HANOI ATTRACTIONS
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
It is almost a given that watching a water puppet performance has to be on the itinerary as it is one of the traditional art in the country. The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is near many of the tourist attractions in the city, making the location strategic.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The name of the lake translates directly to ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’, and it was inspired by the local legend surrounding it. It is one of the most scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life.
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House has an admirable architecture. It was built during the French colonisation, hence the European style. Many art performances are held in the Hanoi Opera House and you should catch a show here if you wish to do more than just sightseeing and photo-taking.
History Museum
The exhibits in the museum are arranged chronologically, making it easy for visitors to maneuver through it. The architecture itself is already a great representation of the culture of Vietnam, being a perfect mixture of the French colonial and traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Vietnam Museum Of Revolution
For the history buffs, this place is definitely one worth your time. The exhibits here let their visitors understand more about the history of Vietnam, and how they have worked towards becoming the nation that they are today.
Vietnamese Women’s Museum
This museum is a unique one, geared towards letting visitors see life in the perspective of Vietnamese women, from the past until the present, including those from the many different ethnicities in the country. Not only does it let visitors understand more about the history and culture of women in Vietnam, but it also tends to foster a sense of gender equality.
Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton)
The Hoa Lo Prison was built by the French during their colonisation, and it used to house Vietnamese prisoners, and afterwards prisoners of war from the U.S. Most parts of the prison were demolished, but the remaining parts were converted into a museum, where visitors will get to see the portrayal of the prisoners’ lives back then.
Vietnam Military History Museum
If you have an interest in history, this would be one ideal spot for you to see and gain insight into what happened in Vietnam during the war with France and subsequently with America. Many artefacts from the war are displayed in this museum, and it will inspire your sense of wonder.
Ho Chi Minh Museum
The Ho Chi Minh Museum contains exhibits to let visitors gain an insight into the life of the late leader in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and it is a very comprehensive one.
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
If you are an art enthusiast, you could always head over to the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. They have a huge range of exhibits, from different eras of history. One of the main appeals of this museum is that visitors get to see the evolution of lacquer throughout the history in Vietnam.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Vietnam is a country that is rich with culture, and has more than 50 ethnic groups. The Museum of Ethnology provides an insight into each of these ethnic groups so that visitors will be introduced to their unique ways of life and culture. This way, they can ensure that their cultural heritage will be preserved.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay, being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, makes the surrounding view well worth the visit. It is surrounded by many natural features such as small islets, caves, limestone island and even jungles. Thus, you can expect to be amazed by the beauty that mother nature presented to us.
Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain)
This beautiful temple is built on a small little island, accessible from the Hoan Kiem Lake via a red wooden bridge that was built in a style that presents the traditional Vietnamese culture.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
This catholic cathedral was constructed during the French colonisation in Vietnam, and has neo-Gothic style which makes for a unique architecture to be admired.
Temple of Literature
Despite the name, the Temple of Literature in Hanoi is not a place for religious worshipping. It was first built to honour Confucius and later high-achieving scholars. It clearly portrays the traditional Vietnamese architecture and the scenic view is enough to garner admiration.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace Historical Site
The mausoleum was built to commemorate the late leader of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and is also his final resting place. Visitors are allowed to enter and pay respect to the late leader. You can also pay a little bit more to get into the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace Historical Site, where you will get to see the presidential palace, and also the house where Ho Chi Minh used to live in.