Recommendations for Hotels and Things to See in Hanoi

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Three of our children will be visiting from the US in December and want to have a family holiday. My wife and kids are keen to go somewhere outside of Thailand.  One daughter has suggested Hanoi.

 

Can anyone give hotel recommendations or suggestions for activities and things to see?  I think we'd plan on spending three nights there.

 

 

[PattayaParent]

Hotels of course depend on your budget.

 

Hoan Kiem Lake, especially at the weekend when it's closed to traffic.

The "Ha Noi Hilton" prison

The Temple of Literature.

 

Take warm clothes, it's cold in December, and an umbrella or plastic mac will come in handy too.

[PattayaParent]

Go up the tower of the Lotte Department Store in central Ha Noi, not the one at West Lake, and take the VR glider ride. Good views of the city also.

 

For a day trip out go up Fransipan mountain.

 

Wander round the streets of the old quarter. There's a tour around the old quarter from the top end of Hoan Kiem Lake, in golf carts, not expensive.

 

Go to the Water Puppet Show, again at the top end of HK Lake.

[oceanbluejewell]

Excellent question

We are doing 14 day tour Nov 4 to sort of get our feet wet.

Appreciate the suggestions.

[PattayaParent]

14 days?

 

Go to Huong Pagoda, a day trip out of Ha Noi.

 

Ninh Binh also a day trip, "Ha Long Bay on Land"

 

Ha Long bay of course for a few days.

 

Sa Pa

 

When I used to stay in hotels in Ha Noi I'd find one around Hoan Kiem Lake area. Hang Hanh street has a few (Lakeside Palace, Holiday Lake View) and some nice local restaurants too, my favourite of which now seems to have been renamed Hollywood, I just hope the owners are the same when I get back there.

[sandyf]

On 10/10/2024 at 6:35 AM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Three of our children will be visiting from the US in December and want to have a family holiday. My wife and kids are keen to go somewhere outside of Thailand.  One daughter has suggested Hanoi.

 

Can anyone give hotel recommendations or suggestions for activities and things to see?  I think we'd plan on spending three nights there.

 

 

In Dec I would suggest you look at HCMC rather than Hanoi, weather would be much better.

Plenty to see in the city and worth taking the boat over to Vung Tau.

[PattayaParent]

On 10/16/2024 at 3:20 PM, sandyf said:

In Dec I would suggest you look at HCMC rather than Hanoi, weather would be much better.

Plenty to see in the city and worth taking the boat over to Vung Tau.

 

Weather in HCMC much like Pattaya, Ha Noi more like Chiang Mai, so depends whether you want to be hot and humid or cool and wet.

 

Can't say I find HCMC that interesting, or Vung Tao. Cui Chi tunnels were good and the Mekong Delta tour.

 

Lots of good bars and restaurants where I stay in Xuan Thuy street in Thao Dien so I've not much reason to move from there.

 

[BritManToo]

On 10/10/2024 at 12:35 PM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Can anyone give hotel recommendations or suggestions for activities and things to see?  I think we'd plan on spending three nights ther

Evening walking food tour, well worth the price.

Daytime cultural walking tour if you like a bit of history.

 

Train trip to Ninh Binh, then the rowing boat trip at Tam Coc and the walk around Hang Mua.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, PattayaParent said:

Weather in HCMC much like Pattaya, Ha Noi more like Chiang Mai, so depends whether you want to be hot and humid or cool and wet.

In 25 years I have never known it to be hot & humid in Pattaya in Dec.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

I've been to HCMC several times and at least one of our kids has been there, too.

 

Daughter specifically asked for Hanoi.

 

Where is most convenient to stay in Hanoi in order to get around and see the attractions? I'll sort pricing.

[BritManToo]

23 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Where is most convenient to stay in Hanoi in order to get around and see the attractions? I'll sort pricing.

Anywhere near the city centre lake, the airport bus stops nearby.

[BritManToo]

This is the area I like, many hotels to choose from, airport bus stop is close.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vJwXkxTtqwr7yGQE7

 

Think the airport bus costs $2-3 per person.

 

 

[PattayaParent]

21 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I've been to HCMC several times and at least one of our kids has been there, too.

 

Daughter specifically asked for Hanoi.

 

Where is most convenient to stay in Hanoi in order to get around and see the attractions? I'll sort pricing.

 

On 10/16/2024 at 2:06 PM, PattayaParent said:

When I used to stay in hotels in Ha Noi I'd find one around Hoan Kiem Lake area. Hang Hanh street has a few (Lakeside Palace, Holiday Lake View) and some nice local restaurants too,

 

If you look at BritManToo's map, Hang Hanh is the L shaped street that has 4P's Pizza on it, on the opposite side of the lake. No traffic down that street!

