Vietnam – 5 Fun things to do in Hanoi
Vietnam – 5 Fun things to do in Hanoi
Where? We stayed at the Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
Exactly? Hanoi, the bustling capital city of Vietnam
When? January 18
Why? As part of my winter tour of Asia I decided to tag on few nights stay in the vibrant and buzzing city of Hanoi.
Where We Stayed? The Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
This beautiful colonial style hotel is situated perfectly in the centre of Hanoi, a short 20 minute drive (traffic dependant) to the International airport and a five minute walk to all the tourist attractions in the city centre and old quarter.
The five star hotel has 154 modern, business style rooms and boasts an excellent fine dining restaurant for lunch and dinner. The breakfast buffet is something of an event too.
There is a well equipped gym with all of the latest machines and weights and there’s also a spa to rest your weary body after all the sight seeing.
Original colonial features remain in the building, after a recent refurbishment. They are highlighted and celebrated much like this opulent original chandelier, framed by this trendy new circular window in the main restaurant.
The rooms are sleek, modern and have everything you need, from powerful rain shower, hair dryers, wifi to wide screen TVs. The beds are super comfortable and cosy too.
The restaurant has been refurbished and given a great new menu featuring traditional Vietnamese cuisine, Asian and European dishes.
We visited at New Year so got to enjoy the gorgeous grandeur of the giant Xmas tree.
Five Fun Things To Do In Hanoi
1 Visit the Old Quarter and Hanoi Lake
Located right in the centre of the city is the traditional and picturesque Old Quarter. Filled with colonial style buildings, traditional temples, pretty shops, bars and cafes all surrounding the central lake, the Old Quarter is a bustling area, definietly worth a visit.
We wandered around the lake and viewed the bridge, temple, water features and also had a mooch around the busy shopping areas, with shops as varied as bootleg fake goods store, to International high street shops like Aldo, right through to an expensive modern mall filled with designer shops like Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Dior.
Me posing by the lake temple
a wedding photo shoot we walked past.
Amidst the busy commercial areas the city also houses several places of worship like this beautiful tranquil temple below.
Bonnie wears red wrap dress by Silk Fred.
2 Enjoy a cup of delicious Vietnamese coffee
Although coffee was introduced to Vietnam by the French colonists, a morning ‘ca phe’ has becomes something of a national obsession. The flavours are delicious and the Vietnamese like to experiment with ingredients, including ice cream, condensed milk, yoghurt, fruit and even eggs!
I particularly loved the egg coffee!! Head to any number of side street or boutique niche coffee shops, or try a Cong Coffee at one of the trendy chain cafes and chill out with the Vietnamese hipsters.
3 Indulge in a Full Body Massage
When in Asia and specifically in Vietnam it would be rude not to pop into a massage parlour and indulge in an insanely affordable full body massage. Price range from 3/4£ for an hour (which is insane) through to European boosted prices at posh hotels.
I went to a cute chic looking establishment and got a one hour massage for £11. For me it was worth paying a nominally higher fee for a cleaner and nicer experience. But massage parlours are a dime a dozen round these parts so you can take your pick!
4 Enjoy the amazing Vietnamese food on offer
Eating and drinking in Hanoi is a real treat, if you know where to go. I would steer clear of the touristy back packing areas, it is super cheap, but it’s also really hit and miss and the quality of the food can be poor.
Instead we tried out a few cute little traditional yet trendy spots we in the old town and loved them. We had dinner and drinks at the bijoux and atmospheric Porte D’annam restaurant. The food was excellent and the ambience romantic and stylish (and very Vietnamese). It was so good, we decided to try out their sister restaurant Madame Hien for lunch the following day, pictured below.
Both restaurants are really centrally located, with Porte D’annam just off the main Hanoi Cathedral square. I highly recommend both options for a Style Traveller dinner or lunch in the city.
Above: Bonnie at the French colonial style Madame Hien restaurant and below: typical Hanoi dishes that we ordered.
