UltimateCity Guide Hanoi
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The red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn Temple The red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn Temple Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Turtle Tower, framed by autumn leaves The Khuê Văn Các pavilion reflected in the pond at the Temple of Literature Sunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shore A junk with ochre sails among the limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay Tràng Tiền, with the dome of the Opera House at the end of the street

The city guide to Hanoi, Vietnam

Best of Hanoi

A thousand years of Thăng Long: the red bridge on Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the courtyards of the Temple of Literature, phở at dawn in the Old Quarter, the Metropole’s Bamboo Bar at dusk, and the limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay beyond. Hanoi, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyTây Hồ, the 50-year rule and the 30 per cent cap

Hanoi, lake by lake

Hanoi gathers around its lakes: Hoàn Kiếm at the heart, the 36 trading streets of the Old Quarter to its north, the boulevards and villas of the French Quarter to its south, the Imperial Citadel and the Temple of Literature in Ba Đình, and West Lake beyond. Here are its grand hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the noodle shops with a Bib Gourmand, the museums, temples and markets, and journeys to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, the Perfume Pagoda, Bát Tràng and Sa Pa. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

A thousand years of Thăng Long: Hanoi’s great sights

In depth

A thousand years of Thăng Long

Hanoi·In depth

The Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, the red bridge on Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the pagodas of West Lake: how to read the city of the ascending dragon.

Read the story

Hanoi, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Seven neighbourhoods, each with its own guide: the guild streets of the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the heart, the boulevards and grand hotels of the French Quarter, the citadel and the Temple of Literature in Ba Đình, Tây Hồ and little Trúc Bạch by the northern lakes, and Long Biên across the river.

The silver and gold shops of Hàng Bạc in the Old QuarterNeighbourhood guideThe Old QuarterThe 36 streetsThe red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn TempleNeighbourhood guideHoàn Kiếm LakeThe heart of the cityTràng Tiền, with the dome of the Opera House at the end of the streetNeighbourhood guideThe French QuarterBoulevards and the MetropoleThe stone dragon balustrades of the Kính Thiên palace steps in the Imperial CitadelNeighbourhood guideBa Đình & the Temple of LiteratureThe citadel and the scholarsSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreNeighbourhood guideTây Hồ & West LakeThe great lakeA birdcage hanging in a flame tree above Trúc Bạch LakeNeighbourhood guideTrúc BạchThe little lake

On foot

The Old Quarter, the lake and the French Quarter lie within a short walk of one another: cross the road slowly and steadily, and the motorbikes will flow around you.

A train crossing the rust-red iron spans of Long Biên BridgeNeighbourhood guideLong Biên & the Red RiverThe old iron bridge

Before you go

Arriving at Nội Bài, visas and the e-visa, Grab and safe taxis, crossing the road, and three days that work for a first visit.

The red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn TempleBefore you goHanoi essentialsEntry, money, 115 and the seasonsA Hanoi Metro train at an underground platformGetting aroundGetting aroundNội Bài, the metro and the trainsThe red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn TempleItineraryHanoi in three daysThe lake, the citadel and West LakeThe white façade and green shutters of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Ngô QuyềnLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe white façade and green shutters of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Ngô QuyềnItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Metropole and two starsSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreItineraryThe Platinum weekendCapella, the Temple and West Lake

Our advice

Start at the Temple of Literature at eight

The Temple of Literature opens at 8am every day, and the citadel at the same hour: see both before the tour groups arrive, then lunch at Gia or Tầm Vị, across the road. The great sights

Beyond Hanoi

The limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay lie east of the city, the karst and rice fields of Ninh Bình and the Perfume Pagoda to the south, Bát Tràng’s kilns just across the Red River, and the terraces of Sa Pa in the mountains of the north-west.

A junk with ochre sails among the limestone islands of Hạ Long BayBeyond HanoiHạ Long BayLimestone islands at seaRowing boats passing a pavilion on the water at Tràng AnBeyond HanoiNinh BìnhKarst, caves and rice fieldsThe gateway of the Perfume Pagoda complexBeyond HanoiThe Perfume PagodaA pilgrimage by boatThe red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn TempleBeyond HanoiBát TràngThe ceramics villageGreen terraced rice fields in a valley near Sa PaBeyond HanoiSa PaRice terraces and Fansipan

Our advice

Give Hạ Long Bay a night

The bay is a long drive from Hanoi: an overnight cruise lets you see the islands at dusk and at dawn, when the day boats have gone. Hạ Long Bay guide

Hanoi in depth

A thousand years of Thăng Long, the city’s table, its lacquer and puppets, its hotels, how to move through a city of motorbikes and what a foreigner may buy: the stories behind Hanoi.

