{"id":27,"date":"2025-09-04T15:08:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T06:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/?gallery=sample-gallery2"},"modified":"2026-09-15T19:14:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T10:14:26","slug":"hanoi","status":"publish","type":"area_post","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/area_post\/hanoi\/","title":{"rendered":"Hanoi sightseeing guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a northern ancient city with a thousand years of history. Centered on Hoan Kiem Lake, it packs in a maze-like Old Quarter, French colonial architecture, and historic sites such as the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It's also the birthplace of egg coffee, a city where street walks and caf\u00e9-hopping never run dry. This page pulls together everything from the city's overall picture, how to get around, standard spots, model courses, food, souvenirs, and the latest topics, and guides you to individual articles on caf\u00e9s, news, and souvenirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Location<\/th><td>Northern capital<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Population<\/th><td>About 8.5 million<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Best season<\/th><td>October\u2013November, March\u2013April<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Suggested days<\/th><td>3 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Language<\/th><td>Vietnamese (English also understood in tourist areas)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Currency<\/th><td>Vietnamese dong (VND)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Time difference from Japan<\/th><td>-2 hours<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What kind of city is Hanoi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. If Ho Chi Minh City is the country's commercial center, this is its political and cultural one. A thousand years have passed since the Ly dynasty established its capital here in 1010, and the city you walk through today is a stack of layers: dynastic rule, French administration, socialism. In 2025 it drew 33.7 million visitors, 7.82 million of them from abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Quarter, French Quarter, West Lake: three faces of one city<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Area<\/th><th>Nature<\/th><th>How to spend your time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)<\/strong><\/td><td>A maze of lanes filled with street stalls and shops. The 36 streets, where each trade has a street of its own<\/td><td><strong>Wandering around becomes the point.<\/strong>Chaotic and loud<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>French Quarter<\/strong><\/td><td>Tree-lined avenues and colonial architecture. The Opera House, the Metropole<\/td><td>Quiet and refined. Right next to the Old Quarter, yet the air is completely different<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>West Lake (Ho Tay)<\/strong><\/td><td>A residential area with wide streets. The caf\u00e9s and restaurants are a cut above<\/td><td>Fifteen minutes by car from the Old Quarter. Where long-term residents gather<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In sheer density of things to see, the Old Quarter and its surroundings can eat up several days on their own. West Lake is where you go if you have one more night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">[Important] Districts disappeared from addresses in July 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a sweeping reorganization of administrative divisions,<strong>Hanoi also abolished the district (qu\u1eadn) tier<\/strong>went through. The former 30 urban and rural districts were dissolved and reorganized into 126 wards and communes, and \"Hoan Kiem District\" is now \"Hoan Kiem Ward.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trouble is that<strong>most addresses online still use the old format<\/strong>. Guidebooks and restaurant sites have not caught up. When you go looking for a place, don't rely on the district name \u2014 search by<strong>the street name and building number<\/strong>. The addresses in this article are written with that in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting to Hanoi and getting around<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Direct flights from Japan: Shizuoka joined the list in 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Noi Bai Airport (HAN) is served by direct flights from Japan's major airports. Alongside Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu and Fukuoka,<strong>a Shizuoka\u2013Hanoi route launched on April 28, 2026<\/strong>. Vietjet flies it three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, using A321neo and A320 aircraft. Since Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport opened, it is<strong>the first scheduled service linking Shizuoka with Southeast Asia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>From Shizuoka: VJ1981<\/th><td>Shizuoka 10:30 \u2192 Hanoi 14:00 (5 hours 30 minutes)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>From Hanoi: VJ1980<\/th><td>Hanoi 02:40 \u2192 Shizuoka 09:30 (4 hours 50 minutes)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kansai route is getting stronger too. Vietnam Airlines<strong>is adding an afternoon flight from October 26, 2026<\/strong>, running four times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), and<strong>from December 1 it goes daily, with two flights a day<\/strong>. Fukuoka is already daily, and Hiroshima has three flights a week in the summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for visas,<strong>Japanese nationals are exempt for 45 days<\/strong>. The measure runs from March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2028, and applies regardless of passport type or purpose of entry. The old rule that barred re-entry within 30 days of leaving the country has also been dropped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Noi Bai Airport into the city<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Means<\/th><th>Fee<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Airport Bus No. 86<\/strong><\/td><td>45,000\u201350,000 dong<\/td><td>60\u201370 minutes<\/td><td><strong>The cheapest and most dependable option.