Hanoi, Vietnam — Where to Go
Hanoi Sightseeing Overview
Many interesting sights are within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, the tranquil heart of Hanoi. The lake is a magnet for locals and this is the place to join in a session of Tai Chi in the early morning. A lovely temple, Ngoc Son (on the lake) is reached by a small red lacquered bridge.
The Old Quarter with its 36 fascinating streets bustling with activity is to the north of the lake. A small section of the ’Hanoi Hilton’ or Hoa Lo Prison remains on Hoa Lo Street, although most of it was destroyed to make way for an office block.
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is popular with tourists and there are a number of visitor attractions close by, including Ho Chi Minh’s House and Museum and the tiny One Pillar Pagoda, a lotus-shaped pagoda resting on a single stone pillar rising out of a lotus pool.
Note that all museums throughout Hanoi and Vietnam are closed on Mondays and some also on Fridays. There are currently no tourist passes in Hanoi.
Hanoi Tourist Information
Hapro Tourist Information Center
7 Dinh Tien Hoang Street
Tel: (04) 926 3366.
Key Attractions in Hanoi, Vietnam
TheOldQuarter
A maze of 36 narrow streets named after the products that were traditionally sold here and home to the amazing tunnel houses which have a very narrow frontage hiding very long rooms.
North of Hoan Kiem Lake
HoChiMinh’sMausoleum
Former President ’Uncle Ho’ lies in state here and people come from all over Vietnam and the world to pay their respects. His embalmed body is displayed in a granite monolith modeled after Lenin’s tomb in Moscow.
Ba Dinh Square
Tel: (04) 843 5064.
The Temple of Literature
A beautifully preserved temple dating from 1070 which became the first university in Vietnam where the sons of mandarins were educated.
Quoc Tu Giam Street
Tel: (04) 843 3615 or 823 5601.
Fine Arts Museum
This museum housed in a fine building has exhibits of artworks from prehistory to the present day.
66 Nguyen Thai Hoc
Tel: (04) 733 2131.
Website: www.vnfineartsmuseum.org.vn
Ho Chi Minh’s House
The simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh occasionally lived when he was president, still containing many of his personal effects.
1 Bach Thao, Ba Dinh
Tel: (04) 823 4760.
Further Distractions
TranQuocPagoda
A well-used pagoda on an islet on the West Lake which has a tranquil garden and a spectacular centerpiece.
Thanh Nien
Tel: (04) 829 3869.
HoChiMinhMuseum
Dedicated to the life of the former president, Ho Chi Minh, with many of his personal items.
Off Ba Dinh Square
Tel: (04) 846 3752 or 3757.
