Old Quarter lanes, lakes & street food
Hanoi
Hà Nội · The thousand-year capital
Vietnam's graceful capital blends tree-lined French boulevards, shimmering lakes and a frenetic thousand-year-old Old Quarter. Sip egg coffee on a tiny plastic stool, dodge the motorbike ballet and soak up a city where every corner has a story.
Top sightsSights
Old Quarter
A maze of 36 ancient guild streets, each once devoted to a single trade — now a whirlwind of shops, stalls and scooters.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The serene heart of the city, with the red Huc Bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple on a tiny island.
Temple of Literature
Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, a tranquil Confucian complex of courtyards and pavilions.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The imposing granite resting place of the revolutionary leader, set on Ba Dinh Square.
Train Street
A narrow residential lane where trains rumble inches from cafe tables — a only-in-Hanoi spectacle.
What to eatFood
Pho
The soul of Hanoi — clear beef broth, rice noodles and herbs, best at a streetside stall for breakfast.
Bun cha
Grilled pork patties in a tangy dipping broth with noodles and herbs — a Hanoi original.
Egg coffee
A rich Hanoi invention of whipped egg yolk and condensed milk over strong coffee.
Good to know
- Cross the road slowly and steadily — traffic flows around you; never bolt or freeze.
- The Old Quarter is best explored on foot in the early morning or evening cool.
- Hanoi is the springboard for Halong Bay cruises and the mountains of Sapa.
Getting there
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is about 45 minutes from the center; the reunification railway and sleeper trains link the length of the country.
Next city
Ho Chi Minh City