6 must see and do things in Hanoi / Hanoi Travel Guide

You should take your time for Hanoi. Because Vietnam’s capital not only offers numerous sights, but also colourful, bustling markets and sometimes very authentic life.

What visitors should expect, however, is a traffic volume that can hardly be surpassed. If you don’t mind that, you will fall in love with Hanoi.

Despite the omnipresent traffic chaos, Hanoi is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia. But it is not only the numerous sights that make Hanoi so attractive for tourists, but also the colorful and often very authentic life.

Temple of Literature / Hanoi Travel Guide

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi does not serve religious purposes, but was an educational center for highly gifted young people from the beginning. The building complex was dedicated to the wise Confucius in 1076 and has since been considered the country’s first university.

Today, visitors can tour the five courtyards and stroll through them along winding paths. The names of the students are immortalized there on steles, along with awards and achievements. A beautiful park with lotus and water lily ponds borders the temple.

For the residents of Hanoi, the Temple of Literature is not only of the greatest cultural importance, it is also one of the quietest and most peaceful places in the otherwise turbulent city. Many visitors from Europe describe the special harmony that can be felt in the almost thousand-year-old walls as a “profound experience”.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located on the large Ba Dinh Square. For the Vietnamese, this building is one of the most important sights in the country. They come there to pay respect to their “Uncle Ho”, the revolutionary and politician who died in 1969.

Since 1975, Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body has been on display in the mausoleum’s heavy and somber halls. Strict rules of conduct apply in the building, such as a ban on speaking, appropriate clothing and a ban on photography. Standing in front of the body with your hands in your pockets is considered disrespectful.

One Pillar Pagoda

The One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) in West Lake is one of the oldest pagodas in the city and is considered a Hanoi landmark. The wooden temple was built on a log more than 1000 years ago. According to legend, a king had the pagoda built out of gratitude because, miraculously, he had suddenly become a father.

In the 1950s, the original tree trunk could not be saved due to rot and was replaced with a concrete pillar. It is worth taking some time and walking around the lake. Because the residential buildings around it are among the most beautiful and impressive in Hanoi.

Rickshaw ride through the old town

Taking a cycle rickshaw through the 36 alleys of the old town is not without its dangers due to the high volume of traffic, but it gives you a good impression of the special attitude towards life in the city.

In addition to numerous restaurants and shops, the old town is characterized above all by the handicraft businesses, some of which have existed for generations.

Water puppet show

A visit to a water puppet theater is also a must in Hanoi. Playing with the dolls, which can be up to one meter tall, has been a tradition in Vietnam for more than 1000 years. The myths and legends around which many plays revolve are at least as old.

If you haven’t done it elsewhere in Vietnam before, you should try pho at least once in Hanoi. The aromatic soup is prepared with lots of fresh herbs, rice noodles and beef. In some places, vegetarian options are also offered.