Hanoi's Old Quarter is a tangle of narrow trading streets built around Hoan Kiem Lake, with motorbikes, street food stalls, and French colonial architecture packed into a genuinely walkable historic core, and Halong Bay a popular overnight trip away.
Planning a Hanoi trip
For the full Hanoi travel guide, or jump straight to a section:
Day-by-day itineraries
Frequently asked questions
How do I cross the street in Hanoi?
Walk at a steady, predictable pace and let the motorbike traffic flow around you — stopping suddenly or running is more dangerous than walking through confidently.
Is a Halong Bay day trip worth it, or should I do an overnight cruise?
An overnight cruise is generally worth the extra time — it reaches the bay's more scenic areas and includes sunrise or sunset on the water, which a single-day trip usually misses.
What should I know about visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
It has strict opening hours, a dress code (shoulders and knees covered), and a formal, no-photography policy inside — checking current hours before visiting is worth it.
Is Hanoi walkable?
The Old Quarter itself is compact and walkable, though sidewalks are frequently used for motorbike parking and street vendor stalls, so expect to share the road at times.