Home/Things to do/Hanoi

Things to Do in Hanoi

Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in Hanoi, Vietnam — 2026 traveler picks.

Top places to see

Landmark

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

45 min from HAN

Spiritual heart of Hanoi — the lake with its pagoda island and the enormous preserved Hoan Kiem turtle legend. Free to walk.

Neighborhood

Hanoi Old Quarter (36 Streets)

45 min from HAN

Each medieval street named after the guild it once housed — Silk Street, Paper Street, Tin Street. Best for wandering on foot.

Market

Dong Xuan Market

45 min from HAN

Hanoi's largest covered market — wholesale textiles, spices, and the adjacent street food alleys are the real draw.

Book tours + skip-the-line tickets

Compare tours + attractions in Hanoi across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.

Things to do in Hanoi

Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.

Tours, tickets & day trips

Our pick

GetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Hanoi and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.

Browse Hanoi
Just need timed-entry attraction tickets? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Hanoi.

Eat here first

Bun cha (grilled pork and noodles) at Bun Cha Huong Lien on Le Van Huu Street — the restaurant where Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain in 2016, $3.

Local tip

Hanoi is 45km from Noi Bai airport — much further than HCMC. Bus 86 is reliable and cheap. The Old Quarter streets close to cars on weekends for a pedestrian zone.

Where to stay

Hotels across Hanoi — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.