Tourist Attractions in Hanoi

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Hanoi

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Hanoi

Hanoi is a city with a unique flavour, a place where French, Chinese and Vietnamese traditions coexist in harmony. It was founded in the distant XI century and during this time managed to be the capital of several state formations. Today it is a modern developed metropolis, living in a frenzied rhythm, but retaining an unbreakable link with its rich past.

Tourists come to Hanoi to see Vietnamese architectural monuments and Buddhist pagodas, visit museums and traditional water puppet theatre, enjoy the beauty of the capital’s parks and plunge into the atmosphere of the Asian metropolis. As a rule, travellers spend a few days here and then go to the ocean shore in Central or South Vietnam.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Hanoi

The old 36th Street neighbourhood

The district was founded by a representative of 36 trade guilds in the 12th century on the site of a floating market, which is why it has this name. Its streets still bear the names of the goods that were sold here in the past: Copper, Silk, Silver, etc. The quarter is built with old two-storey houses with narrow facades characteristic of Vietnamese urban architecture of the past centuries. Here, as before, there is a brisk trade of everything in the world.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

 4.4/5

13256 reviews

A complex of palaces belonging to the ruling dynasty of Vietnam. It is believed to have been begun as early as the eleventh century. By the end of the XIX century, many buildings were in a ruined state due to the war with France. Systematic excavations began several decades ago. In 2010 the citadel was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The 34-metre high Banner (Flag) Tower, built in 1812, stands out among all the buildings of the complex.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hanoi Flagtower

 4.5/5

1285 reviews

One of the few architectural monuments in Hanoi that survived the wars with the French. It is the most recent structure of the Hanoi Citadel and is an example of Vietnamese pre-colonial architecture. In the 19th century, it served as a military observation post. Today, the Flag Tower is considered a symbol of the city. Together with the banner, its length exceeds 40 metres.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

 4.5/5

16627 reviews

Ho Chi Minh was a statesman, the first president of North Vietnam and founder of the Communist Party. Despite the fact that after his death the leader willed himself to be cremated, his successor decided to embalm the body. After the war ended in 1973, a mausoleum began to be built for the leader’s burial. The main architect of the building was Soviet specialist G. Isakovich (he had previously worked on Lenin’s mausoleum).

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Presidential Palace

 4.4/5

748 reviews

The official residence of the President of Vietnam, erected in the early 20th century. At first, the building served as the office of the Viceroy of French Indochina. The structure was built according to the project of architect A. G. Vildieu. For the sake of the palace even demolished an ancient architectural monument – a thousand-year-old pagoda, which previously stood on this site. You cannot go inside the residence, but you can stroll through the palace gardens.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Vietnamese Women's Museum

 4.4/5

4388 reviews

The exhibition opened in 1987 thanks to the initiative of the Vietnamese Women’s Union. Today, it is considered one of the most popular in Hanoi. The collection is spread over four floors. It consists of various exhibits telling about the life and destiny of women from ancient times to the present. The items were collected over 10 years from all over the country. The statue “Mother of Vietnam”, the symbol of the museum, adorns the front hall of the building.

Open time

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

 4.5/5

11905 reviews

The collection is dedicated to the culture and life of 54 nationalities (ethnic groups) living in Vietnam. It features ceremonial items, costumes, traditional dwellings, arts and crafts. The museum opened in 1997 in a building designed by Ha Duc Linh. There are so many exhibits that it can take a whole day to see the whole exhibition.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Vietnam Military History Museum

 4.2/5

5176 reviews

The museum’s exposition consists of samples of Chinese, Soviet, French and American military equipment, as well as weapons, documents and items telling about the development of the Vietnamese armed forces. The museum opened in 1959 on the initiative of Ho Chi Minh. It was preceded by various thematic exhibitions, which were held to maintain the morale of soldiers. The museum is located on the territory of the Royal Citadel.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:30 PM

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

 4.5/5

2976 reviews

The collection is entirely devoted to Vietnamese culture. The three floors of the building house paintings, temple sculptures, traditional lacquer paintings, wooden items, rice paper drawings, national costumes and other exhibits. The collection will be of interest to art connoisseurs, as works by renowned Vietnamese masters are exhibited here.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Ceramic mosaic mural road

 4.3/5

559 reviews

A long wall to the east of the Returned Sword Lake, covered with coloured mosaics. It stretches for 4 kilometres. The Guinness Book of World Records for its impressive size. The wall was created in 2007 and the best masters of the country and foreign specialists worked on it. The drawings represent stories from legends, children’s pictures, everyday scenes and images of historical landmarks.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: 12:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Hanoi Opera House

 4.6/5

17008 reviews

The theatre building was built in the classical colonial style at the beginning of the 20th century. The architects took the Paris Opera Garnier as a model. At the invitation of the French administration, artists from Europe often came here on tour. During the struggle for independence, the theatre became a venue for political meetings. In 1997, the building was restored and the theatre became the cultural centre of the country.

