Hanoi holidays

The pulse has quickened in Vietnam’s capital. What was once a place of politicians and bureaucrats has bloomed into a hotbed of urban activity. Holidays to Hanoi embrace the city’s charms, where grand cathedrals and temples jostle for space with designer boutiques and centuries-old markets. Our advice? Surrender to the sights, smells and sounds of this chaotic city, but leave room for seconds. Hanoi has the best street food in Southeast Asia.

Hanoi holiday highlights

Hanoi

Historic Hanoi

Walk through the 11th-century Temple of Literature filled with statues, gardens and pavilions. Explore the narrow alleys and century-old shops in the Old Quarter and light incense in Bach Ma Temple, which is more than 1,000 years old. Use your holiday in Hanoi to test your bargaining skills in Dong Xuan Market.

A food-lover’s city

If you've found good travel deals to Hanoi, stretch your budget even further with street food treats at Dong Xuan or Vinh Ho Markets. Taste traditional Vietnamese dishes like ‘pho’ (rice noodle soup), ‘banh mi’ (baguette sandwiches) and ‘banh xeo’ (Vietnamese pancakes). For fine dining and Vietnamese fusion dishes, make reservations at Khue Restaurant or JW Cafe. 

Peaceful escapes

Relax in admission-free green spaces during cheap holidays to Hanoi. Walk or pedal around Hoan Kiem Lake, then cross the bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on a small island. Also, spend time in the Botanical Garden at Bach Thao or Cau Giay Park to see local flora.

Hanoi: Know before you go

Language

Vietnamese

Currency

Vietnamese dong (₫)

Time zone

UTC+7 (ICT)

High season

June - July, January - February

Low season

September - October

Find the best time to go to Hanoi

Weather in Hanoi

February – April: The Lunar New Year kicks off spring with warm, dry days. It’s the perfect season for exploring the city on foot or bike.

May – August: Summers are hot and humid, with a chance of thunderstorms. Outdoor activities are best done in the early mornings before escaping to an air-conditioned attraction. Come evening, you’ll usually be gifted with a cool breeze.

September – November: The heat and humidity ease up in autumn. The days are warm and sunny, and the crowds have thinned.

December – January: Winter nights can be chilly, though temperatures rarely drop below 10°C. Fog adds to the city’s quiet atmosphere during the low season.

Events in Hanoi

Perfume Pagoda Festival (February to April): Join thousands of pilgrims as they make their way to the Perfume Pagoda to ask for blessings. A scenic boat ride and a short hike take you to the sacred pagoda, where you’ll find traditional processions and performances.

Gióng Festival (May): Honour the life of the warrior Saint Gióng at Phu Dong temple, where Gióng’s most famous battles are recreated for the crowd. Music and traditional folk games keep the celebrations lively.

Mid-Autumn Festival (October): Feast on mooncakes flavoured with lotus seeds and bean paste at this harvest festival. Children parade through the streets with brightly coloured paper lanterns while acrobatic lion dancers delight the crowds.

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The best neighbourhoods in Hanoi

Ba Dinh

Ba Dinh is the best place to stay in Hanoi for museums and temples. Learn about the man who led Vietnam’s independence movement at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Then, see the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century temple and UNESCO World Heritage site. If you're an art lover, stop at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum to catch both modern works and historical artefacts.

Good for: Temples, history, art

Tay Ho

Tay Ho District is the best neighbourhood to stay in Hanoi for peaceful settings. Take leisurely hikes along the waterfront promenade, stopping for a bite at Sunset Westlake Restaurant. Float down the lazy river at Ho Tay Water Park. In the evening, drink cocktails with expats at Xuan Dieu Street or try popular nightclubs like Moonlight Sky Bar and The Alchemist.

Good for: Lakeside, expat community, nightlife

Aerial view of Hoi An Ancient Town with lantern boats on Hoai river, in Hoi An, Vietnam, south east asia

Hoan Kiem

Hoan Kiem District is where to stay in Hanoi for urban settings and culture. Visit the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to see unique puppet shows. Enjoy a coffee at a lakeside cafe and marvel at the architecture of St Joseph’s Cathedral. Then, take a cyclo (pedicab) tour around the Old Quarter area.

Good for: Architecture, tours, cafes

Things to do in Hanoi

Hanoi

Family friendly things to do

A visit to Hanoi Zoo in Thu Le Park is one of the most popular things to do with family in Hanoi. See Southeast Asian animals and ride pedal boats across a pond. Walk through replicas of traditional village houses at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and ride slides and roller coasters at West Lake Water Park.

