https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/hanoi/best-things-to-do/100000003721
Best Things to Do
Top 20 Best Things to Do in Hanoi [2025]
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Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
4.2
/5
456 reviews
6.6
From AU$ 6.74
Based on 12,427 reviews
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Area | 144m from downtown
Phone +842438249494
Address: 57B P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.1 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Water puppetry making & control
Vietnamese water puppet show
Saved by 1066 users274 positive reviews
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The show itself was great (the performers did a fantastic job) but the service was a bit disappointing. We queued but we were asked to wait on the side of the stairs (all those who booked online) without any advice on what to do. They said “just wait”. It was 5 minutes before the show when someone came and gave us the tickets. If I have to watch this show again, I’d rather purchase the ticket on site.
To understand the story it is best to have the audio device. The instructions to get the tickets were easy to follow. 👍 Go for the experience while you’re in Hanoi.
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Hoan Kiem Lake
4.6
/5
1127 reviews
6.3
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Area | 231m from downtown
Address: Hang Trong, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
No.2 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Jade Mountain Temple & Turtle Tower
Historic Turtle Tower & lake
Saved by 1496 users533 positive reviews
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Hoan Kiem Lake Park in Hanoi, Vietnam is the most famous lake-ring park in Hanoi and even Vietnam. The park has a legend that there is a sword in the middle of the lake, so it is called Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a place for domestic and foreign tourists to check in. In summer, it feels very cool under the big trees on both sides of the lake. It is a must-see attraction to visit Vietnam.
This is the most famous attraction in Hanoi. It is also the most central location in Hanoi and a landmark symbol. I thought the lake was very big at first, but it turned out to be just like a pond. The most lively streets around Hoan Kiem Lake are all in Hanoi. Sanshiliuhang Street is nearby, and the Red House Cafe is also here.
It is recommended to stay near Hoan Kiem Lake because Hanoi is very small and the attractions can be walked. And the food is also concentrated in this area.
There is still a big difference between the north and the south of Vietnam. Anyway, Hanoi can be visited in one day.
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St. Joseph Cathedral
4.6
/5
751 reviews
5.9
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Area | 438m from downtown
Phone +84903425692
Address: 1 P. Nhà Thờ, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.3 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
French romance opposite church
Renaissance tower & nearby cafes
Saved by 1261 users375 positive reviews
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Located not far from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Cathedral is a truly impressive cathedral! I arrived in the evening, so I didn't get to explore it properly. I just looked at the exterior. There's a small garden at the entrance with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The surrounding streets are all unique and well worth a stroll.
I still recommend checking in at Hanoi Cathedral, because after visiting many cathedrals in Southeast Asian countries and China, this one in Hanoi is really magnificent and beautiful in appearance. The effects are completely different during the day and at night. You can check in during the day, and the design inside is also very beautiful.
It takes 15 minutes to walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, but it only takes half an hour to take photos and check in.
No.
4
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Hanoi Train Street
4.6
/5
36 reviews
5.9
Ba Dinh Square | 869m from downtown
Phone +84564312900
Address: 3 P. Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
No.4 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Vietnamese coffee by century-old tracks
Unique coffee culture by tracks
Saved by 1065 users95% positive reviews
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This is a really nice spot! Not far from Hanoi Train Station, there are many restaurants and bars on both sides of this section of the railway. About ten trains pass by every day! First of all, I definitely recommend going at night for the best view; the neon lights along the entire street are stunning! Secondly, when you go there, you'll see tables and chairs placed on both sides of the railway. You have to buy a beer to sit and wait for the train to pass. However, when the train passes, only the tables and chairs on the shop side remain seated. Those on the other side must leave their seats and pack up their tables. So, remember to choose a seat on the bar side for the best view!
Hanoi, Vietnam🇻🇳【Hanoi Train Street】
Hanoi train street
Hanoi Train Street, also known as "Railway Street" or "Train Alley", is located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter. It is located between Le Duan Street and Kham Tien Street, just a few blocks away from the famous Hoan Kiem Lake. The street is only 200 meters long and is surrounded by residential buildings. One of the main attractions of Hanoi Train Street is the charming cafes lining the alley. These cafes offer a unique experience, where you can enjoy a cup of Vietnamese coffee or delicious food while watching the trains pass by.
Train schedule:
9:20～15:20～20:20～21:40～22:00
There is also a 18:20 train on Saturdays and Sundays
No.
5
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36 Pho Phuong
4.6
/5
278 reviews
5.8
437m from downtown
Phone +84826563802
Address: 2A P. Hàng Bồ, Hàng Đào, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
No.5 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Vietnamese culture & commerce showcased
Vietnamese snacks & live music
Saved by 937 users106 positive reviews
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Hanoi 36th block is Hanoi Old Street, it must be, it is worth a visit, Hanoi tourism must go, how can you say that you have been to Hanoi if you don't go here, here is a perfect tourist place for Vietnamese history, life, food, shopping. Very convenient, a lot of food, accommodation choice is also very convenient, there are many hotels and hotels. Don't regret it. I have been to Hanoi many times, and I live here. It is too suitable for swimming.
Night Tour of Thirty-Six Flood Streets/Hoan Kiem Lake
1. Thirty-Six Flood Streets (Hanoi Ancient Street)
Location: Hanoi Old Quarter, surrounding the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Features:
Historical Origin: Originated from the Li Dynasty (11th century), each street is named after a traditional industry, such as "Silver Street" (Hàng Bạc), "Silk Street" (Hàng Đào), "Chinese Medicine Street" (Hàng Thuốc Bắc), etc., and some traditional industries are still preserved.