Open time

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

 4.3/5

12783 reviews

Water puppet shows were invented by Vietnamese peasants working in the rice fields. To entertain themselves after a hard day’s work, they would perform scenes with wooden puppets, standing waist-deep in water. Over time, a whole genre grew out of this simple amusement. Puppet theatre shows show the diversity of Vietnamese culture. They are usually accompanied by singing and music.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

St Anthony Ham Long Church

 4.6/5

1134 reviews

The temple was built in the late 19th century in the neo-Gothic style. As it is easy to guess, the shape of the cathedral resembles the outlines of French churches. It is decorated in the architectural traditions of European religious buildings. After the liberation of Vietnam, the temple was closed due to persecution of the Catholic Church. It was reopened in 1990. Over time, the walls of the building have darkened due to industrial emissions, but inside it has retained its original appearance.

Open time

One Pillar Pagoda

 4.3/5

6526 reviews

A Buddhist shrine that is considered one of the most revered shrines in Hanoi and all of Vietnam. It stands on a single wooden pillar. Previously, the structure was surrounded by other religious buildings. The pagoda was built by order of Emperor Ly Thai Tong in the XI century. Thus, the ruler thanked the heavens for the long-awaited heir. The shape of the building resembles a lotus flower in the middle of a lake.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tran Quoc Pagoda

 4.4/5

10929 reviews

The temple is the oldest in Hanoi. It is believed to have been erected in the VI century at the will of Emperor Ly Nam De (this ruler rid the country of Chinese claims). In the XVII century, the pagoda was moved to another place – the Golden Fish Island. In 1815 restoration works were carried out. The structure consists of a central tower, a gate and a guest room. There is a bodhi tree near the temple, which was presented to Hanoi by the Indian Prime Minister in 1959.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 7:30 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 5:30 PM

Temple Of Literature

 4.6/5

13080 reviews

The building was built in the 11th century under Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who immensely admired Confucius and his philosophy. As a tribute to this thinker and other equally worthy sages, the ruler decided to build the Temple of Literature. Almost immediately after the construction was completed, an institute was opened to educate the children of officials who demonstrated high intellectual ability.

Open time

Hoa Lo Prison Relic

 4.4/5

12541 reviews

Former Hoa Lo Prison and today a museum and tourist attraction. The building was built under the French in the 19th century to hold political prisoners caught for opposing the colonial authorities. During the war with the United States in the 20th century, the structure housed captured American soldiers (the most famous prisoner is Senator John McCain). In the 1990s, almost the entire complex was demolished, and the remaining guardhouse was used as a museum exhibition.

Open time

Long Bien Bridge

 4.6/5

283 reviews

Hanoi has a huge number of rivers, canals and ponds. The very name of the city translates as “surrounded by water”. The Long Bien Bridge spanning the Red River was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by a French architect. During the struggle for independence, it was used to ferry rice for the Vietnamese army, which contributed to the latter’s victory over the occupation troops.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

 4.7/5

8805 reviews

Other famous names for the lake are “Returned Sword Lake” and “Green Water Lake”. It is associated with the legend of Emperor Le Luy, who rebelled against Chinese rule. A golden turtle allegedly appeared to the ruler here and gave him the sword Thuang Thien, with which he defeated the armies of the Celestial Empire. After the victory, Le Loi returned the weapon at the request of the same turtle.

West Lake

 4.6/5

4270 reviews

A water body in the centre of Hanoi with a coastline of about 17 km, making it the largest in the Vietnamese capital. Many tales are associated with this place. Today, Tay Lake is a large recreational area. It is surrounded by gardens, parks, terraces, attractions, hotels, restaurants and other establishments. It is also home to the Quan Thanh Temple and the 4th century Changquoc Pagoda. The lake is very popular with tourists.