<\/strong>Runs via the Old Quarter and Hanoi Station. Departs the airport 6:40\u201322:15<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Grab<\/td><td>From 350,000 dong<\/td><td>About 35 minutes<\/td><td>24 hours. Pick-up is at either end of the arrivals hall exit<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Taxi (metered)<\/td><td>400,000\u2013500,000 dong<\/td><td>About 35 minutes<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fixed-fare taxi<\/td><td>500,000 dong per car to the Old Quarter<\/td><td>About 35 minutes<\/td><td>Arranged at the tourist information desk in the arrivals hall<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Airline minibus<\/td><td>Vietnam Airlines 40,000 \/ Vietjet 60,000 dong<\/td><td>About 40 minutes<\/td><td>6:30\u201319:30, hourly<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sources disagree on the No. 86 bus fare: 35,000, 45,000 or 50,000 dong. Some say it rose in 2026, and we could not pin down the current figure.<strong>Having around 50,000 dong on hand will cover it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The metro: no, it does not reach Hanoi Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where Japanese-language articles often get it wrong. The official route map shows all 12 stations, which invites the misreading, but<strong>Line 3 currently only takes you as far as Cau Giay (C\u1ea7u Gi\u1ea5y)<\/strong>\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Line<\/th><th>Section in service<\/th><th>Number of stations<\/th><th>Service<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Line 2A<\/strong>(Cat Linh\u2013Yen Nghia)<\/td><td><strong>Fully open<\/strong>(about 13 km)<\/td><td>12 stations<\/td><td>5:30\u201322:00, every 5\u201310 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Line 3<\/strong>(Nhon\u2013Hanoi Station)<\/td><td><strong>Elevated section from Nhon to Cau Giay only<\/strong>(opened August 2024)<\/td><td>8 stations<\/td><td>Same as left<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Past Cau Giay, the roughly 4 km underground stretch of Line 3 to Hanoi Station is still under construction, and<strong>the full line is not expected to open until December 2027<\/strong>. Cat Linh station is planned as an interchange between the two lines, but with the Line 3 side not yet open,<strong>you cannot transfer there for now<\/strong>\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Single-ride ticket<\/th><td>9,000\u201319,000 dong (slightly cheaper with cashless payment)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>1-day pass<\/th><td>40,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Weekly pass<\/th><td>160,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Honestly,<strong>don't count on it for getting around as a tourist<\/strong>. The metro doesn't run to Hoan Kiem Lake or the Old Quarter, and while Cat Linh station on Line 2A is the closest, even that is not within walking distance. Treat it as a ride worth trying rather than a way to get around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">[From July 2026] Motorbikes stop in the Old Quarter on weekends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A pilot low-emission zone (LEZ) started on July 1, 2026.<\/strong>You'll see this flattened into \"Hanoi has banned gasoline motorbikes,\" but the actual scope is much narrower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Covered area<\/th><td>In Hoan Kiem ward, it covers<strong>just 11 streets<\/strong>(about 0.5 km\u00b2)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Streets covered<\/th><td>Tr\u00e0ng Ti\u1ec1n\uff0fH\u00e0ng Khay\uff0fL\u00ea Th\u00e1i T\u1ed5\uff0fH\u00e0ng \u0110\u00e0o\uff0fH\u00e0ng Ngang\uff0fH\u00e0ng Bu\u1ed3m\uff0fM\u00e3 M\u00e2y\uff0fH\u00e0ng B\u1ea1c\uff0fH\u00e0ng M\u1eafm\uff0fNguy\u1ec5n H\u1eefu Hu\u00e2n\uff0fL\u00fd Th\u00e1i T\u1ed5<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Restricted hours<\/th><td>Friday evening until 24:00; Saturday and Sunday from morning until 24:00<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Ride-hailing and delivery<\/th><td>Commercial use of gasoline motorbikes is banned outright<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For travelers, this is good news.<strong>On weekend nights there are fewer motorbikes in the center of the Old Quarter, and it is easier to walk.<\/strong>There are practical benefits as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>For one year from July 1, 2026, public buses inside Ring Road 1 are free<\/strong>(45 routes run through the zone; tourist and commercial coaches are excluded)<\/li><li>In Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards,<strong>44 public bike-share stations with 456 bicycles<\/strong>have been set up<\/li><li>220 parking areas are being built<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The restrictions are planned to widen in stages, covering the entire area inside Ring Road 1 (more than 26 km\u00b2) from 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi's standard sightseeing spots<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Admission fees for the major historic sites were revised in January 2024 under a Hanoi city resolution. Many articles still quote the old prices, so use the table below as your reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Spot<\/th><th>Admission<\/th><th>Time<\/th><th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Temple of Literature<\/strong>\uff08V\u0103n Mi\u1ebfu\uff09<\/td><td>70,000 dong<\/td><td>8:00\u301c17:00<\/td><td>Discounts are available for students, seniors and others (check the conditions at the ticket window).