Established over a millennium ago as Thăng Long, Hanoi has weathered centuries of imperial rule, French colonialism, and the ravages of war. Today, Vietnam’s bustling capital blends this ancient soul with rapid modern development. For tourists, exploring the narrow alleyways of the historic Old Quarter and tasting world-famous street food are absolute must-do experiences.
Whether you’re sipping egg coffee or marveling at French colonial architecture, navigating the city’s rich past is unforgettable. Plan your walking tour of Hanoi with this guide.
On my tour with G-Adventures, we only had a few afternoons in Hanoi, as we used the Northern Vietnam City as hub for trips to Ha Long Bay and Mai Chau. Consequently, I added an extra day to my itinerary to explore the Soaring Dragon City.
In This Guide
Where to Stay in Hanoi
Overall, I spent two nights in Hanoi at the 3 star Hong Ha Hotel. While it provided a nice buffet breakfast on the 6th,floor the rooms were somewhat generic and felt slightly soviet relative to the A25 Hotel we stayed in during our Ho Chi Minh City visit.
In fact, we were supposed to stay in the A25 – 23 Quan Thanh while in Hanoi but had a last-minute change. I feel like the A25 Hotel, also 3-star, is a little nicer and more conveniently located between the Old Quarter and some of the other main attractions in Hanoi.
Places to Eat in Hanoi
Having said that, Hong Ha Hotel is just a 10-minute walk from an excellent restaurant called Hanoi Food Culture. The quaint establishment, tucked in an alley serves a variety of dishes and provides excellent service. I loved the atmosphere and the food, and I’m grateful for our guide, Chris, recommending it. With 4.9 stars on Google, you can’t go wrong.
We held the farewell dinner for our group at Nha Hang Little Hanoi. It can accommodate large parties, and based on all the notes and pictures under the glass of the tables, lots of groups come here. The restaurant offers all sorts of Vietnamese cuisine.
Take a Food Tour
A small group of us also took a food tour in Hanoi. This was a real treat as the local guide showed us much more than just places to eat. We learned that the buildings are tall and narrow because taxes are charged based on the square footage of the first floor.
We also learned that locals make offerings to their ancestors once a month by burning paper money in a pot on the street.
Finally, just like Americans, the Vietnamese cannot drink the water either, so we could eat just about anywhere since they use filtered water to wash the food. Some of the food stalls we visited, I would have never chosen on my own.
The first place we stopped, we tried the crispy pancakes with shrimp. We made a lettuce wrap with them and dipped them in a tangy sauce as we sat on tiny chairs crammed around a small table. The restaurant, whose owner and chef cooked the pancakes on a grill in front of the open-air seating, was so narrow that one person in our group of five had to join people at another table!
Next we visited a Michelin selected food stall called Bun Cha Dac Kim. We actually ate at the stall across the street, but it is owned by the same people. Since Vietnamese families live above their business, it felt legit, so if Bun Cha Dac Kim is too busy, then go across the street to enjoy the absolute best Bun Cha in Hanoi.
It is similar to pho, but instead of a broth, they put cooked pork, noodles, and herbs into a bowl of “dipping sauce.” It was outstanding and ended up being my favorite dish in Vietnam. I’ll be ordering Bun Cha when I get back to the states!
After passing the narrowest house in Hanoi, we visited Bami Bread which is a chain that makes sandwiches, similar to Subway in the USA. You choose your meat, veggies, and spices from the display, and they make the sandwich. It was good to know about Bami Bread for times when we were on the go.
We sat in mini chairs lining the wall. Hanoi is cracking down on restaurants who put chairs on the sidewalks so there is room to walk. But I don’t know, most the sidewalks seem like parking lots for cars and mopeds.
Next we visited a dessert shop called Che ngon 93. I would have never set foot in this place, but man was it popular! The picture menu many included pages of desserts. Fortunately, our guide narrowed down the choices for us. Most of us got coconut ice cream, mango, or durian dessert.
We ended the night in a lovely coffee shop, Hanoi Coffee Culture, with lots of atmosphere. Hanoi is famous for egg coffee, so I’d recommend trying that. I know it sounds terrible, but it is delicious. The egg is whipped in condensed milk.
Anyway, I had it in Hoi An, and I tried coconut coffee at a rest stop on the way to Ha Long Bay, so this time I tried the salt coffee. ICK! As the name suggests, it tastes like salt. With low blood pressure, I salt just about everything, but salt coffee was not for me.
