The 11 most amazing attractions in Hanoi

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Hanoi is Vietnam's historic and vibrant capital, and it is known for the various rivers, lakes, and mountains that run beside and around it. Scattered around are tourist attractions that are very appealing because of the lush regions full of streams, rivers, and mountains, such as Tam Dao, Con Son, Kiep Bac, and so on. It has mostly recovered from decades of conflict and is currently experiencing a development boom, making it a fast-expanding metropolis in Southeast Asia.

 

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1. Temple Of Literature​

Temple of Literature is one of the most beautiful attractions in Hanoi.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Nikada Getty Image)

Dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, the Temple of Literature can be dated back to 1070. It also serves as home to Vietnam's first national university, the Imperial Academy. One of the best preserved examples of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture, it is a must see.

 

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2. Hanoi Contemporary Arts Centre​

Explore the Vietnamese contemporary art at Hanoi Contemporary Arts Centre in Hanoi.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Wikimedia Image)

Hanoi Contemporary Art Museum is a museum to display a collection of Vietnamese modern art located in Hanoi, Vietnam. The total area of the museum is 4000 square meters and has exhibition space indoors as well as outdoors including permanent and temporary displays.

 

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3. Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House​

Enter the house that sheltered the founder of modern Vietnam.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Vinhdav Getty Image)

Ho Chi Minh is hailed as a hero by some and despised as a despot by others. In any case, this man spent most of his life to politically unite Vietnam and lead the country in the latter half of the 20th century. If you're looking for a place where major historical figures lived while you're in this country, you cannot miss this unique residence. Uncle Ho, as many Vietnamese citizens lovingly call him, decided to live here despite having the privileged access to the nearby Presidential Palace. Typical of Southeast Asian architecture, this house is built on stilts. Though visitors can't enter the rooms, exterior walkways help tourists see historic objects inside simply-designed rooms. Things like vintage telephones, Ho Chi Minh's study desk, books, old newspapers and a typewriter provide insights into how a leader managed to remain at the helm of a developing country through two major wars.

 

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4. Đồng Xuân Market​

Đồng Xuân Market is a well known market in Hanoi that features a lot of different items.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Wikimedia Image)

The Đồng Xuân Market, located in the heart of Hanoi, is famously known for its wide array of offerings. It is a well known market where a lot of local products are sold which makes it the biggest wholesale market in Hanoi. The market surely has something in store for those looking to buy something.

 

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5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum​

Pay respect to Ho Chi Minh at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Vinhdav Getty Image)

Inaugurated in 1975, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the tomb of the President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi. The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved in a glass chamber. The garden around the mausoleum is amazingly well maintained with 250 species of trees from across the country.

 

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6. West Lake​

West Lake is regarded as the largest freshwater lake in Hanaoi.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Diego Fiore Getty Image)

West Lake in Hanoi features a 17 kilometer shoreline and is known to be the capital's largest lake with its 500-hectare area. The West Lake is also a famous recreation spot as it is surrounded by many establishments and affluent neighborhood. It is also the best place to relax and unwind.

 

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7. Vietnam Military History Museum​

Vietnam Military History Museum is one of the historical national museums located in Vietnam.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Vdvornyk Getty Image)

Vietnam Military History Museum is composed of various buildings that showcases the military history of Vietnam. One of the well known attraction of the museum is the Flag Tower of Hanoi where visitors could enter its first two tiers and witness the magnificent view of the museum from above.

 

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8. Vietnam Museum Of Ethnology​

Explore the tribal culture and lifestyle at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Wikimedia Image)

Spread in 43,799 square meters, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a museum in Hanoi focusing on ethnic and tribal groups of Vietnam. The museum opened in 1997 and it displays tribal arts, artifacts and handmade everyday use items of diverse tribal groups from across the nation.

 

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9. Hoàn Kiếm District​

A lake serves as a beautiful backdrop to a district where the old meets the new.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (NicolasMcComber Getty Image)

Hoàn Kiếm Lake can be considered the beating heart of Hanoi. This body of water serves as the focal point of the city's public life. The downtown and commercial district of the Vietnamese capital surround this lake. It is in this lakeside area where most of the country's biggest corporations and banks have set up shop. Ordinary shops, restaurants, hotels and markets can also be found here. Despite the relative modernity of this side of town, the many temples and statues surrounding the lake serve as a reminder that old and time-honored traditions make Hanoi a place unlike any other.

 

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10. Cổ Loa Citadel​

This citadel is the cradle of Vietnamese civilization.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (Wikimedia Image)

Before Hanoi became the capital, this citadel served as Vietnam's administrative center back when it was an independent kingdom about 3,000 years ago. This uniquely-designed fort has walls that are arranged in a roughly spiral shape. The walls are surrounded by moats to help keep invaders out. Inside the citadel are temples dedicated to the rule of King An Duong Vuong. Legends say that he owned a magic crossbow which, ironically, led to his defeat in the hands of the Chinese. The temples built in his honor feature sculptures that showcase Vietnamese artistic abilities.

 

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11. National Museum Of Vietnamese History​

Visit the architecturally stunning building of the National Museum of Vietnamese History.© Provided by Microsoft Travel (PurpleImages Getty Image)

The former home of the École Française d’Extrême-Orient, this building was constructed between 1925 and 1932. One of the first Vietnamese buildings to feature a unique fusion of Chinese and French design elements, it was designed by the renowned architect Ernest Hebrard. A visual masterpiece, it is also a popular tourist hotspot.