UltimateCity Guide Hanoi
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The red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn Temple Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Turtle Tower, framed by autumn leaves

The city guide to Hanoi, Vietnam

Best of Hanoi

A thousand years of Thăng Long: the red bridge on Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the courtyards of the Temple of Literature, phở at dawn in the Old Quarter, the Metropole’s Bamboo Bar at dusk, and the limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay beyond. Hanoi, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resortThe Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyTây Hồ, the 50-year rule and the 30 per cent cap

Hanoi, lake by lake

Hanoi gathers around its lakes: Hoàn Kiếm at the heart, the 36 trading streets of the Old Quarter to its north, the boulevards and villas of the French Quarter to its south, the Imperial Citadel and the Temple of Literature in Ba Đình, and West Lake beyond. Here are its grand hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the noodle shops with a Bib Gourmand, the museums, temples and markets, and journeys to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, the Perfume Pagoda, Bát Tràng and Sa Pa. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

A thousand years of Thăng Long: Hanoi’s great sights

In depth

A thousand years of Thăng Long

Hanoi·In depth

The Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, the red bridge on Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the pagodas of West Lake: how to read the city of the ascending dragon.

Read the story

Hanoi, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Seven neighbourhoods, each with its own guide: the guild streets of the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the heart, the boulevards and grand hotels of the French Quarter, the citadel and the Temple of Literature in Ba Đình, Tây Hồ and little Trúc Bạch by the northern lakes, and Long Biên across the river.

The silver and gold shops of Hàng Bạc in the Old QuarterNeighbourhood guideThe Old QuarterThe 36 streetsLacquered water puppets on the pool stage, with a dragon backdropNeighbourhood guideHoàn Kiếm LakeThe heart of the cityTràng Tiền, with the dome of the Opera House at the end of the streetNeighbourhood guideThe French QuarterBoulevards and the MetropoleThe Khuê Văn Các pavilion reflected in the pond at the Temple of LiteratureNeighbourhood guideBa Đình & the Temple of LiteratureThe citadel and the scholarsSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreNeighbourhood guideTây Hồ & West LakeThe great lake

On foot

The Old Quarter, the lake and the French Quarter lie within a short walk of one another: cross the road slowly and steadily, and the motorbikes will flow around you.

  1. Neighbourhood guideTrúc BạchThe little lake
  2. Neighbourhood guideLong Biên & the Red RiverThe old iron bridge

Before you go

Arriving at Nội Bài, visas and the e-visa, Grab and safe taxis, crossing the road, and three days that work for a first visit.

Before you goHanoi essentialsEntry, money, 115 and the seasonsA Hanoi Metro train at an underground platformGetting aroundGetting aroundNội Bài, the metro and the trainsA bowl of beef phở with a basket of fresh herbsItineraryHanoi in three daysThe lake, the citadel and West LakeThe white façade and green shutters of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Ngô QuyềnLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe white façade of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi lit at dusk on Ngô QuyềnItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Metropole and two stars
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendCapella, the Temple and West Lake

Our advice

Start at the Temple of Literature at eight

The Temple of Literature opens at 8am every day, and the citadel at the same hour: see both before the tour groups arrive, then lunch at Gia or Tầm Vị, across the road. The great sights

Beyond Hanoi

The limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay lie east of the city, the karst and rice fields of Ninh Bình and the Perfume Pagoda to the south, Bát Tràng’s kilns just across the Red River, and the terraces of Sa Pa in the mountains of the north-west.

A junk with ochre sails among the limestone islands of Hạ Long BayBeyond HanoiHạ Long BayLimestone islands at seaRowing boats passing a pavilion on the water at Tràng AnBeyond HanoiNinh BìnhKarst, caves and rice fieldsThe gateway of the Perfume Pagoda complexBeyond HanoiThe Perfume PagodaA pilgrimage by boatBeyond HanoiBát TràngThe ceramics villageGreen terraced rice fields in a valley near Sa PaBeyond HanoiSa PaRice terraces and Fansipan

Our advice

Give Hạ Long Bay a night

The bay is a long drive from Hanoi: an overnight cruise lets you see the islands at dusk and at dawn, when the day boats have gone. Hạ Long Bay guide

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Hanoi in depth

A thousand years of Thăng Long, the city’s table, its lacquer and puppets, its hotels, how to move through a city of motorbikes and what a foreigner may buy: the stories behind Hanoi.

Bún chả: grilled pork in broth, rice noodles, herbs and spring rollsThe back storyHanoi at the tablePhở, bún chả and the starsThe French-era building of the Vietnam National Museum of Fine ArtsThe back storyLacquer, silk and puppetsHanoi’s arts

Asia with the ULTIMATE guides

Hanoi is one of the ULTIMATE guides of Asia: west to Bangkok, east to Hong Kong, south to Singapore, out to sea through Hạ Long Bay, and the great train journeys beyond.

