Fun And Interesting Things To Do In Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital has more than a thousand years of history to draw on and the city’s many must-see attractions reflect this. In Hanoi, you’ll see the complete range of Vietnamese history and culture, from the country’s birth as a Chinese tributary state 1,000 years ago to its freedom from French and American colonial forces in the 20th century to its confident stride into the 21st century.
Only after seeing the many of the attractions on this list can you claim to have really visited Hanoi, Vietnam.
Walk Around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi
As the name suggests, Hà Hoàn Kim, or “Lake of the Returned Sword,” refers to an ancient mythology about a magical turtle that returned an ancient sword to a future Vietnamese emperor. Eventually, the monarch made use of the sword to expel the Chinese population from the country.
In the modern era, the lakefront of Hoan Kiem Lake is a popular location for couples to get married and for fitness enthusiasts to begin their day. The lakefront is a great place to observe the local culture, and the Old Quarter is just a short walk away.
Ngoc Son Temple’s worshippers continue to complete their religious responsibilities as they have for nearly a thousand years via a beautiful, red-painted wooden bridge.
The Temple Of Literature Is A Must See
One of the country’s oldest universities, the Temple of Literature, is housed in a 1,000-year-old temple to education. Restoration efforts have restored much of the Temple’s former beauty after it was nearly destroyed during World War II.
From south to north, five courtyards are connected by three paths that stretch the length of the Temple. Quoc Tu Giam, literally “Temple of the King Who Distinguished Literature,” was erected in 1076 in the northernmost and final courtyard.
Take A Tour Of Ho Chi Minh’s Final Resting Place
“Uncle Ho” would be ashamed to see his final resting place as he wanted to be cremated, not worshipped Soviet-style in a gigantic mausoleum on Ba Dinh Square near to the Presidential Palace and having a Ho Chi Minh Museum built in his honour. I guarantee, he would’ve detested the thought of millions of tourists looking at his body encased in a giant tomb.
However, the desire of the people triumphed against Uncle Ho’s and on August 29, 1975, the Mausoleum was opened to the public.
A military honour guard watches over Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body as it lies in state within the Mausoleum. Between 9am and 12pm, visitors can pay their respects but they must adhere to strict guidelines with no photography, no shorts or miniskirt and complete silence at all times inside the building.
For those of you who have already paid your respects to the man known as “Uncle Ho,” head next door to the Presidential Palace grounds and have a peek at Ho Chi Minh’s stilt residence, which is also a sight to behold.
Hoa Lo Prison, AKA “The Hanoi Hilton”
‘Hoa Lo’ means’stove,’ which is a fitting name for the 1880s French jail, which was used until the conclusion of the Vietnam War.
Sen. John McCain was imprisoned here after he was kidnapped and was given the sardonic appellation “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs. Even now, you may observe his flight outfit at this location.
Hoa Lo’s southern portion was spared for posterity despite the fact that most of the city was bulldozed in the 1990s. Exhibits depicting the miseries of Vietnamese captives are now available for viewing by the public (and a highly sanitised depiction of the American POWs in the 1970s).
Hoa Lo and other museums like it, like the Vietnam Museum of Revolution and the B-52 Triumph Museum, commemorate Hanoi’s hard-fought victory during the Vietnam War.
Explore The Imperial Citadel
In this World Heritage Site, you may see the Imperial Citadel’s Hanoi Flag Tower, which is both an iconic symbol of the city and an integral part of the Hanoi Citadel’s overall design. Image copyright vinhdav
Emperor Ly Thai To built three forts in 1011 to form the Hanoi Imperial Citadel, which now occupies just 18 hectares of that original complex.
Many parts of the Citadel were demolished by France’s colonial authorities in the 1800s. Government officials have cleverly left a few historic sections available to the public while they continue to house the Ministry of Defense.
Once you’ve paid the VND 30,000 (USD 1.31) entrance fee, you’ll be able to visit the rest of the Citadel at your own pace, including the Flag Tower, the Kinh Thien Palace, and several more.
Hanoi’s Four Sacred Temples
Ancient Thang Long leaders ordered the construction of four temples in order to keep negative energy out of the city, in accordance with feng shui. Thang Long Tu Tran is a collective term for the Bach Ma, Voi Phuc, Kim Lien and Quan Thanh temples (the four guardians).
The east is guarded by the Bach Ma Temple, The oldest of the four, this temple honours a white horse believed to have led construction of the site. The west-facing Voi Phuc Temple was built in commemoration of a Vietnamese ruler who defeated Chinese invaders with the help of elephants on their knees.
Despite its northernmost location in relation to the rest of the country, Kim Lien Temple purports to protect the south. Quan Thanh Temple in the north, on the banks of West Lake, honours a god who protects the region from both evil spirits and foreign invaders.
The Thang Long Tu Tran Festival is held in the spring by Hanoians to thank the temples for their collective protection.
Visit Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre For A Traditional Performance
Vietnam’s rice fields have a surplus of water, which sparked an innovative idea, using waterlogged rice paddies to host puppet plays. With traditional instruments accompanying them, the puppeteers operate behind a black curtain, operating the puppets with the use of water.
The Old Quarter’s huge water puppet theatre more than makes up for Hanoi’s lack of paddies with the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre showing four shows a day, year-round for tourists and locals alike.
Vietnamese folklore and national myths are brought to life through the use of water puppets. The Hanoi theatre, unlike its rice-paddy-bound predecessors, employs sophisticated smoke effects and lighting and every year, around 150,000 people flock to Thang Long to see this traditional Vietnamese art form.
Embark On A Red River Cruise
Throughout Hanoi’s millennia-long history, the Red River has served as a focal point for trade and conflict. Many of the city’s most important landmarks are now easily accessible to visitors who take a drive down its length to get a fresh perspective on the capital.
East towards the Red River Delta and the ocean, beautiful vistas of agriculture greet you. You’ll stop at historic temples like Chu Dong Tu in Hung Yen province and traditional manufacturing villages like Bat Trang which have been making high-quality porcelain for centuries.