Hoan Kiem Lake, in the centre of the city of Hanoi, is a central meeting place for locals and tourists alike. From here, the Old Quarter, museums, temples, restaurants and shopping districts are only a stroll away.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Surrounded by leafy pathways perfect for jogging, relaxing or picnicking, this gleaming body of water also offers Ngoc Son Temple. Accessed by the picturesque, red, Rising Sun Bridge, Ngoc Son is a working temple and visitors may witness chanting monks among sprawling views of the lake.
The Old Quarter
A maze of jumbled shops and long, narrow tunnel houses, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a unique glimpse inside more than a thousand years of history.
Specialised streets selling specific merchandise include Pho Hang Quat, with temple items and candlesticks, and Pho Hang Gai with silk, paintings and embroidery on display for sale. Cosmetics, fake sunglasses, herbal medicine and musical instruments line narrow alleys, along with food stalls and modern restaurants.
Hanoi’s Old Quarter offers surprises at every turn, and can take hours or days to explore, depending on walking pace and shopping preferences.
Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Dubbed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’, Hoa Lo Prison was originally built by the French to house political prisoners. An array of torture implements, such as a French guillotine and rusted ankle chains are on display in dark chambers, along with photographs of American and Vietnamese prisoners. English speaking guides are available on site.
Cyclo Rides
Cyclos are an unavoidable and, at first sight, frightening mode of transport. Groups of men in tattered clothes, with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, lean against the three wheeled bikes, yelling out at tourists as they emerge from hotels.
Once they know the first names of unsuspecting tourists, through an introductory ride, it’s not uncommon for them to follow their ‘client’s’ about town, yelling out names in the hope of further business.
After a long day; lost, tired and hungry, this can be a blessing in disguise or an annoying hindrance. Either way, it’s a very cheap and easy way to get from one end of town to the other, and an exhilarating experience weaving through heavy traffic for thrill seekers.
Hanoi Restaurants
Overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, Restaurant Bobby Chinn blends Egyptian décor with flavours of the East and West. Floor to ceiling curtains segregate tables in a room so dark, diners are given torches to view the menus. The overall ambience is complimented by an eclectic menu and elegant locals.
Café des Arts is modelled on a Parisian brassiere and offers fine French food and an art gallery. Situated in the Old Quarter, the restaurant attracts the local Vietnamese art crowd and often holds cultural events.
A place where a wide, tree-lined, Parisian inspired boulevard can lead to a rabbit warren of markets selling chicken feet; the city of Hanoi’s unique mix of cultures continues to grow while holding history close.
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