Know Everything About Hanoi from 26 Letters in the Alphabet

02 May, 2018 | Travel Blog

From the ultimate guides of each destination, secret beauties, amazing things about food and culture to top suggested resorts and hotels, our travel blog is meant to help you travel Asia at ease and experience the best moments there without any hesitation.

If this is your first visit to Hanoi, you might be overwhelmed with sources of information: places to stay, food to eat, and things to do. Even if you go on a tour, you still have one or two free days to discover this city on your own. Aware of your concerns, we have collected in “Hanoi from A to Z” everything you need to know about the capital of Vietnam. You will find, in this guide, main attractions, etiquettes, common Vietnamese phrases, and even the skill to cross crowded streets. It’s very simple and easy to look up any time you want.

A - Art Museum

It is an old 3-floor colonial building, in which beautiful Vietnamese paintings, sculptures, and lacquers in different historical periods are well displayed. That gives more attention to individual artists.  

Photo: Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum 

Opening Hours: daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh.

B - Bun Cha

Bun Cha is served with grilled pork, fresh herbs, noodle, and a dipping sauce. Its taste can lure even the pickiest eaters. It’s a favorite Vietnamese dish of President Obama as well.  

Location:
- Bun Cha Dac Kim: 1 Hang Manh Street, Hoan Kiem.
- Bun Cha Huong Lien: 24 Le Van Huu Street, Hai Ba Trung. This place is where Anthony Bourdain and the President of the United States shared a table.

C - Cam on!

Means “Thank you!” in Vietnamese.

D - Dress conservatively

The same rule as in other Southeast Asia countries: you should leave your tank tops, shorts, and mini-skirts at the hotel when you visit temples and pagoda.  

tran-quoc-pagoda-hanoi

Tran Quoc Pagoda (Photo by 9636137 from Pixabay)

E - Eye contact

Young Hanoi women often avoid eye contact in talking with who are not the same sex. In their culture, looking into men’s eyes usually means an expression of deep passion.

F - Friendly local

You may see Hanoians are more reserved than their neighbors in Bangkok, but when you smile to them and start a conversation, they become very friendly and willing to help. Some people are even more enthusiastic than Thai people.

G - Giảng coffee

Humbly hidden in a small lane on a street of Hanoi, this shop is well-known for its Egg Coffee which is invented by Nguyen Giang in 1946 when he was working as a bartender for the 5-star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. A perfect hit of egg, sweetened condensed milk, and coffee that makes you want to come back every day you are in the city.  

Egg coffee - a special drink of Giang Coffee

Opening Hours: daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Address: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street. Hoan Kiem.

H - Hoan Kiem Lake

A beautiful lake and a historical site right in the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem lake connects the Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Island by an iconic wooden red-painted The Huc Bridge.  

Hoan Kiem Lake 

I - Imperial Citadel

An intriguing relic of Vietnam’s history and culture. It was built in the 11th century and had been the center of political power for 13 centuries without interruption. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Opening Hours: from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
Address: 19C Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh.

J - Jazz Club

There are some nice jazz clubs, but Binh Minh Jazz in the French Quarter is a lovely place to spend a night. From 9 pm, the club hosts live music performances by some of the finest jazz musicians in the city.  

Opening Hours: daily from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am.
Address: 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem.

K - KOTO Restaurant

KOTO is a cozy cafe-bar-restaurant serving brilliant Vietnamese dishes. It was started as a not-for-profit project providing career training and guidance to disadvantaged children and teens. Great location as well, just opposites the Temple of Literature.  

Opening Hours: daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Address: 59 Van Mieu Street, Dong Da.

L - La Siesta Spa

One of the best spa centers in Hanoi for relaxing and rejuvenating. It offers 5-star service and treatment at an affordable price (from $30US for 60-minute body massage).

Opening Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Address: 94 Ma May Street, Hoan Kiem.

M - Museum of Ethnology

The museum provides a deep look into the Vietnamese ethnic minority culture. It displays a lot of valued exhibits indoor and outdoor. It also offers puppet performances from 10:00 to 16:00 every day.  

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Address: Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay.

