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11 must-see stops in Hanoi

Hanoi will delight, surprise, and chew you up all at the same time. Hanoi, founded near the Red River, was given the name Thang Long (soaring dragon) by Emperor Ly Thai To in 1010. Over a thousand years of war, natural disasters, and various administrations, the city transformed from swamplands to the charismatic capital it is today. Explore old buildings, dodge millennials on motorcycles, and enjoy fresh bia hơi in the Old Quarter. 

Here are 11 must-see stops in Hanoi:

1.      Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 

The impressive building was constructed between 1973 and 1975 to hold the embalmed body of Hồ Chí Minh, the most influential political leader in Vietnam. Every morning, visitors and Vietnamese wait in line for hours to pay their respects to the lifeless body, which is enclosed in a glass sarcophagus and dressed in khaki.

  • Admission: 35,000 VND
  • Hours: 8am - 11am, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun (December to September) last entry at 10:15am
  • Address: So 1, Hung Vuong, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 1

 

2.      One Pillar Pagoda

Emperor Ly Thai To built this Buddhist wooden pagoda in the middle of a lotus pond on a single stone pillar in 1049. The building's inscriptions imply that it was constructed as a tribute to the Goddess of Mercy, who granted the Emperor's wish for a son. The building is intended to mimic a lotus flower, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, blooming from murky waters.

  • Admission: 25,000 VND
  • Hours: 8am - 11:30 am everyday, and 2pm - 4pm, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun
  • Address: Chua Mot Cot, Doi Can, Ba Dinh

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 2

 

3.      The Old Quarter

The 36 streets that make up the one square kilometer Old Quarter of Hanoi are historically significant. Every street has been home to artists and craftspeople who traded in the particular goods for which their street was named since the fifteenth century. These streets still have a certain charm nowadays. As you stroll from silk street to decorating street, from silver street to bamboo street, all within walking distance of one another, get ready to be amazed.

TIP: For amazing street cuisine and affordable brews, visit bia hơi corner at night, which is the intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen.

  •  Admission: Free
  • Hours: 7am tomidnight
  • Address: North of Hoan Kiem Lake

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4.      Hanoi Opera House

The Opera House is located on the outskirts of Hanoi's French Quarter, where a few colonial structures have been beautifully preserved.

This magnificent colonial structure, which dates back to the turn of the 20th century, is Vietnam's biggest theater. The Opera House was meticulously renovated and furnished with cutting-edge amenities in 1997, following nearly a century of operation. The location currently draws well-known musicians, actors, and productions.
TIP: Culture lovers should purchase tickets to the Opera House's production of "My Village." This spectacular performance blends music, traditional dance, and acrobatics.

  • Admission: 300,000 VND
  • Address: So 01, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 4

 

5.      Vietnamese Women's Museum

This museum highlights ethnic group textiles, women's vital roles during conflict, and even their rituals as conduits for the worship of the "Mother Goddess."

 The Vietnamese Women's Museum is one of Vietnam's most contemporary museums. Vietnamese women have played a significant part in their country's history and society, as demonstrated by the museum's outstanding exhibitions featuring artifacts, clothing, crafts, memoirs, and pictures from the previous 100 years.

  • Admission: 30,000 VND
  • Hours: 8am - 5pm, Tue-Sun
  • Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai Ward, Hoan Kiem

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 5

 

6.      The Water Puppet Theatre

Traditional instruments and delicate vocals are always used in live music performances that accompany the puppetry.
Water puppet shows, which date back to the eleventh century, are a great way to have some light entertainment and learn about Vietnamese mythology. Puppetry artists manipulate the lacquered wooden characters from behind a screen, portraying scenes from rustic village life as they wade around in waist-deep water while gripping bamboo poles.

  • Admission: 100,000 VND
  • Hours: 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm, 8pm, 9:15pm every day, and an additional performance on Sundays at 9:30pm
  • Address: 57b Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 6

 

7.      Hoan Kiem Lake

According to legend, Emperor Ly Thai To defeated the Ming dynasty by using a supernatural sword that he received from a gigantic golden turtle that resided in the lake. After winning, Ly Thai To returned the sword to the turtle that had dove to give it back to the gods. Hoan Kiem Lake is well-known for both its natural beauty and its window into Hanoians' everyday lives. Observe the natives working out and doing Tai Chi in the gardens near the water.

  • Admission: Free to the general public
  • Hours: Open all day

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 7

 

8.      Ngoc Son Temple

Located on a little island shaded by trees on the northern edge of Hoan Kiem Lake lies the Ngoc Son Temple, also known as The Temple of the Jade Mountain. This traditional Vietnamese building, which is linked by a magnificent red bridge, was constructed in honor of national hero General Tran Hung Dao and scholar Saint Van Xuong. The Confucian scholar renovated the location in 1884, adding word puzzles or parallel phrases (câu đối) to the walls.

  • Admission: 20,000 VND
  • Hours: 7:30am - 5:30pm, every day
  • Address: Hoan Kiem Lake

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 8

 

9.      Temple of Literature 

The main gate of the nation's oldest university, be sure to visit during lunch time to avoid crowds. 

Constructed in 1070 in honor of the scholar Confucius and his followers, the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu in Vietnamese) was built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong under the Ly dynasty. Quốc Tử Giám, Hanoi's first university, was established here in 1076. The location is among the oldest in Hanoi and represents Vietnamese education and architecture on a national level. These days, the temple holds five courtyards, archives of Vietnamese academics, and turtle statues that are supposed to wish students luck on their examinations.

  • Admission: 30,000 VND
  • Hours: 8am - 5pm, from November until March; 7:30am - 6pm for the rest of the year, Tue-Sun
  • Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Dong Da

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 9

 

10.   Museum of Ethnology 

This remarkable museum examines the daily lives of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities. The museum features three primary exhibition sections that were designed by French architect Veronique Dolfus and ethnic Tay architect Ha Duc Linh. While the outside area features striking life-size models of ethnic architecture, exhibitions feature cultural costumes, handicrafts, films, and artifacts.

  • Admission: 40,000 VND
  • Hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm, Tue-Sun
  • Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 10

 

11.   Saint Joseph's Cathedral 

The cafes by the Cathedral are a perfect spot to watch the bustle of Hanoi.

Saint Joseph's Cathedral (also known as Hanoi Cathedral) was built on the location of the Bao Thien Tower, the capital's most recognized landmark during the Ly Dynasty. The Notre Dame de Paris's Neo-Gothic architecture served as an inspiration for the architect. When you there, you should anticipate seeing a diverse group of worshipers as well as lots of newlywed Vietnamese couples enjoying romantic picture shoots.

  • Admission: Free
  • Hours: 8am - noon, 2pm - 6pm, every day
  • Address: 40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem

11 must-see stops in Hanoi - Ảnh 11
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