Vietnam’s alluring capital rests on the banks of the Red River and, whilst the pace of life quickens in the rest of the country, Hanoi retains the charm of a provincial city. Frequent sights include schoolgirls wearing traditional Ao Dai’s and wispy-bearded men in pith helmets. We only use central hotels, putting you within walking distance of the Old Quarter’s bustling market streets, the relaxed cafes around Hoan Kiem Lake and the tree-lined boulevards of the colonial French Quarter, with the city’s major attractions within easy range of a traditional cyclo.
A city tour visits the imposing mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, whose stilt house and museum are held in special reverence by the Vietnamese, the Museum of Ethnology vividly illustrating the country’s many minority tribes and the wonderful ninth-century sculptures at the Fine Art Museum. However, many of Hanoi’s greatest sights are smaller: temples and pagodas clustered round the 36 narrow streets of the Old Quarter, wedding photographers working in the city parks, and busy market scenes. To get out of the city, head to Tam Coc for a river journey amongst rice paddies in dramatic limestone scenery.