5 Places to check out in Ha Noi

If you read the last post, you will know I did a city tour of Hanoi with a large group of teaching interns and while interesting, there was not much written about the various places I had visited that day. Over the following 2 years in Vietnam I visited these places a few more times, sometimes a few times a week with them being in my metaphorical backyard of Ba Dinh, and can give a bit more detail on them than just ‘we visited XYZ’. There was more to talk about than just a few words in the book, so here’s a little more detail…

#1: Ngoc Son Temple

If you fly out to Hanoi for a holiday, chances are this will be one of the first places you will see. Hoan Kiem lake is close to a lot of hostels and hotels, really feels like the heart of Hanoi, and this temple is right in the middle of it all. You pay a small fee, cross a gorgeous oriental bridge, and then get to circle the temple. The mythology of turtle lake and golden swords is explained on a few plaques in the temple, and even features a giant preserved Hoan Kiem turtle as well. When you do check out the rest of the islet, you will be able to see turtle tower, a postcard worthy building in the middle of the lake. Most postcards of Hoan Kiem lake have this tower in it, and it looks great at night, lit up and with sprinklers adding some flair. The lake itself is worth more than a few walks around the radius, and has plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars nearby to make for an afternoon well spent.

#2: Tran Quoc Pagoda

Built in the 6th century, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, and while this pagoda may not be the largest out there, it stands out more than others as it pretty much has west lake’s causeway to itself. Plenty of buddha statues are on the pagoda itself, and you can burn incense for a bit of self enlightenment. Dress for the occasion though (no jesus sandals, shorts and wife beater tops). If you live around Ba Dinh or Tay Ho, this is worth a look every now and then on a weekend walk.

#3 Presidential Palace and gardens

This is around Ba Dinh Square and sticks out with the palaces bright yellow exterior. Its surrounding gardens are worth walking around just to take in a lot of greenery in a city known for its crazy traffic and high noise levels. The stilt house is fascinating as Ho Chi Minh’s actual place of residence during the conflict, and Mango Road is a straight beeline from the Government offices to the colourful lake. Take it in to relax, along with the Botanical Gardens next door.

#4 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This is the one to see at least once if you are a Hanoi expat. Its the centerpiece of the Ba Dinh square and is always illuminated, even at night. Honour guards surround the mausoleum and will guide you through the chamber. If you stay still too long or get too close while around Ho Chi Minhs body you will get a gentle nudge to keep walking, but its an astonishing minute of being with Vietnam’s great leader. The One Pillar Pagoda is behind the Mausoleum for something a little less imposing, and Parliament house is in front of the square.

#5 Hàng Buồm street

Far more commonly known among tourists as beer street, this is where most tourists go when they want a bit of nightlife. Admittedly I had never heard of a ”beer street’ or indeed nearby ‘pub street’ until I had arrived in the city, but once there it really is a great place to show people around. The experience of a bia hoi on the street, politely turning down battered something-or-other skewers being sold, then having to go into someones house upstairs for the toilet is really mad. But bring a few friends along and it all comes together nicely. Its best to find somewhere else to eat though, prices are expensive around the street and you can get much better value for money elsewhere.

These 5 places were part of the initial week of settling into Hanoi, but again the actual information on these attractions were not given a deep dive due to time constraints and not hiring guides. I found far more success with Lonely Planet’s book to Vietnam. A lot of the teachers noticed that I would be carrying this book around whenever we were on our travels, and it helps give you more know how on the likes of Hoan Kiem lake and where to visit in the city center. Its also a good guide for finding decent spots to eat and drink, at least until you get used to the city and really know where the hidden gems are. Use it in conjunction with the local maps and you are golden!