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10 REASONS YOU SHOULD VISIT HANOI CITY – VIETNAM’S CAPITAL.
Aug
TOP DESTINATIONS IN HANOI
Founded over 1000 years ago, Vietnam’s capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Wandering these tree-lined lanes past crumbling colonial facades will transport you back in time. However, today’s Hanoi is about much more than the past. The ancient city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants, and cool art galleries. When the sun goes down, you have your pick of watering holes, from sophisticated rooftop bars to buzzing bia hơi.
1. This is old town Asia as you always imagined.
Hanoi might still be a capital city, but the old town is very well preserved, still holding the traditional atmosphere of times gone by. The walls are painted dusty yellow, temples appear around every corner and it is pretty easy to get helplessly lost in a maze of backstreets and feel like you have entered another world.
2. It is the perfect mix of ancient culture and backpacker ease.
While there are heaps of temples, local markets, cathedrals, and lakes to keep you well and truly absorbed in Vietnamese culture, anyone who has been on the road for a long time knows how important those backpacker conveniences are every once in a while. Hanoi has great hostels, coffee shops, and Western eats.
3. It is super, super cheap!
A great surprise for me when arriving in Hanoi was the low prices of everything! When you think of capital cities you usually expect a bit of a price increase, but not in Hanoi! Here, it is perfectly reasonable to get a dorm bed for under $10 a night including free breakfast. If you are in need of a little city time but do not want to fork out the cash you might expect to pay in Bangkok or Singapore, Hanoi is a great choice.
4. There is a whole museum dedicated to women.
In Hanoi, they have an entire museum dedicated to just that! The Vietnamese Women’s Museum focuses on the history of women in Vietnam. You can read about how women are viewed in tribal cultures, how they fought in the Vietnam-American War, and also about the lives of women today in the country. The focus of the museum is not only to preserve the heritage of women in Vietnam but also to promote gender equality in society.
5. The food is amazing and varied.
Vietnamese food has a reputation around the world for being pretty incredible. Hanoi is a display of the best of this, Pho, spring rolls, iced shakes, and many more Vietnamese delights are on sale at the stalls and street markets around the city. Hanoi is also a great place to try something new.
6. Every street seems to be a living market.
Hanoi is one of those wonderful cities where most of the life of the city exists out on the streets. Each narrow lane of the old city is filled with food stalls, clothing, or specialty products. See if you can find the beautiful flower market, the fresh fruits around Phuong Hung, or the huge weekend market which stretches along with Hang Dao.
7. It is got some of the best boutique shopping in South East Asia.
As well as the huge, eccentric marketplaces, Hanoi is a great place for cute Asian boutiques. Seemingly inspired by Hong Kong and Taiwanese fashion, Hang Non street is full of boutiques owned by local designers selling beautiful, unusual clothing at great prices.
8. From the city you can easily access the amazing natural wonders all around.
Hanoi is a great place to access some of Northern Vietnam’s most beautiful sites. Many tours to Halong Bay start from here, and it is easy to take the night train up to the highlands of Sapa. You can also take day trips to Tam Coc and the Mai Chau areas which will give you a glimpse of Vietnamese rural life. It is very easy to arrange tours in the city, and most hostels will offer you a selection of good value packages.
9. The ‘nightlife’ is a little more adventurous.
One of the reasons many backpackers complain about Hanoi is because of the midnight curfew, which is imposed on the streets and nightlife areas of the city. You might not be raving until 6 am like you might in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City, but for many visitors, this only encourages you to be a bit more adventurous with where you find your nighttime fun. Many nightclubs open until way after the curfew, but it is all done behind locked doors, by finding secret clubs under railway bridges or in the back of ‘closed’ bars.
If you fancy something a little different, the incredible Long Bien wholesale market runs from 1 am to sunrise under the Long Bien Bridge just outside the main city. It might not be an all-night rave, but it offers a unique glimpse into a side of Hanoi many other tourists might miss out on.
10. It is the perfect spot to begin or end a trip to South East Asia.
Thinking about an extended trip around South East Asia but not sure where to begin? Hanoi is a great choice! With an international airport, easy flights around the region, and transport to other spots in Vietnam and Northern Laos, it is a very convenient city to begin or end a trip. It is also beautiful and unique, and unlike any other capital in the region. With a whole heap of things to do, a convenient backpacker atmosphere, and some of the best food and shopping in South East Asia, it is time more people added Hanoi to their bucket lists!
