Hanoi is still expanding in size, but its heart - the Hanoi Old Quarters remains so small for 100 years. Perhaps no other city can bring you such opposite feelings.
Like other cities in Asia, Hanoi is always bustling and crowded and noisy. You can sense a beautiful Hanoi in the autumn sunshine but you can also feel irritated in the hot summer days which makes Hanoi like a furnace. Hanoi is still expanding in size, but its heart - the Hanoi Old Quarters remains so small for 100 years. Perhaps no other city can bring visitors such opposite feelings. So now, let’s explore the heart of Hanoi in a day with Asiatica.
1. Geographic location, history and the ideal time to visit
1.1. Location
Hanoi is located in the center of the Red River Delta, downstream of the Red River. The name Hanoi means “city in the river” in Chinese.
1.2. History
Hanoi was chosen as the capital of Dai Viet in 1010 until the first year of the 17th century. Then the Nguyen Emperor moved the capital to Hue for a period of 150 years. After the French occupied three Indochina countries in 1902, Hanoi became the capital of French Indochina. After Vietnam was independent, Hanoi became the capital of the new Vietnam. In the Indochina War from 1945 to 1975, Hanoi was the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). After the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), Hanoi became the capital of Vietnam after unification.
Hanoi has a mixture of traditional values of Vietnamese and French architecture and cultures. Visitors coming to Hanoi often focus on exploring the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. The Old Quarter is originally the traditional trading village that existed before the French colonized Indochina. French Quarter is a political center with mansions, parks, and streets that are planned up to European standards.
1.3. Best time to visit Hanoi
You can visit Hanoi at any time of the year. However, in the early summer (in May and June) the weather is very hot and humid, and at the time before and after Lunar New Year, the weather is irritatingly humid and the tourist service is also limited during the festive season.
2. International plane tickets and how to move
There are direct flights to Hanoi from Paris, Moscow, Frankfurt (Vietnam Airlines, Air France, Aeroflot), Dubai, Qatar (Arabian Airlines). Many travelers take flights from the nearest international airport to Bangkok, and then pick up another cheap flight to Hanoi to save money.
From the airport to the Old Quarter, you can take a Mai Linh taxi, which costs about 17$. To travel in the Old Quarter, you can use such vehicles as cyclo, tram (15,000VND/pass) or hop on-hop off - Hanoi city tour Bus (21$/day).
3. Discover Hanoi Old quarters
You depart from St. Giuseppe’s Church on the eastern edge of the Old Quarter, go through streets such as Ly Quoc Su, Hang Bac, Hang Thiec, Hang Vai, Lo Ren, Lan Ong, Hang Giay and end at Hoan Kiem Lake.
- During this journey, you can enjoy Hanoi street foods like steamed rice rolls, beer, tea, and ice cream on the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake.
4. What to visit in Hanoi Old Quarters
Hanoi Cathedral
It was built in 1884 in the Gothic style. The church was built on the ground of a pagoda.
Dong Xuan Market
It is Hanoi’s biggest wholesale market which was built by the French. Besides the market is Dong Xuan Lane with many attractive street food stalls.
Bach Ma Temple
It is one of the four sacred temples that defend the four directions of Hanoi. This is where the White Horse is worshiped.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The heart of the Old Quarter with a collection of historic relics such as Turtle Tower - a construction located on a small island in the middle of the lake, owning a combination of curved roofs of a temple and pointy windows in Gothic style. Ngoc Son Temple, a Taoist temple, connected to the lakeside by The Huc Bridge which is very famous. Around the lake is the pedestrian zone, which blocks all traffic from Friday afternoon to the end of Sunday. Every evening, there are many outdoor artistic performances for tourists.
Other attractions near Hanoi Old Quarters
If you go further to the Red River, you can visit O Quan Chuong - the only remaining ancient citadel gate in Hanoi. Going further to the north, you can visit the West Lake with the most beautiful temples in Hanoi such as Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Phu Tay Lake. Going further northwest, you will come to the French Quarter, the political center of Hanoi with Imperial Citadel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and a series of French-style residences, Hoang Dieu Street, Dien Bien Phu Street, Phan Dinh Phung Street.
Other famous destinations of Hanoi such as Temple of Literature, Ethnology Museum, Long Bien Bridge are quite far from the Old Quarter (from 2 to 6 km), you have to take a taxi to reach these places.
5. Street food in Hanoi Old Quarters
No cities in Asia have such rich, original, and attractive street food like Hanoi. Foods that are derived from France, China, or the surrounding provinces are localized and become the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine. If you go to Hanoi but have not tasted street food here, you probably experience only half of Hanoi.
Pho for breakfast: It is a full-course meal for a day of sightseeing, including noodles, beef, coriander, and broth.
Coffee for a drink: Coffee in Hanoi is used in two types: pure coffee - pure coffee beans are stored in the filter, hot water makes the coffee beans ripen, and flow down the small cup containing milk concentrates. The second best known is egg coffee, smoothed with egg yolks to form a concentrated mixture like tiramisu.
Steamed rice rolls for lunch: thinly sliced and chopped noodles like pieces of paper, then mixed with onions, minced meat, and some herbs. Dipping sauce with chili and vinegar makes this food perfectly flavored.
Tea for desserts: green beans, black beans, red beans are cooked together with sugar, served with coconut milk and ice cream. This is a very cool dessert for the summer.
Beer for hot days: freshly brewed beer is packed, then drunk with large glasses with ice.
Trang Tien ice cream: The technology of making ice cream was brought to Vietnam in the 19th century. The best ice cream is made in Trang Tien street and then sold in Hoan Kiem Lake. The price for one ice cream is just under $1 but it is very smooth, sweet with various flavors such as com, mint, lemon, orange.
6. Recommended hotels and restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarters
- Hotel: La Siesta Hanoi (4 stars), Hanoi Pearl (3 stars), Midori Boutique (3 stars), Chi Boutique (4 stars).
- Restaurant: Rue Lamblot, Home Restaurant (Chau Long), Highway 4 (Bat Su).