Hanoi

Hotels In:

• Ho Chi Minh City
• Dalat
• Do Son
• Halong Bay
• Hanoi
• Hue

Hanoi is Vietnam’s political nexus and one of Southeast Asia’s most unique destinations. A blend of old Chinese trading, French flair, and Communist ideology has made Hanoi into the exotic and frantic place we see today. You can observe slices of typical Vietnamese life on its bustling streets or through the peaceful parks day or night.

What to see & do

Hanoi offers many fascinating sights for even the most seasoned traveler. Some of the most famous are the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the amazing Old Quarter. The former is where the body of Vietnam’s liberator is preserved, in decidedly Lenin-esque fashion in a Socialist architecture building fronted by a huge public square. “Uncle Ho” even gets to go on trips in a special train that takes him across China and Siberia for touch-ups that need to be done periodically by Russia’s best embalmers.

The Old Quarter is Hanoi’s main shopping district and houses a mind-boggling array of items in thousands of Chinese shop houses. There is, however, a very clear order, as the streets cater to one type of merchandise each. Thus, you can walk along a “toy” street, or a “sweets” street, in a style very much reminiscent of the medieval way of doing business. There is nothing medieval however about the latest Nokia phone, Samsung LCD TV or Microsoft Zune MP3 player, all of which can be found in the streets of the Old Quarter. Also, because of Vietnam’s political affiliations, you can find some rather excellent imported Russian products, very rarely seen outside Europe.

If shopping is not on the agenda, the same area also offers some great dining venues, most famous of which is Cha Ca La Vong. In this unassuming house you can find what might be the best fish dish in Hanoi, so good, in fact, that it is the only item on the menu and has been served for over 120 years! Otherwise, like in other places in Indochina, the street food stalls will surely offer something tempting, and many prepare a great bowl of pho (Vietnam’s national dish).

For colonial lifestyle lovers, the central area of Hanoi presents many beautiful tree-lined streets from the French period with corresponding architecture, and the Hanoi Opera, which does not look out of place on a Parisian boulevard. From this period there is also the world-famous Sofitel Metropole Hotel, which has played host to historical figures as diverse as Charlie Chaplin (on his honeymoon) or Jane Fonda (hiding from bombardment during the Vietnam War).

Getting around

Driving through Hanoi is often a crazy experience, and most drivers don't respect any visible right-of-way signs or stoplights. Yet, they somehow managing to not hit everything in sight. It’s “coordinated chaos”, and everyone loves to honk their horns as a way to get through, as a warning, or simply to say hello. For most tourists there are two main options (the buses are only for the more adventurous, as finding the correct ones is not easy and they are usually crowded and non-air conditioned): Metered taxis (air-conditioned, but often with a hacked meter) and bicycle rickshaws (especially useful in the Old Quarter, but with fares that need to be negotiated). Normally it shouldn’t cost more than $3-5 to get anywhere, but having a map and a sense of direction is helpful, so that you aren't driven four times around one of Hanoi’s beautiful lakes.

Walking through any major Vietnamese city is an experience in itself, and many tourists find it difficult to get used to the concept of crossing through traffic. The reality is that as long as you cross slowly, you’ll be fine, since the myriad of motorcycles and cars will let you through and just go around you.

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Vietnam Travel Guide Want cities? Slurp down steaming pho in a street stall, toff up in a tailored suit, negotiate head-on traffic in a flimsy cyclo. Want nature? Get your fill of green in endless rice paddies, cool down in the mountains, laze on South China beaches. Want the best on Vietnam? Get yourself this guide.