City Style: The narrow streets are densely packed with French colonial buildings, family shops, street food stalls and handicraft shops, full of fireworks.
Nightlife: Thirty-Six Flood Street at night turns into a night market and bar street, which is very lively and suitable for experiencing Vietnamese beer culture (Bia Hơi) and night tours.
Play Suggestions:
- Stroll the streets during the day and look for handicrafts (lacquerware, embroidery, Ao Dai, etc.).
- Taste local snacks: Pho (beef rice noodle), Bún Chả (grilled meat rice noodles), Banh Mi (baguette sandwich).
- Experience coffee culture: Café Giảng (egg coffee) and Café Pho Co (lake view coffee shop) are recommended.
- Visit the **weekend night market** (Friday to Sunday) on weekend nights to experience street performances and handmade markets.
No.
6
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Hanoi Sky Lotte Observation Deck
4.7
/5
84 reviews
5.7
From AU$ 11.96
Based on 338 reviews
4.1 km from downtown
Phone +8402433336565
Address: 54 P. Liễu Giai, Cống Vị, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
No.6 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
VR zone: virtual reality sightseeing
65th-floor observatory in 52s
Saved by 524 users92% positive reviews
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Beautiful location and you can see the whole city from above. The bar and atmosphere is super chill. I recommend visiting at sunset hour, it’s the most beautiful from here.
The sky deck in Hanoi is amazing. The view from the top is stunning and the atmosphere is really nice. The staff are friendly and polite, which makes the experience even better.
No.
7
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Hanoi Old Quarter
4.5
/5
195 reviews
5.5
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Area | 412m from downtown
Phone +84439264381
Address: P. Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
No.7 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Evening traditional water puppet show
Hanoi's ancient commerce culture
Saved by 960 users48% positive reviews
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definitely worth visiting and walking down each and every lane and lake side. beautiful cute cozy cafes will cheer you up and so many street sopping you can do here.
very convenient place to live when visiting Hanoi. You can find anything you need within walking distance to hotels. Good spot for tours to pick up. Stores, cafes and restaurants close late too.
No.
8
City Sightseeing Hanoi
4.6
/5
31 reviews
5.5
From AU$ 8.26
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Area | 909m from downtown
Phone +84911938282
Address: 6A P. Phan Chu Trinh, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Hop-on, hop-off and choose your own attraction stops
Multi-lingual tours to explore cultural history
Saved by 323 users88% positive reviews
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You can cover most of their stops in 1hour bus ride (if you choose not to hop off at all and just wanna mainly enjoy the scenes from the bus). We hopped off at the Cathedral stop, it was one of the last few stops of the journey. It was apparently a perfect stop, as it happened to be very close (only 5 mins walking) to the hotel we were staying at, Hoan Kiem District, the heart of all the tourist spots. So if you also stay in Hoan Kiem area and plan to go home straight after the ride, I suggest you hop off at Cathedral Stop, so you can walk home and can save cost by not taking a Grab (online taxi) home. I started my bus ride at 2pm, didn’t hop off at all until stopped at the Cathedral at 3pm ish. All spots were a great choice, audio was clear, the tour guide greeting you at the bottom deck was friendly. All in all, convenient for lazy travellers like me. wear a hat + sunscreen, for sitting at the top deck (bottom deck won’t be worth it, despite the aircon, believe me)
The City Sightseeing Bus Tour in Hanoi was a convenient way to see the city highlights in a short time. The hop-on hop-off system allowed me to visit key attractions without worrying about taxis or navigation. The audio commentary was informative, though sometimes the volume was a bit low with the city traffic noise. The buses were clean and well-maintained, and the rooftop view was fantastic, especially at sunset. Overall, it’s a good value for money and a great option if you want a stress-free way to explore Hanoi.
No.
9
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West Lake
4.5
/5
235 reviews
5.3
Based on 1,816 reviews
3.7 km from downtown
Address: Tây Hồ, Hanoi, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.8 of Night Attractions in Hanoi
Highlights:
Blue vistas from Umbrella Mountain
Hanoi's heritage around lake
Saved by 558 users108 positive reviews
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Staying at InterContinental Hanoi West Lake, it is right next to Hanoi West Lake, and it is very convenient to go to the Old Quarter. The front desk service is also very good, thumbs up. Hanoi West Lake is different from West Lake, there are no mountains, but it is still good.
West Lake is a place to relax, jog, take photos, chat, and sightsee.
No.
10
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Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
4.4
/5
358 reviews
5.3
Ba Dinh Square | 2 km from downtown
Phone +842438455128
Address: 1 Hùng Vương, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Over 240 Vietnamese flowers surround
Ho Chi Minh's resting place
Saved by 551 users139 positive reviews
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Vietnam and we share the same roots and similar systems. The location here is similar to Tiananmen Square, a very open square with Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum in the center. When I visited, it was under maintenance and I was unable to pay my respects.
Location: Ho Chi Minh's MausoleumTime I visit: early morningYes, this place was amazing. Big park. People come around having for early morning jogging around 6 in the morning.If you want to enter the Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, you will need to pass through the guard.They will not allow you to to use short cut. The guard is everywhere. So be careful.Overall, I enjoy my view and jogging around the Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Will visit it again if I have a chance to visit Hanoi.
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