Hanoi

Getting There

Fly into Noi Bai International (HAN). The taxi rank outside arrivals is the simplest option to the city centre (35–40 minutes, around 350,000 VND). Grab app (Southeast Asia's answer to Uber) is cheaper and equally reliable.

The Old Quarter

Hanoi's Old Quarter — 36 streets, each historically dedicated to a single trade — is the oldest continuously functioning commercial district in Vietnam. The street names still reflect the original trade: Hang Bac (silver), Hang Gai (silk), Hang Ma (votive paper). The streets are narrow, scooters dominate, and the commerce is real rather than staged. Walk every street once, slowly.

The Food

Hanoi's pho (beef noodle soup) is the best in Vietnam — lighter broth than the southern version, more focused, eaten at 6am at a pavement restaurant with a plastic stool and an aluminium bowl. Pho Gia Truyen (49 Bat Dan) has operated since the 1950s and the queue moves quickly. Bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles in broth) is the specific Hanoi dish. Bun Cha Huong Lien on Le Van Huu became internationally known when Anthony Bourdain ate here with Barack Obama in 2016; it's still the right call. Banh mi from any street cart.

Hoan Kiem Lake

The lake at the heart of the old city is named for the legend of the restored sword — Lê Lợi returned a magical sword to the Golden Turtle God here in the 15th century. Ngoc Son Temple, on an island in the lake, is connected by a red lacquered bridge and is serene at dawn. The lake perimeter is closed to traffic on weekend evenings, becoming a pedestrian zone used by the entire city.

Day Trips

Ha Long Bay (3.5 hours east by road) — UNESCO World Heritage limestone karsts rising from the bay. The overnight cruise experience is the correct format; the day trip from Hanoi is not worth the travel time. Ninh Binh (2 hours south) is an inland version of Ha Long Bay, accessible and significantly less crowded.