Things to Do in Hanoi 2026: Old Quarter, Lakes and Day Trips

Hanoi is a city where the best things to do are often the least structured — walking the Old Quarter at 6am while vendors set up, sitting on a plastic stool drinking cà phê trứng, crossing a river of motorbikes on instinct. That said, there are specific sights, experiences, and day trips that repay the effort.

Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

The lake is the most atmospheric place in Hanoi in the early morning and evening. At dawn, locals practice tai chi on the promenade. The Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) sits on a small island reached by the red Huc Bridge — entry ₫30,000. Inside is the preserved body of a large freshwater turtle (the Hoan Kiem turtle is now extinct, the last one died in 2016). The legend of the restored sword ties the lake to Vietnam’s founding mythology — worth knowing before you visit.

On weekend evenings, the roads around the lake are closed to traffic and become a pedestrian zone. The energy is completely different from the weekday — families, street performers, and food vendors take over. This is the best single free experience in Hanoi.

Walking the Old Quarter

The 36 streets of the Old Quarter are the core of tourist Hanoi but don’t let that put you off. Get up early (before 8am) and the streets have a completely different character — deliveries happening, morning markets, breakfast vendors. The tourist cafes and souvenir shops open later.

Specific streets worth walking: Hang Bac (silver and jewellery, traditional shop fronts), Hang Gai (silk, tailors), Hang Ma (paper offerings and decorations — beautiful at any time of year), Ma May (several well-preserved merchant houses, including the Heritage House at No. 87, entry ₫25,000), Ta Hien (the beer corner, best in the evening).

The Ancient Quarter is also home to a series of small temples tucked into residential blocks — Bach Ma Temple (Horse God Temple, on Hang Buom) is the oldest in Hanoi at 9th century and worth finding.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and complex

This is unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh’s body is displayed in a mausoleum modelled loosely on Lenin’s in Moscow — he reportedly wanted to be cremated, but the state overruled this. The queue can be long; arrive before 9am. The mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays, and during a two-month annual maintenance period (typically October–November).

The surrounding complex includes the Presidential Palace (you see it from the outside), the Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from 1958 until his death in 1969, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum (₫40,000). Allow two hours for the full complex. Entry to the mausoleum is free; strict dress code applies.

Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)

Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070 during the Ly dynasty to educate the sons of mandarins. The complex is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture in the north. The stone stelae in the third courtyard record the names and villages of 1,307 doctorate holders from 1484 to 1780 — each stele sits on a stone tortoise.

Entry ₫70,000. Allow an hour. It can get busy with school groups mid-morning — go early or after 3pm. The Khue Van Pavilion at the second gate is the most photographed element.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

This is the best museum in Hanoi and one of the best in Southeast Asia. The indoor galleries cover 54 ethnic groups across Vietnam — clothing, tools, ceremonies, social structures — all well-presented with good English signage. The outdoor museum has full-scale reconstructions of traditional houses from various ethnic groups.

Located in Cau Giay district, about 6km from the Old Quarter — take Grab (₫40,000–60,000). Entry ₫40,000. Allow 2–3 hours. Closed Mondays.

Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts

In Ba Dinh district, 2km from Hoan Kiem. Three floors covering Vietnamese art from prehistoric times through the 20th century, including the propaganda poster art from the American War period which is genuinely striking. Entry ₫40,000. Good for 1–1.5 hours.

Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton)

The French-built prison became famous when US pilots shot down over Hanoi were held here during the American War — American POWs nicknamed it the Hanoi Hilton. The current museum presents both periods: the French colonial detention of Vietnamese revolutionaries (the main exhibition) and a brief section on US POWs (curated to emphasise their comfort, which contrasts with the POWs’ own accounts). It’s worth visiting for the historical context even with the editorial slant. Entry ₫50,000, allow 1 hour.

Water Puppet Theatre

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on Dinh Tien Hoang (lakeside, opposite Hoan Kiem) runs shows daily. Traditional water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta in the 11th century — the puppets perform on a pool of water, operated by hidden puppeteers standing waist-deep behind a screen. The stories come from Vietnamese folk tales and legends. The live traditional music accompaniment is the best part.

Entry ₫100,000–200,000 depending on seat tier. Shows run 45 minutes. Worth seeing once; book at the theatre box office or online.

Street food tours

Self-guided street food exploration is very doable in Hanoi, but a guided tour covers more ground efficiently and provides context. Several reputable walking tour operators run morning and evening food tours through the Old Quarter and surrounding streets — typically ₫600,000–1,200,000 ($24–48) for 3 hours including all food.

If going independently, the key morning items: phở at a local pho shop (not tourist-facing, look for plastic stools and no English menu), bánh cuốn from a street stall (steamed rice rolls, usually gone by 9am), xôi (sticky rice with various toppings) from street vendors.

Day trips from Hanoi

See the dedicated day trips from Hanoi guide. The main options are Ninh Binh (2.5 hours), Ha Long Bay/Cat Ba (3.5–4 hours), and Perfume Pagoda (2 hours).