Our highlights of Hanoi, Vietnam
If like us, you don’t like big bustling polluted cities then Hanoi is definitely not for you – our advice is get in and get out again! We have never seen so many mopeds on the roads and on the pavements; pedestrians are forced to walk on the road side and you have to vigilantly watch the roads so you can’t take in your surroundings.
The only really good thing about Hanoi is using it as a base to go elsewhere with both Halong Bay and Sapa being accessible from here. Nonetheless, here are some of our highlights:
French quarter
This is one of the nicer districts to walk through with alternative architecture, and slightly quieter roads. It’s filled with French inspired cafes and offers an alternative to Vietnamese food.
Lakeside – Hoan Kiem Lake
Nice for a wander especially in the evening when it lights up and becomes pedestrianised. Lots of the local families gather around here too so it has a nice atmosphere. There is also a little temple in the middle but we didn’t venture in this time.
Museums galore!
If you like museums you’ll be spoilt for choice in Hanoi. We visited the War History Museum and the Hao Lo Prison, but others include the Women’s Museum, Museum of Ethnology, Museum of Fine Arts, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Temple of Literature.
War History Museum: this was interesting but there are limited descriptions as you walk around and it is memorabilia heavy. Ask them to put on the electronic show for you in one of the rooms – it is basic but gives you a feel about the famous battle (Diên Biên Phu) against the French.
Hao Lo Prison: built by the French to imprison Vietnamese soldiers and then used by the Vietnamese to imprison the American soldiers. A very eye opening experience to see how the French treated the Vietnamese at that time with good descriptions and videos to further your learning on the war.
Water Puppet Theatre Show: this was recommended to us by our hotel and as dutiful tourists we went. A bizarre show that really wasn’t for us but if you have a sense of humour it’s a funny way to spend an hour!
Pub Street – miniature tables and chairs are squeezed in to the dirty streets, but it’s bustling with locals and tourists. Definitely an experience but not up there with the best for us!
Top Tip: a lot of the taxis here are scams. The safest way to travel is with Uber or ask your hotel to call you a taxi. They also have Grab which is like an Uber but with a moped – if you’re happy to brave the crazy roads then this is an alternative.
Food recommendation:
S’Pattisarie – this French cafe, owned and run by the adjoining Silk Path Hotel has a nice location close to the lake, serves a delicious Chai Latte and its food menu comes with a scrumptious dessert and a drink.
Top Tip: be very cautious with the street food here. We thought our stomaches were pretty robust by now but paid the price with 24 hours of being very ill! There are also lots of little restaurants on the side of the street with miniature tables and chairs. With upset stomaches we couldn’t bring ourselves to eat at them but some people we met there had – they recommended eating at the busy ones and not thinking about how the food is prepared! Hygiene standards just aren’t good!
