Never have I imagined travelling to this country and actually enjoying every bit of my time here. Vietnam, unlike other Asian countries, didn't gain that much popularity in terms of tourism back in my home country. Although it's often one of the destinations in tri-city tours, I've never had as much enthusiasm as I did when I was planning my Singapore and Seoul trip. While I can imagine modern infrastructures, diverse tourist population and magical theme parks in SG and Seoul, I couldn't really think of such for Vietnam. Yes, this country is more than the state-of-the-art mise-en-scène.
Vietnam has several cities and provinces that are brimming with beautiful scenery, historical heritage, good people, and fresh produce. I may not have found the greatest infrastructures or the most fantastic theme parks but I honestly didn't expect to dive into a plethora of cultural diversity.
I visited Hanoi for the first time and here are the places I've been to and some must-dos within the city. The list isn't in particular order. I'm just writing spontaneously.
Vietnam has several cities and provinces that are brimming with beautiful scenery, historical heritage, good people, and fresh produce. I may not have found the greatest infrastructures or the most fantastic theme parks but I honestly didn't expect to dive into a plethora of cultural diversity.
I visited Hanoi for the first time and here are the places I've been to and some must-dos within the city. The list isn't in particular order. I'm just writing spontaneously.
1. Hanoi Train Street
Literally the railway in Hanoi where you can hang out, have some coffee, walk on the railway and take photos. Coffee, full meal, and souvenirs are all over the place.
The frequently asked question of tourists: When does the train come? 7PM is always the ready answer of locals.
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| Hanoi Train Street |
2. St. Joseph Cathedral
This is the fortress of Catholicism in the city. Despite the fact that most citizens here are non-Christians, this place is often visited by tourists and locals alike. Its Gothic Revival architecture has made this structure a city tour destination. With its very favorable location, I didn't even had to get a city tour package to see the place. I was simply walking around when I found this popular landmark and so I couldn't just walk past this conspicuously captivating structure.
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| St. Joseph Cathedral | Hanoi |
3. Hoan Kiem Lake
Another major attraction situated at the very core of the city is the Hoan Kiem Lake. You haven't really gone to Hanoi if you didn't visit this iconic tourist spot. The surrounding of the lake is also flocked with locals doing exercises especially in the morning and in the afternoon. Withing this lake is the Ngoc Son Temple which is also a tourist destination. The lake is surrounded by stores where you could dine or shop for souvenirs.
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| Hoan Kiem Lake |
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| Hoan Kiem at night |
4. Ngoc Son Temple
Situated within Hoan Kiem Lake, this is the most accessible temple in Hanoi. What's inside this temple? Let's cross the bridge when we get there. Yes, you need to cross the red bridge to get to the temple. At night, the bridge illuminates in red lights that create a magical reflection on the lake.
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| Ngoc Son Temple | Hanoi |
5. Water Puppet Theater
Take a glimpse of the classic musical show in Vietnam with the Water Puppet Show. The comic depiction of the Vietnamese tradition along with a live accompaniment.
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| Water Puppet Show | Hanoi |
6. Temple of Literature
One of the fascinating temples I've been to in Hanoi. There's so much to see and know in this place. It's indeed brimming with stories of the past, not to mention the 'instagrammable' photos you can take here.
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| Temple of Literature | Hanoi |
7. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi? I was so naive before I realized that every province or city in Vietnam has their own Ho Chi Minh square in honor of their revolutionary leader. Later did I know that this is actually a mausoleum of the great Ho Chi Minh. This is also known as the Ba Đinh Square
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| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum | Hanoi |
8. Bach Ma Temple - Hanoi
As I got inside this old citadel, I felt a sense of solemnity. Hearing the chanting and prayers was absolutely spine-tingling even if it was all done in Vietnamese. I had to take a few more gazes at the old lady singing in adoration while striking the gong. Words aren't enough to describe the atmosphere in that temple. I honestly just wanted to stand there as I listen and watch. I almost forgot taking photos of the place. Really.
