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Hanoi, Vietnam
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Hanoi, Vietnam Travel Guide

Old quarter, lakes and pho

Why visit Hanoi

Hanoi’s old quarter is a maze of 36 streets — each once a trade guild, now a swirl of scooters, pho stalls and colonial facades. The lakes give the city its calm centre: Hoan Kiem at dawn, West Lake at dusk. Day trips reach Halong Bay’s limestone karsts and Ninh Binh’s rice terraces, making Hanoi the best base in Vietnam.

Last updated Aug 17, 2026 · Reviewed by the WhatWhereVacay editorial team

Hanoi travel guides

Best time to visit Hanoi

Weather decides when a city shines — and when it empties out. We pull 30-year climate averages for Hanoi to show which months are warm, dry and worth booking.

Check live weather for Hanoi →

3 days in Hanoi: what to eat & see

D1 Day 1

Morning
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son temple
🍴 Pho →
Afternoon
Old Quarter 36 streets walk
🍴 Banh Mi →
Evening
Thang Long water puppet show
🍴 Bun Cha →

D2 Day 2

Morning
Halong Bay day cruise
🍴 Seafood
Afternoon
Cave & kayak stop (cruise)
Evening
Night market & beer street
🍴 Cha Ca →

D3 Day 3

Morning
Temple of Literature
🍴 Banh Cuon →
Afternoon
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & complex
Evening
West Lake sunset + dinner
🍴 Nem Ran →

Eat your way through Hanoi

These are the dishes to hunt down in Hanoi — not just the country's greatest hits. Tap a dish to see where it's made best, then compare a stay in the same neighbourhood with your dates.

Browse all Vietnam food → No restaurant listings for Hanoi yet — search the dish on Google Maps instead, or list a restaurant free.