<strong>Night tours on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 18:30\u201322:00<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Thang Long Citadel<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>100,000 dong<\/strong><\/td><td>8:00\u301c17:00<\/td><td>Raised from 70,000 in January 2025. Free on November 23<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hoa Lo Prison<\/strong><\/td><td>50,000 dong<\/td><td>8:00\u301c17:00<\/td><td><strong>Open year-round<\/strong>(open on public holidays and Tet)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ngoc Son Temple<\/strong>(Hoan Kiem Lake)<\/td><td>50,000 dong<\/td><td>7:00\u201319:00 (until 22:00 Fri\u2013Sun)<\/td><td>Free for under-16s<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Quan Thanh Temple<\/td><td>10,000 dong<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Tran Quoc Pagoda<\/strong>(West Lake)<\/td><td>5,000 dong<\/td><td>8:00\u301c16:00<\/td><td>6:00\u201318:00 on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vietnam Museum of Ethnology<\/td><td>40,000 dong<\/td><td>8:30\u301c17:30<\/td><td><strong>Closed Mondays<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum \u2014 hours change with the day and the season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Admission is free, but<strong>the days and times you can actually visit are tightly limited<\/strong>. It is not open in the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Hot season (Apr 1 \u2013 Oct 31)<\/th><td>7:30\u301c10:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Cool season (Nov 1 \u2013 Mar 31)<\/th><td>8:00\u301c11:00<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Open days<\/th><td>Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun<\/td><\/tr><tr><th><strong>Closed days<\/strong><\/th><td><strong>Monday and Friday<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a dress code.<strong>No shorts, miniskirts, sleeveless tops or tank tops<\/strong>. Inside, photography and talking are both banned, and you are not allowed to put your hands in your pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>One more thing worth knowing.<\/strong>Every year, to maintain the preserved body, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum has<strong>a scheduled closure lasting several months<\/strong>. In 2025 it was shut from June 2 to July 31. The dates shift from year to year, and several unsourced schedules circulate online.<strong>If this is the reason for your trip, check the official announcement before you go.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Train Street \u2014 not a question with a yes-or-no answer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the stretch where caf\u00e9s line up right against the tracks,<strong>in March 2025 the Hanoi authorities asked tour operators not to bring tourists there<\/strong>, and visits on tours are banned. The reason is railway safety, and this is not the first time such a measure has been taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going on your own is a gamble: some days barricades and guards keep you out, other days a caf\u00e9 owner waves you in and you get a seat. The treatment changes from day to day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city has also floated<strong>a plan to halt train services on this section altogether<\/strong>, and the handover of national railway infrastructure to the city is moving ahead.<strong>This is very likely a sight that will disappear<\/strong>, so keep that in mind. Treat it as a lucky bonus rather than the anchor of your plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Long Bien Bridge \u2014 open to traffic again since May 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Built in the early 1900s, this steel bridge had been flagged as deteriorating for years.<strong>Emergency repairs ran from March 28, 2026, and the bridge reopened on May 27<\/strong>\u3002<strong>From May 28, motorbikes and pedestrians can cross in both directions<\/strong>. You can walk across it again, so early morning and evening are the prettiest times to take in the Red River and the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hoan Kiem Lake \u2014 the east shore is under construction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lake sits at the center of the city, and the promenade around it is a classic walk.<strong>From 19:00 Friday to 24:00 Sunday, the surrounding streets turn into a pedestrian zone<\/strong>. That said, elections and public holidays often suspend it or shift the hours at short notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Right now it comes with a caveat.<\/strong>A 2.14-hectare plaza and park project is under way on the east side of the lake, and the landmark building known as the \"shark's mouth\" began coming down on June 19, 2025, with demolition all but finished by mid-July that year.<strong>The views and the way you move around have changed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi model course<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three days covers the main sights. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum only opens in the morning and closes Monday and Friday, so<strong>build the plan backwards from the mausoleum's schedule<\/strong>\u2014 that is how you avoid a wasted morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 1 \u2014 settle into the Old Quarter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Time<\/th><th>Behavior<\/th><th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Morning<\/td><td>Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple<\/td><td>Admission 50,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Day<\/td><td>If the pho breakfast window has closed, go for bun cha<\/td><td>such as H\u01b0\u01a1ng Li\u00ean (24 L\u00ea V\u0103n H\u01b0u)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Afternoon<\/td><td>Walk the 36 streets of the Old Quarter<\/td><td>See how each trade clusters on its own street<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Evening<\/td><td>Egg coffee<\/td><td>Cafe Gi\u1ea3ng (39 Nguy\u1ec5n H\u1eefu Hu\u00e2n) is where it started<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Night<\/td><td>Bia hoi on Ta Hien Street<\/td><td>Draft beer brewed that same day<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 2 \u2014 the historic sites in one sweep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Time<\/th><th>Behavior<\/th><th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>7:30\u301c8:00<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Closed Mon and Fri. Mornings only. Dress code applies<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Morning<\/td><td>Thang Long Citadel<\/td><td>Within walking distance. Admission 100,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Day<\/td><td>Cha ca<\/td><td>14 Ch\u1ea3 C\u00e1 or 6B D\u01b0\u01a1ng Th\u00e0nh<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Afternoon<\/td><td>Temple of Literature<\/td><td>Admission 70,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Evening<\/td><td>Hoa Lo Prison<\/td><td>Until 17:00. Open year-round<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 3 \u2014 West Lake or the metro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day 3 comes down to what you feel like.