Travel Guide to Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam’s small, charming capital, is situated in the heart of the Red River Delta. Founded in 1010, this ancient city of lakes became the center of government under French colonial rule in 1888.
Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina for over fifty years and evidence of this regime can be seen all over the city today, in the form of magnificent colonial edifices like the Grand Hanoi Opera House, The Presidential Palace, the State Bank of Vietnam and the luxurious Sofitel Metropole hotel, which over the years has played host to numerous heads of state, ambassadors, writers and other famous folk.
Hanoi was declared the capital of independent Vietnam in 1954 and it continues to serve as the cultural and social epicenter of the country until today. Modern-day Hanoi offers an intriguing mix of the old and the new, a combination that succeeds in attracting hordes of tourists to this once inaccessible city.
The best time to visit Hanoi
Hanoi is bestowed with a humid, tropical climate like much of Northern Vietnam. The city experiences its summer season between the months of May and September. Summers in Hanoi are characterized by scorching temperatures though thundery; monsoon showers are almost a daily occurrence. June is usually the hottest month in Hanoi, while January is the city’s coldest month. The city’s winters extend from November to March and are typically thought to be the best time to visit.
Visas
Citizens of many nations require a visa to enter Vietnam. Visa exemptions are available for citizens of the following countries:-
1. Citizens of Brunei can enter Vietnam without a visa for visits of 14 days at the maximum.
2. Citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos are allowed entry for visits of a maximum of 30 days.
3. Citizens of Philippines are granted entry for visits of 21 days at the maximum.
4. Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia and Finland gain visa free entrance of 15 days at the maximum.
5. Citizens of France and Chile (who hold valid diplomatic or official passports) gain visa free access to Vietnam for visits of 90 days at the maximum or several visits of 6 months at the maximum.
6. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders: Holders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) card are allowed visa free visits for 60 days at the maximum.
Citizens of other countries can apply for a Vietnam visa at their local Vietnamese consulate or online at sites like Myvietnamvisa (http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/), which are officially recognized by the Vietnamese immigration authorities. The visas procured online are issued on arrival at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh airports. These online Vietnam visas usually take two business days to process though they can also be issued on an urgent basis, within 24 hours, for a higher price.
Getting to Hanoi
Hanoi is a major gateway to Vietnam, which is served by its busy Noi Bai International airport, located 45km (28 miles) to the north of the city. The Hanoi airport welcomes a whole host of carriers from various parts of the globe like Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot, British Airways, Malaysian Airlines, ANA airlines, Qantas and many more.
http://www.hanoiairportonline.com/
The airport is connected by airport minibuses and taxis to the city center. However while hailing a taxi at the Hanoi airport, you should be vigilant and ensure that the vehicle you are about to get into is an official taxi and that driver has turned on his meter before you set out.
The Hanoi Railway Station is located near the city’s Hoan Kiem District. The city is linked by rail to other Vietnamese destinations, like Ho Chi Minh and Hue.
http://www.vietnamrailways.com/?gclid=CLqw8IKUua8CFaad4godeWrvhA
Hanoi is also equipped with three bus stations, namely the Gia Lam Station, Ben Xe Nam Hanoi and the Ha Dong Station, all of which offer bus and coach connections to destinations like Halong Bay, Lang Son, Ho Chi Minh City, and Lao Cai amongst others.
Transport within the city is provided by abundant taxis, motorcycle taxis and buses. If you are planning a holiday in Hanoi with your family in tow, you might consider hiring a car for the duration of your stay. Hire cars in Hanoi are usually supplied with a driver, which makes negotiating Hanoi’s chaotic traffic infinitely easier.
Family-friendly Hotels in Hanoi
Hanoi is a prominent tourist destination and it is accordingly equipped with a wide range of hotels that cater to various budgets. Family-friendly hotels in Hanoi include the following properties:-
Budget
Hanoi Luxor Hotel
The Hanoi Luxor is a boutique hotel located in the heart of the city’s old quarter. The Hanoi Luxor Hotel offers spacious ‘family rooms’ which can comfortably sleep a family of four. The rooms at the Hanoi Luxor hotel are outfitted with various amenities like air-conditioners, in room safes, satellite TV, coffee and tea making facilities and more. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi and free local calls. Child-friendly amenities include babysitting services, cribs on demand, as well as a doctor on call.
