection of accommodation options for tourists, from hostels to five-star hotels. Prices for accommodation by Russian standards are generally very low here. But by the standards of other resorts in Vietnam, it's still a bit expensive here, after all, it's the capital.

Here are approximate prices to consider (from personal experience):

• A bed in a hostel - from 120,000 dong / approximately 4.56 USD).
• A budget double room with air conditioning and private bathroom in the tourist area - from 300,000 dong / approximately 11.41 USD.
• A comfortable double room with air conditioning, private bathroom, and breakfast in the tourist area - from 600,000 dong / approximately 22.81 USD.
• A room in a five-star hotel in the center - from 2,000,000 dong / approximately 76.04 USD.

Seasonally, prices don't change much, but during the Vietnamese New Year holidays Tet Nguyen Dan and Chinese New Year (occurs in February-March) they noticeably increase. At this time, we definitely recommend booking accommodation in advance a month or even more.

It's best to search and book hotels in Hanoi in popular global hotel search engines:

• 🛌 Search hotels in Hanoi on Trip.com (👍 Mir cards work)
• 🛌 Hotels in Hanoi on Yandex.Travel
• 🛌 Search hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Regarding the question of where is the best place to stay, we told about it in detail in a separate guide about districts of Hanoi here. But briefly, for a short holiday, simply choose the tourist area or Old Quarter within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake (tourist area on the map). This is the epicenter of all tourist life and everything is here, including many of the most inexpensive accommodation options.

Weather and Tourist Seasons in Hanoi, When Is the Best Time to Go

The weather in Hanoi is rarely bad. The climate here is subtropical, so tourists feel comfortable here at any time of the year, although there are some features, as follows:

From May to September is the rainy season (low season). The average temperature in summer is plus 30 degrees, and sometimes exceeds 40. Humidity is very high, it often rains and almost all the time the sky is covered with clouds or haze. But the summer months due to heat and rains are the low tourist season, and prices decrease at this time.

From September to April is the high tourist season. Visiting Hanoi in autumn (especially in September - October) and spring (February-April) is an ideal time: air humidity and amount of rain decrease, and the temperature has not yet had time to drop. This is also an excellent time to visit other popular resorts in northern Vietnam (Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island, Sapa) for the same reasons – comfortable temperature and low humidity.

From November to February is winter or mid-season. This time is not a contraindication to visiting Hanoi, but you should be prepared that at night the temperature can drop to as low as 15 degrees Celsius, there are strong winds. The low temperature is aggravated by the fact that buildings in Vietnam, as a rule, do not have heating systems, and at night you may freeze. During the day, the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.

Tourist Seasons in Hanoi by Month, When Is the Best Time to Go

Weather in Hanoi by Month

Current Weather in Hanoi and Forecast

Time in Hanoi

In summer and winter, time in Hanoi is 4 hours ahead of Moscow.

How to Get to Hanoi

Hanoi is located in the north of the country (Hanoi on the map), and it is one of the main entry points for travelers to Vietnam, especially if you plan to visit the northern regions. For more details about all the ways and means to get to Hanoi, read our detailed guide here, and here are brief hints for directions:

• From cities of Russia, CIS, and other countries. There are direct flights and with transfers via third countries. Currently, it's usually most advantageous to fly with a transfer through China.
• From Hanoi Airport. From the airport, you can take a taxi from 250,000 dong or city buses from 15,000.
• From Hanoi. Best by plane, but also by train or buses, but it's very long, almost two days.
• From Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Hoi An, Da Lat. Also better to fly from the nearest airports. There is also an option by train and bus, but it's very long and sometimes with a bus change in Da Nang on a single ticket.
• From Da Nang, Hue, Phong Nha. There are comfortable sleeper buses or by train.
• From Sapa. Most convenient to take a direct bus straight to the tourist area of Hanoi, but tourists also popularize the option via Lao Cai with a transfer to a train.
• From Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu). There are direct sleeper buses.
• From Ha Long. There are direct minivans and large buses, or by train.
• From Cat Ba Island. It's best to buy a ready-made ticket for a minivan or large bus, including the ferry crossing. Otherwise, you'll have to travel independently first to the port, then by ferry and then transfer to a bus or go to Hai Phong railway station.
• From Phu Quoc. By direct plane or with a transfer via Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang airports.