5. Visit the Night Market
Hanoi streets are filled with wall to wall shops selling literally everything. But a visit to the night market is something a little more interesting. The stalls at the night market have managed to make a fine art out of selling fake goods to 100’s of tourists every evening.
I’m not condoning the behaviour (it is illegal after all), but I do get asked the question ‘where can I buy the best fake goods?’ all the time. And my answer dear reader (apart from Patpong market in Bangkok) is The Hanoi Night Market. Open from 6pm till around 10.30pm the streets are filled with stalls down the road and hotels and restaurant around the outside. It’s a total tourist trap but interesting to visit.
That’s all from Hanoi, next stop London.
For more of Bonnie’s Asian adventure click here.
Until next week, Bon Voyage xx
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Looks like you had a great time in Hanoi. I heard about the Vietnamese coffee being awesome. I need to find a place here which can do good a one. A visit to Hanoi is definitely on my bucket list.
you should defo check it out x
Wow! A one hour massage for £11 is practically unheard of in the UK so I think it is incredible that you managed to have such a cheap luxury massage. On the other hand as someone who does like Vietnamese cuisine, I am yet to try the ‘egg coffee’ but I would like to as I heard that it is a treat! And how magical to watch a wedding shoot in Hanoi as well!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place so colorful. This looks like the stuff of Pixar movies. Even the food looks too cute to eat! I’m such a purist when it comes to coffee, though, that the idea of an egg coffee is kind of weirding me out right now. Was the texture as gooey and strange as I’m imagining it to be?
it was delicious, I think you’d love it!
what a fun place! I have always wanted to visit Vietnam. My school goes every year so I am hoping to go one year with them. I heard the cuisine is super unique and you must try it. Thanks for sharing these suggestions. I am definitely saving this post for when I go visit :)
oh yes please do x
wow…u had a fancy holiday lady :). that vietnamese food and chai–looks so so amazing :)
yes it was xx
Vietnam is really high on my To Do list – my partner and I would like to go teach there one day! Hanoi looks like a wonderfully vibrant and colourful city, and sounds like theres a surprising amount to see and do! (The egg coffee sounds wonderful!)
It looks like you had an amazing time! You have certainly provided a beautiful virtual tour and an education – for me, at least. I had no idea there was so much luxury and beautiful architecture and scenery in Vietnam. It’s nice you were able to enjoy so much of it with varied experiences, from sightseeing to cuisine.
Lovely photos you got here. I can see you had an amazing time. The hotel looks so beautiful. I need to visit Vietnam.
Omg how frickin cute is your first dress x hanoi looks great, i would love some pictures by the lake. Also 4 £ for an hour massage is unbelievable!
Looks like you had an amazing time in Hanoi. You look beautiful and all of the places look fun and inviting. I really love the lake next to the temple. It just seems like such a serene spot. And the night market seems like a lot of fun as well.
it was a really lovely trip thank you so much
Vietnam is a simple yet lovely and exquisite place. I’ve stayed there for more than a month and discover how healthy lifestyle they can offer – the ambiance, the walks and other activity and specially their food. I find this place simple and peaceful. And I won’t hesitate to visit again.
Hanoi is a very cheap destination. I was there last 2013. It’s so nice. I love visiting the Old Quarter and Hanoi Lake. It was splendid at night!
Me too!!
I have never been to Vietnam but I always wanted to visit. Such a wonderful place. I’ll definitely go here one day with my family.
I would love to visit sometime. The view looks amazing and I love the colors of the room and hotel. I think it would be amazing to see in person.
its fab in person x
Wow what an amazing experience, the hotel looks so lavish and elegant. I would love to experience Vietnam and I am hoping to travel there first then eventually make my way down to Bali.
you so should it’s great
Wow! I have never been in Vietnam and this place looks so wonderful. I would love to come here someday.
you should x
I can not wait to be able to travel and check places off my bucket list. Vietnam is on my list.
so pleased
You had me at one hour massage for £11!! Such a bargain. It looks like you had so much fun. I absolutely LOVE your red dress too, gorgeous!
