The 19 best things to do in Hanoi
From puppet shows perfect for families to an overlooked Chinese assembly hall for heritage enthusiasts, and the sights that help demystify Vietnam's catastrophic war years, here are the best things to do in Hanoi.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best things to do in Hanoi. Find out more below, or for more Hanoi inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, bars and coffee houses.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Take an evening stroll
Hoan Kiem Lake overflows with stories, from the myth of the turtle god that snatched a sword from a king, to the episode when anti-imperialists tore down the lake's French-built statue de la liberté. The lake comes into its own on weekend evenings, when teenage hip-hop troupes make TikTok videos and toddlers roam around in remote-controlled mini 4WDs.
Insider tip: If you're not in Hanoi on the weekend, wake up early and explore the lake at dawn instead. This is when traffic is light but the lake is full of life, with dance groups, tai chi practitioners and laughter yogis.
Opening times: All day every day (pedestrianised Friday evening-Sunday evening)
Price: Free
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The Guardian
10 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘I feel equally rooted in bhangra and hyperpop, queer anthems and Sufi poetry': Pakistani star Ali Sethi on his defiant debut album
As a child, Ali Sethi was enthralled watching Sufi whirling – a religious dance – at nearby shrines in Punjab: 'There's this collective catharsis that takes place and, briefly, your caste, class, gender, appearance, they stop mattering. You have licence in an otherwise extremely hierarchical society to just express yourself.' This is something the 41-year-old Pakistani-American singer, songwriter and composer hopes to create himself. Though he's also a writer – be that his acclaimed 2009 novel, The Wish Maker, or contributions to publications such as the New Yorker – music became somewhere Sethi could be accepted, especially as a queer person growing up in Lahore. 'I think music has this shamanic function in south Asian culture,' he says, 'where things you cannot say in lay language you say in the love language of music.' Sethi's stratospheric, shiver-inducing voice dissolves cultural divides. Take Intiha, his sublime 2023 experimental album of Sufi poetry with Chilean-American musician Nicolás Jaar, or 2022's Pasoori, a bombastic raga-meets-reggaeton track which has surpassed a billion streams on YouTube Music, making it easily the biggest song to come out of Pakistan this century. When we speak, Sethi is about to release his debut solo album, Love Language, which builds on Pasoori's thundering, Technicolor global pop. Working with producers like Brockhampton's Romil Hemnani and Colombian musician Juan Ariza, it's exuberant and almost oversaturated, flecked with 00s R&B, Bollywood, drill rap, slinky flamenco, even a skit on the children's game 'akkad bakkad', all of it underlined with hallmarks of north Indian classical. Not everyone is pleased. Sethi trained under two of the greats of classical music, Ustad Saami and Farida Khanum, and his initial career was in that more traditional world; some fans yearn for 'the old Ali Sethi'. Though he's adamant about using south Asian ragas rather than western chord progressions to inform the melodies for his songs, Sethi recounts how even the esteemed Ustad Saami asked him whether his music lately is fusion or, simply, confusion. 'But I think in today's completely monstrous world, what could be a better reflection than confusion?' Sethi laughs. The work of Pakistani musicians, including Sethi, has been banned and removed from streaming services in India, where fans are forced to access the music via VPN due to escalating tensions between both countries. 'If you're looking at it from the point of view of ideologues, music is the one thing that has kept the populations of India and Pakistan deeply connected to one another,' he says. 'Every time the walls go up, the borders get re-erected but some song slips past, and there's an instant [release of] fellow feeling … this unspoken connection.' The brief outbreak of conflict between the two nations earlier this year has worsened the cultural divide. The opening track on Sethi's album was initially a duet with a well-known Bollywood singer, but a film industry body threatened that any Indian artist collaborating with a Pakistani artist would be blacklisted. The song is now censored, cut through with screams and distorted industrial textures. Sethi has also been unable to get a visa to enter India in nearly a decade. 'Ever since I started releasing music, my biggest audience has been in India, and it's the one place I've not been able to go,' he says. He wryly notes that the themes of 'forbidden love' he explores in his music are 'already in place' thanks to the travel ban. Inspired by Pakistani revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sethi's lyrics read like love songs, but they're layered with double-meanings about ethno-nationalism, Islamophobia, war, queerness and exile. On Bridegroom, he subverts a 13th-century qawwali sometimes sung at weddings, his untethered, gliding voice delivering coy lyrics that translate to 'don't ask about my husband'. This follows 'pretty rigorously orchestrated fake news' two years ago, falsely claiming Sethi and his partner, the Pakistani painter Salman Toor, had breached local law and married. He didn't know how to react, until the answer came in the form of this song. 'I realised the appropriate response is to troll them back with what they think of as semi-sacred music, saying, 'I refuse to give up my traditions.'' Sethi may laugh in defiance, but his words are tinged with sadness. 'These last few years have been a whirlwind, not always in the nicest ways,' he says. 