Hà Nội
In Hà Nội, scooters buzz louder than alarm clocks. Trouser legs sometimes get splashed if you stand too close to the street. The smell of pho drifts from all corners, but I once tried a bowl from a shop so hidden, I thought I'd entered someone's living room by mistake. Crossing the street is like a slow-motion dance with fate; you just go, and somehow, the scooters part like the Red Sea. Locals sip egg coffee and chat like they've got all the time in the world, which is odd, because everything else moves at warp speed. If you ask three people about the best hotel in Hà Nội, you'll get five answers and at least one offer for a homestay with their cousin. Nobody agrees, but everybody smiles.
Local weather in Vietnam
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Hà Nội
Discover the best accommodations for Hà Nội and start planning your holiday.
Travel destination popular things to do or visit, plus the best hotel in Hà Nội
Start with Hoan Kiem Lake, where turtles and legends both surface now and then. Early in the morning, folks walk backward around the shore, supposedly for good luck or maybe just to confuse the pigeons. Nearby, the Old Quarter holds a tangle of streets named after things you can no longer buy there. I once saw a shop on Silk Street selling nothing but plastic buckets. Go figure. Food seems to be a popular thing to do here, if eating can be called an activity. Bún chả, bánh mì, and that famous egg coffee—each one is a reason to extend your stay, or at least your waistband.
For history, the Temple of Literature comes with more stone turtles than a pet shop. Sometimes the best ideas come while sitting in its shade, although last time I tried, a particularly loud tour guide drowned out my thoughts with a megaphone. Museums have their own rhythm, and sometimes, the mannequins wear uniforms that seem two sizes too big. If you hunt for the best hotel in Hà Nội, you may find yourself in a room with a view, a rooftop pool, or a shower that only works if you sing to it (true story, or so the receptionist claimed). The city is many things, but predictable is not one of them. Just remember, here, even the rain is never on time.
Other cities around Vietnam
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