<strong>For a slower pace, West Lake<\/strong>\u2014 see Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple, then spend the time at a lakeside caf\u00e9.<strong>To see more of the city, ride Metro Line 2A<\/strong>and watch it spread out below from the elevated track. Heading back to the Old Quarter in the afternoon to buy souvenirs makes a tidy finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you are staying over a weekend<\/strong>, 11 streets in the heart of the Old Quarter close to motorbikes from Friday evening through Sunday. Walking the area in those hours is far more comfortable than on a weekday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi food and specialties<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compared with the south, Hanoi cooking is<strong>less sweet, with clearer broths<\/strong>. In the Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026, announced on June 4, 2026, Hanoi took<strong>four one-star restaurants<\/strong>(Gia \/ Hibana by Koki \/ T\u1ea7m V\u1ecb \/ ONVIT) and<strong>23 Bib Gourmand listings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pho \u2014 every shop has its own way<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Shops<\/th><th>Address<\/th><th>Characteristics<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Ph\u1edf Gia Truy\u1ec1n<\/strong>(Bat Dan)<\/td><td>49 B\u00e1t \u0110\u00e0n<\/td><td>Expect a queue. You order and pay at the counter, then carry your own bowl to the table.<strong>6:00\u201310:00 and 18:00\u201320:30 only. Not open at midday<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ph\u1edf Th\u00ecn L\u00f2 \u0110\u00fac<\/strong><\/td><td>13 L\u00f2 \u0110\u00fac<\/td><td>Founded in 1979. One dish only: ph\u1edf b\u00f2 t\u00e1i l\u0103n, with beef and garlic seared over high heat before it goes on top<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ph\u1edf 10 L\u00fd Qu\u1ed1c S\u01b0<\/td><td>10 L\u00fd Qu\u1ed1c S\u01b0<\/td><td>Near the cathedral. Bib Gourmand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ph\u1edf G\u00e0 Nguy\u1ec7t<\/td><td>5B Ph\u1ee7 Do\u00e3n<\/td><td>Chicken pho<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shops on Bat Dan keep irregular hours, and<strong>if you turn up at midday they are closed<\/strong>. First thing in the morning is the safe bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bun cha \u2014 the place Obama ate at<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Charcoal-grilled pork and pork patties dunked in a sweet-and-sour broth and eaten with rice noodles: Hanoi's standard lunch.<strong>B\u00fan Ch\u1ea3 H\u01b0\u01a1ng Li\u00ean<\/strong>(24 L\u00ea V\u0103n H\u01b0u, 8:00\u201320:00) is known as the shop President Obama and Anthony Bourdain visited in May 2016, and it is still open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is hardly the only one. The Bib Gourmand list includes B\u00fan Ch\u1ea3 Chan (114 Mai H\u1eafc \u0110\u1ebf), Bun Cha Ta (21 Nguy\u1ec5n H\u1eefu Hu\u00e2n) and Tuy\u1ebft B\u00fan Ch\u1ea3 34 (34 H\u00e0ng Than).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cha ca \u2014 the dish that took a street's name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">White fish marinated in turmeric, cooked at the table in a pan with a mountain of dill and spring onion. A Hanoi original, credited to the Doan family in the 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ch\u1ea3 C\u00e1 L\u00e3 V\u1ecdng<\/strong>is at 14 Ch\u1ea3 C\u00e1 street, and<strong>the street itself takes its name from this dish<\/strong>. The other one,<strong>Ch\u1ea3 C\u00e1 Th\u0103ng Long<\/strong>(6B D\u01b0\u01a1ng Th\u00e0nh, 10:30\u201321:00), holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Egg coffee \u2014 invented in 1946 because there was no milk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Egg yolk and condensed milk whipped to a foam and floated on coffee, a Hanoi invention.<strong>Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n Gi\u1ea3ng came up with it in 1946<\/strong>. He was a bartender at what was then the Hotel Metropole (now the Sofitel Legend Metropole), and<strong>he used egg yolk in place of milk at a time when milk was impossible to get<\/strong>\u2014 that was the start of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The original shop<strong>Cafe Gi\u1ea3ng<\/strong>is still there at 39 Nguy\u1ec5n H\u1eefu Hu\u00e2n. On the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake,<strong>Cafe \u0110inh<\/strong>is also well known, and is said to be run by Gi\u1ea3ng's daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Hanoi dishes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>B\u00fan thang<\/strong>\u2014 a clear noodle soup topped with finely shredded chicken, omelette and ham<\/li><li><strong>B\u00fan ri\u00eau<\/strong>\u2014 tomato-tinged noodles with paddy crab paste floating on top<\/li><li><strong>B\u00e1nh cu\u1ed1n<\/strong>\u2014 steamed rice-flour cr\u00eapes. Thanh V\u00e2n (11 H\u00e0ng G\u00e0, founded 1973) made the Bib Gourmand list in 2026<\/li><li><strong>B\u00fan \u0111\u1eadu m\u1eafm t\u00f4m<\/strong>\u2014 fried tofu with fermented shrimp paste. Opinions split sharply<\/li><li><strong>Mi\u1ebfn l\u01b0\u01a1n<\/strong>\u2014 eel with glass noodles. 1 Ch\u00e2n C\u1ea7m, 87 H\u00e0ng \u0110i\u1ebfu<\/li><li><strong>Bia h\u01a1i<\/strong>\u2014 draft beer brewed the same day. Ta Hien Street<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi caf\u00e9s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We've put the caf\u00e9s you'll want to drop by in Hanoi into a table (from the shop name to the individual page).