10 Best Attractions in Hanoi Vietnam
Hanoi is one of the top destinations for travelers that seek the perfect harmony between the lively, bustling vibes of a growing metropolis and the quiet, solemn of an ancient town. Now, without further ado, let’s check out the list of 10 best attractions in Hanoi!
Standing unscathed through wars and battles in history, Hanoi is currently prospering into a rapidly growing city in the Southeast Asia region. Traveling to Hanoi? Ah, you must be wondering which of the places would be the top destinations in Hanoi to visit, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Maika Tours has gathered up a list of top 10 best attractions in Hanoi for you to check out right down below.
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1. Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi Old Quarter is everything you’d expect from the capital of Vietnam: it’s noisy, crowded, exciting and tourist-friendly. This is one of the most famous attractions in Hanoi and can easily be found when you’re taking a casual stroll along the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Consisting of a fascinating number of 36 streets, the Old Quarter has given Hanoi such lively vibes for it’s also filled to the brim with all the trading and buying activities. Moreover, each of the 36 streets is sometimes named after its special selling items. Wanna bring home some unique goods from the Old Quarter? It is a great idea to pay a visit to Hàng Mã (featuring toys, paper goods and votive offerings), Hàng Gai (featuring silk and custom-tailored clothing), Hàng Quạt (featuring different types of paper fans) and many more guilds are there for you to explore.
The Old Quarter charms its way into the heart of many simply through casual strolls along its winding streets, and also through the flavourful, steaming hot bowls of pho or wonton noodles. Hungry for more? Join Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour now.
2. Hoan Kiem Lake
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Ho Guom or Hoan Kiem Lake (meaning “Lake of the Returned Sword”) is an iconic spot in terms of culture and history, luring visitors with its mysterious legend about the famous Emperor Le Loi. Many refer to the place as “the heart of Hanoi” not only because of the center location but Ho Guom really adorns much of the capital.
The clear water turns the lake into a giant landscape canvas, filled with greens from rows of willow trees along the banks, spots of browns from ancient temples from afar, and greys from new, modern skyscrapers. While you take joy in the indescribable beauty of the lake, you can also sightsee ample destinations nearby. Ngoc Son temple, But Tower, Ink Slab, The Huc Bridge are only a few steps from the magnificent Hoan Kiem Lake.
3. Ba Dinh Square: Best attraction in Hanoi for history lovers
Traveling to Hanoi – the land of thousand years of civilization yet you miss out on Ba Dinh Square – Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, one of the best attractions in Hanoi? That’s a big no-no!
Ba Dinh Square is one of the most important political centers in Vietnam. This is confirmed to be the largest square in the whole country of Vietnam! But that’s not all, Ba Dinh Square is also the place that withstands and witnesses many crucial moments in the history of Vietnam, therefore, be prepared for some exciting stories during your visit!
Right opposite Ba Dinh Square is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, surrounded by rows of evergreen bamboo symbolizing the spirit of Vietnamese people. Don’t forget to dress modestly and don’t bring along any recording device when you visit this solemn place.
See more on 10 Tips for Your First Trip to Vietnam
4. One Pillar Pagoda
This attraction in Hanoi is a rare pagoda that stands out among others thanks to its particular design, showing through its aesthetic facets, to name a few, sculptures, paintings, portraiting perfectly the prehistoric cultural values as well as nationalistic ones.
The peculiarity of One Pillar Pagoda is that the whole pagoda is located on a huge stone which represents the image of lotus. It is definitely the elegance of lotus and the solidity of stone that creates the one-of-a-kind Buddhist symbol, making One Pillar Pagoda “the temple has the most unique architecture.”
Among the hustle and bustle of the crowded capital nowadays, One Pillar is a wonderful place for everyone coming to pray for safety and peacefulness. And if you just have nothing to pray for, simply get there to find the tranquillity, simplicity, and a moment of contemplation.
5. Temple of Literature
Even though it was constructed from thousands of years ago, Temple of Literature or Quoc Tu Giam is still one of the most prominent symbols of the Hanoi people, titled for its sophisticated design and societal values. Therefore, no wonder the people of the capital have always referred to Quoc Tu Giam as one of their pride when discussing the famous landmarks of the place.
Quoc Tu Giam is considered to be the very first university of Vietnam, and hence known to be a symbol of knowledge, and of course, of Vietnamese education. Not only is Quoc Tu Giam a famous historical monument of Hanoi, but it is also a place that contains the cultural elite values of the previous feudal history periods, preserving the traditional values of the Vietnamese.
