Photo: Contiki
When you think of the hustle and bustle of Vietnam, your mind immediately wanders to the TikToks and reels you have seen online. Quick clips swarm our feeds showing the thousands and thousands of motorbikes crazily crossing the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of the largest cities in Vietnam, but everybody forgets about Hanoi, the capital city in the north. Hanoi holds some of Vietnam’s best kept secrets. As a Trip Manager in Asia, I am always thrilled when our tour gets to this destination, because there is just so much to see and do in this ancient Capital. Hanoi is over 1000 years old! How impressive is that.
Hanoi is the gateway to the awe-inspiring Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sa Pa, and the Ha Giang Loop. Hopefully after reading about the best places to visit in Vietnam you will get inspired to book onto one of Contiki’s amazing Vietnam trips. One of the best things about Vietnam is how easily accessible it is to get around. And if you’re a little nervous about the language barrier, you can try these Vietnamese phrases to get you through.
1. The Old Quarter
The city of Hanoi has had a vibrant past. The infamous Old Quarter, is itself by far my favourite hidden gem. The history of the Old Quarter dates back as far as the 11th Century. It started as the commercial district around the Citadel (a fortress. In this case built on reclaimed land) during the rule of the Ly Dynasty. This commercial area has continuously developed, stretching out the streets and alleys, called ‘Hang’.
The translation of Hang means ‘Merchandise or Shop’. Each street in the Old Quarter is named ‘Hang _____’. Which is the street name, plus what is sold on that street. For example; ‘Hang Bac’ means ‘Merchandise Silver’, and traditionally you would have found the street lined with lots of silver shops, and traders. There are 36 famous streets in the Old Quarter, however the city has copied much of the same layout in this area.
Tight alleyways, blocked sidewalks, crowded streets, and lots and lots of people. Amongst all of this chaos are tiny boutique bars, funky cafes serving some of the best local Vietnamese coffee, knock off shops, and everything else you could ever imagine can be found here. Count your lucky stars and some of the scariest looking staircases will lead you to rooftop bars with stunning views of the city – the best time is to catch sunset, and watching the lights of the city switch on, and unlock the nightlife. A city that never sleeps.
The Old Quarter is a shopping addicts dream, everywhere you look, there is something you feel the urge to buy. To help you narrow it down, we’ve put together a list of the best Vietnamese souvenirs to buy.
2. Ta Hien Street
Next on my list is Ta Hien Street, also known as Beer Street. It’s a not-so-secret hidden gem as once you stumble across it, you can’t miss it, it sucks you in and you can’t leave. It is one of the most overwhelming experiences, in a good way, and a place you must visit in Hanoi. The street is near dead during the day time, and comes alive in the evenings, filled with bright lights, small bars, nightclubs, karaoke, sheeshas, food & drinks.
The further you walk down this small alley the cheaper the drink specials get. Everybody is competing for customers and sales, and you can use this to your advantage for deals. The perfect place to go if you’re on a budget. I especially recommend heading to Ta Hien with a few friends, sitting at the tables which line the street and just watching the world go by.
3. Hanoi Social Club
A must try. Travelling through Vietnam you fall in love with the food, it might even be one of the reasons you’ve chosen it as your travel destination. But I can guarantee that throughout your travels, you have never seen a Pho cocktail on the menu. And that’s right, you read that correctly Pho (as in the Vietnamese noodle soup) as a cocktail.
I know the exact place to get it. Strolling through the alleys surrounding the Hoan Kiem Lake, there are many little nooks and crannies you can wander into, and on my travels that’s exactly what I did. I stumbled across this incredible boutique bar which serves their take on the specialty cocktail inspired by Pho (noodle soup). It’s an acquired taste and one’s enough, but you need to put it on your list.
4. The Spot
The weather is warm in Hanoi, more often than not. Finding a place to cool down, can sometimes be quite difficult. Due to the narrow buildings, and the nature of the city, most accommodations do not have swimming pools. Thankfully I have the solution for you, and a great place to meet fellow travellers, and find your new travel buddies. The place is called “The Spot” and just for that reason, it is THE spot to be. Refreshing pool, cold drinks, snacks and likeminded travellers – what more could you want on your holiday?
If you’re new to the travelling game, and have just decided to go out on a limb, a solo travel experience in Vietnam, here are some hot tips for solo travel in Vietnam.
5. Thuy’s Bánh Mì
On the edge of Dong Xuan Market (a local day market, open 7AM-6PM) you will find one the best bánh mì (baguette sandwiches) in the country. Ms Thuy’s small vendor has been operating for over 40 years. It only opens at 2PM, and it is a very local experience, selling traditional bánh mì with pork slices, pork pate and spicy fillings. There’s not much else in terms of variations of fillings, and is not vegetarian friendly, however, it is a must try when you’re walking around in this area.
Image source:Contiki
6. Egg coffee at Dinh Café
The infamous egg coffee. It’s as simple as it sounds, and tastes even better. Famously originating in the north, the best place to try it is the Dinh Café. Many cafes have egg coffee on their menu, and some even have demonstrations where you can watch to see how it’s made.
It’s a delicious treat, and needs to be put on your list of things to do and try. To see the demonstration, and to taste afterwards. Check out some other things to do in Vietnam.
7. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Everybody knows Vietnam for rice paper rolls, great coffee, busy streets, crazy nightlife, the lanterns of Hoi An, beautiful beaches, and of course the mouth-watering views of the Ha Giang Loop. But there’s even more.
Peeling back the layers of the history and culture behind Vietnam is easy when you spend a couple of hours here at the Ethnology Museum. It’s used as both a research centre and an exhibition house show casing the many ethnic groups of Vietnam. It’s open 08:30AM-17:30PM every day. And tickets are around 40,000 VND per person ($1.60 USD).
The collection here presents tribal art, artefacts, traditional costumes/dress of many of the ethnic minority groups found in Vietnam. If you’re heading into the mountains to do some trekking in the hillsides, like in Sa Pa for example, I would definitely go here first and check it all out, so as you’re trekking you’ll be able to understand more.
8. Trek Sa Pa
Speaking of… To further help you prepare for your trek, read your guide to trekking in Sa Pa. If you’re interested in trekking in Sa Pa, it’s easy to add onto the end of one of your Contiki tours. The local guide and trip managers have lots of other great recommendations and companies to use. Sometimes it’s difficult to know who to trust and you want to make sure you’re not supporting a brand or company that is exploiting the ethnic minority groups in the mountains.
That pretty much wraps up my favourites for this list, my hidden gems of Hanoi. Of course I have plenty more but I’d love to see you in Vietnam and share these experiences with you firsthand. We’ve added in something new this season, and we now offer the Ha Giang Loop. Check out the full list of Contiki Vietnam Trips and find the one best suited to you!
If you’re debating your next travel destination in Asia, check out our , Thailand vs. Vietnam quiz and article. If you have any further questions about the trips in Asia, tips for packing, what to expect or anything trip related, you can always jump onto the Facebook Group, the Contiki Travel Lounge which is an open forum with real Trip Managers responding to your questions, and putting you at ease before your travels.
See you in Vietnam soon!
