Things to Do in Hanoi

About Hanoi

Hanoi announces itself with sound — the four-stroke symphony of a million motorbikes, the tinny clatter of a vendor’s metal bowls at dawn, the constant, low-grade hum of a city that never really sleeps. You’ll learn to cross the road by walking slowly into that river of scooters, trusting they’ll part around you like water. The Old Quarter, a grid of 36 streets named for the goods once sold there (Hàng Bạc for silver, Hàng Mã for votive paper), is a maze of tube houses where the scent of ca phe đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) and charcoal-grilled thịt nướng (lemongrass pork) leaks from every alley. Over in the French Quarter, the broad, tree-lined boulevards around Hoàn Kiếm Lake feel transplanted from a Parisian arrondissement, but the colonial villas now house designer boutiques and third-wave coffee shops. The traffic is relentless, the sidewalks are often impassable, and the humidity in summer feels like wearing a wet wool coat. But then you find a stool at a bún chả stand on Cầu Gỗ Street, where a plate of grilled pork patties, rice noodles, and a forest of herbs costs VND 60,000 ($2.35), and you realize this city feeds you better for loose change than most capitals do for a week’s budget. That’s the trade: a little chaos for a lot of soul.

Travel Tips

Transportation: The motorbike taxi (xe ôm) is the city’s true circulatory system. A short 2-3km hop across the Old Quarter tends to cost around VND 30,000 ($1.20), but always agree on the price before you get on. For cars, the Grab app (Southeast Asia’s Uber) is indispensable; it locks in the fare upfront and you’ll pay cash to the driver. The one pitfall? Avoid the cyclos around Hoàn Kiếm Lake unless you want a long, expensive, and awkwardly slow tour of a three-block radius. For getting out of town, the new Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line is surprisingly efficient and clean, a 15-minute, VND 9,000 ($0.35) escape from the chaos above.

Money: Cash is still king here, especially for street food, markets, and small shops. ATMs are everywhere, but withdrawal fees can be steep; taking out larger amounts less frequently tends to work out better. While some upscale hotels and restaurants take cards, you’ll want a stack of Vietnamese đồng in your pocket. A good rule of thumb: if the bill is under VND 500,000 ($20), expect to pay cash. Always check your change, particularly with the larger VND 500,000 notes, as counterfeit bills, while not rampant, do pop up. For the best exchange rates, skip the airport kiosks and head to a jewelry shop (they often have a ‘Vàng Bạc Đá Quý’ sign) in the Old Quarter — they’ve been trading currency longer than most banks have existed.

Cultural Respect: The simple act of taking off your shoes speaks volumes. Do it before entering a temple, and also before stepping into someone’s home or even some smaller, family-run shops. When handing over money or a business card, use both hands — it’s a small gesture that shows basic courtesy. At temples like the Temple of Literature, dress conservatively: covered shoulders and knees are a must. The biggest potential for offense often happens with cameras. Always, always ask before photographing people, especially street vendors or the elderly. A smile and a nod toward your camera is usually enough; if they shake their head or look away, respect it instantly. They’re not a tourist attraction.

Food Safety: Eat where the locals are eating, not where the tourists are queueing. A crowded plastic-stool stall with a high turnover is almost always safer than a quiet, sit-down restaurant with an English menu. Look for the steam: food cooked at high heat right in front of you — like phở broth kept at a rolling boil, or bánh xèo (sizzling crepes) fresh off the griddle — is your safest bet. For water, stick to sealed bottles or bring a filter bottle. The one rule that’ll save you: avoid ice in your drinks unless you’re at a reputable café or hotel. At street stalls, the ice often comes from large, unsealed blocks delivered on the back of a bike. Instead, drink beer (bia hơi) or fresh coconut water, both naturally sealed.

When to Visit

Hanoi runs on two seasons: the punishingly humid summer and the surprisingly cool, damp winter. For clear skies and bearable temperatures, target the shoulder months of October-November or March-April. October is arguably the sweet spot: the heavy rains of summer have passed, temperatures hover around 22-28°C (72-82°F), and the light is that soft, golden hue perfect for photography. Hotel prices during this period are at their peak, however, running about 30-40% higher than in the low season. Winter (December-February) can be genuinely chilly, with temperatures dipping to 10-15°C (50-59°F) and a persistent, bone-chilling drizzle the locals call 'mưa phùn' (drizzle rain). You’ll need a proper jacket. This is when domestic tourism booms for Lunar New Year (Tết), usually late January or early February; the city empties out as locals travel home, with many businesses closed for a week, and flight prices soar. The summer months (May-September) are for the heat-tolerant. Temperatures regularly hit 35-38°C (95-100°F) with crushing humidity, punctuated by brief, torrential afternoon downpours that flood the streets within minutes. The payoff? Hotel rates can drop by half, and you’ll have places like the Temple of Literature almost to yourself. If you come in summer, embrace the rhythm: sightsee early, nap in the afternoon heat, and come alive when the city does for the cooler evening street food crawl.