Never miss out this historic attraction on your Hanoi Full Day City Tour.
6. Hoa Lo Prison
It’s not a bad idea to include a prison in your itinerary if you want a real thrill and a chance to dig into Vietnam’s hardest days. Bearing the name “Maison Centrale” or “Hanoi Hilton” and taking a spacious area of over 12,000 meters square, Hoa Lo was known to be one of the largest and of course, the most rock-hard prisons in the Indochine back in the days.
No longer serving as a prison, today Hoa Lo Prison has become a place where visitors get to learn about the heroic history of Vietnamese people through the well-kept, invaluable documents displayed.
Right after getting the entrance ticket, you can start your adventure in this famous attraction in Hanoi. Don’t panic when you reach the room where there are two rows of life-size models of Vietnamese prisoners. This is a rare chance to imagine how dreadful life as a political prisoner was: terrifying room, fed rotting food, respited from chains for 15 minutes a day and what’s even worse? Try to figure it out by yourself!
7. Long Bien Bridge
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Each and every Hanoian would always refer to Long Bien Bridge with pride – as it is not only a famous landmark of the capital but also a renowned historical monument. Did you know that Long Bien Bridge was constructed from way back in 1898, and the most important thing is that it was the very first steel bridge to pass the Hong River?
Throughout the two legendary wars of the Vietnamese people, namely the one against the French and the American, Long Bien Bridge stood tall and undefeatable, as is still symbolized the unconquered spirit of Hanoi, even through great sorrows and setbacks throughout history.
A flash of over 100 years has passed, yet each bridge span of this attraction in Hanoi still remains its original value, just like in the soul of the people living in the capital. How can we ever deny its ever-presence?
8. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Citadel has always played a significant role in Vietnam’s political and military development. Though not boasting a gigantic area, this famous attraction in Hanoi is still special thanks to a particular worth – the worth of a thousand years of culture and history. If you’ve decided to move toward this historic site, you’re to have so many things to do and see.
• The Flag Tower of Hanoi: The architecture includes three tiers and a pyramid-shaped tower with a spiral staircase leading to the top inside it.
• The archaeological zone No.18 Hoang Dieu: This is exactly where you can find a great number of relics stacking on top of each other. They’re decoration materials, metals, ceramics that have survived for more than 1,300 years, not only from Vietnam but they also came from China, Japan, South East Asia and West Asia.
• Kinh Thien Temple: This spot is considered as the featured attraction in Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Getting there, don’t skip the photo opportunity to shoot the four statues of dragon that were sculptured in the 15th century, representing the very art aspect of the primitive Le dynasty.
9. Dong Xuan Market: Best attraction in Hanoi for shopaholics
While Saigonese take pride in Ben Thanh Market as one of the best tourist sites in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoian know how to revel in Dong Xuan Market, one of the unmissable attractions in Hanoi. What makes Dong Xuan Market stand out and above every other markets in Hanoi, is that this is the biggest one, with the widest variety of items that any purchaser can find for their own interest.
One thing to remember is that items sold in Dong Xuan Market are fairly cheaper than anywhere else, simply because it’s a wholesale market. Hence, you can always find lovely souvenirs during your visit! But always, always remember to fight for a good bargain!
10. The Ceramic Mosaic Mural
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As Hanoi is often referred to an ancient city, many don’t know that there are still abounding attractions in Hanoi that bring a breath of fresh air to the capital of a thousand years of civilization. One of them is the Ceramic Mosaic Mural that was constructed in 2008 to mark the millennial anniversary of Hanoi.
For 4 years during its construction, The Ceramic Mosaic Mural attracted the participation of 35 artists from Vietnam, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, England, the USA, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia. In addition, there were more than 100 artisans of pottery villages in Vietnam, 500 people, students of art schools, etc. that participated in the project.
Currently, The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural still holds the title of the longest ceramic painting in the world by Guinness World Records. To any Hanoian, the road really shows great efforts and symbolic cooperation between people who share the love for artwork.
See more on Best Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam
To check all the 10 best attractions in Hanoi above in just one day is surely a tough nut to crack, but hey, you don’t really have to do so. Just pick out which one you feel like going best and leave the rest to us, we can always come up with the most suitable trip for you so worry not, just sit back and enjoy your day! Contact us now.
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