So Hanoi has entered the summer season, the sun in late April and early May is starting to dispel the remaining cool air. Occasional rains start to appear, making the scorching weather felt distinctly. The heat in the city gives people here a really weary feeling, it's not just hot but sweltering. Summer in Hanoi, and in the northern region in general, starts from the end of April and ends in mid-August. For tourists coming to explore Hanoi in the summer and staying for 3 days or less, how should they choose their means of transportation during their time here? Where to go, what to eat? Please refer to the article by congaitoiblog for more information.
First, let's talk about where to go.
If you choose to stay in the suburbs, you'll be far from most of the main attractions, and even in the outer districts, it's hot and you still have to travel relatively far to get to the city center. So it's best to choose a mid-range hotel or homestay in the central area near Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the most convenient. Here, you can explore the famous sights on foot. Because the streets here are shaded with many trees, you won't feel too hot. Please use Google Maps to make your selection; there will be plenty of options for you.
The places you should visit.
Hoan Kiem Lake: The atmosphere here will be cooler. In the middle of the lake is an architectural structure called Turtle Tower, a symbol of the cultural and historical sanctity of the capital city of Hanoi, built during the reign of King Le Thai To. Nearby, there's Ngoc Son Temple, built in the 19th century. Standing by the lake, gazing at the Turtle Tower in the middle of the lake, you might imagine a historical image from ancient feudal times. Vietnamese people, when they quietly contemplate the Turtle Tower, feel a sudden sense of tranquility in their hearts. The best time to walk around Hoan Kiem Lake is early morning. In the evening, the area around the lake becomes a lively pedestrian space, where many young people and locals gather to hang out and socialize. The atmosphere here in the evening is very vibrant.
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| Turtle Tower |
Hanoi Old Quarter: The Hanoi Old Quarter is an ancient urban area that has existed for hundreds of years, located east of the Hoang Thanh Imperial Citadel. Walking through the old streets, you not only see the ancient architectural styles but also feel the peaceful life and have the opportunity to buy unique handmade souvenirs. In the summer, I recommend visiting the Old Quarter in the late afternoon to avoid the heat when walking along the streets. Of course, you can also choose to visit during the day when your time in Hanoi is not too long, and you need to make the most of it to visit many places.
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| Railway street coffee - Kham Thien street |
Ta Hien Street: This is considered the "never sleep" street in Hanoi, where you can feel the vibrant and bustling nightlife. It's a favorite destination for young people living in Hanoi and a gathering place for international tourists when night falls. In my opinion, you shouldn't miss this place, and remember, the best time to visit this street is at night. Here, music blends with the flavors of street food and sidewalk culture, creating a unique atmosphere of Hanoi. You can enjoy various flavors of street food, have coffee, and immerse yourself in the lively and fun atmosphere, experiencing the blend of cultures and lifestyles.
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| A corner of Ta Hien street at night |
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: This is a famous tourist spot preserving the traces of a golden era of the feudal period. When you come to Hanoi, visit Imperial Citadel of Thang Longto learn more about the cultural history of Vietnam and explore new experiences in the unique Imperial space of this feudal regime. The entrance fee is 70,000 VND ($2.7) for adults, 35,000 VND ($1.4) for seniors aged 60 and above, and free for children under 16 years old.
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| Imperial Citadel of Thang Long |
Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám): This is a complex of relics from Vietnam's first university during the feudal period, built since 1070. It is the first priority destination for Vietnamese students when they come to Hanoi, aiming to pray for luck in their academic pursuits. If you want to learn about Vietnam's thousand-year-old civilization, you shouldn't miss this place. Especially in the summer, you can visit this place at any time except for nighttime because the visiting time here is not long. You can combine a visit to the Temple of Literature with Hoang Thanh Thang Long since these two places are relatively close to each other, just a short walk away. The entrance fee for this site is 70,000 VND (~$2.7) per ticket.
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| Temple of Literature |
One Pillar Pagoda: The One Pillar Pagoda is a unique architectural structure built on a single pillar, constructed in 1049 and renovated several times. The pagoda bears the distinctive characteristics of feudal architecture in Vietnam. You should combine a visit to this site with Hoang Thanh Thang Long and the Temple of Literature. The entrance fee for international visitors to this site is 25,000 VND (~$1) per person.
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| One Pillar Pagoda |
Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House: This is where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2nd, 1945. Ba Dinh Square is the venue for major parades on important national holidays. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Stilt House are unique architectural structures and also the places that preserve extremely sacred and priceless spiritual assets about "Uncle Ho" Ho Chi Minh and the love of the people for the independence and freedom of Vietnam. To visit this major site, you should allocate time in the morning. Go early to buy tickets for the visit and then visit the square for photos before heading to explore Hoang Thanh Thang Long in the afternoon. The entrance fee for international visitors is 25,000 VND (~$1) per ticket. Inside the mausoleum, you must follow a guide, while outside, you can explore freely. Note that the Mausoleum is closed for maintenance for 2 months each year, so if you plan to visit, check the schedule beforehand as it varies every year. The visiting hours for the mausoleum are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and Sunday.
