Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Hanoi You Can't Miss

The first stop on the Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Hanoi You Can't Miss list is Hoan Kiem Lake along with Trang Tien Street.

Considered the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake with its Turtle Tower is the symbol of the city. When visiting Hoan Kiem Lake, you can visit Ngoc Son Temple or take a leisurely stroll along the lake, admiring the peaceful life of the capital. This area is also home to many beautiful photos capturing the essence of Hanoi.

Every weekend, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake turns into a pedestrian street, hosting various cultural and community activities. Adjacent to the lake is the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, or Shark Jaw - a trendy area with cafes, beer bars, offering stunning photo opportunities. This area is also where the Heiniken countdown event is often held at the end of each year.

Besides Hoan Kiem Lake, there's the new Hanoi newspaper area - a popular spot for young people to check in. Notably, Trang Tien Street - a street with a strong French vibe, almost like bringing Paris into the heart of Hanoi. Trang Tien Street was built by the French during the Indochina period, originally named Rue Paul Bert. Here, you can find many distinctive French-style architectures. Trang Tien Street also offers many interesting attractions such as the French Institute L'espace, Trang Tien Plaza shopping center, Cong Cafe, art exhibition rooms... And especially, when you're on Trang Tien Street, you can't miss out on the famous Trang Tien ice cream, known as the best ice cream in Hanoi.

If you're willing to walk the entire length of Trang Tien Street, you can visit the Opera House area. This is also a cultural and artistic complex of Hanoi. At the Opera House, various performances such as symphony concerts, chamber music, drama... are often held. Behind the Opera House is a complex of Youth Theater, Drama Theater, jazz club...

In general, the entire Hoan Kiem Lake - Trang Tien area is not too large. If you're a tourist visiting Hanoi, you can park your vehicle and walk around this entire area.

• Area: Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Distance from city center: 0km
• Duration of visit: 2-4 hours

Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy was built during the time of the Ly Dynasty, serving as the first and oldest university in Vietnam. Initially, it was constructed as a temple to honor scholars and doctoral laureates, as well as a place to educate princes. Over time, Imperial Academy became a place of learning not only for princes but also for the offspring of mandarins and court officials.

Regarded as a symbol of the civilization of Dai Viet - where kings and generals have been educated for generations, Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy attracts many students, visitors praying for success, and graduates taking graduation photos. It also preserves records and artifacts of scholars, doctoral laureates, and various architectural structures from ancient times such as Khue Van Pavilion, the Great Middle Gate, the Stelae of Doctors, and more. Among them, Khue Van Pavilion of Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy has become an iconic landmark in Hanoi.

Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy is the essence of Dai Viet's culture that still remains today. If you visit Hanoi, do not miss out on this ancient historical and cultural relic.

• Location: Dong Da District
• Distance from the city center: 2.5km
• Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
  
  
  

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum has long been a familiar destination for the capital's residents. Situated in Ba Dinh Square - the political center where major government events take place. Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you'll have the opportunity to witness the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh - the greatest historical figure in modern Vietnamese history. You can also explore the memorial area of Uncle Ho's stilt house where he lived and worked.

You can also observe the flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremony at Ba Dinh Square. Additionally, Ba Dinh Square, with its spacious and airy environment, is perfect for leisurely walks.

• Location: Ba Dinh District
• Distance from the city center: 2.5km
• Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
  
  

When it comes to the Top 10 must-visit places in Hanoi, West Lake cannot be overlooked. Known as the coolest hangout spot for Hanoians, West Lake offers stunning views of the lake along with tall buildings, with a picturesque road circling the lake and the poetic Thanh Nien street. You can come to West Lake to relax, enjoy iced tea, sip coffee, ride a bike, or take photos, especially during sunset.

Nearby West Lake is Tay Ho Palace, a famous cultural and spiritual destination. Tay Ho Palace attracts many young people with its ancient and cultural atmosphere, favored by photography enthusiasts.