'There's a lot of angst and despair, a lot of ruing the loss of a milieu, the loss of home – but also revelling in new homes, temporary shelters, finding community with other musicians in places like Los Angeles, London and New York.' He says the success of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is revitalising; the way he 'squares that distance between all these different communities.' Love Language, then, is Sethi's attempt at the same: a 'diary of displacement' with the accompanying tour set to be 'a variety show for the end times'. Mainly, he wants the music to be a refuge, and to capture his and his audience's multiplicities. 'I'm hoping it comes across as a work of synthesis rather than a work of assimilation,' Sethi says of his album, an attempt to make hybrid music without 'simplifying or diluting' any of its constituent parts. 'I feel equally rooted in Punjabi bhangra and hyperpop, equally conversant with queer club anthems and Sufi poetry; and, actually, I see all these connections all the time, because they dwell within me.' Love Language is out now on Zubberdust Media/The Orchard
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Why Vietnam is becoming more appealing to older travellers
'Hi, please can I have a conversation with you?' asks a 12-year-old Vietnamese boy named Peter, along with his younger brother Ethan, as I squeeze my way through a dense crowd of people in Hội An, the charming, well-preserved ancient town in central Vietnam. The pair started learning how to speak English six months ago and were keen to practise with foreign travellers seeking a combination of comfort, culture and adventure. Before we are interrupted by the pervasive motorcycle culture – forcing both locals and tourists to be street smart – Peter and I exchange a few basic questions and answers in English, as his father beams with pride from across the street. As I pass market stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, electric fans, phone accessories, lanterns, knock-off designer clothes and bags, and painted coconut shells, I make the mistake of catching the eye of a business-savvy Vietnamese woman who lures me over and asks me if I want to buy any of the jewellery and trinkets she has made. Hội An is also renowned for its tailoring industry, offering a wide range of custom-made clothing at affordable prices. Yaly Couture was founded by 51-year-old Quynh Trinh, and has since become the place where locals and tourists visit to get their bespoke tailoring done quickly – sometimes as little as three hours thanks to her 486 members of staff – and at traditional value. Celebrity fans apparently include TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, 65 – who Trinh says 'ran laps around her shop' due to his excitement – and musician Mick Jagger, 82. I decide to have a Vietnamese -inspired navy blue linen two-piece sleeveless top and trouser set made, and Trinh gifts me with a bronze half-neck keyhole maxi dress inspired by one I found on TikTok. I'm assigned to one of her members of staff, who takes all of my measurements, helps me pick out appropriate material, arranges a fitting and makes both of my designs in less than 24 hours. There is still so much to do in Hội An. So to better understand the original ways of Vietnamese tribal culture, I am also transported to their enchanting world at Hội An Lune Center for the Performing Arts with a production of Teh Dar – one of the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus performances of Lune Production. During the performance, guests hear songs that have been sung deep in the forests and whispered around tribal flames for generations. It's also a great opportunity to hear how a buffalo horn sounds with other percussion instruments. Later, after a boat ride down the river, illuminated at night by hundreds of floating lanterns, I have a heartwarming five-course meal – which is gluten-free friendly – at the newly opened La Table Hội An restaurant, where French culinary tradition meets the soul of Vietnam. On my evening stroll, I'm also able to admire the unique architectural structure of the infamous Japanese Bridge, and understand the influence it has on the bridge that also features at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô. Over many years, Vietnam has built a strong reputation for being a backpacker's dream destination. But whilst spending time in Hội An, and at Angsana Lăng Cô and Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, both part of the Laguna Lăng Cô integrated resort, I'm certain it has more to offer. The resorts feature the 18-hole Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, designed by the legendary Sir Nick Faldo, and offers convenient access to all shared facilities and centralised services, including Terra Kids Club and Laguna Water Sports Centre. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô is dedicated to quiet luxury and creating intimate and romantic experiences for couples, and Angsana Lăng Cô is a 220-room safe haven for all of the family to enjoy. The first night at Angsana Lăng Cô set the tone of my time in Vietnam. I'm welcomed with a BBQ dinner party on the private beach – there is no private beach in Vietnam, but it's private at the resort – where all the seafood is sourced directly from the local Cù Dù fishing village, also known as Cua Van in Ha Long Bay. Cù Dù is a unique floating village where residents live in traditional houses on boats and rafts, making a living from fishing and aquaculture. I'm offered a glimpse into the local culture and the stunning natural beauty of the bay, whilst eating everything from lobster, oysters – which were cooked because of pesticides – squid, fish, and papaya salad with shrimp, just to name a few dishes. 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Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Telegraph
The 10 best coffee houses in Hanoi
