Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and known for it's busy Old Quarter filled with anything you can think of to shop for and it's old architecture. We had a limited amount of time in Vietnam and wanted to see all sides of what this country has to offer. Hanoi was a city I kept seeing come up in my research and got drawn in by how diverse it is. It's a city you can explore for days and also a great hub to venture out into other parts of Northern Vietnam. Here are my tips on where to stay and what to do with your time in this energetic city. Want the full itinerary? Check that out here!
Getting There
We flew from Chiang Mai into Hanoi, which took an hour and a half and cost $130 per ticket. With it being the capital it has a large international airport and there are lots of options from other cities in Vietnam. If you want are exploring Southern Vietnam or want to fly in from another city, Expedia or 12GoAsia are great places to see what your options are.
Where to Stay
The Hanoi Old Quarter is what the city is known for and is a very unique experience. While at times it was exhausting, it was really fun to sit, have a drink and watch how the chaos just flows. It is walkable and you could get lost in the maze of narrow streets with any kind of shop imaginable. If you want to stay a bit out of the hustle and bustle, the French Quarter is very close and is a bit quieter.
The hotel we stayed at was absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend enjoying the Moonlight Rooftop Bar and book a spa service. There is nothing like a Vietnamese massage. The La Siesta also had an amazing breakfast buffet with fresh fruit, pho, and delicious breads from the French influence in their cuisine. I also have to shout out a service they provide, our concierge added me on What's App and sent lots of food recommendations, helped us with our bus up to Sa Pa booking, and even followed up a few days into our stay in Sa Pa to see how it was going. I really appreciated how nice everyone at this hotel was. *Note that we discovered while walking back to the hotel, there are 2 locations. We stayed at the Ma May location. The Hang Thung looked really nice as well. You can't go wrong with these properties.
When to Go
We arrived in Hanoi in late November. It was a bit rainy, but it was a comfortable temperature. We were able to wear t-shirts during the day and a light jacket at night. In the Old Quarter they have a holiday street where they celebrate every holiday and sell every type of trinket you can think of related to the holiday. While we were there it was set-up as Christmas street and it was out of control. If you are a Christmas fan, I think this would be your favorite part of Hanoi.
What to Do
Hanoi is a huge city and there is a lot to chose from there are also lots of day trips you can do. As you walk around you will see lots of travel agent shops that can help you book these excursions. A lot of people will also recommend train street. It's definitely the most Instagrammed spot in the city. Our hotel let us know that tourists are no longer allowed there. You can sneak in or just see it from the outside. We weren't really into the idea of sneaking in, so we just decided to walk the street of Old Quarter and shop. Here are my other recommendations:
Explore Old Quarter & Shop
There are so many shops and you can negotiate at least 40% down from what the listed price is. We were able to get Nikes for $20 and Ray Bans for $5. These are knock offs, but honestly, I can't tell the difference and Vietnam is where those products are made. We also bought Kopi Luwak coffee. This is a highly sought after coffee and is very expensive in the US but quite cheaper in Vietnam where it is made. The way it is made is a civet partially digests the coffee bean by eating the cherries. The beans are cleaned and processed. Because the bean goes through a digestive track it is said to take the bitterness out of coffee. I have tried it, and I can attest that it is true. It is really good coffee. It does not smell the best being brewed, but the taste is smooth.
Eat Street Food
One of the things I loved about Hanoi is everyone sits down on the sidewalk and eats pho or fried noodle dishes. It's simple food but so good and cheap! I was also able to find another rare fruit, Durian. It's a foodie's dream to try the fruit that everyone is so controversial about. Hotel rooms even warned against bringing it into your room. You would get a fine. Of course, I was on the hunt! This I can also attest to was super stinky, but tasted super good. The smell wasn't like stinky feet to me, it was more like gasoline, which was really interesting when trying to eat it. But as soon as it hit my tongue I was in heaven.
Go to a Rooftop Bar
It is another city from a birds eye view. You still hear the constant beeping from motorbikes, but sitting with a great cocktail and looking at the skyline is actually kind of peaceful. There are SO many rooftop bars in Hanoi. I don't think you can go wrong, but I do have to shout out the Moonlight Bar at our hotel, they made one of the best gin cocktails I have had in a long time. It was refreshing with the use of lemongrass and presented perfectly with smoldering thyme. I am on a mission to recreate it.
If I were to change anything about our time in Hanoi, I wish we could have done a day trip to Ha Long Bay but the weather wasn't the best. I really enjoyed seeing a large city in South East Asia. It is such an energy I can't describe and was something I'll never forget. Check out my Northern Vietnam Travel Tips and what we did in Sa Pa. Get the full detailed itinerary here.