Hanoi sprawls along the banks of the Red River, which is spanned by two
bridges - Long Bien and Chuong Duong. The Hanoi is proud to be residents of a city
of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks.
Over thousand years of its eventful history,
Hanoi still preserves much ancient architecture throughout the Old Quarter,
over 600 pagodas and temples, reminding of the city's rich cultural heritage.
What to Do ?
Highlights of
Hanoi are strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and to Hochiminh
Complex with nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Other famous sites are the Temple of Literature,
the Opera House (especially if can catch a live performance) and the Museum of Ethnology.
From
Hanoi, it is possible to take day trips to nearby handicraft villages such
as the Bat Trang pottery village, the Van Phuc silk village or well-known destinations
of Tam Coc or the
Perfume Pagoda.
Hanoi is also a good base for excursions to Ha Long Bay
and to Sa Pa as well as the northern mountains where you can sample life in rural
Vietnam.
When to go?
The best time to visit is during the autumn months from September to November or
the spring (March and April) for their milder temperatures and pleasant weather.
The winters in
Hanoi can get colder and damper than expected with temperatures reaching
12-15ºC. Summer temperatures tend to hover around 30°C -35ºC. Hanoi has high humidity
year-round. The rainy season in Hanoi lasts from May to September but the rain is
not consistent and does not usually interrupt travel or ruin a visit.
Travel Tips:
The road condition in
Hanoi is dramatically crowded due to thousands of bicycles, motorbikes along
the way. Thus, taxi, cyclo and car with
HanoiVietnamese driver are the best way to travel around Hanoi. There are
reliable taxi companies operating within the city and they are all metered including
Airport Taxis,
Hanoi Taxi and Mai Linh Taxi. Cyclos often wait outside hotels and restaurants
and a fare should be negotiated to your destination before setting off. If you are
confident on a motorbike, it is possible to rent them from shops around the Old
Quarter. You will need an international driving permit and a helmet. But it is recommended
to be slowly and watch out when you are out of the street.