From narrow alleyway haunts to clandestine design spaces, Hanoi's coffee houses offer extraordinary variety. Punchy Robusta beans power iced Vietnamese coffee (espresso is usually made with Arabica), often sweetened with condensed milk, yoghurt, coconut or egg yolk. This creates a dark, syrupy brew that lands somewhere between dark chocolate and melted coffee ice cream. As Hanoi has become increasingly cosmopolitan, so too has the city's café culture, promising that an artisanal latte is never more than a few streets away. Coffee shops open early and close late, and many double as smoothie bars, tea houses, art galleries and music venues. The vibe is generally unhurried, the seating is usually diminutive, and the drinks are reliably affordable – rarely more than a pound or two. Here are the best places to sample the local brew, including cosy coffee shops for quiet reflection and a couple of bakeries for sweet treats. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best coffee houses in Hanoi. Find out more below, or for more Hanoi inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, bars and things to do. In this guide: Best for the local brew Bancong This former Art Deco townhouse is now a gigantic café restaurant spread over several floors. The balconies are the café's standout feature ('bancong' is balcony in Vietnamese), as they offer elevated views over one of the Old Quarter's busiest crossroads. You'll find a range of coffees on the menu, but it's hard to pass up the coconut coffee, made with condensed milk, coconut milk, dried coconut and crushed ice, making it more like a dessert. Café Nuoi This tiny one-room corner café is about as classic as it gets, with cream walls, wooden stools and a retro sign that has probably been around for decades. The menu is startlingly large for such a miniscule coffee shop: in addition to classic Vietnamese coffee, they also serve tea and hot chocolate, as well as smoothies and juices made with fresh tropical fruit. When it gets too busy inside, the family that runs the place lines the outside walls with little plastic chairs. Address: 32 Luong Van Can, Hoan Kiem Loading T This early 20th century building once belonged to a wealthy merchant, but was appropriated by the government in the 1950s and split into more than a dozen family dwellings. The façade, though faded, still has the grand imperial staircase and olive-green shutters that would have been the envy of neighbours 100 years ago. Lead barista and co-owner Hoang Tuan Son brews several of Hanoi's speciality coffees, but it's his egg coffee that earned the café its fame. Café Duy Tri This might just be the best traditional Vietnamese coffee in the city, and the house – a spindly, multi-floor structure that hasn't changed in decades – will leave a strong impression. They specialise in an aromatic traditional Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk, but you might want to opt for their homemade yoghurt instead. Pair this one-of-a-kind coffee shop with fresh rice dumplings from Banh Cuon Nong Ho Tay, which is just across the road. Address: 43 Yen Phu, Tay Ho Return to index Best quiet, cosy cafés Blackbird (5 Chan Cam) Opposite Loading T, Blackbird excels at espresso-based coffees, but there's also French press, pour over and cold brew scribbled on the blackboard menu. The streetside seating offers views of the magnificent townhouse opposite, home to Loading T, while the intimate interior is a cosy place to warm up during Hanoi's chilly winter months. Keep your eyes peeled for the several other Blackbirds dotted around the Old Quarter. Phin Bar by refined This coffee shop sits just steps away from the Temple of Literature, so you can pop in for a quick pick-me-up before or after exploring the iconic Hanoi sight. Refined, the parent café, specialises in premium grade Robusta beans selected from boutique farms. This is where you can see the true potential of traditional Vietnamese coffee. While Phin Bar offers some welcome calm, grab the outside table if you can – it affords views of the temple. Website: Toka Coffee Stand Toka is one of a handful of cafés tucked down a quiet street that is quickly becoming one of Hanoi's hippest, understated enclaves. Seating wraps around a gorgeously weatherworn colonial-era townhouse while the smiley young baristas conjure up photogenic cappuccinos inside – a skill not lost on the ever-present gaggle of selfie takers. Toka only has a handful of tables, so if it's too busy then continue down the street for a broader selection of equally alluring coffee shops. Memoire 15 Attached to the rooftop of a narrow tube house, Memoire 15 serves its carefully crafted coffees with sunset views over the Old Quarter. Parasitic architecture – when new extensions are attached to old structures – are integral to Hanoi's aesthetic, but Memoire 15 has literally taken the concept to a whole new level. If you're already overly caffeinated, try their salted apricot juice, a traditional Hanoi favourite. Best for sweet treats BAKED and Friends If you find yourself in West Lake looking for something sweet, tuck into one of the cookies or cupcakes at BAKED. Singaporean baker Sheereen Amran usually has one or two fusion specials on the go, like baklava cheesecake and banana Biscoff cupcakes. The café itself is a friendly neighbourhood spot tucked away on a side street set back from the lake and overlooking a scruffy pond. Gau Coffee & Bakery Gau serves French pastries and other baked goodies alongside its western and Vietnamese coffees. The café opens at 7am, so if you're up early to explore the lake at dawn, you might want to retire here for coffee and cake afterwards. The classic croissant rivals a Parisian boulangerie, but the almond croissant is just as tempting. A broad pavement section outside means you can watch the world go by while munching on breakfast. Return to index How we choose Every café and coffee house in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood roasteries to high street favourites – to best suit every type of traveller's taste – and consider the food, drinks, service, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Joshua Zukas I've spent two decades digging deep into Vietnam, with over ten years rooted in Hanoi. When I'm not unearthing new neighbourhoods in this ever-evolving city, I'm probably exploring backroads in Vietnam's farthest-flung corners.
