Hanoi is the capital and cultural hub of Vietnam. It is 1000 years old city, so its history is really interesting and it is the choice of may history buffs. Hanoi means the city of lakes, so in this beautiful city you will find many popular lakes such as Hoan kiem lake, West lake, Truc Bach lake and many more. Here is the list of top things to do in Hanoi to make the most of your trip.
Things to do in Hanoi
1. Walk around Hoan Kiem lake
Hoan Kiem lake means ‘Sword lake’. It has a very interesting history as it is associated with King le thai to. There is a story that the king returned the sword to the turtle deity. This lake still has an old turtle that is estimated to live for several 100 years. Whether this turtle is the same turtle or it is a normal turtle is a mystery. Hence, this lake is a popular attraction amongst International tourist.
On weekends, here you will find many activities like dinner, singing, dancing, games, etc.
2. Visit the museum of Ethnology
Here you will get to know about the ethnic groups in Vietnam. You will get to know about the culture of those ethnic groups such as artefacts, costumes, etc and their contributions. There is a Truc Lam restaurant inside that serves refreshments. A water puppet theatre is also there where shows depicting the Vietnamise culture are organised.
Tip: Spend between two to three hours to explore the entire museum.
3. Walk around Long Bien bridge
This beautiful bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You can also click some nice pictures during sunset at this bridge. You should must visit this place to enjoy history and click some instagramable shots!
4. Visit Hanoi opera house
It is one of the top landmark in Hanoi. Here you can enjoy cultural performances which are organized such as bamboo cirque, orchestra concerts, contemporary dance, etc. It has a good architecture and you can click some good photos. In addition to this, you can also enjoy in nearby places such as Old French quarter, restaurants, etc. Variety of performance is also organized in its grand auditorium or you can enjoy the stunning view of the city from the Opera house garden.
5. Train street
Train street is located next to Hanoi’s old quarter. It is visited by tourist from all around the world. The train passes through the cafes just some inches away. This experience you cannot find anywhere in the world except Hanoi and Thailand’s Mae Klong Railway Market. You can also enjoy coffee in the nearby cafes while waiting for the train and enjoy the train passing by just some inches away from you.
6. Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral has a beautiful architecture. It resembles the Notre Dame de Paris, build by French colonial government. There are many shops and restaurant around where you can enjoy European and traditional Vietnamise food. The interior has a high ceiling and it is beautifully decorated, creating an amazing atmosphere. It looks beautiful at night, try to visit it during Christmas, at weekends or some special ceremonies of Catholics.
These were the must things that you should do in Hanoi to make the most of your trip in Hanoi. Make sure to visit this place and do a pre-booking wherever necessary and beware of scams, Know the rates beforehand. Explore more such blogs on Tripgala!
READ MORE : THINGS TO DO IN HOI AN 2023
