Local FavouritesBib Gourmand (Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026)
Chả Cá Thăng Long (6B Duong Thanh)
A single-dish restaurant in an old townhouse where the fish is finished in a pan at your table.
Order Cha ca (turmeric fish with dill)
South East Asia · Vietnam
Hanoi & Ha Long Bay
Vietnam's capital of lakes, French-era streets and street food, paired with Ha Long Bay's limestone islands and cruises, a short ride away.
Best timeOctober to April
Ideal trip4–6 days
Budget level₹₹₹₹
Getting thereNoi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Visa (Indian passport)e-Visa for Indian passport holders, applied online (approximate — verify before travel) Other passport, or hold a US / UK / Schengen visa? Check the visa guide
Great Okay Not ideal
FoodCruisesCultureHistory
Four ways to see Hanoi
Touristy, offbeat, local or hidden?
Every traveller is different. Browse by style, then let the planner mix them into a day-by-day plan.
The famous must-sees
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple≈ ₹100
A lake in the middle of the old city with a red bridge to a small temple.
culture · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Hoan Kiem lakeside walk — The whole lake loop is free and car-free on weekends; only the island temple costs.
Old Quarter walkFree
36 streets once named for crafts, now full of shops, cafes and motorbikes.
culture · about 2.5 hrs · best in the afternoonTemple of Literature≈ ₹100
Vietnam's first university, with peaceful courtyards and old stone turtles.
culture · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Quan Su Pagoda — A working pagoda with free entry and a quiet courtyard, closer to daily life.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complexFree
The leader's resting place and his stilt house in a leafy garden; dress modestly.
culture · about 2 hrs · best in the morningHa Long Bay overnight cruise≈ ₹12,000
Cruise among limestone islands, kayak into lagoons and sleep on deck.
scenic · about 24 hrsWater puppet show≈ ₹500
A short show of folk tales performed by puppets on water, with live music.
culture · about 1 hr · best in the eveningTrain Street and egg coffee≈ ₹300
Sip egg coffee near a narrow track where trains pass close to cafes.
food · about 1.5 hrs · best in the afternoonTrang An and Tam Coc boat rides≈ ₹1,500
Row-boat trips through caves and rice fields beneath limestone cliffs.
scenic · about 5 hrs · best in the morningQuieter, still easy to reach
Bat Trang ceramic village≈ ₹500
Shop, paint and fire your own pottery in a village famed for ceramics.
shopping · about 3 hrs · best in the afternoonNinh Binh countryside by bicycle≈ ₹1,500
Pedal between rice fields and karst hills on small village lanes.
nature · about 5 hrs · best in the morningHanoi Opera House and French QuarterFree
Colonial buildings, wide boulevards and a grand opera house.
culture · about 2 hrs · best in the afternoonWest Lake and Tran Quoc PagodaFree
Vietnam's oldest pagoda sits on a small island in a large lake.
spiritual · about 2 hrs · best in the eveningCat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay≈ ₹3,000
Quieter than Ha Long Bay, with beaches, kayaking and jungle trails.
nature · about 8 hrs · best in the morningFood, markets, crafts and people
Pho breakfast at a street stall≈ ₹200
Slurp beef noodle soup on low plastic stools like the locals.
food · about 1 hr · best in the morningBun cha lunch in the Old Quarter≈ ₹300
Grilled pork with noodles and herbs, Hanoi's favourite lunch.
food · about 1 hr · best in the afternoonDong Xuan MarketFree
A large covered wholesale market with textiles, spices and trinkets.
shopping · about 2 hrs · best in the morningVietnamese coffee workshop≈ ₹1,500
Learn to brew phin coffee and egg coffee with a local barista.
food · about 2 hrs · best in the morningLong Bien Bridge dawn walkFree
Watch riverside life, flower sellers and morning exercise beneath a century-old iron bridge.
scenic · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningSpots most visitors miss
Quan Su Pagoda Buddhist templeFree
A busy but quiet temple where locals come to pray and buy incense.
spiritual · about 1 hr · best in the morningVietnam Museum of Ethnology≈ ₹500
Full-scale houses of Vietnam's 54 groups, set in a quiet garden.
culture · about 2.5 hrs · best in the afternoonHang Gai silk street tailor visitFree
Small shops that make clothes to measure in a day or two.
shopping · about 1.5 hrs · best in the afternoonDao Tien Island overnight ecolodge≈ ₹3,000
A tiny island off Cat Ba with quiet beaches and homestay-style stays.
nature · about 6 hrsThang Long Imperial Citadel≈ ₹500
Excavated royal palace grounds from a thousand years of Hanoi history.
culture · about 2 hrs · best in the morningEntry fees and times are approximate, per adult, and change often — we confirm everything before you book. Last reviewed November 2026.
