Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam is an amazing place to visit. In fact, I’ve now been there 3 times and am still in love with the city. For first time visitors it can still be daunting though, and just like when traveling to other destinations for the first time, there are certain travel tips that can really be handy. So here is a list of my top Hanoi travel tips that I wish I had known before my first visit!
Before I start though, let me say that this list of Hanoi travel tips is not exhaustive. If you find it handy, bookmark it because I will be adding to it on future visits to Hanoi.
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Table of Contents
- Catch the local bus from Noi Ban Airport
- Don’t buy the first SIM at the airport
- Don’t take wheeled luggage to Old Quarter
- Take small walking tours in Hanoi
- Be flexible when visiting Train Street
- Stay central
- Try the egg coffee
- Wear loose clothing if you’re tall
- Plan your Halong Bay trip carefully
- Head to TP Bank for no ATM fees
- Be aware of the Hanoi Traffic
- Be careful of the pastry seller scam
- Have Google Translate ready at all times
- Visit Hanoi on a weekend
- Summary
Catch the local bus from Noi Ban Airport
Ok, so every traveler knows that the biggest scam when traveling is when you first step out of the airport. Taxi’s are the worst (especially in Istanbul) and will rob you for everything you’re worth. Then, ride sharing, which is usually my go-to when traveling, cannot be relied on. This is nothing to do with the company, and more to do with scammers pretending they are from said company.
As a result, everywhere I travel I try to find the local transport. There is a public transport option everywhere, even if the airports don’t want to admit it. From Istanbul to Penang and Kuala Lumpur, there is always a train or a bus that you can take.
So my first Hanoi Travel tip when you arrive in Vietnam is to catch the bus! Forget the shuttles, as they are too expensive. Convenient, but expensive. The local bus is right outside the main doors and slightly to the left as you exit. The bus number is 86, and it usually runs every 20 to 30 minutes. The cost is 45,000 Dong per person, and it will drop you at the Old Quarter outside the Hanoi Post Office, at the Melia, or the train station where it terminates.
Also remember that it is the best option to get the bus from Hanoi to Noi Ban Airport when leaving as well.
Don’t buy the first SIM at the airport
One of the first things you will do when landing (it is for me) is to pick up a local SIM card. I always do it before I even leave the terminal. At the very least it gives me something to do on the bus into Hanoi, especially at night time!
So the second of my Hanoi travel tips is this. When you walk out of immigration and customs, and into the terminal at Noi Ban Airport, you will find the phone companies off to the left. The ATM’s are also there which makes it handy.
Now, don’t make the mistake most people make and get the very first SIM. It’s a flashy looking red and white company that look busy and the staff will act very busy. Their prices and deals also look great.
The thing is, if you wander past and don’t allow them to suck you in, go to the next companies along for better deals . There are about 6 in total, and we ended up going with number 5. They are called Vinaphone, and their deal was a lot less than the first one, with the same data (about 5 gb per DAY) and we used it all over Vietnam, even in the mountains of Sapa with no problems.
Don’t take wheeled luggage to Old Quarter
This is one of my Hanoi travel tips that can be true in many cities around the world. But in Hanoi it was a bit of an issue when we first arrived at a busy time of the day.
The thing is, in Hanoi Old Quarter you will do most of your walking around on the road itself, dodging the traffic. There is plenty of footpath, but these are usually blocked by outdoor seating for restaurants, and scooter parking.
So if you have wheeled luggage, you will be forced onto the road and wheeling the luggage through the traffic. If you have big suitcases, it will be even more of an issue, and you will have to pay for a taxi or GRAB car to get you where you are going.
The solution is to travel light with a backpack, or at least have luggage you can carry easily. I always use backpacks for this reason.
Take small walking tours in Hanoi
Walking tours are a great way to learn about a new city. Hanoi is no different, and on our first day in Hanoi we learnt a lot about the city, and how to find our way around.
Hanoi can get very crowded with traffic though, and when walking around, you will find that walking single file is the only real option in Old Quarter. This causes a bit of a problem with walking tours though.
On our tour we had over 20 people. When walking from one place to another through Old Quarter, we found ourselves strung out in single file, and often separated into several groups after crossing streets etc. This resulted in getting to the next stop to find the guide already halfway through a dialogue of information that we totally missed.
