Unmissable Destinations in Hanoi (Part 1)

These are the landmarks that define Hanoi: elegant, ancient, and filled with intriguing stories throughout its long history. Most of these destinations are located in the heart of Hanoi and are quite close to each other, making it convenient to plan your visit by motorbike or even bicycle.

1. Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature – the first university in Vietnam built in 1070. It was the venue for competitions to select talents from all over to find exceptional individuals for the nation. The Temple also houses teaching areas and stone tablets on tortoise backs inscribed with the names of esteemed scholars and talented doctors throughout ancient feudal dynasties.

Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00 from November to March and 07:30 – 18:00 during other months. Closed on Sundays. Location: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, approximately 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake. Entrance fee: 10,000 VND per person, 10,000 VND for seniors aged over 60.

2. Hanoi Opera House

Location: 1 Trang Tien Street, Chuong Duong, Hoan Kiem District, situated on the August Revolution Square, at the beginning of Trang Tien Street, not far from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Vietnam History Museum. Contact number: 04 39330113/4.

3. Hỏa Lò Prison Relic

Location: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District. Opening hours: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM. Ticket price: 20,000 VND per person, children under 15 years old are free of charge.

4. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

It seems like all Hanoi residents seek refuge at Hoan Kiem Lake to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city. Surrounding the lake are various flowers and ornamental trees, with the Turtle Tower in the middle and Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Around the lake, there are many other historical relics such as The Huc Bridge in red symbolizing preserving the beautiful sunlight from the sky leading to the gate of Ngoc Son Temple, the Pen Tower inscribed with 3 words 'Tả Thanh Thiên' (written on the blue sky), the Nghien Stele, Tran Ba Temple, Hoa Phong Tower…

Location: Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District. Opening hours: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM. Ticket price: 10,000 VND per person, free for children under 15 years old.

5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – One Pillar Pagoda

Opening hours: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is open 5 days a week, in the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. From April to October, it opens from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM; From November to March, it opens from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM; On holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it opens an additional 30 minutes. The Mausoleum is closed annually for regular maintenance in two months: October and November. Currently, admission is free, and visitors must adhere to requirements such as dressing appropriately, not bringing cameras, and maintaining order inside the Mausoleum. Location: Ba Dinh Square, Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District.

6. Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Location: 18 Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District. If you're in the Old Quarter, you can take bus route 22, which stops at the entrance to the Imperial Citadel. The tour takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and does not require an entrance fee.

7. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Entrance fee: Adults: 25,000 VND, under 16 years old: 3,000 VND. Guided tours: Vietnamese 30,000 VND. Opening hours: 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM every day of the week except Monday and Lunar New Year. Location: Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District, about 8 km from the center of Hanoi, Tel: 04 3756 2193.

8. Quan Thanh Temple

Location: At the end of Thanh Nien Street, Ba Dinh District, near West Lake and Hanoi's North Gate. Open on all days of the week. Ticket price: 10,000 VND per person.

9. Vietnam Women's Museum

The Vietnam Women's Museum was established in 1987. It serves as a center for disseminating knowledge about the history and culture of Vietnamese women to the public. It is also a place for cultural exchange between Vietnamese women and women worldwide, with the goal of equality, peace, and development.

The Vietnam Women's Museum is located 500 meters from Hoan Kiem Lake and has recently reopened after 4 years of renovation. With three exhibition themes: Women in Family; Women in History; Women's Fashion showcasing vivid rituals, marriage customs, childbirth, family life organization, traditional costumes, and stories of women in wartime. The museum also features a fascinating collection of propaganda paintings... with information provided in three languages: Vietnamese, English, French. Additionally, the museum regularly hosts special exhibitions on contemporary life such as women in commerce, street vendors, single mothers, migration...

In 2012, the museum was voted by the world's largest travel website TripAdvisor as the most attractive tourist destination in Hanoi. In 2013, the Vietnam Women's Museum was voted one of the 25 most attractive museums in Asia.

Opening hours:  8:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day of the week. Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

10. 87 Ma May Ancient House

The 87 Ma May Ancient House is located north of Hoan Kiem Lake, in Hanoi's Old Quarter area. The house was built around the late 19th century. It features traditional architectural style: with inner courtyards between house layers for ventilation and light, the ground floor (adjacent to the street) used for selling goods, living, and production inside, with the innermost part being the kitchen and toilet. The second floor has an outer room for worship and receiving guests, and an inner room for living. The house also retains many details of ancient Hanoi architecture. It is a place to introduce Hanoi's ancient architecture and suggest ways for the Old Quarter residents to conserve and enhance ancient houses.

Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with traditional folk art performances of Dao Xa, and Ca tru every day at 7:00 PM for 60 minutes. Admission ticket price: 5,000 – 10,000 VND per person.

Source: Mytour Travel Handbook