Top 15 Things that make Hanoi beautiful in the eyes of foreign tourists

No matter how much it has developed and modernized, the shades of serenity and nostalgia still intertwine and blend in every corner of Hanoi. This is most evident in the Old Quarter. Here, it seems to encapsulate the soul of old Hanoi, where the ancient beauty of Hanoi is vividly displayed in every color, every alley, clearly manifested in the architectural pieces that have been imbued with the colors of time.

Everything exudes the melancholy of time. Surprisingly, foreign tourists say that this melancholy makes them feel peaceful and strangely tranquil. Sitting sipping a cup of coffee, contemplating the antiquity harmonizing with the noise, hustle, and bustle of the Old Quarter, you will witness a Hanoi that is beautiful and serenely unusual.

Located along the Nghi Tam dike, Quang An flower market (or Quang Ba flower market) is the only night flower market in Hanoi. When every corner of Hanoi is immersed in darkness, households are quiet, Quang An flower market becomes busier than ever, especially during festivals.

Quang An Flower Market, the 'sleepless' market, is open all night, but the liveliest time is probably from 2 am to 4 am, when the flower stalls are beautifully arranged. Not only do traders from all over come here, but young people also prefer to choose this as a must-visit spot for their night exploration of Hanoi.

Under the high-pressure lights, each flower stall displays bouquets still covered in the morning dew, blooming in full color. Here, there are all kinds of flowers according to the season, transported from famous flower-growing areas near the city such as Tay Tuu, Gia Lam, Dong Anh,...

On holidays and Tet, people flock to the market area, making the space around here full of vitality, even when the market gathers while dawn has not yet broken. Perhaps the most impressive are the days close to Tet. Everyone is bustling, choosing for themselves a branch of bright red cherry blossoms from Nhat Tan, pots of kumquat loaded with fruit, or radiant bouquets of lilies, chrysanthemums, roses,... One could wait until tomorrow morning when traders pour flowers into every corner of the city. However, many people are willing to wait until this pre-dawn moment to visit the flower market. Not just to choose for themselves the freshest, most beautiful bouquets at a reasonable price, but this is also a pleasure for the people living in this thousand-year-old land.

Any foreign visitor who has the opportunity to visit Hanoi in autumn must admit that Hanoi autumn is beautiful. The beauty here is not a lofty and distant splendor, but a beauty that comes from the simple and small things.

'Hanoi autumn!

The yellow cold rice, the red leaves of the bang tree lying side by side

The ancient streets, old houses with brown tiled roofs.

The season of milk flowers brings fragrance with every breeze.

The season of green rice brings the fragrance of small hands

The sidewalk milk tea is fragrant with each step.'

Composer Trinh Cong Son perceived Hanoi autumn in a simple way, but left a profound mark. Hanoi autumn is beautiful in every moment. Beautiful in the early sunlight peeping through the house's eaves, beautiful in the faint fragrance of milk flowers, beautiful in every rain, beautiful in each cool breeze that makes people temporarily put away their jackets, bringing a cool and pleasant atmosphere for any visitor.

Indeed, when visiting Hanoi, it is a must to come in autumn - to immerse yourself in a melancholic beauty, to get lost in a dream. Many tourists have shared that they can sit in an old cafe in the heart of Hanoi, watching each sunbeam filtering through the leaves, gently entering through the window, taking a sip of hot coffee, listening to an instrumental piece, and feeling the peaceful and fresh beauty of Hanoi autumn. That is why every autumn, those who are far from Hanoi carry such a deep longing for Hanoi.

In recent years, towards the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, many tourists flock to Hanoi to admire the pure and fresh beauty of the first winter blossoms. These small flowers, with their pure white color, not as flamboyant as many other flowers, still captivate the heart.

Many people compare the beauty of the First Winter Blossoms with the beauty of Hanoi girls because these flowers exude a gentle and delicate charm. Not too prominent but still attractive, without fragrance but still captivating. Very close and very lifelike.

In early winter, First Winter Blossoms appear everywhere in the streets and alleys of Hanoi. Flower vendors, flower shops, or you can go directly to the flower gardens, take beautiful photos, and buy a bunch to decorate your home. For many tourists, visiting the street vendors to buy First Winter Blossoms is a very interesting and novel experience. Because only in Hanoi, can you get this 'specialty.'

From ancient times till now, even if you don't like milk flowers, you cannot deny that Milk Flowers are an indispensable feature of Hanoi in Autumn. The small milk flowers grouped into large clusters, blooming white across the sky, bringing a faint fragrance, stretching to embrace the gentle sunlight combined with the cool autumn weather has created an incredibly romantic scene.

