Things to Do in Northern Vietnam

Once a guesthouse for visiting ambassadors from nearby Buddhist countries, Ambassador’s Pagoda (Chua Quan Su) today is an active temple and the official center of Buddhism in Hanoi. Home to only a dozen or so Buddhist monks and nuns, this small but impressive pagoda is a haven of peace and quiet in otherwise hectic Hanoi.

 

The pagoda features a beautiful gilded main hall, with a few smaller shrines around it. Note the impressive altars and ornate woodwork; the images of the past, present, and future incarnations of Buddha; and the many wax figures of former monks. The grounds are well-kept. There’s also a small shop on-site that sells Buddhist books, prayer beads, and charms. Run by the monks, proceeds go towards upkeep of the temple.

 

To travel to the pagoda like a local, opt for a motorbike tour that combines it with other sights like the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and Dong Xuan Market. The pagoda is close to Hoa Lo Prison, which makes it an easy pairing for sightseeing. 

 

 

The Ambassador’s Pagoda is located just west of the French Quarter. From the Old Quarter, it’s about a 15-minute walk. A taxi is the easiest way to get there from elsewhere in Hanoi.

 

The Ambassador’s Pagoda is open daily, with a break for lunch. To see it at its most festive, visit during Buddhist holidays or Tet (Vietnamese New Year’s). Most visitors spend less than an hour at the pagoda. 

 

During the Le Dynasty, a guesthouse for visiting ambassadors was built. A pagoda was then added so that visitors could worship as well. The guesthouse burned down, but the pagoda survived, though it has since been renovated and restored. The front of the pagoda is dedicated to Buddha, while the rear is dedicated to Master Minh Khong of the Ly Dynasty, who was said to have saved King Ly Than Tong on his deathbed.

One of the most visited attractions in Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of “Uncle Ho,” the beloved founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He lies here in state, embalmed and in a glass case, with a military honor guard watching over him and the many visitors who come to pay their respects.

 

Although Ho Chi Minh requested cremation, with his ashes spread over the north, center, and south of the country, the massive mausoleum was inaugurated in 1975. The imposing granite and concrete edifice was modeled after Lenin’s tomb in Moscow but contains Vietnamese architectural elements, and includes granite, wood, and other material from around the country.

 

Most Hanoi sightseeing tours feature a stop at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and may include stops at other attractions, such as the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, or Tran Quoc Pagoda. Or experience Hanoi like a local on a motorbike tour of the city; add on a cyclo ride, food tour, or a water puppet show for a full experience.

 

 

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum forms part of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, at Ba Dinh Square. If you are not visiting as part of an organized tour, the easiest way to reach is by taxi. A number of buses also stop at nearby Le Hong Phong Road, including bus 9, 22, and 34.

 

The mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and only open in the mornings. It’s usually closed around October and November, when Ho Chi Minh’s body is sent to Russia for maintenance. It’s best to arrive first thing in the morning, before the mausoleum opens at 8am, to wait in line. Otherwise, expect long lines that usually move at a quick pace.

 

The Ho Chi Minh Complex includes the mausoleum, Presidential Palace, two houses that Ho Chi Minh lived in, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and One Pillar Pagoda. It’s worthwhile to visit all the sites in the complex.

Ancient House’s architecture may still speak to a past that’s long gone, but it should be noted that this popular destination has become more souvenir shop than museum, where visitors can find traditional embroidery, games and silk paintings for reasonable prices. 

Every Tuesday, in the mountainous northern Vietnamese region of Sapa, area residents from several ethnic tribes come together to socialize and barter produce, livestock and everyday wares along the Chay River. Aside from the growing section of the market offering locally-made handicrafts, the best reason to come to Coc Ly is the people watching and the chance to interact with several different remote ethnic populations. For them, market day is an occasion to get dressed up and the Flower Hmong’s electric pink and green traditional tartan prints dominate the dusty, brown landscape. Dzao in embroidered robes and red headdresses, Tay women in black headdresses and Nung women decked out their silver ornamentation also regularly frequent the bustling market—just remember if you’re taking photos of people to ask permission first. 

