Hanoi is known as an ancient city with a 1000-year history, unique museums, ancient pagodas, and attractive French-colonial architecture. Therefore, when traveling to Hanoi, visitors will be immensely impressed by the fascinating cultural values of this capital city. If you’re looking for some memorable experiences here, let's enjoy the Top 10 best things to do in Hanoi with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this article, you can learn detailed information about these activities below.

Wandering in Hanoi Old Quarter

On top of things to do in Hanoi is exploring the Hanoi Old Quarter. It is also known as the 36-street ward, a unique old town in Vietnam located in the Hoan Kiem district. It is still preserving well traditional houses, cultural and historical works, and the architectural styles from the 19th century. Tourists can wander around Hanoi Old Quarter both day and night to fully explore its beauty. 

Wandering in Hanoi Old Quarter

This street is full of kids' toys and decor stuff; the other street is full of shoes, clothes, etc. Each street sells a commodity. If you come here at rush time, you will have a “weird” but joyful experience. On the sidewalk are chattering voices by the stalls, motorbikes parked, and small dogs running around. You will always have to be ready to avoid the flow of people and vehicles on the road. 

Especially, it will be even more enjoyable to wander around the Hanoi Old Quarter in Autumn. The nice weather, beautiful yellow leaves, and a faint scent of milk flowers in the air will make you love life more than ever. Walking through Hanoi's Old Quarter in Autumn is one of the things to do in Hanoi that you would love to try.

Lastly, don’t forget to taste some Hanoi dishes. Hanoi Old Quarter is a paradise for food lovers!

Trying Egg Coffee

Many visitors are surprised to know about Hanoi's egg coffee. Let’s note it in your Things to do in Hanoi list now. Traditionally prepared with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and robusta coffee, a small cup of egg coffee will fascinate visitors with a special taste.  It is not too sweet or bitter or fishy. The greasy flavor of the whisked egg blending with rich coffee is what you need to start a new day in this city.

Hanoi egg coffee

Foreign tourists to Hanoi often come to Giang, Dinh, Lam, or Old Town Cafe to enjoy a little aftertaste of old Hanoi. A cup of Egg Coffee is from VND 20,000 to VND 60,000, depending on the coffee shop you choose. Here is the list of places to taste Egg Coffee in the Hanoi Old Quarter.

Dinh Café 

• Address: 2nd Floor, 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 7 a.m -9.30 p.m Monday - Sunday

Giang Cafe

• Address: 39 (lane) Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 7 a.m - 10.30 p.m Monday - Sunday

Old Town Cafe (Cafe Phố Cổ)

• Address:11 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 8 a.m - 11 p.m Monday - Sunday

LACAFE’

• Address: 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 7 a.m - 11 p.m Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m - 12 a.m Friday - Sunday

Drinking Beer in Ta Hien Street

Among the best things to do in Hanoi, Ta Hien Street is a must-go place for you to explore the Hanoi nightlife. Ta Hien is a crossroads between Asian and Eastern cultures, bringing both modern life and ancient features.

It is a cool spot to hang out with Hanoians and international visitors to enjoy beer and meet friends. Sitting and sipping a little beer, chatting with friends, and listening to music will make you forget all your troubles. Meanwhile, other people would like to sit in the corner, watch daily life, and enjoy that comfortable atmosphere.

Ta Hien Street at night

Food in Ta Hien is a great combination when drinking with fresh cold beers. They are simple street foods like Vietnamese bread, Nem Chua, boiled peanuts, noodles, etc. The prices of beer and food are generally low. After a long day exploring Hanoi, it would be a perfect relaxing night when you stop here and have some beer.

Having a cup of coffee in Hanoi Train Street

Having a cup of coffee on Hanoi Train Street is also among the things to do in Hanoi you may not want to miss. Hanoi Train Street is located in the heart of Hanoi, passing through many streets, such as Le Duan, Dien Bien Phu, Phung Hung, etc. Coming here, you will be fascinated by the architecture's simple beauty with the mix of deep and bright colors of old and new houses.

Along the railway route, there are many pit stops for you to enjoy the scene of the train passing by. However, the most famous pit stop is in lane 224 on Le Duan Street, in which you can find many small bars and cafes to see the train. While in the daytime, especially from 03.00 p.m., the street is crowded with tourists waiting to take photos of the running train, it is more tranquil at night. 

Hanoi Train Street

Let's come here and have your own experience!

Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake early morning

Hoan Kiem Lake (also known as Sword Lake) is the heart of Hanoi. It is not only a cultural and historical symbol of the capital but also a favorite destination for tourists when traveling to Hanoi.

Notably, Sword Lake is the best place to start a new day. In the early morning, the streets still have little traffic. Various sports activities are taking place around the lake.

Coming here in the early morning, you can watch the natural scenery at dawn and enjoy the fresh air while taking a morning walk. Besides, you can try to join groups of nourishing exercise, aerobics, soccer, etc. You will see that the people here are very friendly and lovely. That would be a fun experience! Put it on your list of things to do in Hanoi now.

Local people doing exercises in Hoan Kiem Lake in the early morning

Watching the sunset at West Lake

The afternoon is a great time to watch the sunset on West Lake and take a relaxing walk after the working day. Particularly, this place is a favorite destination for young people and couples.