Transport in Hanoi and How to Get Around

Transport in Hanoi is well developed and allows you to get around the capital for mere pennies. There is a developed network of city buses, and now there is also a metro. You can also get around by taxi, special tourist buses and electric cars, and even cyclos.

You can also rent a bicycle, motorcycle, or car, but traffic in the city is very chaotic, almost no one follows the rules. Therefore, we would strongly not recommend getting around here behind the wheel on your own.

In most cases, to get acquainted with the city and its main attractions, it's enough to walk around all the most interesting places of the Old Quarter (tourist area near Hoan Kiem Lake) and its nearest surroundings on foot, and to several remote attractions you can get by taxi or city buses.

Now we'll briefly talk about the types of transport in Hanoi, and for detailed information on how to use them, read in the detailed guide here:

• On Foot

  

  The historical center of the city and the Hoan Kiem Lake area are not very large, and if you have enough time, you can see it all on foot. However, walking along the narrow streets of the historical district is very uncomfortable and even dangerous. Motorcycles here move not only on the roads but also on the sidewalks. Also, sidewalks are used as parking spaces, which forces you to constantly go out onto the roadway.

• Taxi

  

  Taxis in Hanoi are very developed, and prices are not high if you know how to use them and don't get cheated. Generally, a trip by meter within the Old Quarter of Hanoi should cost no more than 30,000 dong (approximately 1.14 USD), and to the airport no more than 300,000 dong (approximately 11.41 USD). For ordering a taxi, we recommend using the apps Grab, Maxim, Xanh Sm, InDrive. Our choice is Grab.

• City Buses

  

  A convenient and affordable mode of transport for budget tourists – the city bus system. You can get anywhere within the city, and even beyond, for example, to Hanoi Airport very cheaply compared to a taxi. The cost varies on different routes – from 10,000 dong (approximately 0.38 USD) for a trip within the center, and up to 45,000 for express No. 86 to the airport. Also, you can get to the airport on bus No. 17 for only 15,000 dong. Payment is made to the conductor on the bus, a ticket is issued.

• Cyclo

  

  In Hanoi, the exotic mode of transportation by cyclo (pedicab) still works. Mostly cyclo drivers work around Hoan Kiem Lake. But today this is no longer a means of transportation, but now a tourist attraction for walks, and a very expensive one. For a ride of three meters and a couple of photos with tourists, they may demand 10 US dollars.

• Rental of Motorbike, Car, Bicycle

  

  If you are sure that you are a "Schumacher on a motorcycle," then you can rent a motorcycle or car. Finding a motorcycle rental will not be difficult – just walk along the streets of the Old Quarter. There are especially many rentals on Pho Ma May Street. Rental will cost you from 200,000 per day (approximately 7.6 USD). But we do not recommend renting motorbikes or bicycles in Hanoi due to the difficult road situation.

• Tourist Electric Cars

  

  Many 8-seater electric buses from early morning until late evening run within the tourist area of Hanoi, and make stops near attractions and on shopping streets. Tickets cost from 200,000 (approximately 7.6 USD) to 300,000 (approximately 11.41 USD). They move without a schedule and start the route from the final stop when full.

• Tourist Bus Hanoi City Tour

  

  On the Hop-on-Hop-off system bus, called Hanoi City Tour here, you can quickly see the city's main attractions. But, in our opinion, the ticket price is inflated, and in fact, combining walking trips and ordering a taxi by meter, you can get acquainted with the same sights even cheaper. True, Hanoi's Hop-on-Hop-off has one advantage – an audio guide in several languages, including Russian. Also, there is a special route – night Hanoi. Buses run 7 days a week 365 days a year from 9 am to 5 pm at 30-minute intervals, and additionally evening tours are organized at 7:00 pm and 8:15 pm. The last two trips take place already in the dark (in Hanoi it gets dark already at 6 pm) and do not include stops. There are such tickets:

  • 4 hours + tickets to Hoa Lo Prison Museum – 360,000 dong (approximately 13.69 USD)
  • 24 hours + tickets to Hoa Lo Prison Museum - 510,000 (approximately 19.39 USD)
  • Evening tour 1 hour without stops – 150,000 dong (approximately 5.7 USD)

• Hanoi Metro

  

  Since 2021, modern metro (above-ground and underground) has been operating in Hanoi. So far, only two lines are open, but they pass far from tourist places, so the metro is of little use for travelers. However, if you are staying near a station, you can get to Cat Linh and walk to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (1.5 km). The cost is from 8,000 dong for 1–2 stations (approximately 0.3 USD), up to 15,000 dong for long trips.