Bring your bargaining skills for backpacks, headbands, hats, dolls, scarves, trinkets, colorful fabric and more.

The vibrant traditional costumes of the Flower Hmong dominate the vibrant open-air market at Can Cau. Everywhere you look, women in electric-colored skirts and sashes sashay between market stalls, sharing gossip and bartering for local wares. The market materializes along a hill on the northern outskirts of Bac Ha each Saturday morning, commanding large crowds to its produce, food, handicraft and livestock stalls—don’t be surprised to see buffalo and even dogs for sale toward the bottom of the valley. 

Set to a backdrop of agricultural terraces, and tree covered mountains and villages, the Can Cau market is a more scenic—and arguably less touristy—alternative to the similar but larger Sunday market within Bac Ha; some of the more eager vendors sell both days. Just five and a half miles to the border with China, market vendors and patrons also include a fair number of Chinese as well as other area ethnic minorities including Blue Hmong in patterned clothing of their namesake color. Bring your bartering skills for bags, scarves, clothes, handicrafts and more.

Winding high through the Annamite Range above the South China Sea, the drive along Hai Van Pass between Danang and Hue is all jungle-clad mountains and glittering views out to sea. Known as one of the best coastal roads in the world for driving, thanks to a stint on BBC’s Top Gear, the 21-km-long Hai Van Pass rises up to 1,600 feet high in places. But what’s in the name? Hai Van is Vietnamese for Ocean Cloud, referring to the great mists which often rise from the sea below. 

Once a natural boundary between Vietnam and the kingdom of Champa, the top of the pass has a number of lookout points with panoramic views looking out to the mountains and sea beyond. Look out for cyclists celebrating their hard-won arrival at the summit while you’re here.

When a second road, the Hai Van tunnel, was built in 2005, it cut travel times through the mountains by more than an hour. That’s made the Hai Van Pass of today a beautifully quiet scenic route, though you will meet truckers who aren’t allowed through the tunnel.

Built to preserve the legacy of North Vietnam’s first President, the Ho Chi Minh Museum offers a comprehensive overview of Ho Chi Minh’s life, as well as the country’s fight for independence. Over 2,000 items are presented in this massive, Soviet-style building, built in the shape of a lotus.

 

A massive bronze statue of Ho Chi Minh greets visitors in the lobby. The exhibition space is divided into eight chronological sections covering different parts of Ho Chi Minh’s life. Photos, documents, books, personal items, and other historical artifacts are mixed in with documentaries and works of art, ranging from socialist realism to abstract to the surreal. There’s also a gift shop, library, and hall for studying.

 

Most sightseeing tours make a stop at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, and may also stop at other top attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, or Tran Quoc Pagoda. Or see Hanoi like a local on a motorbike tour. It’s also possible to combine sightseeing with a cyclo ride, food tour, or water puppet show.

 

 

The museum is located within the Ho Chi Minh Complex, behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, at Ba Dinh Square. A number of buses also stop at nearby Le Hong Phong Road, including the 9, 22, and 34.

 

The museum is open daily, except for Mondays and Fridays, with a break for lunch. Most people visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum first, then Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, and finally the museum. The complex can get crowded with large tour groups, so you may want to adjust the order as needed.

 

In front of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ba Dinh Square was the site where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence on September 2, 1945. Visitors are discouraged from walking on any of the 240 patches of grass intersected by concrete pathways. Every day, there’s a flag-raising ceremony at 6am and a flag-lowering ceremony at 9pm.

Travelers can wander the village where welcoming locals are eager to teach about the ethnic group’s fascinating customs—including a three-day engagement event called “pulling wife.” Shops of traditional craftsmen, like brocade weavers and blacksmiths who make custom gold and silver jewelry, line the dirt streets that wind through Cat Cat Village. These local shops provide the perfect opportunity to gather gifts for friends back home. Visitors can also trek through the mountains to a scenic waterfall or through nearby rice patties for a rare look at the Hmong’s agrarian lifestyle.

