Heading to Hanoi? This short, sharp guide skips the fluff—get the essentials for an epic trip (top hostels below)!
TL;DR
- Perfect for: 2–3 days
- Best for: Adventurous foodies, history buffs, curious wanderers, budget travelers
- Why visit: Chaotic beauty, surreal food, and solo-friendly exploration await everywhere
HANOI AT A GLANCE
- Population: 8.3 million; sprawling but walkable core
- Cultural vibe: 1000+ year history, French colonial legacy, traditional arts & crafts heartbeat
- Famous for: Buzzy Old Quarter, street food, ancient temples, water puppets, lakes
- Nicknames: Paris of the Orient, The Green City
- Solo vibe: Welcoming backpacker scene, mostly safe; expect lively hustle and assertive crowds
ESSENTIAL INFO
- 💰 Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
- 🗣 Language: Vietnamese (English widely spoken in tourist zones)
- 🌦 Best time to visit: September–November (cool, less crowded, festivals)
- ✈️ From airport:
- Bus 86 to Old Quarter: 45,000 VND (cheapest, easy)
- Xanh SM electric taxi: safer, ~250,000–300,000 VND (avoid old-school taxis, scams common)
- 🧳 Safety: Assertive scams/petty theft; most dangerous at night and in touristy areas; stick to Grab app for rides
- 🎭 Cultural calendar tip: Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu) – magical lanterns, street parades (Sept/Oct)
- 🎦 What to watch on the plane: “The Scent of Green Papaya” for gentle Vietnamese city vibes
WHERE TO STAY (FOR SOLO TRAVELERS)
- 🛏️ Hanoi Buffalo Hostel: Social, spotless, pool, nightly events, unbeatable Old Quarter location—book ahead!
- 🏘️ Best neighborhood: Old Quarter – buzzing, central, markets, nightlife, solo-friendly hostels
- 🧭 Alt neighborhood: West Lake (Tay Ho) – posh, peaceful, expat scene, lake views, upscale cafes
- 💸 Budget option: Guesthouses near Hang Bac/Hang Be streets, walkable to everything, lively but affordable
- Tip: Always check reviews for hostel security. Padlocks = your best friend!
TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION
- 🚶♂️ Walkability: Old Quarter & lake zones are made for wandering; traffic chaos, so step boldly but mindfully
- 🚌 Buses: Cheap (7,000–9,000 VND/ride), reliable; use Google Maps/Moovit, pay conductor on board
- 🚋 Trams/metro: Not fully operational for tourists yet
- 🚖 Taxis: Use Grab or Xanh SM apps (avoid flagging street taxis—scams are frequent)
- 🚲 Bikes: Rent from hostels; cycle around West Lake for a breezy escape, best in morning
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO ALONE
- 🏛️ Hoa Lo Prison Museum (“Hanoi Hilton”): Sober solo visit to confront local and US war histories
- 🌿 Hoan Kiem Lake stroll: Mornings are dreamy; join locals for social tai chi or people-watching
- 🧠 Ho Chi Minh Museum: Surreal, propagandic, utterly unique glimpse into Uncle Ho’s life and local identity
- 🧭 Old Quarter walk: Get gloriously lost, snack, haggle, and absorb a sensory overload of sights
- 🎨 Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre: Solo-friendly shows; ancient art that’ll make you grin
- 🔀 Wildcard: Bia hoi street “pubs”—pull up a tiny chair at dusk, sip 10,000 VND fresh beer, and become part of the scene
WHAT TO SKIP
- ❌ Temple of Literature: Beautiful but often overcrowded, underwhelming for the time spent queuing
- ❌ Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: The line and forced-solemnity sap energy—better to wander the leafy grounds
- ❌ Dong Xuan Market: Aggressive sellers, little charm; stick to local side streets for a better browsing vibe
EATING & DRINKING
- 🧍♂️ Solo-friendly spot: Hidden Gem Coffee – funky, cozy, perfect egg coffee & Insta-worthy interiors
- 🥃 Quiet pub/bar: Polite & Co – old-school bar with serious cocktails, local expat favorite for a nightcap
- 🍽️ Try local food: Bun cha at Bun Cha Ta (Old Quarter); the roast pork and noodle combo of dreams
- 💸 Best cheap eats: Street pho (Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan) – eat perched on a plastic stool, ~50,000 VND
- 🥦 Veg/vegan options: Hanoi Food Culture Tours – fun, inclusive, plenty of vegan street eats
- 🍸 Cocktails/nightcap: Standing Bar – craft brews overlooking Truc Bach Lake, friendly crowd, local beer on tap
DAY TRIPS & ADVENTURES
- 🚌 Ha Long Bay tours: Book in advance via hostel; day trip or overnight cruise – surreal limestone beauty
- 🚲 Ninh Binh: Hostel group trips include boat tour + cycling through rice paddies; affordable, Instagram gold
- 🏍️ Ha Giang Loop: Multi-day motorbike adventure, best with organized group for first-timers
BEST OF HANOI IN 1 DAY – SOLO ITINERARY
- Sunrise: Sunrise tai chi by Hoan Kiem Lake; grab a banh mi and iced coffee roadside
- Morning: Explore Old Quarter’s tangled alleys and markets; pop into hidden temples
- Lunch: Bun cha at a local street-side spot (sit outside, watch the chaos)
- Afternoon: Tour Hoa Lo Prison Museum, then wander shaded French Quarter boulevards
- Evening: Water puppet show (book in advance), sunset stroll around West Lake
- Dinner: Pho and fresh beer at a bia hoi stall with random new friends
- Night: Sip at Polite & Co or Standing Bar; join a hostel crawl if feeling social
LOCAL TIPS & INSIDER WISDOM
- 🎉 Festival tip: Tet (Lunar New Year, Jan/Feb) – city transforms, fireworks, but much shuts down for a week
- 📍 Hidden gem: Ba Vi National Park – misty mountains, tranquil tea plantations, easy solo nature escape
- 📷 Photo spots: St. Joseph’s Cathedral for postcard shots, West Lake at sunset, Hoan Kiem bridge for golden hour
- 🧠 Etiquette tip: Don’t talk politics, dress modestly for pagodas, and always remove shoes when entering homes
- 🚩 Safety reminder: Traffic is wild—walk predictably, don’t hesitate (motorbikes will weave around you)
- 👀 One last thing: Grab a plastic stool, a cold bia hoi, and watch the world swirl by—Hanoi is for those who jump in!