9 Things to do in Hanoi
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Hanoi, and here are my recommendations for things to do there in about 2–3 days, and trust me, it’s worth it. Well, here is the list:
1. Feel the thrill of a train arrival at Hanoi Train Street
This place was the most captivating and memorable for me!
The train line is so iconic because it is located very close to the houses that have been turned into cafes. You can sit and have a drink at any of the cafes along the line. Some of the cafes have upper floors and balconies where you can see the train from above, and this is definitely an attraction.
Theline is so narrow and congested that some sources I read on the internet say that it has been closed for safety reasons.
Even if there are trains passing by at the time, the schedule and the number passing by are mostly based on luck, so you need to allow at least an hour for this. But I was very lucky that day because I could actually witness this event without having to wait long.
What a fortune!
Beforehand, a local resident announced that the train would be passing by and warned us to keep a safe distance to avoid a fatal accident.
Honestly, it was a bit scary, but the desire to see this rare event overcame everything, so many tourists still flocked to this place.
2. Explore the Old Quarter
It seems like you haven’t visited Hanoi without coming here. One day is not enough time to go around this place.
If you love street photography, then you've found paradise!
Although there are several modes of transportation to get around, I think walking is the best way to capture every moment.
The old buildings mingle with the colorful new buildings.
The variety of handicrafts, food, fruits, and flowers sold by the peddlers on bicycles, plus their Vietnamese hats, provide many different shades of color.
It’s so gorgeous!
For me, every street presented a surprise.
For those who adore coffee, definitely don’t miss the chance to savor the well-known Vietnamese coffee in several equally lovely cafes.
3. Pray at Hanoi Mosque
For Muslims in a country where they are a minority, finding a mosque is like finding an oasis. Very pleasant.!
At that point, I had the opportunity to visit a mosque that was part of the Old Quarter complex.
This mosque might be the only one in Hanoi. It seems like a simple, unadorned building. Just by looking at the sign in Arabic script, one can tell that this building is a mosque.
At that time, I didn’t see many people attending.
There is a restaurant run by Vietnamese converts next to the mosque that primarily serves Indian cuisine.
Honestly, the meal I picked while I went there didn’t taste all that special, haha, but my friend said the food was pretty good.:-D
4. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
In accordance with Ho Chi Minh’s will, which clearly stated his wish to be cremated, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum was inaugurated in August 1975.
Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum is a very important work, which shows the deep feelings that the Vietnamese people have for their leader. Today, Ho Chi Minh’s Tomb is not only a symbol of Hanoi’s culture and history but also attracts many tourists to visit.
Located in Ba Dinh Square, this vast square is where Ho read out the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
But when we went there, we couldn’t go inside.
The security was quite tight; there were many guards standing in front of the museum, so like other visitors, all we could do was take pictures in front of the museum.
Not far from this museum is also the Presidential Palace (Phủ Chủ tịch), which is equally guarded.
We can’t even take photos in front of the fence because there are clear prohibition boards and guards around it.
This all-yellow building is actually so beautiful that I couldn’t resist taking a sneaky photo of it from afar!
This building was supposed to be Ho Chi Minh’s residence and workplace. However, Uncle Ho refused, stating that it was inappropriate for him to live in such a luxurious and large building while the other residents were still destitute and starving. Instead, he lived in a simple house in the backyard (House 54).
5. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
Unquestionably, one of the most refreshing activities in Hanoi is a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, a natural freshwater lake right in the middle of the city. The lake is at the junction of several Old Quarter streets.
It is quite easy to find because the lake is so big…
The best spot to take photos here is a small bridge that can connect you to a temple (Ngoc Son Temple) located on a small island in the middle of the lake.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t go over the bridge because there was an event going on at the temple, so only certain people could have access. But taking a photo of the bridge guard was honestly more interesting for me at that time.
Actually, without going there, it was also quite fun to sit by the lake, chatting, watching people jog around the lake, or snacking on various foods, including tropical fruits, that I haven’t seen in Japan for a long time.
6. Experience Vietnamese History at the Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is one of the most famous symbols of Hanoi’s thousands of years of civilization. The site is one of the oldest in Hanoi, making it an attractive tourist destination and a prominent historical relic.
Built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong during the Ly dynasty, the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu in Vietnamese) was established to honor the philosopher Confucius and his disciples in 1070. In 1076, the temple became home to Hanoi’s first university, Quốc Tử Giám.
This Imperial Academy was the place where royalty studied in the past. It is also considered the first national university in Vietnam, so the temple is considered to represent the history of Vietnamese education.
If you’re curious about how students studied and took exams in the past, this is a great place to find out, as we can understand the education system of royalty in the past. Today, the temple houses five court courtyards, records of Vietnamese scholars, and a turtle statue that is said to bring good luck to students in their exams.
7. Hanging out next to St. Joseph’s Church
I didn’t expect much when I made this place one of my destinations. But I was wrong. this building turned out to be so fascinating.
The tall building and the elegant gray color make this building so charismatic.
We can only enjoy its charm from outside the church while listening to the church bells ring several times.
Another way to enjoy a visit here is to hang out next to the church, enjoy Vietnamese coffee, and eat dumplings while watching people milling around taking photos in front of the church.
It’s already quite fun! :-)
8. Having lunch at Batavia Restaurant
Ohh, I was really happy at that time because I could treat my longing for my homeland by visiting this restaurant. The food provided is diverse and tastes so authentic to the Indonesian tongue.
Most of the visitors are tourists from Indonesia or Malaysia. But some locals also come to this place. I was even touched to be able to enjoy gado-gado or tumis kangkung here! haha:-D
It’s highly recommended!
Because I enjoyed eating here so much, I didn’t take any photos of the place or the food. Next time, when I go back to Hanoi, I will definitely come here again!
9. Learn to Cross the Road
The roads in Hanoi are really very congested and chaotic, worse than Jakarta, it seems! :-p
For those of us who are used to living in Jakarta, we might be used to it, but we still need to be careful.
At that time I went with a friend from Japan who was so surprised to see this situation. So I really had to be patient to wait for him to cross with me.
He even said that it was like being in another world and crossing here requires its own skills.
Actually, since I have been living in Japan for 2 years now, my skills to cross the crowded streets have also dropped dramatically.
As I made my way through Hanoi’s streets, I was overcome with despair and prayed. Thankfully, we made it through :-)
I can’t wait to go back for Hanoi someday.