It's not by chance that milk flowers have become a fascinating subject for photographers every autumn. Seeing milk flowers means seeing Hanoi's autumn. Sensing the milk flowers means sensing the beauty of Hanoi's autumn. Milk flowers express a profound love for the capital, for every winding street - a place marked with the nation's history, amidst people with people, with love like its own fragrance.

Similar to sidewalk cafes, for a long time, Hanoi street food has become a unique cultural feature.

The characteristic of street food in general and Hanoi street food in particular is that the food is prepared very quickly, not focusing too much on decoration, and diners can enjoy it right on the spot. Distant travelers, when wanting to explore Hanoi's cuisine, are often surprised when they encounter Hanoi's street food culture. However, from the unfamiliar, they gradually shift to fascination when experiencing delicious dishes, perfectly flavored in a new style.

When in Hanoi, travelers should not miss enjoying a cup of Hanoi sidewalk cafe to fully capture the bustling atmosphere of Hanoi and distinctly feel the flow of time.

Hanoi is not short of street vendors, so common that it seems to have become a cultural beauty of the capital's residents. The crowded sidewalks, people engrossed in reading newspapers, some laughing and chatting, gathering happily with friends on small cute chairs around a cup of coffee. It's not about expensive, high-end places, but just a few cups of coffee and a couple of plastic chairs are enough to create a wonderful afternoon.

Drinking sidewalk coffee is an activity that many tourists find fascinating. Fascinating because only sidewalk cafes can show them a friendly Hanoi, a lively Hanoi, and accurately convey the joyful atmosphere of Hanoi.

Hanoi, a land of a thousand years of civilization, always possesses a very unique beauty - a beauty of simplicity and things of the past. And I don't know since when, old bicycles carrying fresh flower stalls have become a very special feature, unique to Hanoi.

Amidst the hustle and bustle and modernity of Hanoi, these fresh flower stalls are like the embodiment of Old Hanoi. In the eyes of tourists, Hanoi is beautiful but not in a modern way; its beauty comes from simple, peaceful things like the breath of urban life. And these flower stalls are one of them. They still exist, present as a cultural beauty of the capital city with a thousand years of civilization.

When it comes to Hanoi's specialties, no one forgets about the village-style green rice flakes, a simple but famous snack from the land of Thang Long - the thousand-year-old capital of Hanoi. Described as a refined gift, the green pearls from the heavens and the earth, Village-Style Green Rice Flakes, have gradually become a beautiful cultural feature of the people of Hanoi every autumn.

True to its name, to make these green rice flakes, the essence from the young sticky rice grains must go through many different stages. To make green rice flakes, people use grains from the golden flower sticky rice - a famous type of rice known for its softness and fragrance. Then, when the rice is still young and milky, it is harvested to make green rice flakes. The rice used to make green rice flakes should not be crushed but carefully peeled and roasted. While the rice is still hot, it must be gently pounded. Pounding until the husk peels off, then sifting it away, and pounding again. Each pounding is about 5kg, and after 9-10 poundings, you get a batch of green rice flakes.

Right after pounding, the green rice flakes are wrapped in lotus leaves - a type of leaf that represents elegance and purity. Along with that, when wrapped in lotus leaves, the green rice flakes will have a pleasant fragrance that captivates the heart. Every tourist visiting Hanoi wants to experience sitting in a serene space, enjoying some green rice flakes with a cup of tea while admiring the scenery of West Lake.

As the earth transitions into the sacred New Year's Eve, the entire nation of Vietnam adorns itself with a beauty steeped in tradition. While the usual days in the modern Hanoi Capital hustle and bustle, the days of Tet become tranquil, exuding the ancient aura of the imperial city.

On the early morning of the first day, gentle spring rain falls, from the bustling central streets around Hoan Kiem Lake to every small alley, silence prevails. The sky is adorned with flower banners, the colors of spring flutter, yet Hanoi takes on a very different beauty in the first days of the new year.

Moreover, if you have the opportunity, you should visit the capital in the days leading up to Tet. Explore the vibrant flower-lined streets, visit the cherry blossom gardens in Nhat Tan with their vibrant red, golden apricot branches, roses, kumquat trees, and more. Observe people bustling about, preparing for the sacred moments of the land and sky. During these days, people get to relive the distinctive aspects of traditional Vietnamese Tet with red parallel sentences, cherry blossom and kumquat branches, green square sticky rice cakes, plump square cakes, and more.

Enduring numerous renovations, the rhythm of Long Bien Bridge still carries the nostalgic beauty from a century past. Built at the end of the 19th century, this historical icon of Hanoi has retained only a fraction of its original structure.

Perhaps the perfect moments to admire the beauty of this old bridge are during sunrise and sunset. The interplay of classical and modern architecture leaves visitors from all directions in awe, especially those passionate about photography.

