What to do

While Saigon in the south has been modernized quickly after the war, Ha Noi has retained its heritage and tradition which makes for a very romantic and charming destination. Make sure to roam around the meandering streets of the Old Quarter, sip a "ca phe trung" (egg coffee) or "ca phe sua da" (Vietnamese traditional iced coffee with sweet condensed milk) while gazing at Hoan Kiem Lake, or take a bicycle boat on the beautiful West Lake.  

Here's a list of ideas for other things you can do in between our dates:

Water puppet show (link)

Puppeteers stand waist deep in the water behind a screen and operate the puppets on large rods to give the impression that the figures are moving across the water.  Performances are accompanied by traditional Vietnamese folk music.  

Food tour/ cooking class

There are plenty of food walking tours available, or if you'd like to explore on your own, check out our Food page!

Bicycle tour

Nowadays you have to go farther from the city to encounter the Vietnamese countryside, but a bike tour offers the best way to see the slow side of village life.  Many tour options are available, e.g., here.

Buddhist temples

Like "pho" stalls, every Hanoian has their go-to Buddhist temple or pagoda, where it gets busiest on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. Nhung's favorite are Den Quan Thanh (West Lake), Den Ngoc Son (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Chua Van Nien (West Lake).

Hoa Lo Prison

This prison was used before and during the Vietnam war. It was demolished in the 1990s, however the gatehouse is now used as a museum. This attraction takes you through a timeline of the war, with many facts and real life war memorabilia you can view. Definitely worth a visit.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This exemplar of Soviet-influenced architecture mixed with distinctive Vietnamese elements serves as a memorial for Vietnam’s former president, Ho Chi Minh.  A flag ceremony is held at 6 a.m. or 9 p.m.  The presidential palace and museum are nearby, as is the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple with unique architecture.

Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam

The Temple of Literature is Vietnam’s first university, dating back to nearly a thousand years.

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