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Shop name<\/th><th>Genre<\/th><th>Characteristics<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/koi-the\/\">KOI Th\u00e9<\/a><\/td><td>Tea<\/td><td>A tea stand from Taiwan. The brown sugar boba macchiato is the draw<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/maison-marou\/\">Maison Marou<\/a><\/td><td>Chocolate<\/td><td>Bean-to-bar chocolate from Vietnamese cacao. Thick hot chocolate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/chatramue\/\">ChaTraMue<\/a><\/td><td>Tea<\/td><td>A long-established Thai tea brand. Vivid orange Thai milk tea<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/phe-la\/\">Ph\u00ea La<\/a><\/td><td>Tea<\/td><td>A tea-led caf\u00e9 using oolong from Da Lat. Milk tea is the mainstay<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/trung-nguyen-legend\/\">Trung Nguy\u00ean Legend<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Vietnam's biggest coffee brand. Serves weasel coffee and the G7 blend<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/cong-caphe\/\">Cong Ca Phe<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Retro interior modeled on the ration era. Known for coconut coffee<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/phuc-long\/\">Phuc Long Coffee &amp; Tea<\/a><\/td><td>Tea<\/td><td>Local chain with a strong tea lineup. Golden lotus tea and phin sua da<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/the-coffee-house\/\">The Coffee House<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Bright, roomy and good for getting work done. Peach jasmine lemongrass tea<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/trung-nguyen-e-coffee\/\">Trung Nguy\u00ean E-Coffee<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>A small Trung Nguyen outlet. Robusta blends and ca phe sua da<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/gong-cha\/\">Gong Cha<\/a><\/td><td>Tea<\/td><td>Taiwanese bubble tea shop. Brown sugar pearl milk tea<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/nagocha-matcha\/\">Nagocha Matcha<\/a><\/td><td>Matcha<\/td><td>Uses matcha from Uji and Kagoshima. Matcha lattes and Japanese sweets<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/king-coffee\/\">King Coffee<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Robusta-led blends. Beans to take home as well<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/aha-cafe\/\">Aha Cafe<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Budget chain you see on street corners everywhere. Vietnamese-style ca phe sua da<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/starbucks-vietnam\/\">Starbucks Vietnam<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Has a phin coconut latte sold only in Vietnam<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/milano-coffee\/\">Milano Coffee<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Cheap by the cup, no frills. Ca phe sua da and drip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/passio-coffee\/\">Passio Coffee<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Small shop built around takeaway. Cold brew<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe-shop\/katinat\/\">Katinat Saigon Kafe<\/a><\/td><td>Coffee<\/td><td>Photogenic interior. Avocado milk and roasted milk<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Souvenirs to buy in Hanoi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Souvenirs in Hanoi are easy to confuse with \"souvenirs from Vietnam in general.\"<strong>Things unique to this city<\/strong>\u2014 narrowing it down that way makes choosing much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Item<\/th><th>Guide<\/th><th>Where<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Bat Trang ceramics<\/strong><\/td><td>Small plates from around 50,000 dong<\/td><td><strong>Ceramics from the pottery village on the outskirts of Hanoi.<\/strong>Dragonfly, lotus, goldfish and chrysanthemum motifs.<strong>Wholesalers sit in the basement of Dong Xuan Market, cheaper than the goods shops in the Old Quarter<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>lotus tea<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>Made with lotus from West Lake. Supermarkets and specialty shops<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Silk on Hang Gai Street<\/strong><\/td><td>Scarves from 150,000 dong<\/td><td>The silk street in the Old Quarter<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>O mai (candied fruit)<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>A traditional Hanoi sweet<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Instant coffee, nuts, dried fruit<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>For handing out to a crowd. Supermarkets are cheapest<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For shopping,<strong>Mornings<\/strong>are the best time to shop. The Old Quarter fills up from late afternoon into the night. For Bat Trang ceramics you don't need to go out to the village \u2014 the basement of Dong Xuan Market has plenty to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi's latest topics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent developments around Hanoi are each covered in detail in their own article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/shizuoka-hanoi-flight\/\">The Shizuoka\u2013Hanoi direct flight launches for the first time \u2014 to Vietnam from the Mt. Fuji area with zero transfers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/hanoi-lez-hoankiem\/\">Cars vanish from Hanoi's Old Quarter on Friday-to-Sunday nights: a guide to walking the low-emission zone trial<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/hanoi-free-bus\/\">Buses in central Hanoi go free for a year \u2014 here's how travelers' transport changes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/hanoi-metro-airport\/\">Hanoi breaks ground on five metro lines at once: here\u2019s how airport access will change<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/train-street-hanoi\/\">Hanoi to Rethink the Route Behind Its \"Train Street\" Caf\u00e9s \u2014 the 30 Shops on Phung Hung and Le Duan<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/cafe-giang-eggcoffee\/\">Caf\u00e9 Giang, Down a Hanoi Alley: 80 Years Since Egg Coffee Was Invented<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/hanoi-hobbit-cafe\/\">A Hobbit Shire appears in Hanoi\u2019s Old Quarter: the round-doored Caf\u00e9 Giao Mua<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best season, budget, and trip preparation<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">October and November are best, followed by late March into April<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hanoi has<strong>four clearly distinct seasons<\/strong>. Turn up in January thinking of Vietnam as endless summer and you'll be shivering without a jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Month<\/th><th>High \/ Low<\/th><th>Rainfall<\/th><th>Rating<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>January<\/td><td>20\u2103\uff0f14\u2103<\/td><td>13mm<\/td><td><strong>Coldest stretch of the year.