Sights in Hanoi and What to See

Most of Hanoi's sights are located within a walking distance from Hoan Kiem Lake, and, if desired, you can see them all in one day. Another place where sights are concentrated is Ba Dinh Square, on and near which there are the mausoleum, several museums, and monuments. But to visit and explore all the museums filled with exhibits, many traditional architectural structures and temples, historical places, and simply beautiful parks of the capital of Vietnam, you will need at least a week.

But actually, you don't have to visit everything. To learn the most important things about the history of the city and country, feel the spirit and atmosphere of the capital, it's enough to visit primarily these attractions:

• Ba Dinh Square with the mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and Presidential Palace. Visiting the mausoleum and museums is not mandatory, and in conditions of time shortage, you can simply view them from the outside
• National Museum of Vietnamese History
• Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle Temple
• Walk through the markets and streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter
• Hoa Lo Prison Museum or Hanoi Hilton
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
• Temple of Literature
• Watch a show at one of the two water puppet theaters Thang Long or Lotus
• Hanoi Citadel

Also from Hanoi you can visit at least these places on a one-day or multi-day excursion or go independently:

• Mountain Town of Sapa and Trekking
• Bac Ha Village
• Ha Long Bay
• Lan Ha Bay
• Perfume Pagoda
• Ninh Binh Province and the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu
• Tam Chuc Pagoda
• Ha Giang Loop

Although these places are far from Hanoi, the city is the main starting point for visiting them both independently and with tours. There are many excursion options: there are one-day tours to several interesting places in Hanoi, you can also purchase multi-day ones with visits to the surroundings and more remote places in the northern part of Vietnam.

Tours are sold everywhere at hotel receptions, in travel agencies on the streets of the Old Quarter. The same tours differ in cost in different places, so it makes sense to walk around and compare prices.

You can also buy tours online with payment by Russian cards on these sites:

• 📷 Tours in Hanoi on Trip.com
• 📷 Tours in Hanoi on GetYourGuide
• 📷 Tours in Hanoi on Tripster.ru
• 📷 Tours in Hanoi on Sputnik8.com

More about the sights of Hanoi and how to visit them independently.

Safety in Hanoi

The capital is quite safe, there is almost no crime and criminality in the usual sense for us. However, the peculiarity of doing business here is that tourists are constantly and everywhere trying to cheat out of money. This happens through seemingly innocent deception, but as a result, you have to significantly overpay. Avoiding this is quite easy:

• Be more careful when making purchases and bargaining
• Check and compare prices before buying
• It's better to buy souvenirs and gifts in stores and markets at fixed prices
• Don't fall for offers from strangers on the street to buy or book something
• Instead of looking for hotels on the spot, it's better to book in advance via the Internet
• Instead of street taxis, use the Grab, Xanh Sm apps, etc.
• Don't buy illegal substances from dealers on Ta Hien Beer Street, and generally don't buy anywhere

There are cases of pickpocketing or theft of things from hotels, so be careful in this matter. The most ordinary precautions will help: don't wear a backpack on your back in crowded places; hide cash and valuables in pockets far away; leave valuables in the hotel safe or carry them with you.

A serious danger that every tourist in Hanoi definitely faces is road traffic. Local drivers completely disrespect pedestrians: they never yield at pedestrian crossings, honk them off sidewalks, park on sidewalks. When walking, you need to watch both ways, and in the evening it's better to wear reflective stickers or at least light-colored clothing. When crossing the road, attract attention to yourself, for example, by raising your hand.

That's all the most important about Hanoi we told, and read more via the links from the menu and article in separate detailed guides.

🕒 24 May, 2026