The dramatic karst cliffs and iridescent waters of Bai Tu Long Bay are just as mesmerizing as the neighboring Halong Bay, but the comparative lack of crowds adds a tranquillity often lost amidst Halong’s sea of junk boats. Part of the Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage site and largely dominated by the lush Bai Tu Long National park, Bai Tu Long Bay makes a worthy addition to any cruise, and with such striking scenery, it’s unlikely to stay off-the-beaten-track for too long.

Highlights of Bai Tu Long Bay include Van Don Island, the bay’s largest and most visited island; the traditional fishing village of Vung Vieng; the white sand beaches of Quan Lan Island; and the remote Co To Island, while popular activities include trekking through the jungle in the Bai Tu Long National Park, spotting wild butterflies on Tra Ban Island and kayaking to Thong Thien Cave.

Just behind the Presidential Palace is the modest wooden stilt house that Ho Chi Minh lived in from 1958 until his death in 1969, preserved just as he left it. Get a glimpse into the life of the founder of North Vietnam at this humble abode, set in a well-tended and landscaped garden across from a lovely carp-filled pond.

 

The 2-floor residence was inspired by a trip Ho Chi Minh took to the northwest of the country. Peer through windows to see the room, including a study with his books, periodicals, and typewriter, plus his walking cane behind glass. A nearby garage houses three classic cars.

Most sightseeing tours stop at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and can be combined with visits to Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, or Tran Quoc Pagoda. Opt for a motorbike tour to experience Hanoi like a local, and consider add-on activities like a water puppet show or cooking class.

 

It’s easiest to take a taxi directly to the Presidential Palace, but a number of buses stop at nearby Le Hong Phong Road, including the 9, 22, and 34. From the palace, walk down Mango Alley to reach the house.

 

The residence is open Tuesday to Sunday, with breaks for lunch. Most visitors start at the mausoleum before viewing the residence, then go to the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The complex can get crowded, so consider visiting in the morning.

 

The Presidential Palace was built in 1901 in an ornate French Colonial style to house the General Governor of Indochina. The Vietnamese government took it over in 1954, but Ho Chi Minh refused to live in it, preferring his simple stilt house instead. The palace is still used for political and diplomatic meetings. Visitors are not permitted inside and are only allowed to explore the grounds and view the stilt house.

This sprawling market in the sleepy northern highland town of Bac Ha, is the reason many visit in the first place, but you’ll have to time it right. The market only occurs on Sundays, when, like clockwork, villagers from the surrounding hillside flood the town to set up shop, bargain for goods or come to see and be seen, catching up on the latest gossip. The open-air market here is among the largest in the region attracting members of the Black Dao, Tay, Nung, Phu La and other area minority ethnic groups, but it’s the brightly-colored Flower Hmong women that make up the bulk of Bac Ha Market’s vendors; they blanket and enliven the dusty streets with their neon costumes. Under blue plastic roofs, or atop tarps draped over the hard ground, market vendors proffer clothing, building materials, yarn, herbs and medicine, dried chilies, ruou (corn wine) and even livestock such as goats, chickens and buffalo. A growing segment of the market also caters to foreign visitors with bags, bracelets, scarves, bowls, dolls and other locally-made handicrafts. Bring your bargaining skills and arrive early for the best selection.

Hanoi’s largest indoor market, Don Xuan Market is jam-packed with stalls selling everything from clothing and cosmetics to household goods, pets, and plants. Although geared more toward local Vietnamese and wholesalers, it’s a great place to get a pulse on local life, and there’s also a lively food court and weekend night market.

 

Originally founded by the French in 1889, Dong Xuan market was rebuilt after a 1994 fire and now covers 1.6 acres (0.65 hectares). Like many Asian markets, there’s a wet market on the ground floor. Clothing and other goods can be found in the upper floors. There are a few souvenir shops, but you can usually find better options and prices at other markets. Many visitors come here more for the experience than to actually buy anything, though the food court remains popular. There’s a lively weekend night market, with cultural performances such as Xam singing, Cheo theater, and Quan Ho folk duet singing. A number of sightseeing tours will feature a stop here, particularly those that focus on local life in Hanoi, or food-oriented tours.