<\/strong>A jacket is essential<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>February<\/td><td>21\u2103\uff0f16\u2103<\/td><td>13mm<\/td><td>Least rain of the year, but drizzle and high humidity<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>March<\/td><td>24\u2103\uff0f18\u2103<\/td><td>30mm<\/td><td>Comfortable, though often overcast and drizzly<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>April<\/strong><\/td><td>28\u2103\uff0f22\u2103<\/td><td>53mm<\/td><td><strong>\u25ce Best<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May<\/td><td>32\u2103\uff0f24\u2103<\/td><td>127mm<\/td><td>Heat sets in for real<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>June<\/td><td>33\u2103\uff0f26\u2103<\/td><td>160mm<\/td><td><strong>Hottest month.<\/strong>Rainy season<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>July<\/td><td>33\u2103\uff0f27\u2103<\/td><td>203mm<\/td><td>Most muggy. Typhoon season<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>August<\/td><td>32\u2103\uff0f26\u2103<\/td><td><strong>226mm (the wettest)<\/strong><\/td><td>Peak of the rainy season<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>September<\/td><td>31\u2103\uff0f25\u2103<\/td><td>173mm<\/td><td>Settles down in the second half<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>October<\/strong><\/td><td>29\u2103\uff0f22\u2103<\/td><td>84mm<\/td><td><strong>\u25ce Best<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>November<\/strong><\/td><td>26\u2103\uff0f19\u2103<\/td><td>46mm<\/td><td><strong>\u25ce Best<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>December<\/td><td>22\u2103\uff0f15\u2103<\/td><td>15mm<\/td><td>Dry and chilly<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The months to avoid are June to August<\/strong>(fierce heat, peak rainy season, typhoons) and<strong>January\u2013February<\/strong>(cold and drizzle, and many shops close over Tet). Annual rainfall runs to about 1,600mm, and the muggy spell lasts from late February through November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pickpockets and taxis \u2014 how it actually happens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The UK government's travel advice for Vietnam names Hanoi and spells out the specifics (the advice covers the whole country).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Petty crime is common in Hanoi and at tourist spots, and bag snatching from motorbikes is especially frequent.<\/strong>Carry your bag in front of you, or on the side away from the road.<strong>Cases rise from Christmas through Tet<\/strong><\/li><li>Use a ride-hailing app (Grab, Xanh SM).<strong>Check that the car and driver match what the app shows before you get in<\/strong><\/li><li>Keep your drink where you can see it. Don't take food or drink from strangers<\/li><li><strong>There have been deaths from methanol-laced alcohol even at licensed venues.<\/strong>A small amount can be fatal, and you can't detect it by taste or smell<\/li><li>Motorbike accidents are common. Helmets are required by law.<strong>If you cause an accident you may be unable to leave the country while it is under investigation<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common mix-up in taxis is<strong>misreading the meter.<\/strong>.<strong>A display of \"64.0\" means 64,000 dong, not 640,000 dong.<\/strong>Plenty of arguments start with that misunderstanding. Unlicensed taxis skip the meter, quote a flat fare and ask for 3 to 5 times the going rate. Stick to Grab, or Mai Linh (green) \/ Vinasun (white) \/ Xanh SM (light blue EVs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch out for the online declaration before arrival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vietnam is moving ahead with an online pre-arrival declaration (PAI). It started at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) on April 15, 2026, and<strong>a trial run at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) from the second week of June<\/strong>has begun as well. The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam describes it as \"recommended but not mandatory,\" while the US Embassy calls it \"mandatory,\" so<strong>the guidance is split<\/strong>. You can register free on the official site from 3 days before your planned arrival date, then show the QR code you receive at immigration. This is the sort of thing that changes at short notice, so<strong>check the immigration authority's official site (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) just before you travel.<\/strong>There's nothing to lose by filing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budget guide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Airport Bus No. 86<\/th><td>45,000\u201350,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Grab from the airport<\/th><td>From 350,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Metro day pass<\/th><td>40,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>A bowl of pho<\/th><td>Tens of thousands of dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Admission to the main historic sites<\/th><td>5,000 to 100,000 dong<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Hostel in the Old Quarter<\/th><td>8 to 12 dollars a night<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Luxury hotel in the French Quarter<\/th><td>From 150 to 400 dollars a night<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi hotels and where to stay<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hanoi is<strong>Where you stay changes the feel of the whole trip<\/strong>. The Old Quarter is convenient, but it stays lively deep into the night and is anything but quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Area<\/th><th>Nature<\/th><th>rough price range<\/th><th>Suited to<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)<\/strong><\/td><td>Street stalls and narrow lanes. Everything is walkable.