The New York Times recently published an article by travel writer Chris Humphrey introducing 36 hours of fun in Hanoi. Below is the schedule from Friday night to Sunday, according to Chris, who has lived in Hanoi for more than 10 years.
Friday
19:00: Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake
Weekends are also the time when the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake turn into pedestrian streets, helping to dispel the stuffy feeling of urban traffic and providing a rare space for entertainment. Take to the streets and join the crowd to enjoy the atmosphere like a miniature festival here. From listening to live music, watching dancers, playing Vietnamese folk games, drawing portraits by the lake...
8pm: Enjoy Northern cuisine
Visit Tam Vi restaurant and order authentic Northern dishes, enjoy in a wooden house, using furniture and decorations that are all traditional handmade products such as Dong Ho paintings, calligraphy... The menu here is diverse, presented simply, easy to eat and affordable such as tofu with tomato sauce, braised fish, grilled pork rolls with betel leaves...
22:00: Sip at a Wong Kar Wai-style bar
Wong Bar is a small bar with seating for only a dozen people. It is hidden at the end of a small alley and opened in 2022. The decor of the bar makes you feel like you have just stepped into the setting of a Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai.
Saturday
9am: Explore historical sites
If you only visit the Temple of Literature to get a glimpse of 1,000 years of Hanoi. But coming to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, you will touch many more layers of the past of the capital that most tourists often ignore. Although there are not many relics left, the ancient citadel still preserves some vestiges of the ancient citadel along with the main gate built in the 11th century, opposite the Hanoi flagpole. Underneath the Imperial Citadel is a system of bunkers that served as shelter for the Vietnamese army during the war.
11am: Drink coffee in an old French villa
On Chan Cam Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter is Loading T, a coffee shop located inside a charming old French villa. The shop’s coffee costs from 40,000 to 90,000 VND/cup, including coffees combined with yogurt, eggs, salt, coconut, banana, lemon, and cinnamon.
In the same villa, you can also discover a ceramic shop of Hanoi artisans, Hien Van Ceramics. If you want to change the space, just cross the street and you will enter Blackbird - a modern cafe with cappuccino, cold beer, machine-brewed coffee...
12:30: Exciting street food tour
Get ready for a Hanoi food hunt on a motorbike. Vespa Adventures' food tour takes you through the streets of Hanoi on a vintage vespa, enjoying delicious dishes such as bun cha, banh mi, bo bia... The two-wheeled vehicle also takes you through famous places such as the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the train street - where tourists come to eat and watch the trains pass by.
18:00: Enjoy Hanoi specialties
When it comes to Hanoi delicacies, you can’t miss the Thang Long fish cake on Duong Thanh Street. A serving of fish cake costs 140,000 VND and is served like a feast on the table, with vermicelli, vegetables, a pan of fish cake covered with turmeric and dill, fish sauce and roasted peanuts.
8pm: Find a place to listen to Jazz music
Long Waits, located in Hoan Kiem district, is a favorite place for many jazz lovers. During the week, it is a theater showing documentaries, music, and history of jazz, and on the weekend, it is a space for jazz performances by Vietnamese and international artists.
23:00: Sip cocktails by candlelight
To enjoy a really late night in Hanoi, don’t miss Longer Than Summer near the Cathedral. The bar is ideal for introverts. The address is discreet, the space is small, the candles are just bright enough, and the music is soft.
For those who like it loud, head to Hanoi Rock City for live music, Ray Quan for drinks by the train tracks, or Savage for late-night techno.
Sunday
9am: Climb up the unique long house at the museum
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is located in Cau Giay District, where artifacts and detailed information about 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam are stored and displayed. The museum also has traditional houses of many ethnic groups, such as the Bana and Ede long houses, filled with carvings, pottery, textiles, and household utensils.
11am: Explore the renovated neighborhood
The Truc Bach Lake area and the streets around the lake were once the scene where Senator John McCain (USA) was captured after his plane was shot down. Today, walking around Truc Bach Lake, you can see many shops and cafes. Try pho cuon Chinh Thang to eat pho, go to Fu Hoo to sip coffee and lemonade, or stop by Standing Bar to drink craft beer.
13:00: Buy souvenirs
For interesting souvenirs, skip the modern shopping malls and night markets and head to Zo Project, where you can buy handicrafts made from traditional do paper. Wander the old town and visit Tired City, a chain of shops selling T-shirts, bags, and paintings designed by young Vietnamese artists. Visit Maison Marou to discover Vietnamese chocolates.
15:00: Admire modern art
Some modern art exhibition spaces in Hanoi include Outpost, Manzi Art Space... Here, you can admire paintings from minimalist to cheerful surrealism, impressive lacquer paintings, or even abstract film works.