Specialities
What Hanoi is famous for
food
Pho bo
Beef noodle soup with herbs; Hanoi's breakfast of choice.
food
Bun cha
Grilled pork with rice noodles and dipping sauce.
drink
Egg coffee
Rich coffee topped with whipped egg yolk cream.
craft
Bat Trang ceramics
Hand-painted bowls and vases from a village of potters.
craft
Silk and lacquerware
Hang Gai silk and shiny lacquer boxes.
experience
Water puppet theatre
A show of ancient folk tales performed over a water stage.
Where to eat
A taste of Hanoi
From the stalls locals queue at to the tables critics travel for — chosen for flavour, character and a warm welcome.
Must try
- Pho boBeef noodle soup with a clear, slow-simmered broth - Hanoi's breakfast. Vegetarian 'pho chay' is available at veg restaurants.
- Bun chaChar-grilled pork patties in a sweet-sour dipping broth with rice noodles and herbs.
- Cha caTurmeric-marinated fish sizzled at the table with dill and spring onion.
- Banh cuonSilky steamed rice rolls, usually with pork and mushroom; plain rolls make a light veg-friendly option.
- Ca phe trung (egg coffee)Strong coffee topped with a whipped egg-yolk cream - a Hanoi original (contains egg).
- Che vegSweet soups and puddings of beans, jellies and coconut milk, served hot or iced.
Street food trail
Hanoi Old Quarter street-food evening
- Best time
- 5–9 pm (weekend Night Market Fri–Sun from ~6 pm)
- Takes
- 2–3 hours
- Start at
- Hoan Kiem Lake (north end, near Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square)
- Budget
- VND 200,000–350,000 (~INR 680–1,200)
- Ta Hien streetOld Quarter
Try Bia hoi (fresh draught beer) or fresh lime juice (veg), roasted peanuts (veg)
Lively and touristy; sit on the tiny plastic stools — that's the experience.
VND 30,000–60,000 (~INR 100–200)Map
- Hang Buom / Ma May lanesOld Quarter
Try Banh mi (ask for 'chay' tofu or egg version) (veg), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls — non-veg)
Bánh mì chay (vegetarian) exists but check the pâté and fish sauce are left out.
VND 30,000–60,000 (~INR 100–200)Map
- Hanoi Weekend Night Market (Hang Dao to Dong Xuan)Old Quarter walking street, Fri–Sun
Try Grilled corn and sweet potato (veg), sticky rice (xôi) with mung bean (veg)
Car-free on weekend evenings — easiest walk with kids and seniors.
VND 40,000–80,000 (~INR 135–270)Map
- Café giảng / egg coffee cafésHang Gai & Nguyen Huu Huan
Try Egg coffee (veg, contains raw-whipped egg yolk), coconut coffee (veg, eggless)
Coconut coffee is the eggless alternative.
VND 35,000–60,000 (~INR 120–200)Map
- Che (sweet soup) stalls around Hang CanOld Quarter
Try Chè thái or chè bưởi (fruit & bean sweet soups) (veg)
Some contain jelly with gelatin — ask, or choose bean-based versions.
VND 25,000–40,000 (~INR 85–135)Map
Eat smart · every traveller
Diets & dietary needs
- Vegetarian
- Possible but needs care — fish sauce (nước mắm) is in almost every dipping sauce and broth (pho broth is beef). Look for 'quán chay' (vegetarian restaurants), often near pagodas, and eat there.
- Vegan
- Buddhist 'chay' restaurants are fully plant-based; on the street egg and fish sauce are common.
- Jain (no onion, garlic)
- Very hard on the street; Indian restaurants in the Old Quarter or pre-arranged meals are the only safe route.
