Things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam

This is perhaps my ultimate Hanoi travel log, wherein I recap where we went and what we did in (and perhaps out of) the city. I enjoyed our activities a lot since these are a mix of all our interests and passions. Sharing with you most of what we did and a bit of my personal insights:

 

Bike around West Lake

We went to West Lake (also known as Ho Tay Lake) in the morning around 7:00AM during the weekend. As we got nearer to the rental store, we were able spot bikers making their rounds which got us pretty excited. We went to Bike Plus which rents bikes and gears which you can use to cycle around the city. I have to admit I was quite nervous knowing that it can get chaotic out there on the road, but luckily there were only a few instances when we had to pass through the main roads; most of the roads we biked through were inner and side streets. We still had to be careful, though! There were many other bikers and motorcyclists as well. We had Google maps to guide us through the ride, and our goal was to make a full circle and reach the Tran Quoc pagoda.   

There were many things to see throughout our ride, and we certainly had to make some stops. One of the memorable stops we made would be when we got down to admire the lake itself and the lotus flowers being grown on the side. I also really loved seeing people go out and exercise by the lake. It's just so calming to move around beside a water source.

We also took an obligatory photo with these dragons. :") 

After making a full round, we went to the Tran Quoc pagoda. It is considered as the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, and it can't be missed because of its stupa which has 11 floors featuring an Amitabha on all sides. 

If you want to get a workout in while on your trip and at the same time appreciate an area of the city up close, I definitely recommend biking around West Lake. We were able to finish our ride in 2 hours, which also included breaks. What I appreciate the most from this experience would be getting to see and learn more about the people's lifestyles. Biking alongside the locals can be quite an experience!

Watch a Water Puppet show

I wasn't able to watch a water puppet show back when I went to Saigon, so I figured I could include it in our itinerary for this trip. Water puppetry is an art form and seeing the show is a way for us to learn more about Vietnamese culture and way of living. The whole show was in Vietnamese and although I couldn't understand the language, I was amazed by the voice actors and actresses, the musical instruments, and even the whole setup itself.. it was all being done in water. We watched the show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre which is located near Hoan Kiem lake. We purchased our tickets in advance so we wouldn't have to wait in line. If you're interested in watching, you may get your tickets through here. 

Watch Live Music in a Jazz Club

If you're a jazz fan, then I would suggest watching jazz live in Hanoi. There are actually a lot of jazz clubs around in the city. We chose to go to Binh Minh Jazz Club, which is behind the Opera House in the Old Quarter. All you have to do is buy yourself a drink and you're in! 

I personally think listening to live music is a great way to unwind, and I'm happy to share that the jazz scene is pretty much well and alive here in Hanoi. 

Go Shopping

There are a lot of stores in Hanoi that sell branded overruns at a more affordable price. I think it's a great opportunity to do a bit of shopping while here considering that most of the products sold overseas are made from Vietnam in the first place. We had good finds here at The Gate, which is a store our dear friend Vu brought us to. 

Alternatively, if you're into thrifting, Hanoi also has a lot of second hand stores. We were able to find one wherein the stores are integrated into their homes. They are very organized with their selections; we even found one that sold purely white clothing and I can say that none of them had any stains. It's amazing how organized and near they are; even the streets were clean. Just watch out for the occasional motorbikes though! They do pass by every street no matter how narrow. :")

 

Aside from clothes shopping, there's also stationery shopping. I bought a lot of post cards and posters from the art stores. Most of them are along the charming Chan Cam street. I bought lots of stuff from @collectivememory.vn and @liuloarts !

Walk around the Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street on Weekends

Our trip coincided with a weekend, so we were delighted to learn that the streets surrounding Hoan Kiem lake actually closes on weekends in the evening. It certainly comes alive with a lot of street performances, people exercising, and street vendors selling street food. We witnessed a lot of friends and families just enjoying the area surrounding the lake and we also had a good time just walking around.  

Go Cafe hopping

I wrote all about the cafes we visited while on our trip which you can read here in this blog entry. There are so many cafes in Hanoi with different concepts and themes; it could get a bit overwhelming to try them all. But I think no matter which cafe you stumble upon, I think it will be a great experience. All the cafes are very creative and serves good coffee. I also would like to suggest browsing through @bemycoffee.hn's on Instagram which shares all about cafes in the city (it's in Vietnamese though!). 

