TOP 10 MUST VISIT ATTRACTIONS IN HANOI

1. TRAN QUOC PAGODA

The most historic pagoda in all of Hanoi, Tran Quoc is the foremost symbol of Buddhism in the country. The landmark’s origins date back some 1,500 years, although over time it has undergone changes in appearance and location.

Address: Thanh Niên, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Opening times: Mon – Sat: 07:00-11:30 and 13:10 – 18:00, Sun: 07:00 – 18:00

2. WEST LAKE

West Lake is first in size in Hanoi and is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike. Pagodas, restaurants and hotels line the body of water and serve as lively focal points.

Adress: Thanh Niên, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

3. HANOI HILTON

Synonymous with prisoners of war, the Hanoi Hilton is a colloquial term for a notorious facility first used by the French, then by the North Vietnamese, to hold and torture captives. American POWs at the height of the Vietnam War gave rise to the name, with John McCain as one notable long-time prisoner. Today a part of the Hanoi Hilton serves as a museum.

Address: Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

Opening times: Tues – Fri: 8:00 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30

4. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

For a singular glimpse into Vietnamese culture, the country’s National Museum of Fine Arts is the best place to visit. The facility contains a vast collection of art, sculpture, crafts and artifacts from every period in Vietnam’s history.

Address: 66 Nguyễn Thái Học, Ba Đình

Opening times: Monday – Friday: 8:30 – 17:00

5.HOAN KIEM LAKE

Hanoi is a city of lakes and Hoan Kiem is one of the most popular with visitors. Superbly scenic and serene, the lake provides a habitat for soft-shell turtles and contains many picturesque pagodas and small bridges.

6.ONE PILLAR PAGODA

The Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda is almost peerless in Vietnam, with a history that dates back a full millenium. The iconic landmark was badly defaced by French troops in 1954 but was rebuilt decades later.

Address: Quảng trường Ba Đình, đường Hùng Vương, quận Ba Đình

Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 8:00 – 11:00

7. HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM

One of the most conspicuous mausoleums in the world, the massive tribute to the most famous leader in Vietnam provides Hanoi with a landmark on par with Lenin’s tomb in Moscow. Open since 1975, the mausoleum site also contains a museum on Ho Chi Minh.

Address: Quảng trường Ba Đình, đường Hùng Vương, quận Ba Đình

Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 8:00 – 11:00

A dramatic memory of French influence in Vietnam, the Grand Opera House in Hanoi is a typical and exquisite piece of colonial architecture. Built between 1901 and 1911, the opera house is a replica of the Palais Garnier in Paris.

Address: Địa điểm: Số 1 Tràng Tiền, Chương Dương, Q Hoàn KiếmThe large central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site just in time for Hanoi’s millennial anniversary in 2010. The ancient site was the political centre of the country for 13 consecutive centuries and served as the capital of Vietnam for eight centuries.

Address: số 18 đường Hoàng Diệu, quận Ba Đình

Opening time: 8:00 – 19:00A tribute to Confucius and the site of the first university in Vietnam, the beautiful Temple of Literature has been around since the year 1070. The landmark contains numerous courtyards and pavilions, many of which have undergone careful restoration in recent decades.

Address: 58 phố Quốc Tử Giám, Q. Đống Đa

Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 08:00 – 17:00