The stone dragon balustrades of the Kính Thiên palace steps in the Imperial CitadelThe back storyA thousand years of Thăng LongThe citadel to West LakeA bowl of beef phở with a basket of fresh herbsThe back storyHanoi at the tablePhở, bún chả and the starsLacquered water puppets on the pool stage, with a dragon backdropThe back storyLacquer, silk and puppetsHanoi’s artsThe white façade and green shutters of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Ngô QuyềnThe back storyWhere Hanoi sleepsThe Metropole and the lakeA Hanoi Metro train at an underground platformThe back storyGetting aroundMotorbikes, metro and walkingSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreThe back storyBuying in HanoiThe lakes and the 50-year rule

At the table

Phở is breakfast in Hanoi: go early to Bát Đàn or Lý Quốc Sư, before the broth runs out, and save the starred tables for the evening.

The Khuê Văn Các pavilion reflected in the pond at the Temple of LiteratureFun factsHanoi fun factsThings you might not know

Asia with the ULTIMATE guides

Hanoi is one of the ULTIMATE guides of Asia: west to Bangkok, east to Hong Kong, south to Singapore, out to sea through Hạ Long Bay, and the great train journeys beyond.

The Grand Palace reflected at dawnULTIMATE BangkokBangkokThailand’s great capitalHong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakULTIMATE Hong KongHong KongThe harbour cityThe towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayULTIMATE SingaporeSingaporeThe garden cityCruise boats among the green karst islands of Hạ Long BayULTIMATE CruisesCruisesHạ Long Bay and beyond by seaThe façade of Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội)ULTIMATE Rail JourneysRail JourneysThe great train journeys

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide The Ha’penny Bridge on the Liffey, DublinIrelandULTIMATE DublinTrinity and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares, The Shelbourne, the pubs and their music, and the coast from Howth to Dalkey.Visit the guide Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the trees of West Princes Street GardensScotlandULTIMATE EdinburghThe castle and the Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town, seven MICHELIN stars from Leith to Stockbridge and the August festivals.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Lisbon’s rooftops falling to the Tagus under a clear blue skyPortugalULTIMATE LisbonBelém’s monastery and tower, the castle above Alfama, palace hotels, Belcanto’s two stars, and day trips to Sintra, Cascais and Comporta.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Prague Castle and Charles BridgeCzechiaULTIMATE PraguePrague Castle and Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Malá Strana, Mozart, Dvořák and the opera, the Christmas markets and the five MICHELIN stars of 2026.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Gamla Stan, StockholmSwedenULTIMATE StockholmGamla Stan and the Royal Palace, the Vasa and Skansen, Frantzén’s three stars, fika and the archipelago of 30,000 islands.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide The Palacio de Bellas Artes at duskMexicoULTIMATE Mexico CityThe Templo Mayor and the Zócalo, Bellas Artes and the murals, Pujol and Quintonil’s two stars, Día de Muertos, and day trips to Teotihuacan and Puebla.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

South America

See all South America
Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado and Sugarloaf in silhouette at sunrise, above the bay and the cityBrazilULTIMATE Rio de JaneiroChrist on the Corcovado, the cable car to Sugarloaf, the Copacabana Palace, Lasai’s two stars, the Carnival, and day trips to Paraty and Ilha Grande.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
Pura Tanah Lot on its rock in the sea in late-afternoon lightIndonesiaULTIMATE BaliTemples on the rocks and the cliffs, the rice terraces of a UNESCO landscape, resorts above Ubud’s gorges and the beach clubs of the west coast.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East & North Africa

See all Middle East & North Africa
The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide The Riyadh skyline at dusk, with the Kingdom Centre and Al FaisaliahSaudi ArabiaULTIMATE RiyadhMud-brick At-Turaif on the wadi, the Masmak and the souqs, the towers of KAFD, Saudi kitchens with a Bib Gourmand and the Edge of the World.Visit the guide

Africa

See all Africa
Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles above Cape TownSouth AfricaULTIMATE Cape TownTable Mountain and Robben Island, The Silo and the Mount Nelson, the great tables of Constantia and Camps Bay, and day trips to the Winelands and Cape Point.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

