How the Old Quarter's trade streets came to be, what their names mean and how to enjoy a first walk.
Destination guide
Hanoi travel guide Hà Nội
Hanoi rewards slow travel. Lakes ringed with old trees sit minutes from busy trade streets, temples hide between narrow shophouses, and some of Vietnam's best-loved dishes are cooked on the pavement.
Our guides start with the questions first-time visitors ask most, from getting in from the airport to what to see and eat, and every fact that can change shows the date we last checked it.
- Suggested stay
- 3–4 days Editor's recommendation
- Main airport
- Noi Bai International (HAN); international flights use Terminal 2 Verified 12 Oct 2026
- Airport to centre
- About 27 km; allow around an hour in normal traffic Verified 12 Oct 2026
- Getting around
- Walk in the centre; taxis or ride-hailing for longer trips Editor's recommendation
Sights, museums and experiences
Things to do
All things to do (3)The lake at the centre of Hanoi, its sword legend, Ngoc Son Temple and the weekend walking zone.
Vietnam's first national academy, its 82 doctoral stelae and how to visit respectfully.
What to eat and where
Food & drinks
All food & drinks (1)What cà phê trứng is, how it began in 1940s Hanoi, and the family café still serving it.
Airport, taxis, buses and walking
Getting around
All getting around (1)The realistic ways into the city from Noi Bai, compared by cost, comfort and when you land.