The Grand Palace reflected at dawnULTIMATE BangkokBangkokThailand’s great capitalHong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakULTIMATE Hong KongHong KongThe harbour cityThe towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayULTIMATE SingaporeSingaporeThe garden city

The ULTIMATE City Guides around the world

See all Asia & Indian Ocean

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Pura Tanah Lot on its rock in the sea in late-afternoon lightIndonesiaULTIMATE BaliTemples on the rocks and the cliffs, the rice terraces of a UNESCO landscape, resorts above Ubud’s gorges and the beach clubs of the west coast.The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.The Chanchhaya Pavilion of the Royal Palace, with golden roofs and a spire above the royal gardensCambodiaULTIMATE Phnom PenhThe Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda on the river, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Khmer cuisine, the National Museum, and trips to Kampot, Kep and Angkor.

See all 81 guides

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

From our readers: Hanoi’s visitors and locals on its noodle shops and starred tables, temples and lakes, egg coffee and the road to Hạ Long Bay.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    This week's pick

    The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)

    Văn Miếu·Temple and old university

    The Temple of Literature opens at 8am every day, and on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6pm to 10pm (vanmieu.gov.vn): come early, before the tour groups, or late, when the courtyards are lit.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Bánh cuốn, steamed rice rolls with herbs, and their dipping sauceItineraryA noodle trail through the Old QuarterOne dayItineraryHạ Long Bay overnightTwo daysItineraryA property viewing day: Tây Hồ, Ciputra and the centreOne day

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Hanoi at the table: phở, bún chả and the MICHELIN starsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2GiaVăn Miếu · Restaurant
    3. 3Tầm VịBa Đình · Restaurant
    See all 38

    Cafés

    1. 1Café GiảngOld Quarter · Café
    2. 2Cộng Cà PhêHanoi · Café chain
    3. 3The Note CoffeeHoàn Kiếm Lake · Café
    See all 8

    Bars

    1. 1Bamboo BarFrench Quarter · Poolside bar
    2. 2AngelinaFrench Quarter · Cocktail bar
    3. 3Le Club BarFrench Quarter · Hotel bar
    See all 7

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Hanoi sleeps: the Metropole, the lake and the Old QuarterHoàn Kiếm · In depth
    2. 2Sofitel Legend Metropole HanoiFrench Quarter · Grand hotel
    3. 3Capella HanoiFrench Quarter · Grand hotel
    See all 15

    Sights

    1. 1A thousand years of Thăng Long: Hanoi’s great sightsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2The Imperial Citadel of Thăng LongBa Đình · Citadel and archaeological site
    3. 3The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)Văn Miếu · Temple and old university
    See all 14

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Lacquer, silk and water puppets: Hanoi’s artsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2Vietnam National Museum of Fine ArtsBa Đình · Museum
    3. 3Vietnam Museum of EthnologyCầu Giấy · Museum
    See all 18

    Parks

    1. 1Hoàn Kiếm LakeHoàn Kiếm · Lake and gardens
    2. 2West Lake (Hồ Tây)Tây Hồ · Lake
    3. 3Trúc Bạch LakeTrúc Bạch · Lake
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1The 36 streets of the Old QuarterOld Quarter · Walk
    2. 2Around Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the weekendHoàn Kiếm · Walk
    3. 3The French QuarterFrench Quarter · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Hàng Gai, the silk streetOld Quarter · Shopping street
    2. 2Tràng Tiền PlazaFrench Quarter · Department store
    3. 3Lotte Mall West Lake HanoiTây Hồ · Shopping centre
    See all 10

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: 115, 113, 114Vietnam · Emergency numbers
    2. 2Hanoi French HospitalĐống Đa · International hospital
    3. 3Vinmec Times City International HospitalHai Bà Trưng · International hospital
    See all 11

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Hanoi: Tây Hồ, the lakes and the 50-year ruleHanoi · In depth
    2. 2The Housing Law 2023Vietnam · Rules
    3. 3The 30 per cent capVietnam · Rules
    See all 8

    Developments

    1. 1Metro Line 3: Nhổn–Ga Hà NộiCầu Giấy to Ga Hà Nội · Metro
    2. 2Metro Line 2A: Cát Linh–Yên NghĩaĐống Đa to Hà Đông · Metro
    3. 3More metro linesHanoi · Metro
    See all 7

    Cars & drivers

    1. 1GrabHanoi · Ride-hailing app
    2. 2Xanh SMHanoi · Electric taxis
    3. 3Metered taxisHanoi · Taxi
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting around Hanoi: motorbikes, the metro and the walking streetsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2Nội Bài International AirportSóc Sơn · Airport
    3. 3Hanoi MetroHanoi · Metro
    See all 6