- Halal
- Limited — a few halal Indian/Malaysian restaurants in the Old Quarter and near the Al-Noor mosque; avoid street stalls (pork is ubiquitous).
- Gluten-free
- Good — rice noodles, rice paper and sticky rice; soy sauce and bánh mì bread are wheat.
- With children
- Banh mi with egg, sticky rice, grilled corn, fresh fruit, coconut ice cream; Ha Long cruises serve mild buffet food.
- Spice level
- Mostly mild — chilli is added at the table. Say 'không cay' (not spicy).
Say it like a local
Useful phrases
- I am vegetarianTôi ăn chaytoy an chai
- No meat, no fish sauce, no eggKhông thịt, không nước mắm, không trứngkhom tit, khom nuoc mam, khom chung
- Not spicy, pleaseKhông caykhom kai
- How much?Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tee-en
- Delicious!Ngon quá!ngon kwa
- Cash (VND) for stalls; VietQR is standard for locals, and Indian UPI QR acceptance is being piloted but not reliable — carry dong in small notes.
- Ask the price before you sit, especially on Ta Hien and around the lake; tourist-trap mark-ups are common.
- Cross streets slowly and steadily — motorbikes flow around you; don't run.
- Ha Long Bay: food is on your cruise; inform the operator about veg/Jain needs at booking, not on board.
Trail stops, hours and prices are approximate and stalls move — check locally. Pronunciations are simplified guides. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.
Where to eat, by budget
Street food, markets and humble legends
Local FavouritesMichelin Guide Vietnam 2026: Selected
Bún Chả Hương Liên
The simple canteen made famous by Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain's 2016 meal; still a good, cheap bun cha.
Order 'Combo Obama': bun cha, fried seafood roll and beer
Local Favouriteswidely recommended (Bib Gourmand in the 2023 edition)
Phở Gia Truyền (49 Bát Đàn)
A classic queue-and-sit-on-stools pho house famous for its clean, beefy broth.
Order Pho tai nam (rare and well-done beef)
Local FavouritesBib Gourmand (Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026, new)
Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân
A family recipe for delicate steamed rice rolls, newly recognised by Michelin in 2026.
Order Banh cuon with fried shallots and dipping sauce
Acclaimed cafés and celebrated mid-range tables
Smart & StylishBib Gourmand (Michelin Guide Vietnam 2025; listed 2026) - first vegetarian restaurant in Hanoi recognised by Michelin
Ưu Đàm Chay
A serene, Buddhist-inspired dining room serving inventive meat-free Vietnamese dishes - the top pick for veg clients.
Order Vegetarian banquet set, che chay (sweet soup), vegetarian flan
Smart & StylishMichelin Guide Vietnam 2026: 1 star
Tầm Vị
A vintage-styled dining room serving comforting northern Vietnamese family food at very fair prices for a starred restaurant.
Order Family-style northern dishes, braised fish, seasonal greens
Award-winning tables, tasting menus and grand hotel dining
Fine Dining & SplurgeMichelin Guide Vietnam 2026: 1 star
Gia
A contemporary tasting menu that reinterprets Vietnamese ingredients and memories in an intimate setting.
Order Tasting menu
Fine Dining & SplurgeMichelin Guide Vietnam 2026: 1 star
Hibana by Koki
A hidden basement counter in the theatrical Capella hotel, cooking luxury Japanese ingredients on the teppan.
Order Teppanyaki omakase with premium seafood and wagyu
Restaurants change hours, menus and prices often; awards are as published at the time of checking. Approximate — verify before you go. Last reviewed 9 November 2026. All our food picks
Time it right
Festivals & events
FebAsia
Lunar New Year (Tet)
Hanoi old quarter and flower streets, Vietnam · About 6 February 2027 (lunar calendar — confirm closer to the time)
Vietnam's biggest holiday fills Hanoi with peach blossom, kumquat trees and street fireworks. Many shops close for several days while families travel home, giving the city a calm, festive mood.
Tip: Book trains and domestic flights early, and stock up on food before the shutdown days.
Local tip: Cross the road slowly and steadily at a constant pace; scooters will flow around you.
Make Hanoi yours
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