10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN HANOI 

Hanoi, a 1000-year-old city, is not only famous for its rich history but also for its unique and fascinating experiences. From around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, to the award- winning Vietnamese cuisine , you can learn about Hanoi’s history. Join Melon Travel to discover the 10 best things to do in Hanoi.

1. Explore Hanoi Old Quarter 

Exploring Hanoi Old Quarter is the best thing to do in Hanoi. Located in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi Old Quarter consists of 36 wards. Each street has its own characteristics and is named after the media items sold here. Coming here, visitors can visit attractive places such as Ma May Ancient House, Bach Ma Temple, O Quan Chuong Gate or Dong Xuan Market. 

When it comes to food, Hanoi Old Quarter is a foodie’s paradise and one of the best things to do in Hanoi. Sitting around the bustling streets while enjoying the attractive and delicious dishes is a truly enjoyable experience. Exploring Hanoi Old Quarter cuisine is an exciting adventure, each dish contains interesting stories.

2. Enjoy Hanoi water puppet show

Water puppetry is a traditional art form that offers visitors a unique insight into Vietnamese culture. Originating in the Red River Delta, this traditional art form is performed on water, with artisans standing behind the curtain and expertly controlling the puppets. The plays often depict the daily lives of Vietnamese people. 

Attending a water puppet show is one of the best things to do in Hanoi, usually held at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, where visitors can enjoy engaging and colorful performances. Water puppetry has given visitors an authentic look into Vietnamese history and culture, making it one of the must-do activities when visiting the city.

3. Try egg coffee – One of the best in Vietnamese cuisine 

Egg coffee is an extremely interesting experience for anyone who wants to enjoy an exclusive version of traditional Vietnamese coffee. This drink is made by whisking eggs with special milk, adding a little sugar and vanilla then transferring to hot espresso. Ca Giang is the first cafe to brew this type of coffee, bringing visitors an interesting experience. The unique combination of eggs and coffee brings an exclusive recipe, which can carry out the culture of Hanoi. If you are a foodie, this is definitely one of the best things to do in Hanoi that you must try.

4. Visit the Temple of Literature – Symbol of Hanoi Capital 

The Temple of Literature is a must-see attraction when visiting Hanoi. Built in 1070, the Temple of Literature is Vietnam’s first university – a place that preserves the mark and history of Vietnam. The highlight of the relic is the stone stele engraved with the names of doctors through the dynasties. Visitors coming here can not only admire the architecture but also learn about the cultural and educational history of Vietnam. 

Today, this relic has become an attractive destination, attracting many tourists, bearing the mark of Vietnamese education and intellectuals. During important exams, students often come here to pray for luck. Hanoi is constantly developing, but the Temple of Literature still retains its pristine and majestic beauty.

5. Enjoy Hanoi street food – One of the best things to do in Hanoi

“What to eat in Hanoi” is certainly the question of many tourists when coming to Vietnam because Vietnam is not only a country with a unique culture but also a place with a rich and diverse cuisine. The sophistication in the way of processing and the harmonious combination of ingredients make tourists remember it forever after eating it once. Hanoi Pho attracts tourists with its soft noodles, elegant broth, green onions and herbs. Bun cha is also a must-try dish, served with pieces of marinated meat, sweet and sour sauce and many kinds of vegetables.

In addition, La Vong fish cakes also attract tourists with their crispy golden crust served with an attractive dipping sauce. It would be a mistake to walk around Hanoi’s Old Quarter without enjoying a cup of egg coffee. The rich cream layer and fragrant coffee aroma create a very special flavor that you will definitely love. Don’t forget to enjoy Hanoi street food such as bread, West Lake fried shrimp cakes or Trang Tien ice cream.

6. Make your own pottery at Bat Trang Pottery Village

Among the wonderful things in Hanoi, the experience of making pottery in Bat Trang pottery village is no stranger to tourists when coming to Hanoi. This is an extremely famous traditional craft village in Hanoi. This pottery village is where diverse and unique handmade ceramic products are produced. What is special is that visitors can directly watch artisans make products with their professional and delicate hands. 

Most visitors here enjoy the experience of making their own products. In addition, visitors will be extremely surprised when coming to Bat Trang Ceramic Museum – a famous construction that you must visit. Today, Bat Trang ceramic village still retains its ancient cultural beauty and has become the most wonderful destination in Hanoi in the eyes of tourists.

7. Tinh Hoa Bac Bo performance program – A cultural destination not to be missed in Hanoi

The Tinh Hoa Bac Bo program is known as the first reality show in Vietnam, recreating the cultural beauty of the ancient Northern region in a vivid and authentic way. The program brings the audience a journey to discover the nature and culture of the Vietnamese people in the Red River Delta. In addition, the program also has a modern, professional sound and lighting system, promising to bring great performances and memorable experiences to visitors. If you are a lover of learning about Vietnamese history and culture, this is the best activity in Hanoi that you must try.

8. Explore Hanoi from above by double-decker bus

If you are someone who likes to explore Hanoi from above, the double-decker bus is the best choice when coming to Hanoi. With a spacious space of about 80 seats, the bus will take you through 25 streets and see famous landmarks of Hanoi from above such as the Opera House, Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. 

Sitting on the double-decker bus, you can enjoy the cool air especially in autumn and spring. Besides, this bus is very special because it is fully equipped with amenities and brings visitors great experiences. At the stops, the automatic commentary system on the bus will introduce visitors to the history, culture and characteristics of each destination.

9. Learn about Vietnamese history at the Hanoi Museum

Hanoi Museum is a famous destination. It is famous for its impressive architecture and houses many rare collections and artifacts. Visitors can admire bronze drums, ceramics, revolutionary artifacts, and jade artifacts. Visitors will visit and learn about historical stories. With more than 70,000 vivid documents and artifacts, Hanoi Museum will take visitors on a journey to discover the history – culture – life of Hanoi people and the development of this city. 

Hanoi Museum is the only museum in Vietnam that applies the Oriental Crown building in China and the inverted pyramid in Slovakia. This place creates a “virtual” feeling, as if it is floating in the air and is a clear impression of the cultural exchange and continuity in the integration process.

10. Try on “Ao Dai” – Vietnam’s traditional costume 

When you come to Hanoi, don’t forget to try on Ao Dai – the traditional Vietnamese costume for both men and women. Ao Dai has become a symbol of Vietnamese culture, always appearing in important events of the country. During your journey to explore Vietnam, you can see Vietnamese people wearing Ao Dai in many events. Vietnamese people often wear Ao Dai in weddings, graduation ceremonies or Lunar New Year. Today, Ao Dai still retains its traditional features. Ao Dai is not only a traditional costume, but it represents Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese people. 

On your journey to explore Vietnam, Melon Travel hopes that this guide to the 10 best things to do in Hanoi will help make your trip easier. From culture, cuisine to history, it will definitely bring you memorable experiences in this S-shaped country.