Itineraries, practical tips and day trips to plan your stay in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa.
Vietnam's National Day is 2 September; in 2026 it falls on a Wednesday, and the Ministry of Home Affairs an...
Travelling to Hanoi with a dog or cat is possible but needs months of lead time: according to a Vietnamese ...
Hanoi by wheelchair is difficult: a guide updated on 29 August 2026 rates the Old Quarter the hardest, with...
For Hanoi with a baby, bring a carrier as well as a stroller: Old Quarter lanes are narrow, packed with par...
For Hanoi, pack light, breathable clothes from May to September (hot, humid, thunderstorms) and warm layers...
Hanoi suits seniors as long as you choose the right area and the right season: sleep near Hoan Kiem Lake or...
For a hotel in Ba Dinh, Hanoi, near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, choose between three big international tower...
For a hotel near Hanoi train station (Ga Ha Noi, Le Duan street), four options stand out from a Booking.com...
To stay near Hanoi Train Street, two areas work: the Phung Hung and Tran Phu district, 200-350 m from the t...
For a last day in Hanoi before your flight, check out in the morning, leave your bags at an Old Quarter lef...
You can eat Hanoi street food without getting sick if you follow five rules: choose a stall packed with loc...
From Hanoi to Phong Nha, the easiest way is the night train to Dong Hoi, then 45 km by road, or the direct ...
Hanoi with teenagers is a city best seen on the move: a night Vespa tour with street food (3.5 to 4 hours, ...
The best beaches in Vietnam are on Phu Quoc (best from November to April), at Da Nang (My Khe, February to ...
Vietnam or Thailand? Choose Thailand for an easy first trip, well-developed beaches and simple logistics; c...
To see the rice terraces of Vietnam, aim for late May and June (flooded, then green) or, better, mid-Septem...
The best-documented alley in Hanoi is Dream Games at Aeon Mall Long Bien, reachable on 024 3200 3190. An ol...
Banh cuon is a thin steamed rice-batter sheet rolled around minced pork and wood-ear mushroom, eaten at bre...
In Hanoi you haggle in traditional markets and small shops, not in supermarkets, branded stores or for stre...
Bun dau mam tom is a platter of cold rice vermicelli, fried tofu, sometimes green rice sausage and boiled p...
Bun rieu is a rice-vermicelli soup in a crab, tomato and vinegar broth; bun oc is its snail cousin with a c...
Che is a family of Vietnamese desserts served in a glass or bowl, cold with ice or hot, made from beans, je...
Seeing Hanoi for free is easy: Hoan Kiem Lake, the weekend walking streets around it, the Ho Chi Minh Mauso...
In Hanoi on Friday and Saturday nights, a large part of the Old Quarter around Hoan Kiem Lake is closed to ...