From our readers: Hanoi’s visitors and locals on its noodle shops and starred tables, temples and lakes, egg coffee and the road to Hạ Long Bay.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)

    This week's pick

    The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)

    Văn Miếu·Temple and old university

    The Temple of Literature opens at 8am every day, and on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6pm to 10pm (vanmieu.gov.vn): come early, before the tour groups, or late, when the courtyards are lit.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The red Thê Húc bridge crossing Hoàn Kiếm Lake to the Ngọc Sơn TempleItineraryHanoi in three daysThree daysA bowl of beef phở with a basket of fresh herbsItineraryA noodle trail through the Old QuarterOne dayA junk with ochre sails among the limestone islands of Hạ Long BayItineraryHạ Long Bay overnightTwo daysSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreItineraryA property viewing day: Tây Hồ, Ciputra and the centreOne dayThe white façade and green shutters of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Ngô QuyềnItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in HanoiTwo daysSunset over West Lake, the city lights along the far shoreItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Hanoi at its most exclusiveTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Hanoi at the table: phở, bún chả and the MICHELIN starsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2GiaVăn Miếu · Restaurant
    3. 3Tầm VịBa Đình · Restaurant
    See all 38

    Cafés

    1. 1Café GiảngOld Quarter · Café
    2. 2Cộng Cà PhêHanoi · Café chain
    3. 3The Note CoffeeHoàn Kiếm Lake · Café
    See all 8

    Bars

    1. 1Bamboo BarFrench Quarter · Poolside bar
    2. 2AngelinaFrench Quarter · Cocktail bar
    3. 3Le Club BarFrench Quarter · Hotel bar
    See all 7

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Hanoi sleeps: the Metropole, the lake and the Old QuarterHoàn Kiếm · In depth
    2. 2Sofitel Legend Metropole HanoiFrench Quarter · Grand hotel
    3. 3Capella HanoiFrench Quarter · Grand hotel
    See all 15

    Sights

    1. 1A thousand years of Thăng Long: Hanoi’s great sightsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2The Imperial Citadel of Thăng LongBa Đình · Citadel and archaeological site
    3. 3The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)Văn Miếu · Temple and old university
    See all 14

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Lacquer, silk and water puppets: Hanoi’s artsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2Vietnam National Museum of Fine ArtsBa Đình · Museum
    3. 3Vietnam Museum of EthnologyCầu Giấy · Museum
    See all 18

    Parks

    1. 1Hoàn Kiếm LakeHoàn Kiếm · Lake and gardens
    2. 2West Lake (Hồ Tây)Tây Hồ · Lake
    3. 3Trúc Bạch LakeTrúc Bạch · Lake
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1The 36 streets of the Old QuarterOld Quarter · Walk
    2. 2Around Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the weekendHoàn Kiếm · Walk
    3. 3The French QuarterFrench Quarter · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Hàng Gai, the silk streetOld Quarter · Shopping street
    2. 2Tràng Tiền PlazaFrench Quarter · Department store
    3. 3Lotte Mall West Lake HanoiTây Hồ · Shopping centre
    See all 10

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: 115, 113, 114Vietnam · Emergency numbers
    2. 2Hanoi French HospitalĐống Đa · International hospital
    3. 3Vinmec Times City International HospitalHai Bà Trưng · International hospital
    See all 11

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Hanoi: Tây Hồ, the lakes and the 50-year ruleHanoi · In depth
    2. 2The Housing Law 2023Vietnam · Rules
    3. 3The 30 per cent capVietnam · Rules
    See all 8

    Developments

    1. 1Metro Line 3: Nhổn–Ga Hà NộiCầu Giấy to Ga Hà Nội · Metro
    2. 2Metro Line 2A: Cát Linh–Yên NghĩaĐống Đa to Hà Đông · Metro
    3. 3More metro linesHanoi · Metro
    See all 7

    Cars & drivers

    1. 1GrabHanoi · Ride-hailing app
    2. 2Xanh SMHanoi · Electric taxis
    3. 3Metered taxisHanoi · Taxi
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting around Hanoi: motorbikes, the metro and the walking streetsHanoi · In depth
    2. 2Nội Bài International AirportSóc Sơn · Airport
    3. 3Hanoi MetroHanoi · Metro
    See all 6

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