• Location: Tay Ho district
• Distance from the city center: 3km
• Duration of visit: 1-3 hours

Long Bien Bridge stands as a historical witness to Hanoi. The bridge was designed by architect Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Initially named Doumer Bridge, it was later renamed Long Bien Bridge. The bridge features a unique design, with a railway in the middle and the bridge structure forming graceful curves like a dragon's tail. Today, most of the metal parts of the bridge have rusted, adding to its ancient charm. You can choose to visit some cafes near Long Bien Bridge to enjoy coffee and immerse yourself in a European-like ambiance. Alternatively, you can walk onto the bridge to admire the Red River and the entire city of Hanoi. Crossing Long Bien Bridge, you'll also find a beautiful and artistic ceramic road, perfect for sightseeing or photography.

• Location: Long Bien District
• Distance from city center: 1.5km
• Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
  
  

Hanoi Museum is located in Me Tri area, a bit far from the central area but still an interesting destination. The museum is designed with an upside-down pyramid architecture, perfect for Instagram-worthy photos. It houses a vast collection of precious artifacts and antiques from the Bronze Age, the Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen dynasties, and revolutionary periods. If you want to learn about the origins and culture of Hanoi, don't miss the Hanoi Museum.

• Location: Nam Tu Liem District
• Distance from city center: 8km
• Duration of visit: 1-3 hours
  
  

If you're seeking a vibrant spot for dining and entertainment akin to Bui Vien Street in Saigon, then head to Ta Hien Street in the Old Quarter. From evening till late night, this place is bustling with street food stalls and sidewalk beer joints, especially crowded with young locals and foreign tourists. A visit to Ta Hien Street guarantees a fun-filled evening you won't forget. Near Ta Hien Street, there's also the newly opened Lost In Hong Kong beer street, another favorite hangout spot among youngsters.

If you have a penchant for Hanoi's ancient culture, take a stroll around the Old Quarter. These are the 36 ancient streets of Hanoi, quaint and charming with small, moss-covered old houses. Walking around the Old Quarter, you'll easily spot old-style houses with red-tiled roofs, moss-covered yellow walls, balconies adorned with paper flowers, and tangled electrical wires characteristic of Hanoi. In the Old Quarter, you'll find traditional eateries serving iconic dishes like pho, bun cha, bun thang, banh cuon, banh gio... delicious and rich in the exotic flavors of the land, so be sure to explore and indulge.

• Location: Hoan Kiem District
• Distance from city center: 1km
• Duration of visit: 1-3 hours
  
  

As one of Hanoi's iconic landmarks, One Pillar Pagoda is undoubtedly a must-visit when exploring Hanoi. Also known as Diên Hựu Pagoda, it was built during the reign of King Lý Thái Tông. The pagoda has stood on Thăng Long land from the Lý to the Trần dynasty - two flourishing periods of Buddhism, serving as evidence of Buddhism's prominence in our country's ancient culture. The uniqueness of One Pillar Pagoda lies in its architecture, with a small pagoda situated amidst a lotus pond, supported by just one pillar.

• Area: Ba Đình
• Distance from city center: 2.5km
• Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
  

Once likened to hell on earth during the French colonial period, Hoa Lo Prison was built in 1896 to incarcerate revolutionary activists fighting against the French. It housed numerous prisoners and witnessed many instances of brutal torture and executions by the French colonists. Since 1954, Hoa Lo Prison has been used by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam government to detain revolutionary soldiers, often American pilots, referred to by Americans as the 'Hanoi Hilton.'

Visiting Hoa Lo Prison is not only exploring a painful historical past but also marveling at the unique architecture influenced by the French, despite being a prison.

• Area: Hoan Kiem District
• Distance from city center: 1km
• Duration of visit: 1-2 hours

And the final destination in the Top 10 most fascinating places to visit in Hanoi is none other than the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is the remaining relic of the ancient Vietnamese Dynasties, spanning through the Ly, Tran, and Le periods. It wasn't until the Nguyen Dynasty moved the capital to Hue that the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long ceased to be the center of power. Today, many relics of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long have been damaged due to war, with only the Doan Mon gate and the Kinh Thien palace foundation with stone dragons from the Ly period remaining intact. In front of the Doan Mon gate stands the Hanoi Flag Tower, built during the reign of Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty. Adjacent to the Hanoi Flag Tower is the War Remnants Museum, housing many artifacts from the challenging revolutionary wars.

• Area: Ba Dinh District
• Distance from city center: 2km
• Duration of visit: 2-4 hours