Hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam

If Saigon is the frenetic, commercial heartbeat of Vietnam, then verdant and historic Hanoi is the sedate, intellectual soul of the country. Its leafy boulevards, serene lakes, and sweeping white French colonial architecture set the scene as tourists and locals go about their business at a pleasingly civilised pace.

Population:

7,588,000

Currency:

Vietnamese dong (VND)
VND10,000 ~ US$0,43

Emergency Numbers:

Police: 113
Fire: 114
Ambulance: 115

Opening Hours:

Shops are generally open from 8-8.30 to 21.00, 22.00, but can close for lunch for one or two hours. Banks are open Monday-Friday from 7.30-8.00 to 11.30 and from 13.00-16.00, and are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Governmental offices are open 7.30-16.30, excluding a one-hour lunch, Monday-Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Newspapers:

Nhan Dan (State newspaper, also available online in English)
Vietnam News (English daily)
The Vietnam Investment Review (English business publication)
Word Hanoi (English publication for expats in Hanoi)

The City

Most travellers base themselves in the central Hoan Kiem District, in the vicinity of lovely Hoan Kiem Lake, whose pathways and surrounding greenery is the site of much activity as the sun rises. Don’t be surprised to see graceful schools of tai chi-ers moving as one as the sun rises, and Hanoi health fanatics doing jogging laps before work. As the day falls, couples stroll there for privacy and children wrap-up their games.

Northwest of the lake is the legendary Old Quarter with its winding alleyways and hundreds of quaint shops, guesthouses, galleries, and places to eat. Tourists flock into locals' establishments, open long after the doors have shut elsewhere in the city. It’s also crammed with temples and monuments to ponder over between eating and shopping.

Ba Dinh District, to the west of the lake, is the place to head for a little historic enlightenment – The Mausoleum, the Museum of Ho Chi Minh and the Hanoi Old Citadel all reside there – and the Old French Quarter, south of the lake, will transport you back to the days before the French realised that the Vietnamese were a force to be reckoned with. Upscale restaurants, hotels and embassies now occupy the stunning white villas.

Do & See

Visit Hanoi and you will find white French villas next to temples and monuments. The Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is one of the most visited attractions in the country and should not be missed. Hanoi Old Quarter is another must to witness Hanoi at its liveliest moments: flows of people and motorbike permeate all through out the streets.

Dining

Hanoi restaurants tend to centre around Vietnamese with Asian fusion or European fare, particularly French and Italian. You are more likely to find international dining in the Hoan Kiem District, but for local authentic flavours (and Hanoi’s famous Pho noodle soup dish) head to the Old Quarter street vendors. Note that most restaurants close at 11pm.

Cafes

Because of its French colonial history and the fact that the locals love their coffee, Hanoi has a wide selection of cafes. Just about every block has some sort of coffee shop, everything from a simple local cafe to a Western-style venue.

The Vietnamese truly like to experiment with their coffee. So when visiting Hanoi, make sure to try the egg coffee as well as the coconut coffee. Both are highly appreciated among tourists and locals alike.

Take a seat and order a cafe au lait or a Vietnamese-style coffee while watching the Vietnamese in their everyday life.