Things to do in  Hanoi

The Vietnamese capital and your base for exploring Northern Vietnam, Hanoi is known for street food, colonial-era architecture, and a charming Old Quarter set around the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake). The 11th-century Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Four days in Hanoi gives you time to explore the Old Quarter, take a cooking class, ride a bike in the countryside, visit the Imperial Citadel, catch a water puppet show, learn about indigenous cultures at the Ethnology Museum, and discover the Vietnam War at Hoa Lo Prison.

Yes. Pickpockets, bag snatchers, and taxi scams are not uncommon, but violent crime is rare. However, many tourists have died on Vietnam’s roads. Only rent a scooter if you have a license and insurance, always wear a helmet, and never drink and drive: it’s illegal to drive with any alcohol in your bloodstream.

Take a sightseeing stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, then admire Gustave Eiffel’s Long Bien Bridge. Free-to-enter religious sights include Bach Ma Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral, while Quang Ba Flower Market is fascinating. Many parks see free group exercise sessions early in the morning.

US$100 buys a lot in Vietnam. A budget hotel can cost as little as $15, a glass of bia hoi (draft beer) under $0.50, while a simple meal might cost just a couple of bucks. Mid-range hotel rooms start at around $50 and aspirational restaurants at about $10.

Yes. Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and offers more than 1,000 years of history, including the UNESCO-listed Thang Long Imperial Citadel, not to mention a wealth of museums. And the food is to die for: it was here that Barack Obama chose to eat street food with Anthony Bourdain.