Two days in Hanoi is enough to see many attractions and eat a lot of delicious food. Here is how to space out your short time in this gorgeous cultural hub and capital of Vietnam.
The first day
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| Photo by Gary Cycles |
A Stroll in the Old Quarter: The best way to get acquainted with Hanoi is to go for a walk in the Old Quarter. This is the historical and commercial center of the capital and has been so for over a thousand years. The Old Quarter is made up of 16 streets that divide into many different alleyways, so it is best not to have any direction and just go where you think looks interesting. It is also best to explore the Old Quarter during the early hours of the day when the residents wake up and are just doing their morning activities—cleaning the streets, doing light exercises, setting up food stalls, walking children to school, heading to the market to buy veggies, sitting by the sidewalk eating breakfast and drinking coffee, etc. Grab yourself a banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich) and a ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee) and take your time to really take everything in. The motorbikes may be overwhelming at first, and if you want to cross the street and can’t see an opening, just raise your hand, pray to the gods, and go for it. The bikes will swerve around you.
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| Photo by shankar s. |
Do Some Shopping at Dong Xuan Market: When you’re in Hanoi, you really need to do some shopping. Be warned—your travel bag is going to get really heavy as you’re going to want to buy every colorful little trinket and piece of art you see. Not to mention the clothes, shoes and handbags. (Yes, this article is written by a girl.) Go with someone who is a little less impulsive than you, so they can prevent you from bartering your way through every stall spread out through the four floors. You can even find food here, so if the banh mi wasn’t filling, have some pho.
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| Photo by gregw66 |
Check Off Some Highlight Spots: Keep your day light by just ticking off two spots in the tourist itinerary and not overwhelming yourself. Head over to St. Josephs Cathedral, right at the center of the Old Quarter. The cathedral is an extremely photogenic building, and you can even join the local Catholic community for mass. Afterwards, check out Hoa Lo Prison, dubbed the Hanoi Hilton by the American prisoners of war who were held captive there. It was initially built during French colonial times to hold Vietnamese revolutionaries, and then it played a role during the Vietnamese War that followed. (This is the location of U.S. Senator John McCain’s incarceration when he was captured during the war.)
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| Photo by Larry |
Lunch time: Try Bun Cha for lunch. Bun cha is a well-known local food in Hanoi. It is made of grilled pork and noodle, often thought to have been originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. This dish is served with grilled fatty pork (cha) over a plate of white rice noodle (bun) and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce/broth. Listed in top 7 specialties of Hanoi street food, the available density of Bun cha Hanoi is so great that you can easily find a Bun cha everywhere.
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| Photo by Gryffindor |
Thang Long Water Puppet Show: Make your way over to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater to catch their show. The puppets and puppeteers depict various stories from Vietnamese history and mythology through 17 short skits that are bound to keep you entertained. There is a lot of laughter and beautiful traditional music that accompanies the show. Make sure to book early because tickets run out fast.
The second day
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| Photo by David McKelvey |
A Morning Pho and Egg Coffee: You have to start your morning with pho like the locals do. Head over to Pho Gia Truyen on 49 Bat Dan Street for the best pho you will ever have. For coffee, another must is Giang Café. Here, they serve the original and best egg coffee in Vietnam, and you can ask the barista for the story behind it. It is interesting to listen to while you sip your cup of frothy goodness.
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| Photo by Kontrollstellekundl |
More Tourist Spots: After your breakfast, head over to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This closes at 11:30 a.m. for lunch, so make sure you plan your time well. Inside, in a glass case, lies the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, or Uncle Ho as the locals lovingly refer to him. The Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader, is also in the same complex, so you can tick them both off at once.
Next, head over to One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. It is just as the name says—the pagoda rises from one pillar in the center of an elegant lotus pond. The garden surrounding it is also extremely tranquil, and the whole location is very photogenic.
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| Photo by Ruud |
Lastly, visit the Temple of Literature, which actually is not as the name says—this is not a temple, but was Vietnam’s first university. This is a superb example of traditional Vietnamese architecture and will be a great end to the first half of your day.
Hoan Kiem Lake: After lunch and a good rest, head over to Hoan Kiem Lake as the sun is about to set. This lake is right by the Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem Distrct) and makes for a great evening stroll where you will catch a glimpse of what locals like to do in the evening, other than eat and drink coffee. In the middle of the lake is Ngoc Son Pagoda, which is connected by a beautiful red bridge. You will be able to capture some beautiful photos. The lake is also famous for turtles, and it is said that it’s good luck if you spot one.
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| Photo by avlxyz |
Delicious Cha Ca La Vong for Dinner: It is not often that you get a chance to dine in a 100-year old restaurant during your travels. Cha Ca La Vong is a legendary institution in Hanoi, Vietnam, world famous for its one and only dish of grilled fish (which translates to cha ca in Vietnamese), oftentimes served briskly and with little ceremony.
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| Photo by Greg Willis |
Back to the Old Quarter: Lastly, to say goodbye to the beautiful capital, end your night at the Old Quarter, just like you began. You can shop for some final souvenirs and then grab a few drinks at the backpacker street. Beer will cost you as little as USD$0.50 over here, so take it easy.
Hanoi may be a big bustling metropolis but I also found it to be endearing and full of character. I like it which felt more like your typical modern Southeast Asian city. Hanoi, at least in some pockets, feels like a throwback town. It isn’t as transportive perhaps as a George Town in Penang, but it will take you places if you let it.
