Ha Long Bay

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the political and cultural center of the North, situated on the Red River. Visitors come for its over a thousand-year history, the vibrant Old Quarter around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and the street food stalls, which are among the best in the country. In 1010, Lý Thái Tổ, the first ruler of the Lý Dynasty, made the place his capital and named it Thăng Long, "Ascending Dragon." The city has borne the name Hà Nội since 1831. From 1902, it served as the capital of French Indochina, and since 1976, it has been the capital of reunified Vietnam. Buildings from all these eras are preserved, ranging from Confucian temples to colonial villas. Key Neighborhoods Old Quarter: The dense maze of alleys north of the lake has largely preserved its historic street layout. Many streets still bear the names of the goods once traded there, such as Hàng Bạc, named after the silver shops. Most budget accommodations and street food stalls are located here. Hoàn Kiếm Lake: The lake is the heart of the city. Via the red Thê Húc Bridge, you reach Ngọc Sơn Temple on a small island; on another stands the Turtle Tower. French Quarter: South of the lake, wide avenues, colonial villas, embassies, and ministries define the area. Here you'll find the Opera House, the Hotel Metropole, and the National Museum of Vietnamese History. Ba Đình: To the west lie most of the governmental and imperial sites: the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. West Lake (Tây Hồ): The city's largest lake boasts approximately 17 kilometers of shoreline. On a small island near its southeastern shore stands the Trấn Quốc Pagoda, Hanoi's oldest pagoda. This district is quieter, featuring cafés, villas, and many foreign residents.

Hanoi's Old Quarter is the dense maze of alleyways north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and the district where most travellers stay. Here, affordable accommodations, street food stalls, and cafés are tightly packed, and the street network has largely been preserved as it evolved over centuries.Locally, the district is known as "36 Gassen" (36 Streets), named after the guilds that once worked here. Many street names begin with "Hàng" (meaning 'goods') and still reveal what was traded there, such as Hàng Bạc after the silversmiths. Most of the narrow shop-houses with sloping tiled roofs date from the 18th and 19th centuries.In the north of the district lies Đồng Xuân Market, dating from the French colonial era, and hidden among the houses is the Bạch Mã Temple. The best way to explore the Old Quarter is on foot.

Ba Đình, west of the Old Quarter, is Hanoi's political center and the district with the most imperial and revolutionary sites. It is home to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010.On today's Ba Đình Square, Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945. Wide avenues, ministries, and embassies characterize the district, which can easily be explored with a stroll from the square to the Citadel.

The Tây Hồ district is located around West Lake, one of Vietnam's largest natural lakes, with approximately 17 kilometers of shoreline. It is quieter than the city center, with villas, cafés, and many Western restaurants, as a large part of Hanoi's foreign population lives here.On a small island near the southeastern shore stands the Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the city's oldest pagoda. Since 1996, the Quảng Bá flower market has taken place nightly in the district, one of the largest in the country. The lakeside is well suited for a bike ride.

Ninh Bình is a city in the southern Red River Delta, about two hours by bus or train south of Hanoi. You come for the surrounding karst landscape, where you travel by rowboat on rivers and through caves amidst rice paddies and limestone cliffs. The centerpiece is the Tràng An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (mixed cultural and natural) since 2014. It spans around 6,226 hectares, encompassing the ancient capital Hoa Lư, the waterways of Tràng An and Tam Cốc, and protected forests. Discoveries in the caves prove that people have lived here for over 30,000 years. From 968 to 1010, Hoa Lư was the capital of Vietnam before the court moved to Thăng Long, today's Hanoi. The city itself is primarily a transport hub. Many travellers stay overnight in Tam Cốc village, where boat docks, restaurants, and bicycle rentals are located. Good times to visit are September to November and March to May. Local specialties include goat meat from the karst slopes and Cơm cháy, deep-fried crispy rice.