Must-See Destinations When Traveling to Hanoi (Part 1)

These are landmarks that contribute to Hanoi’s identity: elegant, ancient, and filled with fascinating stories throughout its history. Many of these destinations are located in the heart of Hanoi and are quite close to each other, making it easy to plan a visit by motorbike or even bicycle.

1. Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam)
   The Temple of Literature – the first university in Vietnam – was built in 1070. It was the site of examinations to select talented individuals from across the country. The Temple of Literature also houses a teaching area and stone turtle-mounted steles commemorating brilliant scholars and doctors throughout the ancient feudal dynasties.

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM from November to March and 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM during the rest of the year. 1. Temple of Literature: Closed on Sundays. Location: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, approximately 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake. Entrance fee: 10,000 VND/person, seniors over 60 years old: 10,000 VND/person.

2. Hanoi Opera House
   The Hanoi Opera House was built in 1911 modeled after the Opera Garnier in Paris, France, but on a smaller scale. The Opera House has played a significant role as one of the capital’s important cultural centers, hosting performances of opera, traditional folk music, ballet, and international symphonies.

Location: 1 Trang Tien Street, Chuong Duong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, located on Cach Mang Thang Tam Square, at the beginning of Trang Tien Street, not far from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Vietnam National Museum of History. Contact phone number: 04 39330113/4.

3. Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site

Hoa Lo Prison was built by the French colonialists in 1896 to imprison prisoners and political criminals. Today, only a small corner of Hoa Lo remains as a tourist attraction. Hoa Lo is also on the list of the top 10 most notorious prisons in the world.

Location: No. 1, Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District. Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Entrance fee: 20,000 VND/person, children under 15 years old are free.

4. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

It seems that all Hanoi residents seek refuge from the hustle and bustle of the capital city at Hoan Kiem Lake. The lake is surrounded by many kinds of flowers and ornamental plants, with the Turtle Tower in the middle and Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Around the lake are many other historical relics such as the red The Huc Bridge, symbolizing the preservation of the beautiful light of the sky, leading to the gate of Ngoc Son Temple; the Pen Tower inscribed with the three characters “Ta Thanh Thien” (writing on the blue sky); the Inkstone Monument; Tran Ba ​​Pavilion; Hoa Phong Tower…

Location: Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District. Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Ticket price: 10,000 VND/person, free for children under 15 years old.

5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – One Pillar Pagoda
   Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Ba ​​Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum have become sacred spaces of Hanoi and the entire country. Right in front of the Mausoleum is Ba Dinh Square, considered the heart of Hanoi, where major events of the capital and the entire country took place, and where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. After visiting the Mausoleum, you will join a tour to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house and fish pond, which still contain many relics from his lifetime. The One Pillar Pagoda is very close to the Mausoleum; you can walk to visit this unique architectural structure.

Opening Hours: The Mausoleum is open 5 days a week, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. From April to October, it is open from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM; from November to March, it is open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM; on holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it is open for an additional 30 minutes. The Mausoleum is closed annually for two months, October and November, for routine maintenance. Currently, admission is free, and visitors must adhere to requirements such as dressing respectfully, not bringing cameras, and maintaining order inside the Mausoleum. Location: Ba Dinh Square, Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District.

6. Thang Long Imperial Citadel
   The Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a complex of historical relics associated with the Thang Long – Hanoi capital, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on August 1, 2012, during the preparations for the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long. If you want to learn more about the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, you can hire a tour guide there; although there is no fixed price, it is usually around 100,000 – 200,000 VND.

Location: 18 Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District. If you’re in the Old Quarter, you can take bus number 22, which stops at the stop in front of the Imperial Citadel. The visit takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and there’s no entrance fee.

7. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
   At the Hanoi Museum of Ethnology, visitors are welcomed to explore and study ethnology, from religious events to symbolic rituals of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. The museum currently has three main areas: one includes exhibition halls, offices, research facilities, and a library; the second is an outdoor exhibition area; and the third aims to introduce the cultures of foreign ethnic groups, mainly those in Southeast Asia.