Must-Do’s During One Week in Hanoi
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a complex of historic buildings, built in the 11th century by the Vietnamese Ly dynasty.
Located in the heart of the city, it’s easy to reach by walking and entry will cost 30,000 VND.
The main gate and the Hanoi flag tower are two of the highlights. Plus there’s also a museum and underground meeting rooms you can visit. Those rooms were used for planning during the Vietnam war.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Water puppet theatre has been around since 1969. This wasn’t originally on my list of things to do in Hanoi until a friend mentioned it to me. And, I figured if she liked it I should give it a go.
I’m so glad I went as this was such a beautiful cultural experience and also very unique. The narration is in Vietnamese, so I couldn’t exactly follow along but I got the gist of the storyline and always stayed entertained by the traditional music and all the colourful puppets.
Tickets for the shows should be purchased in advance from the theatre, which is located next to Hoan Kiem lake. The ticket prices cost between 100,000 – 200,000 VND, the most expensive seats are closer to the stage.
I purchased seats in the middle section of the theatre, although this was reasonably close to the stage, the theatre isn’t on much of a slant, so being short I saw a lot of the back of people’s heads. So depending on your height it may be worth paying extra and getting seats up the front.
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake is the most relaxing place you will find in Hanoi. And, it’s located right in the middle of the city, making it easy to stop by at any time of day.
This freshwater lake is somewhat of a mythical place for locals, I had read that since their school days they learn stories about the most revered heroes, a giant turtle, and a magic sword in Hoan Kiem Lake.
Also, the roads surrounding the lake are closed every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. So people can walk with ease, and during my time in Hanoi, there were also a number of markets set up around the lake.
At the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, there’s a beautiful red bridge (called Cau The Huc) connecting to Ngoc Son Temple. This is actually the most visited temple in Hanoi and entry will cost 30,000VND.
Explore Old Quarter on Foot
Soak up the best Vietnamese culture by exploring Old Quarter on foot. This is the best way to explore the area and take in all it has to offer. This cramped area has all the best bits of Hanoi, such as food, nightlife and original architecture.
But if exploring by foot and weaving through the traffic & narrow streets isn’t an option for you. There are plenty of local rickshaw drivers that could take you around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The price would depend on how long you want to be gone, just make sure you haggle for a price you’re both happy with.
Best Food in Hanoi
Eating while in Hanoi should go without saying but make sure you try a number of different restaurants while in the city. It’s all so delicious, one of my favourite things about Vietnam was how diverse the food in each region is. Some of the most authentic things to try in Hanoi are; Pho, Bun Cha, Egg Coffee, Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls), Sticky Rice and Banh Mi.
One of the most popular places in Hanoi for a Banh Mi is Banh Mi 25. This restaurant is very popular with tourists, so the prices are slightly higher but they make the best Vegan Banh Mi.
And two other Vegan restaurants to try during your one week in Hanoi are Huong Viet and Banh My Vegan.
One of the unique things about dishes in Vietnam is they often come with multiple plates and it’s hard to know what to dip in what or what to wrap in what. So a way to solve that problem is by joining a food tour with a local who will explain everything.