I recommend doing the food tour the first night you are in Hanoi, that way your learn a lot about the customs and the foods immediatel,y and you can venture out on your own exploring the not to be missed Train Street and Beer Street.
Try a Coffee on Train Street
Train Street is similar to the train markets in Thailand except for instead of market vendors having to move their items from the tracks as the train comes through, restaurant patrons need to huddle near the walls of the cozy cafes and watch their knees!
Colorful homes and charming cafes line the narrow alleyway which attract mobs of visitors around the train schedule as its close passage, just inches away, creates a thrilling spectacle and exciting IG op.
For a quaint experience go in the morning. There is hardly anyone around and all the vibrant signs and decorations coupled with old world charm are a photographer’s dream. For a more lively experience go later in the day or evening as Train Street gets busier throughout the day.
The train schedules sometimes change, but in general it is best to go sip a coffee or grab a snack 30 minutes before the scheduled arrival in order to find a seat. This was probably my favorite spot in Hanoi. I visited twice.
Monday-Friday: 8:30, 9:30, 11:50, 3:15, 7:50, 9:15, 9:30, 10
Saturday-Sunday: 6:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:50, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 7:50, 9:15, 9:30, 10.
Sip Some Suds on Beer Street
Not far from Train Street is another extremely popular destination in Hanoi called Beer Street (Ta Hien Street). Nestled in the bustling heart of the Old Quarter, Ta Hien Beer Street is Hanoi’s ultimate nightlife hotspot where locals and travelers sip the city’s legendary draft beer. Paired with sizzling street food and spontaneous live music, this vibrant area draws crowds nightly.
Explore the Old Quarter
In addition to Train Street and Beer Street, stroll the rest of the Old Quarter, a mix of architecture, nature, and culture. A few sights include Hanoi Opera House, St. Joseph Cathedral, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Hoa Lo Prison.
Visit Hoa Lo Prison
As an American, I was particularly interested in seeing the Hoa Lo Prison, often referred to the Hanoi Hilton by American POWs in the Vietnam War. During my visit, some of it was under construction, but I was still able to see some prison cells as well as many photographic displays.
After hearing horrors of torture in the prison, I was surprised to see pictures of POW’s celebrating Christmas and playing volleyball with captions stating how well the prisoners were treated.
Outside the Old Quarter
Northwest of the Old Quarter, there are many more attractions. I thought I could just walk to all of them, but the heat coupled with the miles wore me out after a while. Grab, like Uber in the USA, is a good alternative to walking when you need a lift in a car or on a moto. Additionally, I didn’t do enough research and some of these places had long lines for entry in the afternoon.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
By the time I showed up, I basically botched the chance to see Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Mobs of patrons filtered through the roped off lines in the highly protected area. I definitely recommend planning an early morning visit.
Ba Dinh Square
I settled for walking around the large complex while admiring the Ba Dinh Square and the Presidential Palace. Ba Dinh Square, a giant green space, is where President Ho declared independence of Vietnam in 1945. It is also where thousands gathered to mourn Ho Chi Minh’s death 24 years later.
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace is a yellow, three story French Colonial structure built in 1900. Today it is used as a guest house and reception facility for foreign dignitaries.
Flag Tower of Hanoi
Another historic site is the Flag Tower of Hanoi, a world heritage site. The 200-year-old tower is one of the few monuments that French colonists did not destroy. It also survived the American bombing during the Vietnam War. Visitors may climb to the top for views of Hanoi.
These are just a few highlights of Hanoi. To see more historic sites, use the free walking tours on GPSMyCity. The app provides detailed information on each site and an offline GPS guided map, thus cellular data is not used.
Bike Ride in Hanoi
In addition to exploring the city by foot, we took a bike riding tour. I’m not sure I’d recommend this. It starts by going through a trash dump and then weaves through fruit orchards overlooking the city. It also requires you to carry your bike upstairs to join the stream of mopeds on the bridge. It is an adventure for sure, but our group preferred our ride in Hoi An the best.
I was pretty worn out by the end of our fast-moving G-Adventure tour of Vietnam, so I likely didn’t do Hanoi justice. The honking motorbikes and frenzied pace of the city felt rather chaotic after our quiet time in Mai Chau. But overall, I’m glad we visited Hanoi, and I enjoyed many amazing places in Vietnam. ETB
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