N - Nightlife

When the dark falls down, Hanoi comes alive in a different way. Give yourself a twist with a signature cocktail at some of the city’s best bars, or drink a cup of beer on Ta Hien Street which is widely regarded as the quintessential nightlife spot, you will see how enchanting the city is.  

 

Hanoi Ta Hien Street by night (Photo by Frida Aguilar Estrada on Unsplash)

Locations:
- Mad Botanist: 45 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem District. Open daily from 4 pm until midnight.
- The Alchemist Cocktail Bar: 2nd flr., 19 Nguyễn Quang Bích Street, Hà Nội. Open daily from 4 pm to midnight.
- Bia Hoi Conjunction: at the corner of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen streets.

O - Old Quarter

Known as the most glamorous attraction of the city, Old Quarter is filled with narrow streets, outdoor markets, bars, boutique hotels, and small shops.  

ta-hien-street-hanoi

Ta Hien Street

P - Pho

Elsewhere to taste the best bow of Pho than Hanoi, where gathers best Pho restaurants more than any other city in Vietnam? Pho is the most famous and delicious dish of this country, consisting of broth, rice noodles, chopped herbs, and beef.  

Locations:
- Pho Bat Dan: 49 Bat Dan Street, Hoan Kiem.
- Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su: 10 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem.
- Pho Thin: 13 Lo Duc Street, Hai Ba Trung.

Q - Quan Thanh Temple

Dated back to the 11th century, Quan Thanh is one of the four sacred temples of Hanoi. Its main attraction is a black bronze statue which is 13.0 ft in height, and 3,600 kilos in weight - a masterpiece of Vietnamese bronze casting and sculpture. Local people often rub the statue’s feet to wish luck.

Opening Hours: daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Address: Thanh Nien Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

R - Railway Street

Also known as Train Street, where people live and work along the track which is literally steps from their front door. There are local markets and small shops opening just 1 meter from the railroad. Children play and run on the track and get out temporarily when a train passes through twice a day.  

(Photo by Dave Weatherall on Unsplash)

Location: Between Le Duan and Kham Thien Street.

S - Smile

People in Hanoi are very hospitable. Go with a Smile! You will never know what a smile can do in this city: They will smile back to you, they will see you as their friend, and they will ready to help whenever you need (we all know that we always have some questions when we are in a strange city.)

T - Traffic

Traffic is a big problem in Hanoi. Millions of motorbikes are on the streets every day, honking without any reason. Be confident, walk slowly across the street, and don’t step back. With excellent driving skills, by somehow, the drivers will avoid you.  

(Photo by KatherineSlade from Pixabay)

U - Unique

is what Hanoi really is. This city attracts visitors by its ever-bustling streets, lovely small shops, unique coffee culture, mouthwatering dishes, and boutique restaurants that you can find every corner.

V - Van Mieu

Or you can call it the Temple of Literature. The first university of Vietnam was built in 1070 under the dynasty of Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. Its ancient architecture and precious relics have been well preserved through thousand years.  

Opening Hours: daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Address: Van Mieu Street, Dong Da District.

W - Water Puppet Show

A traditional performance of puppet dancing on the water. It’s dated back to the 11th century in ancient villages of Northern Vietnam. Nowadays, you can watch it at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.  

Opening Hours: Daily 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 & 20:00 Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District.

X - Xin Chao!

Mean “Hello” in Vietnamese. Say it with a smile, you’re welcome everywhere in Hanoi.

Y - Yellow

Although the French colonial period came to an end a long time ago, much of the French arts and deco style are still imprinted in the architecture of this city. You can find here and there elegant French colonial houses and buildings. They are all painted in yellow.  

The iconic Hanoi Opera House

The most stunning colonial architectures: - Hanoi Opera House: 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District. - National Museum of Vietnamese History: 214 Tran Quang Khai Street, Hoan Kiem District. - Presidential Palace: 2 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District.

Z - Zaika Indian Restaurant

A nice place for fans of Indian food in Hanoi. Your palate will be satisfied with their authentic Indian curries.

Opening Hours: Daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Address: 13 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem District. This incredible destination is waiting to be discovered. Where will you find yourself in your next vacation? Speak to a Travel Expert now. 

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