Yet, the soul of Hanoi beats in the chaotic harmony of morning coffee and street food, where strangers become friends over steaming pho bowls. It feels less like a capital and more like a living, breathing neighborhood that embraces you with gentle resilience. Today, it is a vibrant tapestry of old traditions weaving seamlessly into modern life, inviting you to wander its winding alleys without a map or a rush.
Do Hanoi the way locals do: start slow at Thong Nhat Park, eat where the regulars do at Hoang's Restaurant - Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegan Food, let the evening run long at Cloud Sky Bar Hanoi.
Top things to do in Hanoi Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Temple Of Literature
Place of Worship · ★ 4.6 (24,731 reviews)
Confucian temple with landscaped courtyards, numerous altars & shrines & an imposing front gate.
Check tours & tickets 2
Hanoi Opera House
Opera House · ★ 4.6 (22,243 reviews)
Ornate performing arts hall opened in 1911 & staging classical music, dance & opera performances.
Check tours & tickets 3
Hoa Lo Prison Relic
History Museum · ★ 4.5 (22,862 reviews)
Only the gatehouse, now a museum, remains of this storied prison for POWs during the Vietnam War.
Check tours & tickets 4
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.5 (20,805 reviews)
Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh's body is on display in this mausoleum & historic site.
Check tours & tickets 5
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Museum · ★ 4.6 (15,422 reviews)
Ethnological museum offering exhibits on Vietnam's various cultures, with gardens & a restaurant.
Check tours & tickets 6
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Performing Arts Theater · ★ 4.4 (23,525 reviews)
Performing-arts venue presenting theatrical water puppetry shows with accompanying music.
Check tours & tickets 7
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.4 (19,099 reviews)
Imperial citadel complex with 11th-century buildings & sculptures, including a tower & stone dragon.
Check tours & tickets 8
Vietnam Military History Museum
Museum · ★ 4.5 (12,632 reviews)
Museum of military history featuring artifacts from different campaigns & a collection of aircraft.
Check tours & tickets 9
Hanoi Old Quarter
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.6 (10,071 reviews)
Historic trading district with a night market, narrow lanes, food hawkers & hotchpotch tube houses.
Check tours & tickets 10
Ngoc Son Temple
Place of Worship · ★ 4.4 (13,164 reviews)
Confucian temple on a lake reached by bridge with tower & pavilions dedicated to the national hero.
Check tours & tickets Where to eat Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Hoang's Restaurant - Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegan Food
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (31,900 reviews)
Website 12
MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian Food 1
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (31,202 reviews)
Website 13
MẸT Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegetarian Met 2
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (29,316 reviews)
Website 14
MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian Food 3
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (27,173 reviews)
Website 15
MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian Food 5
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (23,835 reviews)
Website 16
Hong Hoai's Restaurant
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (23,809 reviews)
Website 17
MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian Met 4
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (20,797 reviews)
Website 18
Tung's Kitchen
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (19,089 reviews)
Website Hungry for more? Book a food tour or tasting in Hanoi
Tours worth booking ahead These sell out, so lock them in early.
20
Elite of the Seas - Best Luxury Cruise in Halong bay
point_of_interest, establishment · ★ 5 (6,949 reviews)
Check tours & tickets 21
Hanoi Food Culture Restaurant & Cooking Class
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (4,873 reviews)
Check tours & tickets 22
Hanoi Backstreet Tours - Hanoi Jeep Tours - Hanoi Vespa Tours - Hanoi Motorbike Tours
Tour Agency · ★ 5 (3,514 reviews)
Check tours & tickets Get outside 25
Thong Nhat Park
City Park · ★ 4.3 (16,237 reviews)
Shaded, vibrant city park with a large lake, framed by mature trees, fitness paths & cafes.
Website 26
Cau Giay Park
City Park · ★ 4.4 (11,795 reviews)
Landscaped space with a pond & fountains, plus exercise classes, running routes & playgrounds.
Website 27
Bãi Đá Sông Hồng
Garden · ★ 4.3 (6,823 reviews)
A popular site for photographers, this riverside garden features frequent blooms & a windmill.
Website 28
Thung lũng hoa hồ Tây
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.2 (5,937 reviews)
Large blooming landscaped flower gardens with over 200 international species beside a lake.
29
Ba Vi National Park
National Park · ★ 4.6 (2,763 reviews)
Website After dark 30
Cloud Sky Bar Hanoi
Bar · ★ 4.9 (3,383 reviews)
Website 31
Secret Bar & Pub
Bar · ★ 5 (2,567 reviews)
Website 32
Solar Sky Bar
Bar · ★ 4.9 (2,690 reviews)
Website 33
Le Ciel Bar
Bar · ★ 4.9 (1,679 reviews)
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