Wow, that hotel is gorgeous. There is no doubt that it would be a comfortable stay. I like the colors. You look like you had a great time. I will have to remember that coffee is extra special here.
Wow! There are so many things that I adore about Hanoi after reading your post. I adore massage and a fab massage in a upmarket establishment for €11 is unheard of in Ireland. It costs about €45-€50 here for an hourly massage. I think I am sold on Vietnam for the massage alone. I loved the night market and must admit I have a weakness for the designer fake bags!!!!
I love hanoi so much, I had such a blast when I was there that I went back not only once, twice, but three times within a few months. These are great recommendations on things to do there.
http://www.aniatravels.com
i never went to hanoi, so you’re information about it was really helpful. in the future, i will travel there.
Lovely Hanoi! Witnessing the wedding photoshoot would have been an awesome moment I believe. The food and coffee are indeed something one needs to indulge while in Vietnam! We’re going there in march and plan to keep your tips in mind.
Your pictures are beautiful! I especially love the ones of the Old Quarter and Hanoi Lake. It looks like you had a lot of fun (: thanks for sharing your travels!
Thanks for the lovely comment x
looks like you had fun, lovely pictures. the truth is I have never visited Hanoi, hopefully, someday I will visit
Yes you should x
Amazing write up about the place. I have lived in Vietnam for three months and leaving next week. I have enjoyed a lot of my time here and made some good local friends. But that being said, I feel a foreigner will never be truly welcomed here, perhaps I’m expecting too much, probably disappointed I wasn’t able to connect with people as I wanted. I really love the floral dress you have on.
Hi Nathan, I hope you are headed somewhere lovely for your next trip, happy travelling x
Vietnam is so popular right now! So many people I know have headed over there to travel or to live and work. I am going to send this post to them. I cannot wait to go to Hanoi. It looks wonderful. And the food sounds amazing.
oh yes please that would be so kind of you xx
Oh my! Everything about that hotel is dreamy and gorgeous! I would definitely pay to stay there! Your list of things to do in Vietnam/Hanoi definitely sound like my kind of place to visit. Lol I couldn’t pass up the massage, that’s for sure! But visiting a night market?? I’ve never done anything like that and it sounds like such a fun experience! You surely painted an awesome picture for a visit that I hope to be able to take one day!
Egg coffee sounds so interesting! Hanoi looks beautiful in these pictures and it is nice to see that you had such a wonderful time in this beautiful place.
Hanoi looks incredible! I love that hotel as well, it looks so posh and adorably decorated. Thank you for sharing!
it was lovely
Beautiful photos! It looks like you had an amazing time in Hanoi :) I’d love to visit there someday!
The hotel you stayed in looks dreamy . I love luxury hotel rooms at reasonable price . And all you outfit on your trip looks beautiful too. Specially the lace one you wore on spa day.
Oh thanks x
Egg coffee sounds strange to me. Even adding fruit would still be strange. I’d go for the regular add-ons (ice cream, condensed milk, even yogurt) instead. Anyway, I think Hanoi is a place worthy to visit. Loved your outfits too!
I love your entire post and outfits, but the most i like is white outfit. Looks so stylish.
thank you so much
Nice move escaping the winter and enjoying the warm weather of Vietnam. It seemed like a fun and great place to go to.
I always try to!
Looks like a lot is going on in Hanoi! Always wanted to visit Hanoi! Have you ever tried the Vietnamese baguette?
yes I loved them!!
Hanoi is an impressive place… LOVE the buildings! they’re so elegant and sophisticated looking. Great photos as they really capture the Hanoi spirit : )
Astonishing pictures, Bonnie! Hanoi obviously has lots to offer and a really picturesque place. How many days would be enough to see al the highlights there?
It’s a great place to visit x
We were once in Vietnam for a stopover but couldn’t manage to go out and explore. Vietnam is such a beautiful country and I can see from your experience that you had a superb experience. I have recently started eating eggs so I think I’d like to try that egg coffee someday! Love your pictures and that hotel looks great too.