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| Bach Ma Temple | Hanoi |
9. Royal City (Vincom Megamall)
Seriously, a mall? That was my first reaction when someone recommended this place. I was on a DIY tour and I felt that visiting a mall for a tour is quite irrelevant of why I came to Hanoi. How is a mall even a tourist spot? Well, it isn't exactly a tourist destination given that it's quite far from the center and the traffic gets really crazy during rush hours. Despite my second thoughts, I gave it a try. The place is so huge. Its attraction lies outside the mall. It looks like a royal family opened its gates to outsiders. It has a vast garden with ancient-looking sculptures with skyscrapers as the backdrop.
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| Royal City | Vincom Megamall | Hanoi |
10. Try the egg coffee and bánh mì
Food takes a great chunk of culture. To fully experience the place, trying out their food no matter how weird or unappetizing it could be is almost mandatory.Known as the second best producer of coffee in the world, Vietnam has somehow made a twist in serving the coffee with egg. It's not gross, really. It tasted the same only that it's extra foamy because of the egg on top.
Bánh mì is the Vietnamese sandwich stuffed with vegies, spices, and a variety of meat. It's satisfying for a starving tourist on a DIY like me.
I just have to weed out the coriander (cilantro) from it.
Sorry folks!
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| Vietnam egg coffee: a must-try |
11. Take the rickshaw ride
If Thailand and Cambodia have tuk-tuk, Vietnam also has the rickshaws. Tourists are often offered a city tour while enjoying the ride on a three-wheeled cart. The ride is often costly especially among tourists. Ask or negotiate first before saying yes to the offer. Some drivers can be a little pushy. Just be friendly and haggle nicely if you must. |
| rickshaw ride in Hanoi |
12. Join the free walking tour
Some university students have formed groups or communities offering free city tour services to foreigners. This project is just a blessing for budget travelers but these students also benefit from these tours as they can have an avenue to practically use their English communication skills to native speakers of the language. The participants are preregistered. You can find them online and on Facebook.13. Street food tour
Although you can simply do this yourself by literally walking through the streets of the Old Quarter, it's also recommended to join a group with a proper guide so you just don't get your tummy stuffed but also your brain with knowledge imparted by the tour guide. |
| What to eat in Hanoi? the list doesn't end for options |
14. Old Quarter Hanoi
I didn't even realize I was already standing in one of the old streets in Hanoi. Although most infrastructures have been modified due to the business needs of the people, there are still some parts where the structures have been kept untouched. The streets aren't that remarkable though, as they have been jammed with shops of all sorts of commodities and ambulant vendors.15. Hanoi Walking Street
The night gets young, free, and fun! Hanoi Walking Street brings life and music on the streets. Presentations of all sorts bring a throng of people around the area. Though it's not done every night, the streets are closed to give way to the crowd.
How do you get to these places?
Most of the places mentioned are situated close to the center so the best and inexpensive option is to get ride-hailing services (Grab, Aber, FastGo, GoViet). Cars are more expensive than the motorbikes. If comfort is your priority, then taking the car/taxi is unarguably the best option there is; however be mindful of the traffic conditions in Hanoi. Since most people have their own rides, you'd expect a swarm of motorbikes on the roads on top of the jammed private cars during rush hours.
For me, I'd still go for motorbikes. I was scared at first especially after seeing how Vietnamese drivers swivel like a pro with their bikes. I was curious then so I tried using a ride-hailing service to get a motorbike. I was thrilled but I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I'd recommend riding a motorbike if you're on a DIY tour. It's fast and economical.
Can I just hail a taxi on the road?
I've learned my lesson. The 25000₫ (1USD) worth of Grab car ride has skyrocketed to 130000₫ (6USD) after I got in a taxi from the railway station to my hotel. The taxi meter was speeding up like a heartbeat! The worst is the taxi driver didn't even drop me off in the right address. I disembarked 5 blocks away from the hotel. This happened twice to me and from then on, I promised I'll never get a taxi ride if not from a ride-hailing service app.
While there are more places in Vietnam you would itch to go to, you got to start somewhere! Hanoi could be a good place to start understanding and exploring the Vietnamese culture.
The list doesn't end but the blog does. What are some places or things you'd recommend others to see or do in Hanoi?
Let me know!
Till our next laag*!
*wander, saunter
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