1. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Art-performing venue that presents the Vietnamese water puppet show. Link..

2. Hoan Kiem Lake. Also known as Sword Lake, is in the historical center of Hanoi. It is the place that local people will gather and do a lot of exercises or activities. Link.

3. Hanoi Museum. The museum showcases 50,000 artifacts from Hanoi's 1000-year history. Link.

4. Hoa Lo Prison. It was used by French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for American prisoners during the Vietnam War. Link.

5. West Lake. In the northwest of the city center, West Lake is the biggest fresh water lake in Hanoi, surrounded by gardens, hotels, and villas. It is a recreational place for local people to socialize. Link.

6. Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House. Located in the center of Hanoi, northwest of Hoan Kiem Lake, this is where president Ho Chi Minh read the proclamation of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 2 September, 1945. Link.

7. St. Joseph Cathedral. A late 19th-century Neo-Gothic style church that served as a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. It was built in 1886 by French colonists. Link.

8. The Old Quarter. The historical civic urban core of Hanoi. As a business hub and best tourist spot, Old Quarter comprises nearly 40 streets packed with shops selling goods and food. This is the place that you find some good food after a long day. Link.

1. Bun Cha. Specialty of Hanoi, traditional Vietnamese seasoned pork patties in soup with vermicelli noodles.

2. Hanoi Egg Coffee (Ca Phe Trung). First invented in 1946 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Sweet, rich, silky egg cream on top of espresso.

3. Pho. Traditional Vietnamese everyday food. You can find many good one in the old quarter.

4. Banh Mi. French Baguette with thin crispy crust stuffed with meat, vegetables, mixed fish sauce, and mayonnaise. Ingredients vary at every places. Banh Mi 25 in the old quarter can be the one if you are overwhelmed by the choices in Hanoi.

5. Hanoi Styled Grilled Fish (Cha Ca). One of the best traditional food in Hanoi, originated in old quarter century ago. Cha Ca Lang is one the most famous place in old quarter.

You can look into hotels and hostels near to the old quarter or Hoan Kiem Lake as these are considered as the central, not so far from the town. There are many backpacker hostels in the town which are very affordable.

1. City tour. Link.

2. Hop-on-hop-off bus. Link.

3. Street food tour. Link.

4. Bike tour. Link.

5. Sightseeing tour. Link.

6. Cooking class. Link.

3-4 nights are deemed ideal for stay in Hanoi. This also includes a day trip tour to Halong Bay. Attractions are mostly at the center hence you don't have to spend too many days in Hanoi unless you have some purposes here like yoga course or cooking class. 

Hanoi is an ideal destination to start your trip in Vietnam. The airport in the city is Noi Bai International Airport. There are also domestic flights from most of the city in Vietnam such as Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh city. Link for airport transport. If you come by bus from the south, overnight sleeper bus is one of the options that can help save a token from your pocket. In the city itself, you might walk, rent a bicycle or motorbike, or get a taxi. But more easily and ideally, you can just use the application 'Grab' to get a bike or car ride conveniently and affordably.

March and April (Spring) and September to November (Autumn) are best months to visit with pleasant weather. Winter is too cold in Hanoi as temperature can be below 10 celsius degree and in summer temperature can hit up to 35 celsius degree.