Old Quarter
Ideal for: first visit, solo
The historic heart with its trading streets, very lively day and night.
Hanoi
Trading streets, lakes and street food: Vietnam's lively capital.
Plan your stay in Hanoi
Best areas to stay in Hanoi
Around Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter
Ideal for: couples, comfort
Wider avenues, colonial-era buildings and lakeside walks.
West Lake (Tây Hồ)
Ideal for: quiet stays, long stays
More residential, with cafés and restaurants by the water.
Practical info about Hanoi
Scooter traffic is dense: to cross the street, walk slowly and steadily. The centre is walkable, and ride-hailing apps are handy for longer trips.
Hanoi is the starting point for trips to Ha Long Bay. Check entry requirements for Vietnam before you go, as well as your mobile plan (a travel eSIM can help).
What to see in Hanoi
- The Old Quarter and its trading streets;
- Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple;
- the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university;
- street food: phở, bún chả, egg coffee;
- day trips: Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh.
All our tips, including entry rules, in Travel in Vietnam.