Sunset falls, making the surface of West Lake sparkle brilliantly in the sunset light. The sparkling beauty of the lake's surface makes people really stunned. You can just feel the cool breezes, enjoy a drink, chat with friends, and watch the sunset. Besides, you can also ride a bike or walk along the lake to see West Lake’s beauty and local life.

Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

• Address: 2 Hung Vuong Street, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Open hours: 

Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum should be on your list of things to do in Hanoi. Located on Hung Vuong - Dien Bien Street, this is the place to keep the body of President Ho Chi Minh. Hence, you should pay attention to dress properly when visiting this place.

Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Moreover, there is Ba Dinh Square, where the Ho Chi Minh President read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. You can also visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which holds memorabilia about Ho Chi Minh, One Pillar Pagoda, Uncle Ho’s stilt house, and the fish pond. It is a significant sightseeing place that everyone going to Hanoi wants to see once.

Exploring the back streets of Hanoi

It will be an exciting exploration of the small streets of Hanoi. In addition to famous tourist attractions, you should also experience daily life in Hanoi. Some recommended places for you are Hom Market, Gioi Market, Ngoc Ha Village, Huu Tiep Lake, train street cafe, etc. Let's explore the detailed information of each place as below.

Hom Market (chợ Hôm) & Gioi Market (Chợ Giời)

Hom Market (chợ Hôm) is one of the oldest markets in Hanoi. Besides, Gioi Market has long been a famous market specializing in selling "a mixture" of electronic and mechanical products from old antiques to new items of all kinds. 

Huu Tiep Lake (Hồ Hữu Tiệp)

Huu Tiep Lake (Hồ Hữu Tiệp) is located in Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh district. This place also preserves the wreckage of a B52 aircraft shot down in the sky of Hanoi during the 12 days and nights of the campaign "Dien Bien Phu in the air" in 1972. It is a testament to the courageous spirit. The place has been recognized by the State as a national historic site, attracting a large number of tourists. 

Huu Tiep Lake

All those places are still not familiar to most tourists, so for the best experience, you might need an experienced local guide. Let's contact us for more detailed information!

Shopping at traditional markets

The next experience in our Best Things to do in Hanoi list is shopping but in traditional markets. Yes, you didn't get it wrong. Not the luxury shopping centers, traditional markets are the destination you must try in Hanoi. Top choices can include Dong Xuan Market, Quang Ba Flower Market, and Long Bien wholesale market.

Dong Xuan Market

• Address:  15 Cau Dong street, Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except for Tet holidays

Built by a French company in 1980, Dong Xuan Market is one of Hanoi’s biggest markets. It is a unique building, typical of French architecture. Inside the market, you can find all daily goods, local handicrafts to specialties. Tourists can also practice bargaining here due to inflated prices. 

Quang Ba Flower Market

• Address:  236 Au Co Street, Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round, except for Tet holidays

Quang Ba Flower Market is Hanoi’s main marketplace for fresh-cut flowers. It is open all night, but the most crowded is around 3-4 a.m. Visiting Quang Ba night flower market, people would have a strange but fantastic experience. 

Long Bien Market

• Address: 189 Hong Ha street, Phuc Xa, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi 
• Open hours: 12 a.m - 6 a.m daily, except for Tet holidays

Located right at Long Bien Bridge’s foot, Long Bien is a big wholesale market in Hanoi. It is bustling all year round with seafood products, food for cattle, poultry, vegetables, etc., but is most famous as a fruit wholesale market. Obviously, this is not the place where tourists go for souvenir shopping. But this is a part of the appeal; let’s experience and soak up the atmosphere.

Visit Long Bien Bridge and Banana Island

For an overview of Long Bien Market, you can head up to Long Bien Bridge. You can travel by motorbike or bicycle on the bridge. There is also a raised concrete path on the far edge of the bridge for pedestrians to walk and enjoy the breeze with a city view. That experience is one of the top things to do in Hanoi you should try once.

Long Bien Bridge is also an excellent place for you to watch the sunrise and sunset. In Autumn, sunset will start earlier, so you should get to the bridge between 05.00 p.m. - 06.00 p.m. In summer, from 06.00 p.m. - 06.30 p.m., sunset will begin to fall. Especially during the sunset viewing time, from 06.00 p.m. to 06:30 p.m., there will be a train passing. You will feel like the train is disappearing in the sunset. 

Long Bien Bridge

From Long Bien Bridge, there is a pedestrian staircase, and that is also the road leading to Banana Island. This is the last destination in our Top things to do on the Hanoi list. A whole green banana field appears in your eyes. Every tree is tall, leaves spread out, making the road familiar and simple as if you were in an old Vietnamese village. 

The people living in the area are very hospitable and friendly. They will not hesitate to invite guests to come over and eat some sweet bananas or star fruits in their garden. 

Sunset in the Banana Island

Above all, Hanoi is always one of the hottest tourist spots in Vietnam. You will have numerous things you want to explore when traveling there. The article has just given you some exciting things to do in Hanoi. Hopefully, that information can help you have a fun and wonderful trip. For further things to know before traveling to Hanoi, please refer to our blog post here: Hanoi travel guide. If you don’t know where to begin, please contact the Handspan team for a dream tour to Hanoi.