The Polka

Polka is originally a Czech folk dance but is now performed all over Europe and North America. It’s danced in half time and constists of hops and half steps. When it first was introduced to western…

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Explore Hanoi in 2 Days

Finding accommodation to stay in Hanoi may be your first concern at the beginning of planning. The very first advice is to stay in the Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem District) or the French Quarter (Hai Ba Trung District) as they are the center of entertainment as well as beautiful sights. Besides, it very easy to find an affordable hotel or hostel around this area, too. After assuring you have a comfortable bed, we can start our journey to explore this lovely city right now.

Ngo Huyen Street offers a wide variety of hostels and hotels with affordable price
One-pillar Pagoda

Address: Hung Vuong, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Opening Hours:

Entrance Fee:

Temple of Literature Entrance

Next, only a 10-minute walk from Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Temple of Literature preserves a wealth of history of how the educational system works in the past. The most outstanding feature of the Temple of Literature is tortoise statues with headstones on it. During graduation time, many students come here to pray for luck for their study in graduation uniforms.

Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu, Dong Da, Hanoi

Cha Ca is considered the signature dish of Vietnam cuisine that has used to name after a street in the Old Quarter. The main ingredient is freshwater fish, usually snakehead fish marinated in turmeric, shallots, garlic, and galangal. It is grilled in advance and then fried when it’s ready to be served with vermicelli, fresh herbs like dill, spring onion, roasted peanuts, chili, and fermented shrimp paste with a distinct musky aroma. Once it’s sizzling, enjoy bite-sized slices of fish with some salty peanuts, herbs, and vermicelli.

Cha Ca — typical dish of Hanoi

Address: Cha Ca An Ngu — 100 Hai Ba Trung, Cua Nam, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Hoa Lo Prison (Maison Centrale) was built during the French Colonial period for political prisoners. It is demolished in the 1990s and made into a museum demonstrating the deepest and darkest part throughout this period and Vietnam War. The recreation of harsh punishment with inhumane torture tools is the symbol of Vietnamese patriots’ indomitable will and myriad sacrifice for national independence.

Address: 1 Hoa Lo, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Long Bien Bridge on the East of the capital

Long Bien Bridge was constructed between 1899 and 1902 and designed by Gustave Eiffel, the father of Eiffel Tower in Paris. The bridge is the connection point to transfer commodities between the South and the North so it was severely bombed by the airforce of U.S. Army in 1967 -1972. Parts of the bridge were destroyed during the war but the remainings still reminisce about the unforgettable past.

Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge is not only a traffic construction but also a living historical relic. Walking across Long Bien Bridge is truly a worth-trying experience of many visitors apart from exploring busy and bustling capital. Or a rooftop coffee shop would be ideal to take a view of the whole bridge from afar.

Address: Long Bien Bridge, Ngoc Thuy, Long Bien, Hanoi

After a day of visiting historical sites around Hanoi, indulge yourself in this street food heaven because it is simply a MUST-DO when coming to Vietnam. There are hundreds of dishes you can try as much as you can and still be surprised by the distinct taste of each one.

Despite having a name referring to a dish of the South (Nam Bo means Southern), this dish is particularly a Hanoian specialty. Bun Bo Nam Bo, which is basically stir-fried beef noodles, may sound simple to make but possess very exquisite flavors.

The essence lies in the sauce, which is a harmony of sweet, sour and spicy notes that each restaurant has its own recipe. The beef is well marinated with sugar, fish sauce, hot pepper, and other spices and then stir-fried when ordered to keep it soft and tender. Accompanied by noodles, fried chopped onion, peanuts, and fresh herbs, it will activate your taste buds right from the very first bite.

Address: 67 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Banh Cuon is freshly steamed sheets of rice batter filled with seasoned minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. A fish-based dipping sauce (or nuoc mam) is an indispensable element of the dish. You can add cha Lua, eggs and fried onions to diversify and customize the Banh Cuon to your own preference.

Banh Cuon

What makes Banh Cuon so special is the sheer simplicity yet harmonious combination of its ingredients. The rice wrapping is soft and delicate, acting as a perfect vessel for the aromatic meat fillings as it melts in your mouth. A subtle change of texture is given by the crunchy fried onions, followed by the sweet and salty fish sauce that puts the finishing touch to a single heavenly bite.

If you want to eat Banh Cuon the right way, as a true Hanoian does, try it on a cold, breezy winter night. The steamy dish is sure to keep you warm and leave an indefinite impression on you of an authentic Vietnam experience.