Whether it's the gentle glow of the rising sun or the gradual descent into night, the scenery of Long Bien Bridge brings a sense of peaceful tranquility, reminiscent of the suburban serenity, completely distinct from the urban bustle.

Every evening, Long Bien Bridge becomes an ideal spot for tourists or couples. On a few simple mats, there are stalls offering sunflower iced tea, lemon tea, smoothies, and lively chatter. What could be better than being in a place with cool breezes, sitting next to your loved one, chatting for a few sentences, then quietly gazing at the night sky of Hanoi, so peaceful that you absolutely cannot experience it in the city center?

Visiting the land of a thousand years of civilization, alongside the blend of ancient charm and modern skyscrapers, Hanoi's culinary scene is equally captivating to tourists. Hanoi is not lacking in fine dining establishments; it's the sidewalk food stalls that truly captivate everyone.

As night falls, the streets light up, and people flock out to relieve the pressures of a hectic day. Thousands of street vendors set up their stalls, offering a variety of choices as you stroll around Hanoi. Whether you want a quick snack or a full meal, Hanoi's hidden corners always have delicious late-night eateries.

At night, people gather at Ta Hien for a refreshing glass of fresh beer, stop by Yen Hoan Kiếm for sticky rice, warm their hearts with a bowl of pho at Ly Quoc Su,... If you want to eat, just explore the alleys; Hanoi never lacks good late-night eateries.

Hanoi is not only famous for the Sword Lake immortalized in poetry for centuries but also known for the picturesque beauty of West Lake. As a sacred land converging the essence of the heavens and the earth, pulsating with the heartbeat of the capital, West Lake is an indispensable part of Hanoi's panorama.

Whether in sunshine or rain, any season of the year, West Lake carries the timeless charm. The lake's surface is calm like a mirror, winding around the Thanh Nien road, embraced by the breeze. Summer brings vibrant red flamboyant flowers, the sky covered in the hue of purple crape myrtle blossoms, while winter boasts the intense fragrance of milk flowers and the gracefulness of willow branches,... West Lake is stunning, a perfect rendezvous for couples.

Along the perimeter of West Lake, the humble sidewalk eateries never lack patrons. Sitting, enjoying a plate of sunflower seeds, a glass of lemon tea or iced tea on the sidewalk, gazing towards the sparkling lights along West Lake's shore, with the wind from the lake brushing across your face, is perhaps an indispensable pleasure for the locals, especially the youth.

'Stepping down the streets in the fresh morning, strolling around the corner of the park. Everyone greets the approaching dawn, watching the elderly practice rejuvenating exercises. Why do we feel so peaceful in our hearts, a very familiar Hanoi. Hanoi is gentle, warm, and deeply poetic.' Perhaps the lyrics of the song 'Nong Nan Hanoi' by singer Nguyen Duc Cuong somewhat captures the pure beauty of Hoan Kiem Lake in the early morning.

At 5 a.m., when many are still deep in slumber, the lakefront is lively and bustling. In the dreamy morning light, as the sun begins to shine, ladies, gentlemen, and the youth eagerly gather by Hoan Kiem Lake for morning exercise. The pure air, free from dust, and the refreshing breeze from the lake create an invigorating atmosphere.

There are countless ways to exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake. Some walk, jog gently around the lake, others exercise in place, and some choose to bike or hula hoop. The sounds of voices, laughter, and the music from speakers playing simple and endearing tunes fill the air. Regardless of the season—whether cold or hot—every early morning, people gather here to exercise, practice wellness, and breathe in the dreamy morning mist.

If you haven't experienced the atmosphere of the capital city at night, then you haven't truly known how beautiful this city is! During the day, Hanoi is too busy, with people bustling about, making a living for their lives. Even when the night has fallen, the city is still noisy with the sounds of people and vehicles. To truly understand the beauty of Hanoi, go out for a stroll around the streets after midnight with your loved one!

It turns out that Hanoi's Old Quarter is incredibly beautiful, with its traditional, old-fashioned houses, and quiet streets. The bright yellow streetlights are not enough to illuminate the long road. Riding around the familiar streets on a motorbike, silently observing the city sinking into a gentle sleep, feeling the cold night breeze, and catching a hint of the city's flavor are wonderfully extraordinary.

Feeling a bit bored? Try visiting the night markets in Dong Xuan, or the dreamy early morning flower market, the Long Bien vegetable market, enjoy a bowl of bun ca at Hang Dau, soft and fragrant xoi Yen, a bowl of pho, a bowl of mi,... Maybe tonight, you'll see Hanoi in a strangely beautiful, simple way, falling even more in love with the life and people of this land.