Hanoi Travel Guide, Vietnam

Hanoi is currently the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in the country after Ho Chi Minh City. It became a metropolitan area in 2008 with an estimated population of more than 6 millions. Hanoi is an exotic mix of medieval houses, French influences and modern architecture, that will provide an intense experience of the Asian lifestyle.

Hanoi Travel Guide – Economy

With 13 industrial parks, Hanoi’s economy is mostly based on industry, but trade and finance are developing at a very fast pace. As population is rapidly growing, so does the real estate market, which now constitutes the city’s third industry. Recent progresses have also been made in agriculture, as modern techniques and utilities are adopted. The currency in Vietnam is the ‘Dong’.

Hanoi Travel Guide – Transportation

No Bai International Airport serves the entire northern region of Vietnam, but most long-distance flights to/from Hanoi usually make a stop in Hong-Kong or Bangkok. Hanoi is an important railway knot, but traveling by train can be sometimes difficult for a stranger, as the departure station may differ from the one you buy your ticket. Hanoi is also accessible by water - check out our Hanoi cruise deals for more details. The most common means of transportation around Hanoi is the motorbike (there are special lanes for motorbikes and bicycles). Tourists also have the possibility to rent a cyclo (or cycle rickshaw), who’s driver will guide them on the streets of the Old Quarter (that most Hanoi Travel Guides will list as the main attraction in Hanoi).

Hanoi Travel Guide – Geography and Climate

Hanoi climate is monsoonal, characterized by humid, hot summers and dry winters. The average temperatures vary between 27-32 ºC in summer months and don’t go lower than 6-7ºC in winter. The rainiest month is August, with 320 mm rainfall. Hanoi is situated on the banks of the Red River, hence the nickname ‘City of Lakes’: the low altitude of the land made possible the apparition of numerous lakes and ponds that surround the city.

Hanoi Travel Guide– Interesting Facts

Hanoi will celebrate 1000 years of existence in 2010. As most universities are concentrated in Hanoi, it is estimated that 62% of the scientists live and work here. The most common dish in the local cuisine is the Phở, a rice noodle soup. Local attractions include watching unusual practices like pigeon races, cock fights, rope climbing contests or water puppets theatre. The traditional dress for women is the Ao Dai (‘long dress). It can still be seen on Hanoi’s streets, as Vietnamese women wear it at national celebrations, weddings and as an office attire in some companies that require it. Even if any Hanoi Travel Guide will tell you about its French heritage, English has been the second most popular language in the country since 1990.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Hanoi
ask now

Things about Hanoi you may be interested in

• Hanoi Reviews
• Hanoi Travel tips

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about Hanoi

• VIETNAM TOUR PACKAGES, CAMBODIA, LAOS & THAILAND TOURS
  review by vietnamstay posted more then 30 days ago
  VIETNAM TOUR PACKAGES, CAMBODIA, LAOS & THAILAND TOURS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Availing yourself of various tours and extraordinary experience excursions, you may want to include during your holidays in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Multi-Country in Indochina. As a Vietnam Tour Operator,...
• KITI Restaurant in Hanoi
  review by jessica171 posted more then 30 days ago
  Dear valued costumers! About 4 years-action in field of restaurant services, KITI have come into a closed friend of many internal and foreign costumers. In the past years, our restaurant services don’t stop to progress to sastisfy needs of food of most of costumer and we get their sympathy...
• Getting around in Hanoi
  review by VanUK posted more then 30 days ago
  I'm living in Hanoi but I have never gone around it before. So last month, I and my friends had a city tour around it. We visited almost famous destinations (Turlte Tower,Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda,..) bought special gift and had traditional dishes in Old Quarter,...It's very fun and...

view all

 

Read our members' travel tips about Hanoi

• Vietnam Cooking Tour By Greentrailtourism.com
  travel tip by hoanhx posted more then 30 days ago
  Detail Itinerary Day 1 : Arrival Ha Noi (D) Arrive at Noi Bai Airport and coach transfer to hotel. Take a cyclo, the Vietnamese version of the rickshaw to Indochine Restaurant for an introduction to Vietnamese food. Set in a beautifully...
• Car rental in hanoi
  travel tip by carrental posted more then 30 days ago
  Itinerary Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam since the 11th century dazzles visitors its unique blend of oriental lifestyle, French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards and peaceful lakes. Still retaining a charming air from its...
• Travel around Hanoi
  travel tip by Anonymous posted more then 30 days ago
  The road condition in Hanoi is dramatically crowded due to thousands of bicycles, motorbikes along the way. Thus, taxi, cyclo and car with Vietnamese driver are the best way to travel around Hanoi. There are reliable taxi companies...

view all

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Hanoi

See who has been to Hanoi and ask them a question (membership required)

Lamnt1979 ask a question add to friends

asiahotelbiz ask a question add to friends

tarquitius ask a question add to friends

megancriley ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

Community Galleries About Hanoi

Browse our members' Hanoi galleries to get a better impression of the place

view gallery

view gallery

view gallery

 

show alladd gallery

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...