Address: 12–14 Hang Ga, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Beer Corner is the symbol of a chaotic and energetic nightlife spot in the Old Quarter. You will be overwhelmed at first by the crowd of people sitting on blue plastic stools with a beer in their hands, a unique atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere in Hanoi. Grab yourself a stool, get some beer and some nem chua ran (fried fermented pork sausage) and maybe spark a conversation with a friendly local. Bars and pubs are open throughout the night if you crave an even more exciting night.

Address: Ta Hien Street

Turtle Tower in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake

Considered the heart of Hanoi capital, Hoan Kiem Lake is a combination of modernity and history. Legend has it that in the 15th century, Emperor Le Loi obtained a magical sword from the Dragon King under the lake to fight against Chinese oppressors. The Turtle Temple in the middle of the lake was built to pay tribute to the giant turtle that retrieved the sword for its master. Nowadays, the lake reserves an ancient beauty that attracts so many locals and tourists. At the weekend, the road around the lake is made into a walking area where various traditional games, concerts take place.

During the French Colonial period, the French Quarter is a concentration of government buildings, embassies, and affluent neighborhoods. Unlike the ancient and hustling vibe in the Old Quarter, this area is posh and solemn with French-style architecture.

Hanoi Opera House

Constructed in 1911, Hanoi Opera House was inspired by Opera Garnier Theatre in Paris. Situated in special position, in the middle of August Revolution Square, it is truly the art of French architecture featuring Gothic theme indoors and domes with pillars, shuttered windows and glass rooms. The capacity goes up to 600 people, making it the center for opera shows, ballets, international concerts, etc.

Address: 1 Trang Tien, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Trang Tien Plaza is the first luxury shopping mall ever in Hanoi which gathers up to 200 high-end brands ranging from fashion to cosmetics such as Dior, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc. With fancy and classic appearance, Trang Tien Plaza exterior is also a very popular site for wedding photo shooting.

Address: 23K Hai Ba Trung, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Each building in the National Museum of Vietnamese History is still mostly influenced by French architecture. But if we look closely, touches of Vietnamese culture patterns is tangible here and there creating such unique features for the museum. The museum does not only preserve artistic and architectural values but also illustrates the fusion of French and Vietnamese culture and history.

Address: 216 Tran Quang Khai, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Walking around the city between 11 am — 2 pm, the image of a woman rapidly fanning the sizzling pork with thick smoke curling up on the sidewalk with flocks of customers coming in and out is very common.

Bun Cha includes rice noodles, charcoal-grilled pork belly or patties (sometimes wrapped in xương sông herb), all dipped into sweet and sour fish sauce creating such a fragrant and bursting flavor. No wonder the former president of United States, Barack Obama, praised Bun Cha so much during his visit to Vietnam.

Address: Bun Cha Dac Kim — 1 Hang Manh, Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a well-known 19th-century European style building. The church is a lively Gothic-inspired architecture consisting of four-cornered pillars and topped with stone cross. When you come here, you will be overwhelmed by the religious solemnity of the church. In the evening, the church becomes majestic with lights and candles so high recommend visiting this place at this time.

Address: 40 Nha Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Opening hours: 5:30–18:15 (weekdays) ; 18:00 (Saturday) ; 5:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00 (Sunday)

Ngoc Son Temple Entrance

Located on a small island in the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple is the most scenic sight in Hanoi. It was built in the 19th century dedicating to scholar Van Xuong and Tran Hung Dao, some of the most famous structures like Pen Tower, Tran Ba Temple.

The Huc Bridge connects Ngoc Son Temple and land

To enter Ngoc Son Temple, tourists will cross a scarlet wooden bridge called The Huc Bridge, the image of this bridge has deeply imbedded in Hanoian mind for hundreds of years.

Address: Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Most of the water puppet performances are a recreation of Vietnamese tales and historical legends so this will be a great experience for travelers to travel back in time and learn of Vietnamese history and culture in such a unique art form.

Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Address: Hang Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Simplicity turns Hanoi into such a wonderful place to visit. What makes Hanoi so captivating does not lie in gigantic and marvelous buildings, but in the littlest thing that occurs everything around Hanoi. Looking at a vendor, you see a story. Looking at an old house, you see history. Culture is everything around you. Hanoi creates such a depth in the way we look and perceive things. So if you haven’t fallen in love with Hanoi yet, try to give a little more time to actually live as a Hanoian and enjoy the capital of our lovely country, Vietnam!

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