A photograph of Hanoi

City guide · Vietnam

Hanoi

Hanoi’s main visitor core surrounds Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, with the French Quarter immediately south and east. The Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh po...

Photograph · NKSTTSSHNVN · CC BY-SA 4.0

5,813 Places
Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, bus, taxi and verified ride-hailing

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Hanoi

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Hanoi’s main visitor core surrounds Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, with the French Quarter immediately south and east. The Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh political and museum district, West Lake and outer craft villages form separate clusters. Walk the dense central streets, then use public transport or a verified ride service for longer links and regional excursions.

Checked 2026-08-26

Practical information

Language spoken
Vietnamese
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+84
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Vietnamese đồng (VND)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and C · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

September · September combines a 31.6°C mean high and 24.7°C mean low in Hanoi with 195 mm of normal rain across 14 rain days.

  1. January: good time to visit
  2. February: good time to visit
  3. March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  6. June: recurring difficult conditions
  7. July: recurring difficult conditions
  8. August: recurring difficult conditions
  9. September: viable with meaningful trade-offs — current month
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: best time to visit
  12. December: best time to visit

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Cau Giay Park Cau Giay Park
    07 1 hour

    Cau Giay Park

    Công viên Cầu Giấy

    Cau Giay Park, known locally as Công viên Cầu Giấy, is a public green space located in the Cau Giay District of Hanoi, Vietnam. The park serves as a recreational area for residents and visitors to the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  2. Indira Gandhi Park Indira Gandhi Park
    08 1 hour

    Indira Gandhi Park

    Công viên Indira Gandhi

    Indira Gandhi Park, known locally as Công viên Indira Gandhi, is a public green space in Hanoi named after the former Prime Minister of India.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  3. Diên Hồng Park Diên Hồng Park
    09 1 hour

    Diên Hồng Park

    Vườn hoa Diên Hồng

    Dien Hong Park, known locally as Vườn hoa Diên Hồng, is a green space in Hanoi, Vietnam. The park contributes to the city's network of public recreational areas, offering residents and visitors an outdoor environment within the urban fabric.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  4. Chí Linh Park Chí Linh Park
    10 1 hour

    Chí Linh Park

    Vườn hoa Lý Thái Tổ

    Ly Thai To Park, locally known as Vườn hoa Lý Thái Tổ, is a public park in central Hanoi situated near Hoan Kiem Lake.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  5. Book Street
    11 1 hour

    Book Street

    Phố Sách Hà Nội

    Hanoi Book Street, known locally as Phố Sách Hà Nội, is a pedestrian-oriented cultural space dedicated to literature and reading. Located in the heart of Vietnam's capital, this street transforms a section of urban thoroughfare into a book-focused destination.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  6. Ba Vi National Park Ba Vi National Park
    12 1 hour

    Ba Vi National Park

    Vườn quốc gia Ba Vì

    Ba Vi National Park is a mountainous protected landscape west of Hanoi, rising above the Red River Delta. It is a strong choice when you want forest, cooler mountain air, and open countryside instead of another urban attraction.

    • Must see
    • Nature site

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

The Old Quarter occupies the streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake, while the French Quarter extends south and east around major civic and cultural buildings. Ba Dinh lies west with the Ho Chi Minh complex and national museums. West Lake forms another northern circuit, and the Temple of Literature sits between the centre and Ba Dinh. Outlying villages and landscapes need separate transport plans.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and the French Quarter, taking care in dense traffic. Vietnam’s official tourism guide lists taxis, buses, motorbikes and ride-hailing services for wider journeys, with an extensive city bus network. Cyclos are presented as a sightseeing option around the Old Quarter. Confirm routes and use reputable operators for motorised travel.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Hanoi?

A fixed official stay length is not recorded. Cover Hoan Kiem and the Old Quarter first, then add Ba Dinh, West Lake and outer excursions according to time.

When is a good time to visit Hanoi?

Vietnam Tourism identifies April to June as inviting and also highlights September and October, when temperatures cool and skies tend to clear.

Is Hanoi Old Quarter walkable?

Yes. The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake form the main central walking area, though visitors should take care around dense street traffic.

How do visitors travel beyond central Hanoi?

The official tourism guide lists buses, taxis, motorbikes and ride-hailing services. Use reputable providers and check the current route before departure.

Which Hanoi districts should be planned separately?

Treat Ba Dinh, West Lake and outer villages as separate blocks from the Hoan Kiem–Old Quarter core. This avoids repeated cross-city travel.