The other reason is the noise. Hanoi traffic is all about horns, and trying to stand at the back of a large group beside the road (or ON the road) attempting to hear him can be impossible.
So when you book a walking tour, try to get a private tour, or a small group tour at the very least. Several times we were struggling to hear our guide, yet nearby another guide only had 4 people and they were all following along easily. Small equals easy in Hanoi!
Be flexible when visiting Train Street
This is one of my Hanoi Travel Tips that has a few sides to it. Train Street is famous, and everyone wants to experience it. But that can also give you high expectations.
I won’t lie. Sitting in a café and having a train roar by within touching distance is an experience. In reality though, it’s not as casual as it looks. Everyone is jostling for position. Café owners and security/police are running around yelling at everyone, and this only makes you more excited. So all their panic is a bit counterproductive in the end.
The reason I say to be flexible is that you sometimes have to be lucky, or really time your visit to get a great experience. The first time we visited, we sat in a café that wasn’t in the best position, but we didn’t know it at the time. Then, we sat for two hours waiting as the trains were cancelled, but no one in train street knew that. Then, when it came, it was just a single engine, with no carriages attached. After 3 hours we left a bit disappointed.
The thing was though, that train street is very central. So we just planned to come back another time. In total, we ended up going several times, as we found ourselves in the area and just decided to stop by. On other occasions, (not the first) the train came as scheduled and the experience was great.
Just be aware that all the jostling for position etc might spoil your view/footage. So be a bit flexible. Try sitting upstairs, or at a café a little away from the central ones. The experience is still awesome, minus the idiots that try to spoil it for everyone. They are out there!
Stay central
Staying central pretty much means staying in Old Quarter. But I managed to niche it down even more than that!
Decide what you mostly want to do in Hanoi, and having accommodation really close to that can certainly add to your experience.
The first time we visited Hanoi, our Air BNB happened to be close to Train Street. This was wonderful in that regard, but we found there wasn’t much to eat around the immediate area, and most of everything else we enjoyed doing was a 10 minute walk away.
The second time we visited, and then the third, we stayed in a great Air BNB that was right near the lake, and literally NEXT DOOR to our favorite Pho restaurant, as well as only a 2 minute stroll from our favorite Banh Mi and cafes.
It makes a difference where you stay in Hanoi, I found. If you are going to go to Beer Street every night, then stay near there. If you love cafes and eating, stay just on the north end of the lake. If you want to see the prison, museums and mausoleum, stay on the west or south west side of the lake. Also, if your onward journey is by train, maybe consider being on the south end of Old Quarter closer to Hanoi Train Station.
Hanoi isn’t big, but staying central in Old Quarter is my tip, especially for first timers as you can get everywhere really quickly.
Try the egg coffee
I admit that before I came to Hanoi, I had never heard of egg coffee. Now that I’ve tasted it, I can’t go back!
Egg coffee originated in Hanoi, and came from a time where milk was hard to come by, and they were searching for a substitute. The egg whip they put on the top of the coffees is amazing, and HAS to be tried at least once.
Most of the cafes around Hanoi serve egg coffee, but the original version, and probably still the best in Hanoi is at Café Giang. Located centrally in Old Quarter, it’s very easy to find. Just beware that it can get very crowded, especially on weekends, and I’ve seen group tours of 20 plus people walking in trying to get seated on weekends!
Wear loose clothing if you’re tall
This is one of my Hanoi Travel Tips that you might not find everywhere, but is very important if you’re tall.
Basically, if you eat in any of the outdoor (and even indoor) curbside restaurants in Hanoi, then you will be sitting on the very low, plastic stools. The stools and tables look like something that kids will use back home in Australia or United States, but in Hanoi, they are very common.
I’ve heard several different reasons for the low stools and general seating, but it all comes back to being seated lower than passersby, and not having to look them in the eye. Some say this is for respect, others due to the Vietnamese being very private.
Either way, if you are tall, then loose fitting clothing can really help when sitting so low. Tight jeans is not a good recommendation!
Plan your Halong Bay trip carefully
Now, among Hanoi travel tips, this isn’t EXACTLY about Hanoi, but most people will visit Halong Bay from Hanoi, so I decided to include it.
Halong Bay is a UNESCO Heritage Listed bay that everyone will want to see. It’s absolutely incredible, and as such it can also get very, very crowded.
There is a way to avoid the crowds though.
