Luxury Serviced Apartments for Rent in Hanoi

Facts About Hanoi 

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital while also being the second biggest city in the entire country, comprising of 12 urban districts, 17 rural districts and a district-leveled town within the Red River Delta. It is the city’s political and cultural hub and here are some interesting facts about the same. 

• Hanoi originates from 3rd century BCE when a part served as the capital for the iconic Au Lac Vietnamese nation. 
• After Au Lac collapsed, the city became part of colonial China and in 1010, Lý Thái Tổ, the Vietnamese Emperor, setup the capital for the Imperial Vietnamese Nation or Dai Viet in what is contemporary Hanoi, naming it as Thang Long or Ascending Dragon. 
• The Nguyen Dynasty shifted the capital in 1802 to Hue and the city was renamed as Hanoi in 1831, becoming the capital for the French Indochina between 1902 and 1945. 
• The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam made it the capital of the newly free country on 6th January, 1945. 
• Hanoi is home to the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, built first in 1011 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• It is also the sole Asia-Pacific zone to get the City for Peace title from the UNESCO in 1999. 
• The Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi was designed by none other than the creator of the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, Alexandre Gustav Eiffel. 

Hanoi contributed 12.6% of the country’s GDP in 2013, exporting 7.5% of overall exports and reaching nominal GDP of 451,213 billion VND. Hanoi is also home to the Noi Bai International Airport in the Soc Son District, roughly 15 kilometres away from the city. The new T2 international terminal was built in 2015 as a major facelift for the Airport. 

Cost of Living in Hanoi

Monthly estimated costs for a family of four people stand at roughly 115,671.73 VND. Meals are anywhere between 30,000 and 80,000 VND at local restaurants while this may be anywhere upwards of 400,000 VND at mid-tier restaurants. One-way local transportation tickets and monthly passes cost approximately 7-9,000 VND and 200,000 VND respectively. Utility costs are somewhere in the zone of 1,391,970.38 VND while rentals may hover between 4,500,000-27,719,493.87 on average. 

Tips for Visiting Hanoi 

There are several tips that will serve you well during your visit to Hanoi. Here’s taking a look at some of them. 

• Learn visa regulations for Vietnam which vary on the basis of the duration of your trip, nationality and how you wish to arrive. 
• Hanoi has hugely congested traffic with innumerable motorbikes running on city roads. 
• Take your time and be careful while crossing any road; you will have to deal with fast-flowing traffic since people will not stop and wait for you to cross. 
• The currency is Vietnamese Dong or VND. 
• Road regulations are flexible in Hanoi. 
• Try and avoid tap water in Hanoi; purchase bottled drinking water instead. 
• Try the best street food picks like Pho, Cha Ca and Bun Cha Hanoi among others. 

Things to Do in Hanoi

Hanoi has ample things to do and attractions in store for tourists and visitors. Here’s taking a look at the same. 

Q. What are the most popular things to do in Hanoi? 

Some popular attractions in Hanoi include the Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo Prison, Museum of Ethnology, Giang Café, Lotte Tower Observation Deck and the National Museum of Vietnamese History. 

Q. What are some free things to do in Hanoi? 

Some free activities in Hanoi include walking around the Turtle Lake, going on free walking tours, exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi, viewing water puppet shows at the Thang Long theater, exploring the Downtown Night Market, Train Street and visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. 

Q. Does Hanoi have many romantic attractions? 

The Famous Bridge of Long Bien is a key romantic attraction along with the La Bella Spa, Gourmet Corner Restaurant, Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake. 

Q. What are the most family-friendly things to do in Hanoi? 

Hanoi has numerous family-friendly attractions like the Old Quarter and its vibrant shops, food trails, Museum of Ethnology, foot massages, water puppet shows, walking around the Hoan Kiem Lake and exploring the Railway Village. 

Q. What are the more unusual things to do in Hanoi? 

Unusual things to do in Hanoi include taking cooking classes, visiting the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, exploring the Water Puppet Theater, Tay Ho or West Lake, Hanoi Opera House and checking out the Tay Ho Pagoda. 

Places to Visit in Hanoi

There are numerous attractions in Hanoi including the following: 

• Hanoi Old Town Quarter – The key attraction for most visitors to Hanoi is taking long and charming walks through the ancient core area of the city. The alleys are the heart of the ancient town and date back almost 1,000 years. There are colorful stores and numerous souvenirs on offer for visitors too. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is situated here, built back in 1886 and showcasing neo-Gothic architectural motifs. 
• Hoan Kiem Lake – The Hoan Kiem Lake lies on the southern edge of the town quarter, housing a small island that is accessible via the red bridge. This has the Ngoc Son Temple that is dedicated to La To, Tran Hung Dao and Van Xuong, all Vietnamese historical icons. The Turtle Tower is accommodated on another small island towards the lake’s southern section. 
• Temple of Literature – The Temple of Literature is the most intriguing religious structure in Hanoi, built as a Confucian temple that was a university back in the 11th century. It pays tribute to the scholars of the country today. 
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a beautiful complex within the gardens of the city, containing Ho Chi Minh’s tomb and several monuments and museums as well. 
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology accommodates the beautiful collections offering insights into the country’s diverse cultures and historical developments over ages. 
• Hoa Lo Prison Museums – The Hoa Lo Prison Museum was built in the 19th century by the French Colonial Government. It was originally used for housing revolutionaries from Vietnam and dissidents under the rule of the French. 

Places to Eat in Hanoi

Hanoi has several wonderful places to eat include La Terrasse Du Metropole, one of the best places to savor lip-smacking cuisine and also the Highway4 Restaurant in Hoan Kiem, serving up the best local Vietnamese cuisine in town. Sen 60 Ly Thai is another popular restaurant in the Hoan Kiem District, offering delightful buffet dinners, comprising of crab, sashimi, escargot, crab, oysters and Vietnamese spring rolls galore. KOTO or Know One Teach One is another fantastic all-day dining joint cum café that offers the best coffee and several local favorites. 

Street Food in Hanoi 

When it comes to enjoying delectable street food in Hanoi, you should not miss Pho, Cha Ca, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon and Com. Pho has two varieties, namely Pho Bo and Pho Ga. Pho is the national dish of Vietnam and has earned the rating of being one of the best 5 street food dishes in the whole world! Hanoi has several restaurants serving up dishes with snake and other insect varieties. Several of these joints may be found in Hanoi’s Khuong Thuong Village. Signature dishes here contain ant-eggs which are processed, in the Thai or Muong or Tay Vietnamese culinary styles. 

Shopping in Hanoi

If you are going shopping in Hanoi, make sure that you check out the top shopping malls here including the Trang Tien Plaza, Vincom Center, Garden Shopping Center and Indochina Plaza. You should also check out the Vincom Royal City Megamall, Asia’s biggest underground shopping mall and also Vincom Times City Megamall. There is also the popular Lotte Department Store and Aeon Mall Long Bien. 

Transportation in Hanoi

Hanoi has its own Noi Bai International Airport within the Soc Son District, 15 kilometers away from the main city. The T2 international terminal was set up in 2015. Taxis are amply available in Hanoi while several Vietnam Railways train routes go through the city as well. Motorbikes, buses and cars are other key transportation forms. Two metro lines are being built for covering the city, namely Lines 2A and 3. Many travelers prefer renting motorbikes for getting around the city. 

Weather in Hanoi 

Hanoi has a humid and overcast wet season while the dry season is more comfortable although humid. Temperatures usually hover between 57 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit. The best time to visit is between early February and mid April and also between late October and late December.