Shopping

Enjoy the busy atmosphere at the Old Town Night Market on weekends. The three-storey Dong Xuan Market has thousands of vendors (who expect you to bargain). For air-conditioned shopping in Hanoi, head to Aeon Mall Long Bien, home to both Vietnamese and international retailers. Visit the Nguyen Art Gallery to find paintings and handicrafts from local artisans.  

Take in the culture

Museums in Hanoi explore the city's history, culture and nature. Wander the living history exhibits at Duong Lam Ancient Village or see artefacts from the city's past at the Hanoi Museum. Learn about wildlife at the Vietnam National Museum of Nature. For a look into the lives of Vietnam's poets and writers, stop by the Vietnam Museum of Literature.

Nightlife

The Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho Districts are the centres of nightlife in Hanoi. Sip craft cocktails at Northern Soul or hear DJs at King Pirates Pub. CLU Cocktail Bar offers a romantic setting for a date night. You'll find low-cost beers on Ta Hien Street near Hoan Kiem Lake. 

Places to eat

The Old Quarter is home to the best street food restaurants in Hanoi. Visit Banh Mi 25 for traditional sandwiches and Bun Cha Ta for Hanoi-style pork noodle soup. Find modern Vietnamese dishes at Cha Ca La Vong near Hoan Kiem Lake. For a more formal dining experience, check out restaurants like L’essence De Cuisine, where staff dress in traditional clothing.

Free things to do

Join morning tai chi at the plaza near Hoan Kiem Lake. Then, walk or ride a bike to the nearby Ceramic Road. It has mosaic murals and other ceramic installations that stretch for miles. Other free things to do in Hanoi include strolling through the Quang Ba Flower Market very early in the morning and stopping for a photo op near the 11th-century Imperial Citadel's main gate. 

Plan your holiday to Hanoi

Budget

With countless budget hotels and inexpensive street food, a cheap holiday in Hanoi is all but a given. Enjoy a meal at a simple but delicious restaurant for around 50,000 Vietnamese dong (₫) — or sample the famous coffee for about ₫45,000.Don’t be afraid of negotiating at markets or with taxi drivers. Haggling is part of the culture.

Day trips from Hanoi

If you’ve got time to kill, the emerald waters and towering rock formations of Ha Long Bay are a must-see. Rock climb, kayak or tour one of the floating fishing villages that call the bay home. Follow your nose south to Quang Phu Cau Incense Village. Artisans here have been handcrafting incense for over a century.

Getting around Hanoi

For sightseeing, take a cyclo bicycle taxi, where drivers also act as guides. Taxis run citywide, but ‘xe om’ (motorcycle taxis) are a cheaper option. Buses can also get you around the city, but they only accept cash. And if the weather is nice, there’s no better way to explore the temples and markets than on your own two feet.

FAQs about Hanoi holidays

Summers (May to August) are hot, with temperatures around 30 – 35°C. This is the best time to visit for outdoor activities. From December to February, temperatures drop to around 10 – 15°C. Though cooler, you’ll find great deals to Hanoi. The Lunar New Year, usually in late January or early February, is also a great time to visit.
Vietnamese is mostly what you'll hear when chatting with locals. From simple greetings to colourful local sayings, you'll probably add a few new words to your vocabulary during your city break in Hanoi.
January offers the coolest conditions for a Hanoi holiday. You can expect lows of 10ºC (50ºF).
Hanoi is widely regarded as a safe destination for tourists. Be aware of petty crimes like pickpocketing, especially in crowded places. Use caution when crossing streets or riding ‘xe om’ taxis due to Hanoi’s heavy traffic.
With temperatures hitting a maximum of 36ºC (97ºF), June is the hottest month in Hanoi.
That depends on where you're travelling from and what activities you want to fill your trip to Hanoi with. Three to five days is plenty of time to check out the leading sights if you live nearby. If you're making a long journey, you'll want to make the most of every day. Stay for a week or more to take in the highlights and explore the surrounding areas.
From Hoan Kiem Lake to Temple of Literature, this city delivers one highlight after another. Kick off your next big adventure by making a list of the best things to do in Hanoi.
You'll be using the Vietnamese Đồng (VND) while on your trip to Hanoi. Along with your debit and credit cards, consider having cash available for things like small purchases and getting around.
You can have cheap holidays to Hanoi if you eat street food and use local transport like motorcycle taxis. Fine-dining restaurants are more expensive but generally still cheaper than similar places in Europe or the US.
With an average rainfall of 36 cm, August is the rainiest month to go on a Hanoi holiday. When the skies turn grey, venture indoors and make the most of the city's restaurants, shops, museums and more.

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