<strong>Noisy<\/strong>. Mostly three-star and below<\/td><td>Hostels 8 to 12 dollars \/ boutique hotels 50 to 80 dollars<\/td><td><strong>A first trip to Hanoi, with walking the city as the priority<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>French Quarter<\/strong><\/td><td>Tree-lined streets and colonial architecture. Quiet and refined. Right beside the Old Quarter<\/td><td>From 150 to 400 dollars<\/td><td>Anyone who wants a calm base<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ba Dinh \/ Truc Bach<\/strong><\/td><td>Fewer tourists around. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Thang Long citadel are within walking distance<\/td><td>Mid to high<\/td><td>Travelers building the trip around historic sites<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>West Lake (Ho Tay)<\/strong><\/td><td>More residential, with wide streets. Caf\u00e9s and restaurants of real quality. 15 minutes by car from the Old Quarter<\/td><td>Serviced apartments 40 to 120 dollars<\/td><td><strong>Long stays, and anyone wanting peace and quiet<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main hotels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi<\/strong>(15 Ng\u00f4 Quy\u1ec1n, 358 rooms) \u2014 the symbol of the French Quarter. The man who came up with egg coffee was working here as a bartender at the time<\/li><li><strong>Capella Hanoi<\/strong>\u2014 right by the Opera House<\/li><li><strong>Hotel de l&#8217;Opera Hanoi &#8211; MGallery<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Pan Pacific Hanoi<\/strong>\u3001<strong>Lotte Hotel Hanoi<\/strong>\u2014 over toward Ba Dinh<\/li><li><strong>InterContinental Hanoi Westlake<\/strong>\u3001<strong>Sheraton Hanoi<\/strong>\u2014 West Lake<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Old Quarter has countless small and mid-sized boutique hotels, and even within the same price bracket the quality is hit or miss.<strong>Rooms facing the street are loud<\/strong>, so if you want to sleep, ask for a room at the back or take a step up in class in the French Quarter \u2014 you'll be happier with the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi on the map<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps?q=Hanoi,+Vietnam&#038;hl=ja&#038;output=embed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0\" loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<dl class=\"swell-block-faq\" data-q=\"col-text\" data-a=\"col-text\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-faq__item\"><dt class=\"faq_q\">How many days do I need for Hanoi sightseeing?<\/dt><dd class=\"faq_a\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you're touring the main sightseeing spots, at least 3 days is the guide. If you're also combining food and day trips to nearby cities, an itinerary with a bit more room to spare is recommended.<\/p>\n<\/dd><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-faq__item\"><dt class=\"faq_q\">Does English work in Hanoi?<\/dt><dd class=\"faq_a\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">English gets through at major tourist spots, hotels, and the airport. At local stalls and individual taxis it may not, so downloading the offline Japanese pack of the Google Translate app gives peace of mind.<\/p>\n<\/dd><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-faq__item\"><dt class=\"faq_q\">What's the convenient way to get around in Hanoi?<\/dt><dd class=\"faq_a\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ride-hailing app Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber) is most recommended for safety and clear pricing. For street taxis, using only reliable brand cars like \"Mai Linh\" and \"Vinasun\" is the safe bet. For short distances, motorbike taxis (Grab bike) are also useful.<\/p>\n<\/dd><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-faq__item\"><dt class=\"faq_q\">Can I use credit cards in Hanoi?<\/dt><dd class=\"faq_a\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mid-range and higher hotels, tourist-oriented restaurants, and large supermarkets accept Visa\/Master. However, stalls, local eateries, and markets are basically cash. Carrying around about 500,000\u20132,000,000 dong (about 3,000\u201313,000 yen) in cash a day gives peace of mind.<\/p>\n<\/dd><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hanoi related articles<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-postListWrap\"><ul class=\"p-postList -type-card -pc-col2 -sp-col1\"><li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-best-season\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-1c4a5c74-d2f5-435d-815e-c4b561a876b7-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-1c4a5c74-d2f5-435d-815e-c4b561a876b7-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-1c4a5c74-d2f5-435d-815e-c4b561a876b7-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-1c4a5c74-d2f5-435d-815e-c4b561a876b7-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-1c4a5c74-d2f5-435d-815e-c4b561a876b7.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">The best seasons for a Hanoi trip are spring and autumn! A month-by-month look at the climate and the times to avoid<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-stay-days\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-54b21bd8-7b0e-43f8-a92a-96459ebe01ad-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-54b21bd8-7b0e-43f8-a92a-96459ebe01ad-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-54b21bd8-7b0e-43f8-a92a-96459ebe01ad-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-54b21bd8-7b0e-43f8-a92a-96459ebe01ad-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-54b21bd8-7b0e-43f8-a92a-96459ebe01ad.