http://www.hanoiluxorhotel.com/
Mid-Range
Sheraton Hanoi Hotel
The Sheraton Hanoi Hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and offers gorgeous vistas of Hanoi’s picturesque West Lake. The hotel is easily accessible from downtown Hanoi via a ten minute taxi ride. The Sheraton offers 299 spacious rooms and a range of amenities including babysitting services and cribs on demand.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1484
Luxury
Sofitel Metropole hotel
The magnificent Sofitel Metropole hotel has been welcoming visitors to Hanoi since 1901. This colonial-style hotel located in the heart of Hanoi, regularly features in the lists of the ‘best hotels in the world.’ The Sofitel offers 364 grand rooms and suites, outfitted with plush beddings, LCD TVs, DVD players and complimentary broadband Internet.
http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-1555-sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi/index.shtml
Family-friendly attractions in Hanoi
The Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is the heart and soul of Hanoi. Noisy, chaotic and perennially busy, the Old Quarter features a maze of 36 meandering streets, each of which is named after a special craft or trades that were practiced there by the original artisan’s guild. Many of the streets still feature predominant items of trade like silk, silver jewelry, Vietnamese coffee, Vietnamese art, antiques, textiles and more. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a cacophony of sights and sounds, an intensely exciting place for shoppers and browsers alike.
http://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/36-old-streets.html
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located in the midst of the vast Ba Dinh Square in central Hanoi. It is here that Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of Independence in 1945. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum features the embalmed body of the ‘father’ of the Vietnamese people.
The Mausoleum is heavily guarded and if you wish to see the glass enclosed body of the famed Vietnamese leader, you have to adhere to a strict dress code and maintain a respectful demeanor. Viewings are strictly regulated during fixed hours every day. Located close to the Mausoleum, is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which provides a valuable insight into the day-to-day life of Vietnam’s much-venerated leader. A visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum offers a great way for children to get acquainted with Vietnam’s history.
http://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/ho-chi-minh-mausoleum.html
The Army Museum
Guaranteed to be a hit with young boys, Hanoi’s army museum catalogues Vietnam’s ferocious wars against the French and the Americans. The museum consists of three buildings, which feature actual war memorabilia in the form of tanks, bombs, downed aircraft wreckage and guns. All of the exhibits feature English explanations.
http://vnmilitaria.com/museum1.htm
Family-friendly activities in Hanoi
Take a trip to Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site that is located 170 kms from Hanoi. The site is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and is easily accessible by road or boat from Hanoi. In fact many tour operators in Hanoi offer day long cruises aboard traditional junks to this spectacular bay, peppered with 3000 islands that mysteriously emerge out of the waters of the gulf.
These islands are dotted with several limestone caves and grottos created by erosion of the wind and water. Many of these caves are adorned with gorgeous limestone formations known as stalagmites and stalactites. The most famous caves located here include Hang Dau Go (Grotto of the Wooden Stakes), a grotto renowned for its strange rock formations and the Hang Thien Cung cave, known for its iridescent stalagmites and stalactites.
http://www.halongbay-vietnam.com/
Take in a performance at Hanoi’s Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Whilst in Hanoi, you must make it a point to take in a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water puppet theatre. Water puppetry or Mua roi nuoc originated more than a thousand years ago in the Red River delta and other rice-growing regions in northern Vietnam. These performances were typically held to celebrate the end of rice harvests, mark religious festivals and also entertain the royal court.
This unique art, which features puppets dancing on water, provides a glimpse of the cultural life and times of ancient Vietnam. These colorful and entertaining shows, which appeal to all ages, enact tales from Vietnamese mythology and feature music supplied by a traditional Vietnamese pit orchestra.
http://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/hanoi-water-puppet-theatre.html
Sample the wonderful culinary delights of Hanoi
Hanoi is well-known throughout the world for its flavorful local fare which features dishes like pho, the omnipresent noodle soup which is believed to have originated from the French dish ‘pot au feu’. Pho features beef (bo) or chicken (ga) with noodles in a fragrant broth garnished with fresh herbs and condiments. Other must-try Hanoi eats include sandwiches called banh mi which feature a crusty, unsalted baguette stuffed with grilled meats and pickled vegetable fillings and Cha Ca, a spicy fried fish dish, invented by a small, local restaurant located within the city’s Old Quarter.
Useful contact numbers for visitors on a vacation in Hanoi
Hanoi Emergency Contacts
13 (Police)
15 (Ambulance)
Tourist Information Center
Ha Noi Branch (Hapro TIC)
7 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: +84(0)4 3926 3366
Fax:+84 (0)4 3926 3368
Email: info_hn@ticvietnam.com
http://www.ticvietnam.com
Foreign Embassies in Hanoi
United States Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 3850 5000
British Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 936 0500
Canadian Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 734 5000
Australian Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 831 7755
South African Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 936 2000
Irish Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 974 3291
New Zealand Embassy, Hanoi: +84 (0)4 824 1481