Drinking coffee and people watching by the roadside is definitely a worthwhile experience when in Hanoi. I somehow had an appreciation for the organized chaos on the roads. There's also always something interesting to see, especially when you get to observe motorcyclists and what they carry with them. 

Explore Vietnamese cuisine by going on a Food Trip

 

I'm not the most adventurous when it comes to street foods, though every time I'm in Vietnam it's all I ever eat. I wouldn't throw caution to the wind though; I'm still careful with what I eat. Most times I observe which restaurant has the most customers and infer from there that the place might be worth trying.

If you have the chance to chat with a local store owner (may it be in a cafe or souvenir shop) you can definitely ask them for food recommendations around the area. I've had the experience of a cafe owner recommending a good pho place for us to check out. I remember him saying that there really are a lot of pho places around, but it's the locals who know where the affordable and quality places are. 

I would also highly suggest going on a guided food tour since it's the locals themselves who will show you around and bring you to the good places. There were a lot of dishes I never knew about until our guide shared with us where to go. If you're interested and thinking of getting a guide, you may contact my dear friend Vu. :-) We had a great time with him; he's very knowledgeable and has excellent communication skills. 

Take a walk along the Most Beautiful Street in Hanoi

Dubbed as the "Most Beautiful Street", Phan Dinh Phung street is lined up by a dense canopy of trees which have been around for more than a hundred years. It's really lovely to walk here, and you'll see both locals and tourists having their photos taken. If you get here early in the morning, you'll definitely chance upon flower vendors selling fresh flowers. ♡

Visit Historical Sites

 

I bought a sugarcane drink right after :") this is right in front of the temple

One of the historical sites we visited would be the Temple of Literature. This temple is known to be the first national university of Vietnam. Walking around the place allowed us to see traditional Vietnamese architecture, pavilions, gardens, and courtyards. It was a peaceful time within the area, away from the chaotic streets. I suggest going here in the afternoon for that golden hour experience. There is an entrance fee of 30,000 VND. 

Look out for the Train at Hanoi Train Street

Train watching is a thing in Hanoi. What makes it such an experience would be that the train passes by slowly and with a close proximity to the establishments surrounding the tracks. Every time the train passes, people come out from the cafes and place stools outside for everyone to anticipate its coming. Apart from the train spectacle though, I think it's also worth exploring more of the cafes and stores surrounding the area. 

This was the schedule during our visit. It surely can't be missed! 

 

If you have an extra day or two in your trip, I highly encourage exploring a nearby province. Here are some day trips you can take from Hanoi:

Nearby Day Trips 

Ha Long Bay

Photo by VENUS MAJOR on Unsplash

I've heard a lot of good things about Ha Long Bay what with its magnificent limestone structures and beautiful caves. We weren't able to go here though since we prioritized biking around Ninh Binh! This place is definitely worth visiting though, and it is worth noting that it is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you're looking into adding a trip to Ha Long Bay, you can book through here. 

Ninh Binh 

This was the day trip we went on, and it was the trip where we realized that we're aligned with our interests when it comes to travelling. We were more of nature enthusiasts rather than city women; we appreciated the beauty of Ninh Binh and its peacefulness, so much that we wished we spent more time here. Our time here felt slow, relaxed, and we had plenty of time to admire nature through walking and biking. I guess it's because we're from the city and we see buildings most of the time, so spending time in Ninh Binh was definitely refreshing. You can read more about our day in Ninh Binh here! 

Incense Village

Photo by Tuong Truong Manh on Unsplash

Another one of Hanoi's craft village would be the Quang Phu Cau Incense village. Here you'll be able to learn more about incense-making. I must admit that it's also a picturesque and colorful place. 

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If you're staying for a few weeks or so, I would recommend going to provinces further up north such as Sapa, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Mai Chau. 

If you're heading South, I also would like to share about my experience in Saigon :-) you can read them all here if you need some travel ideas or insight on going around the city. 

I haven't been to central Vietnam yet, although it's definitely in my bucketlist! Sometimes I wonder if it would've been better to tackle Vietnam in a month or so, but I actually quite like going on these separate trips instead. I'm in a different phase in life in these two trips I've made so far and it honestly makes it a lot more memorable for me personally. 

I hope these ideas and insights were helpful for you, dear reader ♡♡♡

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