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">Three Days and Two Nights Is the Sweet Spot for a First Trip to Hanoi: Model Itineraries by Trip Length, from a Resident<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-souvenir-guide\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-4a04d26f-c0e1-446b-8fe9-7b3f7d7b16e6-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-4a04d26f-c0e1-446b-8fe9-7b3f7d7b16e6-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-4a04d26f-c0e1-446b-8fe9-7b3f7d7b16e6-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-4a04d26f-c0e1-446b-8fe9-7b3f7d7b16e6-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-4a04d26f-c0e1-446b-8fe9-7b3f7d7b16e6.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">(2026 Update) 15 Souvenirs to Buy in Hanoi: Picks Chosen by Japanese Residents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-pho-best10\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5874d40a-3a1f-456f-8202-629136d3be6f-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5874d40a-3a1f-456f-8202-629136d3be6f-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5874d40a-3a1f-456f-8202-629136d3be6f-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5874d40a-3a1f-456f-8202-629136d3be6f-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5874d40a-3a1f-456f-8202-629136d3be6f.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">[Latest 2026] 8 recommended famous pho shops in Hanoi | Authentic flavors carefully selected by a Japanese resident<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-street-food\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5a41d96e-4a77-4dc7-9ed4-c2c5e4cd5acf-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5a41d96e-4a77-4dc7-9ed4-c2c5e4cd5acf-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5a41d96e-4a77-4dc7-9ed4-c2c5e4cd5acf-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5a41d96e-4a77-4dc7-9ed4-c2c5e4cd5acf-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-5a41d96e-4a77-4dc7-9ed4-c2c5e4cd5acf.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">Hanoi street food complete guide | Street eats you absolutely must try<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/travel-guide\/hanoi-street-food-guide\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-733bfcde-9d7c-4bc8-b6e7-c7f73625f9f8-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-733bfcde-9d7c-4bc8-b6e7-c7f73625f9f8-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-733bfcde-9d7c-4bc8-b6e7-c7f73625f9f8-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-733bfcde-9d7c-4bc8-b6e7-c7f73625f9f8-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/thumbnail-733bfcde-9d7c-4bc8-b6e7-c7f73625f9f8.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"56\">Travel guides<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">12 recommended spots for eating your way around Hanoi | Old Quarter food map<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2026-01-21\" aria-label=\"Release date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p-postList__item\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/cafe\/hanoi-cafe\/\" class=\"p-postList__link\">\n\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__thumb c-postThumb\">\n\t<figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"  src=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\u30cf\u30ce\u30a4\u306e\u8857\u306b\u96fb\u8eca\u304c\u8d70\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vietnam.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 960px) 400px, 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" >\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"c-postThumb__cat icon-folder\" data-cat-id=\"21\">Travel<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p-postList__title\">[Latest for 2026] Vietnam Hanoi Caf\u00e9 Guide | 8 picks a resident Japanese truly recommends<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-postList__times c-postTimes u-thin\">\n\t<time class=\"c-postTimes__posted icon-posted\" datetime=\"2025-09-15\" aria-label=\"Release date\">September 15, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u30cf\u30ce\u30a4\u306f\u30d9\u30c8\u30ca\u30e0\u306e\u9996\u90fd\u3067\u3001\u5343\u5e74\u306e\u6b74\u53f2\u3092\u6301\u3064\u5317\u90e8\u306e\u53e4\u90fd\u3002\u30db\u30a2\u30f3\u30ad\u30a8\u30e0\u6e56\u3092\u4e2d\u5fc3\u306b\u3001\u8ff7\u8def\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u65e7\u5e02\u8857\u3001\u30d5\u30e9\u30f3\u30b9\u690d\u6c11 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":137,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"swell_btn_cv_data":"","ssp_meta_description":"\u30d9\u30c8\u30ca\u30e0\u306e\u9996\u90fd\u30cf\u30ce\u30a4\u306f\u3001\u5343\u5e74\u306e\u6b74\u53f2\u3092\u6301\u3064\u5317\u90e8\u306e\u6587\u5316\u90fd\u5e02\u3002\u65e7\u5e02\u885736\u901a\u308a\u3067\u306e\u98df\u3079\u6b69\u304d\u3001\u30db\u30a2\u30f3\u30ad\u30a8\u30e0\u6e56\u306e\u6563\u7b56\u3001\u30db\u30fc\u30c1\u30df\u30f3\u5edf\u3001\u6587\u5edf\u306a\u3069\u3001\u30d5\u30e9\u30f3\u30b9\u60c5\u7dd2\u3068\u6771\u6d0b\u306e\u4f1d\u7d71\u304c\u6df7\u3056\u308a\u5408\u3046\u8857\u3067\u306e\u89b3\u5149\u30fb\u30b0\u30eb\u30e1\u60c5\u5831\u3092\u307e\u3068\u3081\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002","ssp_meta_keyword":"","ssp_meta_title":"\u30cf\u30ce\u30a4\u306e\u89b3\u5149\u30ac\u30a4\u30c9\uff5c\u65e7\u5e02\u8857\u3068\u6e56\u3068\u30e1\u30c8\u30ed\u3001\u5343\u5e74\u306e\u9996\u90fd\u3092\u6b69\u304f"},"purpose":[],"keyword":[],"location":[299],"class_list":["post-27","area_post","type-area_post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","location-hanoi"],"acf":{"name_en":"Hanoi","area_vn":"\u5317\u90e8","food":"\u30d5\u30a9\u30fc\u3001\u30d6\u30f3\u30c1\u30e3\u30fc\u3001\u30a8\u30c3\u30b0\u30b3\u30fc\u30d2\u30fc","day":"3\u65e5"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area_post\/27","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area_post"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/area_post"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"purpose","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purpose?post=27"},{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=27"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=27"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}