Top 5 Places To Visit In Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is a city rich in culture. The cuisine, architecture and lifestyle reflect the Southeast-Asian, French and Chinese influences prevalent in Vietnam’s history. As such, the entertainment and tourism offers a wide variety of places to see, each showcasing a different aspect of the country. So, to help you plan your trip, we have compiled here a list of the top 5 places to visit in Hanoi, Vietnam!

1. Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature, rather than being a place of worship, is actually a place of study. Established in 1070 as a university dedicated to Confucius, it initially only accepted aristocrats. Later however, it opened its gates to anyone bright enough to enter.

The traditional Vietnamese architecture and impressive gardens provide a scenic atmosphere most students can only dream of. Two of the courtyards have gardens that have been cultivated carefully to provide aesthetic appeal to students and tourists. Another courtyard contains the famous pond known as the Well of Heavenly Clarity. The fourth one is known as the Sage Courtyard and features a famous statue of Confucius. The last one is the historically famous Thai Hoc which contains a drum and bell tower.

2. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

3. West Lake

This is the largest freshwater lake in Hanoi, and features several restaurants, hotels and historic places around the shore. You can visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam’s oldest temple, or enjoy a mystical boat ride along the lake. For dinner, there are several restaurants around the shore, and you can even enjoy a romantic dinner on a floating restaurant!

The best time to go is around sunset, as the lakes beauty truly shines during this time. The Tran Quoc Pagoda also looks particularly stunning around sunset, lit up and shining like a beacon on its small island inside the lake.

4. Bao Son Paradise Park

This park attracts local and foreign tourist, since 2008. The park is divided into 4 main sections : the traditional craft villages, replica of Hanoi’s old quarters, the eco-tourism area and the culinary section.

The craft villages display a replica of Vietnam’s most famous craftsmen, including silk weavers, potters, embroiders, etc. The replica of Hanoi’s old quarters showcases structures built using ancient Vietnamese architecture, and displays the life of Hanoi’s residents in earlier days.

5. One Pillar Pagoda

Vietnam’s most famous temples. Correspondingly, the wooden structure is built from one stone and nested on the middle of a beautiful lotus pond. The structure of the Pagoda resembles a lotus blooming, and consists of Quan Am, the deity to whom it is dedicated too.