Hanoi

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

A World Heritage site with the remains of the palace complex of Vietnam's royal rulers over about a thousand years, including a gate, foundations and an archaeological area in the city centre.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

A large granite memorial on Ba Dinh Square that holds the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh. Visitors queue in silence, and modest dress and respectful behavior are required.

Temple of Literature

A Confucian temple from the eleventh century with tree-lined courtyards, gates and rows of stone stelae set on turtles. It also served as Vietnam's first national university.

Hoan Kiem Lake

A small lake at the southern edge of the Old Quarter, circled by a pleasant walking path. Locals gather here for morning exercise, and a red bridge leads to a small island temple.

Dong Xuan Market

Old Quarter

The city's largest covered market, at the northern end of the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets once named after the goods sold in them. Walking from the lake to the market shows Hanoi's busiest street life.

One Pillar Pagoda

A small wooden pagoda built on a single stone pillar that rises from a pond, shaped like a lotus blossom. It has been rebuilt since the eleventh century and is a symbol of Hanoi.

Hoa Lo Prison

A former French colonial prison that later held American pilots during the war. A museum in the preserved section tells its story with cells and displays.

Hanoi Opera House

A French colonial theatre from the early twentieth century, with a handsome neoclassical facade and a grand interior, found at the end of a boulevard of historic buildings.

Saint Joseph Cathedral

A neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral from the late nineteenth century, with dark stone towers and stained glass, standing on a lively square near the Old Quarter.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Hanoi, on a small peninsula in West Lake, with a tall tiered tower and a calm garden with a sacred bodhi tree.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

A museum about the many ethnic groups of Vietnam, with indoor displays of clothing, tools and festivals, and an outdoor garden with traditional houses from different regions.

West Lake

Hanoi's largest lake, with a long shoreline of cafes, temples and quiet lanes. It is a favorite spot for cycling and evening walks, with sunsets over the water.