Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · Vietnam

Hanoi

A photograph of Hanoi
Photograph · NKSTTSSHNVN · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hanoi’s main visitor core surrounds Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, with the French Quarter immediately south and east. The Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh political and museum district, West Lake and outer craft villages form separate clusters. Walk the dense central streets, then use public transport or a verified ride service for longer links and regional excursions.

Practical information

Language spoken
Vietnamese
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+84
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Vietnamese đồng (VND)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and C · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Hanoi

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, bus, taxi and verified ride-hailing
  1. January: good time to visit
  2. February: good time to visit
  3. March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  6. June: recurring difficult conditions
  7. July: recurring difficult conditions
  8. August: recurring difficult conditions
  9. September: viable with meaningful trade-offs — current month
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: best time to visit
  12. December: best time to visit
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam

    The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a museum in Hanoi dedicated to the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups of Vietnam. Its full local name is Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  2. Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts

    Bảo tàng Mỹ thuật Việt Nam

    The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts is a state-run institution in Hanoi dedicated to preserving and exhibiting Vietnamese visual art. Housed in a colonial-era building, it serves as the country's principal repository for fine arts.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  3. Vietnamese Women’s Museum Vietnamese Women’s Museum
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnamese Women’s Museum

    Bảo tàng Phụ nữ Việt Nam

    The Vietnamese Women's Museum is a cultural institution in Hanoi dedicated to documenting and celebrating the roles of women in Vietnamese society throughout history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  4. National Museum of Vietnamese History National Museum of Vietnamese History
    05 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Vietnamese History

    Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quốc gia Việt Nam

    The National Museum of Vietnamese History occupies a distinctive building in central Hanoi, constructed during the French colonial period. Originally built as the École Française d'Extrême-Orient, the structure blends French architectural elements with Asian influences.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  5. Ho Chi Minh Museum Ho Chi Minh Museum
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Ho Chi Minh Museum

    Bảo tàng Hồ Chí Minh

    The Ho Chi Minh Museum is a major state museum in Hanoi dedicated to the life and legacy of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  6. Vietnam Military History Museum Vietnam Military History Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam Military History Museum

    Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quân sự Việt Nam

    The Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi is a state-run institution dedicated to documenting Vietnam's military struggles and victories across centuries. Its local name, Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quân sự Việt Nam, reflects its national significance.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  7. Thủ Lệ Park Thủ Lệ Park
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Thủ Lệ Park

    Công viên Thủ Lệ

    Thu Le Park, locally known as Công viên Thủ Lệ, is a public park and recreational area situated in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  8. Vietnam National Museum of Nature
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam National Museum of Nature

    Bảo tàng Thiên nhiên Việt Nam

    The Vietnam National Museum of Nature is a scientific institution in Hanoi dedicated to the country's natural heritage. Its local name is Bảo tàng Thiên nhiên Việt Nam.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  9. Hanoi Museum Hanoi Museum
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Hanoi Museum

    Bảo tàng Hà Nội

    Hanoi Museum is a municipal museum dedicated to the history and culture of Vietnam's capital city. The building features a distinctive inverted pyramid architectural design that sets it apart from other cultural institutions in the region.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  10. B-52 Victory Museum B-52 Victory Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    B-52 Victory Museum

    Bảo tàng Chiến thắng B52

    The B-52 Victory Museum is a military history museum in Hanoi commemorating the 1972 aerial campaign known in Vietnam as Dien Bien Phu in the Air.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  11. Vietnam People's Air Force Museum Vietnam People's Air Force Museum
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam People's Air Force Museum

    Bảo tàng Phòng không - Không quân

    The Vietnam People's Air Force Museum is a military aviation museum in Hanoi dedicated to the history of the Vietnam People's Air Force. It displays aircraft, weaponry, and artifacts related to Vietnamese aerial warfare.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  12. Geological Museum
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Geological Museum

    Bảo tàng Địa chất Việt Nam

    • High
    • Museum
  13. Vietnam Forest Museum
    50 1 hr 30 min

    Vietnam Forest Museum

    Bảo tàng Tài nguyên rừng Việt Nam

    • Notable
    • Museum

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

The Old Quarter occupies the streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake, while the French Quarter extends south and east around major civic and cultural buildings. Ba Dinh lies west with the Ho Chi Minh complex and national museums. West Lake forms another northern circuit, and the Temple of Literature sits between the centre and Ba Dinh. Outlying villages and landscapes need separate transport plans.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and the French Quarter, taking care in dense traffic. Vietnam’s official tourism guide lists taxis, buses, motorbikes and ride-hailing services for wider journeys, with an extensive city bus network. Cyclos are presented as a sightseeing option around the Old Quarter. Confirm routes and use reputable operators for motorised travel.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Hanoi?

A fixed official stay length is not recorded. Cover Hoan Kiem and the Old Quarter first, then add Ba Dinh, West Lake and outer excursions according to time.

When is a good time to visit Hanoi?

Vietnam Tourism identifies April to June as inviting and also highlights September and October, when temperatures cool and skies tend to clear.

Is Hanoi Old Quarter walkable?

Yes. The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake form the main central walking area, though visitors should take care around dense street traffic.

How do visitors travel beyond central Hanoi?

The official tourism guide lists buses, taxis, motorbikes and ride-hailing services. Use reputable providers and check the current route before departure.

Which Hanoi districts should be planned separately?

Treat Ba Dinh, West Lake and outer villages as separate blocks from the Hoan Kiem–Old Quarter core. This avoids repeated cross-city travel.