Hanoi

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Interesting facts about Hanoi

There is a turtle living in Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi used to be called Thang Long which means ascending dragon
Hanoi translates to ‘between rivers’
It has been occupied by the Vietnamese, French and Japanese
There area over 600 pagodas and temples in the city (the largest amount in any city in Vietnam)
Although it is the capital city it only makes up 3.5% of the population of Vietnam whereas HCMC makes up 7.5%

Why we love Hanoi (and think you will too)

The street food. It’s cheap, tasty and very accessible. Go on and try it!
Beer is 3,000 VND for one glass (about 20 cents). A visit to Hanoi is not complete without sitting at Bia Hoi in a plastic chair watching the world go by.
The French influence, the cafes, wide streets, cuisine, Banyon trees
The lakes. Hanoi boasts numerous lakes which are great for an afternoon stroll or simply to people watch.
The Old Quarter, its 36 streets with 36 trades means that you know where to go to do your shopping. You need toys, you go to toy street, you feel like fish, you go to fish street. It’s as easy as that!
Its accessibility to everything is great, Halong Bay, Mai Chau, Sapa or the surrounding areas

Our top tips on getting the best out of Hanoi

When crossing the road, walk straight ahead, keep a steady pace and don’t hesitate! The motobikes will avoid you unless you make a last minute change of pace etc
Book a city tour. Ok, so you may not think you need a guide? Think again. Getting lost in Hanoi is very easy and a lot of the sights are spread over a big area. Our guides all speak very good English and know the city back to front and inside out. Let them show you around, take you to the sights, show you their favourite coffee shops and tell them about life in Hanoi. You can then sit back, soak up the atmosphere and not have to worry about a thing. Oh, they can even help you cross the road!
Explore the pagodas. Hanoi has masses of them and they are so beautiful. You can wander in and normally the people are very happy for you to visit them. They often provide a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Take part in a cooking class, they are great easy, great fun and you get to eat what you cook! What a great way to spend the morning!
Go to Lenin Park. It’s a lovely local park with a lake which is a perfect 20 meter walk around, mainly in the shade. Lots of locals, exercising in the early morning and evenings and very quiet during the day.

Weather in Hanoi

Recommended things to do in and around Hanoi

· Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

· One Pillar Pagoda

· Temple of Literature

· Museum of Ethnology

· Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake

· The hustling bustling Old Quarter (home to Buffalo Tours’ head office)

Wake up with the Vietnamese and go for a morning walk followed by coffee and some yoga.
Visit some local Handicraft Villages
Hoa Lu – the inland Halong Bay with its beautiful limestone peaks.
Visit Perfume Pagoda, one of the most religious sites in Buddhist Vietnam
Join a cooking class. This is a great morning, not only do you get to learn how to cook but you also get to eat the food you cook and visit a market. You can then go home and prepare a traditional Vietnamese dinner for your family and friends.
If you haven’t go time to go to Sapa (link) then go to some local villages just a two hour drive from Hanoi. There you will see Hmong, Muong, Dzao and Thai ethnic minorities
Thay Pagoda and Thay Phuong Pagoda are perhaps the most striking and interesting pagodas in Vietnam. Whilst you are in the area, spend time in a local village and meet with local families. (this is not a tourist village, in fact it is where one of our guides lives).
Visit an orphanage on a Sunday.