With its thousand year history and six million strong population, the jewel of Vietnam is its capital city, Hanoi.
With its thousand year history and six million strong population, the jewel of Vietnam is its capital city, Hanoi.
Here are some must see travel destinations in the cosmopolitan city that attract tourists from all around the globe.
Ta Hien-Luong Ngoc Quyen-Dinh Liet streets
Ta Hien, Luong Ngoc Quyen and Dinh Liet streets often appear in foreign tourism websites.
They are well-known for their old houses, boutiques, restaurants and street vendors.
Foreign visitors usually come to Ta Hien street to sit, drink tea, coffee or beer, and chat.
Going along Luong Ngoc Quyen street, foreigners can find shops selling DVDs, bike rental services and souvenirs, including a tiny boutique selling lamps and mugs decorated with propaganda posters.
Dinh Liet street is famous for woollen and silk products. Foreigners also have a chance to taste Vietnamese and Western cuisine at small restaurants.
Nha Tho street
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is located in the centre of Nha Tro Street. Construction began in 1886 with an architectural style resembling Notre Dame de Paris.
The church was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina when it opened in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.
After touring the cathedral, foreign tourists often visit the European style coffee shops, where they have an opportunity to taste Tra Chanh Chem Gio (Lemon tea for chat) – a drink popular with many Vietnamese young people.
Hoa Lo prison
The prison is located on Hoa Lo street. It was once used by French colonists for political prisoners.
Hoa Lo prison was built in Hanoi by the French, in dates ranging from 1886-1889 to 1898-1901 when Vietnam was still part of French Indochina. The French called the prison Maison Centrale-literally, Central House, a traditional euphemism to denote prisons in France.
Every year, the prison receives 35,000-40,000 arrivals, 70% of whom are foreigners, according to statistics of its management board.
One Pillar Pagoda
The One Pillar Pagoda is a historic Buddhist temple in the capital city andis regarded alongside the Perfume Temple, as one of the nation’s two most iconic temples.
The pagoda is built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25 m in diameter, and is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity.
It is recognized as the most unique architecture in Asia by the Asian Records Organization.
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) is a temple of Confucius in Hanoi. It hosts the Imperial Academy (Quoc Tu Giam), the country’s first national university.
It is listed in 23 national special heritage sites.
Many people go there at the beginning of a Lunar New Year to pray for what they wish in the new year ahead.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
The Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre (TLWPT) in downtown Hanoi is recognized by the Asian Book of Records as the only theatre in Asia offering year-round live performances.
The theatre located at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street has recorded remarkable achievements since established in 1969.
In 1990 the theatre and puppets were fully restored. The traditional art form has proven extraordinarily popular, the frequency of performances increasing annually.
Almost all guided tours of Hanoi now include a show at the theatre. More than 2,000 performances are staged annually.
