2 days in Hanoi
It started badly, but ended up on a better note. Let me give you some advice to enjoy Hanoi fully.
When to visit Hanoi
There are a lot of places that have charm when its raining or a little grey or even a little cold. Although you cannot predict the weather, this is NOT the case for Hanoi which just looks like a misery city. It may sound very negative but it is true, and that is why it started badly. Under good weather conditions though, Hanoi is full of charm.
Where to stay in hanoi
Hanoi’s old quarter is probably the best place to stay. It is bustling with life (sometimes a bit too much in my opinion), but it is central and close to a lot of good restaurants and cultural places.
For your hostels, book here: Hostelworld
I recommend you stay at Libré Homestay Đào Tấn (booking)
N.B. My opinion about accommodation in Hanoi is that it is not the most welcoming. That said, I am sure there must be some really nice places I do not know about!
What to do in Hanoi
#1 Explore the old quarter - Wander through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, where each street is dedicated to a specific trade. You will find markets, traditional houses, street restaurants everywhere, and most of the touristic attractions.
#2 Visit Hoan Kiem Lake - Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, and visit the Ngoc Son Temple on its islet.
#3 Visit the Ngoc Son Temple - Also known as the Temple of the Jade Mountain, Ngoc Son is an architectural gem that encapsulates Vietnam's spiritual and historical heritage. You enter the temple via a red bridge that crosses the lake.
#4 Have a coffee on the train street - This is where a train track runs through a narrow residential street. The train is scheduled to run between 11am to 2pm.
#5 Visit the temple of literature - Explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university and a well-preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. The temple honors Confucius and is a symbol of education and learning
#6 Explore the French Quarter - Admire the French colonial architecture in the French Quarter. Highlights include the Hanoi Opera House, the Presidential Palace, and colonial-era villas that add a unique and different style of charm to the city.
👉🏼 Don’t want to miss your daily workout? Got to X-Men gym. It is not the best gym i’ve been to but it does the job.
coffe and restaurants in hanoi
My Phó - $ - Semi street food, semi restaurant, this place is just right to have some traditional Vietnamese food.
I recommend the dry rice noodles with beef
An café - $/$$ - Located on a corner, this slightly hidden coffee place gets as cute as it gets. From the presentation to the taste, everything is a 10/10. The staff are sweethearts.
Banh Mi Mama - $ - Street food Banh Mi, simple and tasty.
IVEGAN supershop - $/$$ - They have nice smoothie bowls there
trafic - be careful!
You will probably stay in Hanoi’s old Quarter, and the first element that may strike you is how condensed the city is. I thought Bali was bad, but it turns out it is not as chaotic once you’ve experienced the trafic in Hanoi. It is not that there are trafic jams, but more how people drive and the practically non existent pavements that make the whole city look like clapham-junction. The good thing is, you’ll probably get used to it quite quickly.