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| Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum |
Additionally, you can visit the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and watch the Water Puppet Show. If you stay in Hanoi for more than 3 days, you can also visit some other places like the Ceramic Road, the Bat Trang Ceramic Village, and the Van Phuc Silk Village.....
.In Hanoi, you can choose Cyclo service to explore the old streets of Hanoi. If you want to move faster, you should opt for double-decker buses or the Hop on Hop off bus service to admire other streets of Hanoi, which is also fantastic.
What to eat in Hanoi during the summer?
Hanoi has its signature dishes that can be enjoyed year-round, and every visitor should try when in Hanoi such as Pho, Bun, and various types of Banh Mi. However, when you visit Hanoi in the hot and scorching summer weather, you might feel too lazy to eat those main dishes. Instead, you'll crave for refreshing drinks and snacks. Apart from those dishes, I'll introduce you to the dishes that Hanoians always eat in the summer. These dishes are quickly sold out and are always popular among the locals.
The first dish is Trang Tien Ice Cream: It's a long-standing brand of ice cream closely associated with the people of Hanoi. With over 60 years of production and service, Trang Tien ice cream has become a culinary icon of Hanoi. The cool and refreshing Trang Tien ice cream cups, with a variety of flavors for you to choose from, will immediately dispel the heat. The price of Trang Tien ice cream varies depending on the type, from $0.5 to $1.
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| Trang Tien Ice Cream |
Nuoc Sau: Qua Sau is a specialty fruit of Hanoi, and these fruits are often grown along the sidewalks of Hanoi's streets. Nuoc Sau is a popular summer cooler loved by everyone. The thick Qua Sau extract is mixed with sugar syrup and water, chilled with ice, and can be enhanced with additional flavors according to preference. You'll get a lightly sour, sweet, and refreshing fruit drink that helps beat the summer heat. This drink is extremely easy to enjoy and typically costs around $0.5 to $1.
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| Nuoc Sau |
Types of Sweet Soup: There are many famous types of sweet soup in Hanoi, such as Grapefruit Sweet Soup, Truc Bach Sweet Soup, Sweet Potato Sweet Soup, etc. These sweet soups typically consist of sweet broth, various manually produced flavorings, crushed ice, and depending on the name of each type of sweet soup, the main ingredient of sweet broth will be cooked with that ingredient. Each type of sweet soup has its own distinctive flavor that makes people crave it. Especially on hot summer days, enjoying a cup of cold sweet soup is wonderful. It's very easy to enjoy a cup of cold sweet soup in the summer in Hanoi, but to choose the authentic Hanoi flavor, and be satisfied from the first taste, you have to experience all the different flavors of sweet soup. So, if it's your first time tasting this Hanoi sweet soup, you should choose Truc Bach Sweet Soup or Assorted Sweet Soup. A delicious cup of sweet soup in Hanoi costs from $0.5 to $3.5.
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| Types of Sweet Soup |
Types of Fresh Fruit Juices: In the summer, especially in Hanoi and Vietnam in general, there are many delicious types of fruit that are famous and expensive in some other countries but are very affordable in Vietnam, so you can enjoy them directly or as freshly squeezed juices. A glass of cold, fresh fruit juice will make you feel extremely relaxed and wonderful when you enjoy it comfortably. In Hanoi, the price of a glass of local fresh fruit juice varies depending on the type, but it usually costs from $0.5 to $3.
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| Types of Fresh Fruit Juices |
Sugarcane Juice: Sugarcane is extensively grown in Vietnam, and juice extracted from fresh sugarcane is highly favored as a refreshing and familiar beverage for quenching thirst and cooling down in Hanoi and Vietnam. Additionally, sugarcane juice also has many health benefits. When you order sugarcane juice from a street vendor, you can observe the entire process of squeezing a glass of fresh and delicious sugarcane juice. You will be delighted to witness the juice extraction process and enjoy it without any preservatives. Moreover, drinking sugarcane juice alleviates concerns about pesticide residues. Sugarcane grown in Vietnam requires minimal pesticide use, and if any, it is safe because farmers mainly remove sugarcane leaves and pests before harvest. Therefore, there is little need for pesticide application. Sugarcane juice in Vietnam is very cheap, costing only about $0.5.
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| Sugarcane Juice |
Besides the culinary dishes I've mentioned, in the summer in Hanoi, there are countless other distinctive food and beverage options such as Tofu Pudding, Mixed Fruit, Agar Jelly, Cold Snail Noodles, Spring Rolls... You should come to Hanoi to experience these dishes yourself.
Conclusion:
With a stay of 3 days in Hanoi, the experiences, transportation methods, accommodation choices, and typical dishes I mentioned in this article are very suitable for solo travelers or those traveling independently to Hanoi. For longer stays, beyond the 3 days I've written about, you can explore many other fascinating places such as historical, cultural, and art museums, watch water puppet shows, visit handicraft villages, and more. If you're interested, feel free to leave a comment, and I'll include those topics in future articles. Wishing you a memorable experience in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam!.
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