Hanoi the capital of Vietnam is a mesmerizing combination of East and West, with Chinese influence and French colonial design.
This elegant city is located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake at its centre.
REASONS TO GO
The Old Quarter.
The Temple of Literature.
The Vietnamese coffee culture.
ORIENTATION
Many interesting sights are close Hoan Kiem District (downtown), centered around picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, and Ba Dinh (west of town) or Hai Ba Trung (south) districts. North of the lake are the busy streets of the Old Quarter. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's House and Museum and the tiny One Pillar Pagoda, are some of the main tourist attractions.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit is during the autumn months, when it is warm, sunny, and dry.
HOW TO GET THERE
Noi Bai Airport is about 35km (21 miles) north of the city.
There are shuttle bus services, public buses and taxis to the city centre.
TRAVELLING AROUND
The real Hanoi traveling experience, but available only to the very brave, is to rent a motorbike. Navigating Hanoi's busy streets is harrowing, though, and most motorbike riders use their rented two wheels to get out of town instead of around in-town. Most tourist cafes and mid- to low-range hotels can arrange rentals, and there are a few good storefront rental agencies.
Hanoi has a number of local buses that ply regular routes through the city, but Hanoi's smoke-belching lorries are extremely crowded, and using them is difficult if you don't speak Vietnamese. With the ready availability of fast, affordable local motorbike taxis and good metered taxis, few tourists bother with local buses. Although many taxis are metered sometimes these are rigged so the best option is to agree on the taxi fare before starting your trip.
Cyclos are two-seated carts powered by a man on a foot-pedal bike riding behind you. You can flag them down anywhere, particularly near hotels and tourist attractions, where they're certain to find (or follow) you. Being trundled along among whizzing motorbikes isn't always very comfortable, but it can be a nice choice for touring the Old Quarter's narrow streets.
INFO
www.vietnamtourism.com