If you take a day trip, then you will most likely have to put up with the crowds. This is because they all do pickups in Hanoi at the same time, reach the boat at the same time and, you guessed it, hit the attractions at the same time.
Find yourself a tour that has a different itinerary. Consider heading onto a les popular, but just as beautiful part of the bay such as Cat Ba, or alternatively take a tour that lasts 2 or 3 nights. This will help avoid the majority of the crowd and make for a much better experience.
Head to TP Bank for no ATM fees
When overseas, getting hit with foreign ATM fees can be very stressful. No one wants to be just giving away money. Personally, when I travel I use WISE, formerly Transferwise. They save me a lot of money on currency conversion and make traveling a breeze.
Unfortunately, to use ATM’s though, I am still subject to those foreign ATM fees. So, when in Hanoi I did some research.
ATM fees in Vietnam can range from 20k Dong to 50k Dong. Some even want a percentage of what you actually withdraw. This can all add up.
The answer? Head to TP Bank. They don’t have as many branches or ATM’s as other banks in Vietnam, but they charge NO FEE to use the ATM. Also, they allow you to withdraw up to 5 million Dong, when other ATM’s only allow 3 million. To access the 5 Million option you may have to tap “other amount” to manually type it in.
Remember though that your own, home bank may charge you for overseas withdrawals, but at least you don’t get stung locally as well.
To check out WISE, check THIS LINK. I highly recommend them!
Be aware of the Hanoi Traffic
This one will be pretty obvious to anyone as soon as they set foot into Hanoi, and isn’t much different to other places such as Ho Chi Minh. But if you enter Vietnam via Hanoi, watch out!
The traffic is crazy. I personally came from Indonesia, where I live, and still don’t think it’s any busier than in Bali and certainly not Jakarta.
But the drivers in Vietnam are crazy. They will lay on the horn and just barrel through intersections, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. They WILL NOT stop. It’s as simple as that.
Having made this point, I will say that you can easily cross the road in Vietnam. It looks impossible, but once you get used to it you realize that even though the traffic won’t stop for you, they WILL go around you, and are experts at doing just that.
Be careful of the pastry seller scam
Ok so this is one of those Hanoi travel tips that can also be useful elsewhere. But the pastry selling scam is going on all over the Old Quarter.
And to be honest, it probably isn’t a scam, but a rather underhanded , and effective way, to get unsuspecting customers.
The pastry sellers are actually selling little round, donut like desserts that look pretty amazing. They push around small converted baby strollers in the street, and as soon as they see you their eyes will light up, and they immediately reach into their basket with a pair of tongs and offer you a taste.
Now, being from a western country you will be used to free samples, and that is exactly what it looks like. Unfortunately, as soon as you take it you are committing yourself to a sale. This will then result in you buying a dozen of these desserts, usually as an exorbitant price seeing as you are already committed.
Have Google Translate ready at all times
I saw a post recently that said that everyone in Vietnam speaks English. I don’t know what Vietnam this person was visiting, but it certainly isn’t the Vietnam I go to. Perhaps there is another one. Or perhaps they only stayed at the Hilton and never left the confines of the lobby. Who knows.
The fact is, if you wander anywhere away from your hotel in Vietnam, there is very little English. Especially if you like to eat in small, local restaurants. Sign language will become your best friend, and misunderstandings, wrong orders and shrugged shoulders will be the norm.
Try using Google Translate a lot more. We even have our translated regular coffee orders and food orders ready to go on a screenshot from the app, just to make it easy!
Visit Hanoi on a weekend
Visiting Hanoi on a weekend is an experience I’m glad to have stumbled upon the first time I was in the city. Ever since, I have always arranged to be there over the weekend.
The reason? Hanoi closes down the street all around the lake in the Old Quarter from Friday night until Sunday night, and makes it a totally traffic free zone. Pedestrians only are allowed inside the area, and it makes for the perfect way to explore all around the lake.
During the day, depending on the weather, things have a carnival like atmosphere, and then at night there are random events held. Once we were walking home in the early evening and a local dance company were putting on a wonderful display, with about 20 couples whirling and twirling in the middle of the street!
Summary
I’m sure these Hanoi Travel Tips will help you out for when you head to Hanoi and Vietnam. Keep an eye open as I update this list, and for future articles for tips on Sapa, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam in general.
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