Hanoi

Exploring the busy and packed Old Quarter on foot is the best way to experience and see its uniqueness. The preserved Old Quarter today is the remains of Hanoi 36 streets of the past. Each street has its trade during the Thang Long period.

A visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Sword Lake, is essential for every tourist. The freshwater lake can easily reached with its centralized location and proximity to the Old and French Quarters. Walk around the lake shore to admire the scenery with the exotic trees.

Every morning, you will find locals doing exercises around its shore. Do catch the picturesque landscape of the Huc Bridge during sunset. Never leave the lake without a photo of the unique Turtle Tower, located in the middle of the lake. Visit Ngoc Son Temple to witness the two preserved giant turtles that lived in the lake and learn about local religious beliefs.

On the weekend, the streets around Hoan Kien Lake are closed to vehicles, allowing people to stroll the area leisurely and enjoy the scenery. Get yourself a hand-drawn portrait by one of the street artists or watch the many performances from magic to local folk music. The street is more lively in the evening.

The famous Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square is the intersection of five streets of central Hanoi. Finding a cafe with a good spot to watch the complex traffic is one interesting thing to do on a weekday.

The weekend night market stretches 3km from Hang Dao Street to Dong Xuan Market, transforming the narrow streets into a bustling trading hub.

The traditional water puppet show in Thang Long Theatre is not to be missed. With long rods, the puppets are controlled by skilled puppeteers behind the bamboo screen. The opera singers and orchestra play traditional music accompanying the performance. The hour-long performance is worth the cost.

Do note that the show is in Vietnamese.

The French Quarter has less traffic than the Old Quarter, with wider streets and a mix of French and European-style buildings. The Opera House, a creamy yellow building, stands out as the most prominent.

St. Joseph Cathedral, the oldest church in Hanoi, was built during the French colonial period. This French Gothic-styled architecture is simulated from the Notre Dame de Paris. A visit to the beautiful Cathedral is not to be missed.

For a unique shopping experience, head to the biggest indoor wholesale place, Dong Xuan Market. Ensure that you have sufficient small Vietnamese Dong notes for easy purchase transactions. Always bargain with the seller for better deals. Drop by the toilet for some unique scene.

O Quan Chuong, the old east gate, is the only gate that has remained since the 11th century. The building is made of stones and bricks with a feature roof.

Phan Dinh Phung Street, also known as Green Street, is a picturesque street in the Old Quarter. Both sides of the road are lined with tall trees, and seasonal florists attract many visitors for photo opportunities.

Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest pagoda and a place for worship. The nearby West Lake is a perfect place to relax and enjoy.

Be sure to check out The Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university. The well-preserved building showcases traditional Vietnamese architecture. The complex is made up of five courtyards separated by walls.

– What To Eat in Hanoi –

Don’t leave Hanoi without trying egg coffee at Cafe Giang. Although the cafe is behind a narrow lane, it was always packed with locals and tourists. Sipping on a cup of egg coffee or egg chocolate at this cozy cafe will give you a sense of being a local.

While strolling around the French Quarter, we took a break at the famous Trang Tien ice cream. They served unique and creamy traditional ice cream for over 60 years.

Che Bon Mua is a popular local spot for traditional desserts in the Old Quarter, perfect for cooling down on a hot day.

There are a lot of charming local cafes to visit, but one that stands out is Ca Bop, which is located along Bamboo Street. Be sure to dine at the uppermost deck for the ultimate experience.

The Banh Mi 25 on Hang Ca Street serves delicious French-style baguettes with filling. Traditional crispy soft baguettes are the all-time favorite. Do also give the fusion-style hot pan, Banh Mi Chao, a try.

Bun Cha consists of a bowl of grilled pork patties in soup, a portion of green herbs, and a plate of vermicelli. Mix a bit of the green and vermicelli in the soup before having a flavorful bite with the pork. Bun Cha gained its popularity after former US President Barack Obama and CNN celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain dined at Bun Cha Huong Lien.

A bowl of Pho is a must when touring in Vietnam. This time, we tried the popular Pho Thin Lo Duc. Their bowl of sliced beef pho is covered with fresh spring onion. The broth was clear and very much flavorful. The sliced beef is stir-fried before landing into the bowl of soup, thus providing additional taste to the soup.

Not to forget to give Pho Ga, chicken pho, a try. Featured in the Michelin guidebook, Pho Ga Nguyet stands out among others. Their pho is available in either soup or dry versions, and each version has its unique characteristics that make it worth trying and filling up your stomach. Every bites is appetizing.

Beside trying out Vietnamese local cuisines, Pizza 4P’s is worth tasting too. With various outlets across Hanoi city, it is difficult to get a table without a reservation. Thanks to the hotel staff, we managed to make a reservation. The restaurant sourced everything from the local farmers, supporting locals and ensure freshness and quality. Savory pizza, flavorful spaghetti, and appetizing salads, indeed worth our effort to walk into one of the 4Ps outlet to taste the famous pizza.

Can get the local hotel staff to help to make the reservation as the site is in Vietnamese.

Overnight at La Mejor Hotel & Sky Bar (2nights)