 

 If the budget stretches to it, Soffitel is nice, Melia has an expat bar in it, they may have even finished building the Waldorf Astoria?

[PattayaParent]

I keep seeing people doing tours in ex-US Army jeeps around town if that's your thing.

 

And there's a bar tour but not worth it, not that I've been on it, I just know the bars on it.

 

Avoid "Drinking Street" which used to be known as Beer Hoi Corner, but you won't find cheap beer hoi there now, it's all loud, overpriced beer bars full of tourists.

 

Oh, and there's a "hop-on, hop-off' tour bus that you can get at Hoan Kiem Lake.

[Tropicalevo]

On 10/15/2024 at 3:49 PM, PattayaParent said:

Hoan Kiem Lake, especially at the weekend when it's closed to traffic.

The "Ha Noi Hilton" prison

The Temple of Literature.

 

On 10/15/2024 at 4:46 PM, PattayaParent said:

Wander round the streets of the old quarter. There's a tour around the old quarter from the top end of Hoan Kiem Lake, in golf carts, not expensive.

 

Go to the Water Puppet Show, again at the top end of HK Lake.

 

On 10/19/2024 at 1:09 PM, BritManToo said:

Evening walking food tour, well worth the price.

Daytime cultural walking tour if you like a bit of history.

 

Train trip to Ninh Binh, then the rowing boat trip at Tam Coc and the walk around Hang Mua.

 

All of the above are excellent recommendation. HCMC is one of my favourite breaks from Samui.

 

The most important one is the water puppet show.

I doubt if your family have ever seen anything like it before. Brilliant.

Sadly, it is dying out as a cultural event. Tik Tok etc kill everything.

 

Lots of youtube clips, but showing them would spoil the fun.

https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/vietnam-water-puppets

 

I do the 'foodie tour' on the back of a motorbike with a local guide.

I usually stay in a local AirBnb. So far, brilliant hosts.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

2 hours ago, PattayaParent said:

 

 

If you look at BritManToo's map, Hang Hanh is the L shaped street that has 4P's Pizza on it, on the opposite side of the lake. No traffic down that street!

 

 If the budget stretches to it, Soffitel is nice, Melia has an expat bar in it, they may have even finished building the Waldorf Astoria?

 

Thanks!

 

Sofitel and Melia both sound about right. As long as they're in a convenient part of the city for touristy things, then we'll probably go with one of them.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

1 hour ago, PattayaParent said:

I keep seeing people doing tours in ex-US Army jeeps around town if that's your thing.

 

And there's a bar tour but not worth it, not that I've been on it, I just know the bars on it.

 

Avoid "Drinking Street" which used to be known as Beer Hoi Corner, but you won't find cheap beer hoi there now, it's all loud, overpriced beer bars full of tourists.

 

Oh, and there's a "hop-on, hop-off' tour bus that you can get at Hoan Kiem Lake.

 

I'm not sure my son and I would get a pass for a bar tour or an evening on "Drinking Street", but some bia hoi from a nice place may be possible and maybe even Mrs. Shrdlu and the girls would join for a sip.

 

But many thanks for the suggestions. The hop-on-hop-off bus sounds good.

 

I was in Hanoi in the late 90s for a couple of days on business, but did not get a chance to do anything touristy. It looked more interesting than HCMC as it had lots of the colonial architecture still in place. I'm looking forward to visiting.

 

 

[JimTripper]

Walking around the old quarter going into eateries, curbside restaurants and cafe's would kill a day. To many to list. Get ready to rock n' roll. Visit the old prison where Jon McCain's flight suit is displayed. Walking distance from Hoan Kiem Lake.

[PattayaParent]

I've only been away from Ha Noi 6 months and already I've forgotten about

 

Ho Chi Minh Museum,

Ho Chi Minh House

Don't bother with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum unless you want to wait in long queues like at Disney.

Opera House, check if there's a concert on

Ha Noi Flag Tower and the Imperial Citadel

B52 museum and B52 Lake

Catholic Cathedral

20 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The most important one is the water puppet show.

I echo this, I always take visitors to see it 'cos I never tire of it. Get tickets early morning for the evening shows.

 

And remember, if it's only 3 days make it a weekend so the road around Hoan Kiem Lake is closed, there might even be an event on, there is most weekends.

[PattayaParent]

Download Grab on your 'phone to use to get around

 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

Lived there for 2 yrs near West Lake (expat enclave), but I'd recommend staying near Hoan Kiem Lake. Keep your wits when out walking as traffic is nuts in the Old Quarter / Hoan Kiem area. In my experience Hanoi motorbikers do not weave and bob around you like in HCMC!

 

I echo the sentiment that December is typically chilly and damp in Hanoi so dress accordingly.

If you like art maybe Sophie's Art Tour is offering guided tours again?