 

 

Dong Xuan Market is located at the northern end of the Old Quarter. From Hoan Kiem Lake, it’s about a 10-minute walk. Taxis are an easy way to get there for those coming from further afield.

 

Although the market is can be visited all day, many vendors may be closed for lunch or a nap in the middle of the day. It’s best to visit in the morning or later in the afternoon. A lively night market is held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. 

 

In addition to the food court within the market, there are a number of food stalls just outside, particularly during the weekend night markets. Popular local foods to try include bun cha (marinated grilled pork with noodles), banh cuon (rolled cake), and bin rieu (rice vermicelli soup with meat). For the more adventurous, there’s also fried frog and tiet canh (duck blood soup).

In addition to visiting the traditional factories, collecting pieces by local artisans and learning about the ancient art of ceramics from Bat Trang experts, travelers can comb through shops and learn from locals how to paint ceramic statues using traditional glazes, or even craft bowls and vases by hand. Visitors transform raw clay into expertly enameled pieces of art under the watchful eyes of Bat Trang’s trained ceramics masters, and although they may never look quite as beautiful as those of the experts, these handcrafted ceramics are the perfect reminder of a trip to Bat Trang.

Sometimes sarcastically called the “Hanoi Hilton,” Hoa Lo once held more than 2,000 prisoners in subhuman conditions within its crowded quarters. Prisoners included a number of leaders from Communist North Vietnam, as well as American pilots and soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Hoa Lo became a school for revolutionaries once its prisoners were released, before being totally demolished in the 1990s. Today, the original gates to Hoa Lo lead to a replica of the prison, where travelers can tour cells, explore prison culture and better understand the conditions political captives lived under.

The Old Quarter, a triangular area surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake, has been the cultural heart of Hanoi for nearly 2,000 years. Daily routine starts early and builds to a friendly bustle in this ancient neighborhood, where streets have distinct character and are named after the crafts once made there, such as silver, silk, and paper.

A visit to Hanoi wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Old Quarter. Here you can admire the neo-Gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral, tour the Huyen Thien Pagoda, explore Ngoc Son Temple, and pass through the Old City Gate—one of four original entrances to the heart of the Royal City. 

Guided tour options through this bustling part of town abound. Sightsee on a traditional cyclo tour through the ancient streets, sample some of the neighborhood’s best Vietnamese bites on a food-centric walking tour, or explore the Old Quarter’s numerous shops and markets on a guided shopping excursion. A variety of half-day walking tours cover the area’s top highlights, while full-day Hanoi city tours often include a visit to the Old Quarter. 

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is located on the west bank of the Red River, roughly 45 minutes by road from Noi Bai International Airport. The most convenient way to get there is by taxi, cyclo, or a ride-sharing service. If you opt for a taxi or cyclo, it’s a good idea to negotiate the fare in advance.

The Hanoi Old Quarter is lively throughout the day, but things tend to quiet down around 8pm when restaurants stop serving. Autumn and spring bring mild temperatures and light rainfall, ideal for walking around and enjoying the sights.

Due to limited space in the old buildings, street food is especially popular in the Old Quarter. Don’t miss out on some of the neighborhood’s most famous dishes, like bat su (China bowls), cha ca (roasted fish), pho bo (Vietnamese beef soup), and egg coffee.

Not your average Vietnamese pagoda, the Bai Dinh Temple (Chua Bai Dinh) is actually an almost-three-square-mile complex of temple buildings and gardens dominating the slopes of a rounded hill in Ninh Binh province. The impressive site—whose three-tiered-roof hall leads to attractions such as 30 foot, 200,000 lb. bronze Buddha statue statue; intricate laquerwork and stone carving; a 72,000 lb. bronze bell housed in the 13-story Phap Chu pagoda; and 500 arhat (wisened Buddhist) statues—is a relatively new attraction. Though a much older temple exists up 300 stone steps and tucked into caves at the back of the complex, some of the larger and showier additions, including the bell and its tower, were built only in the last 15 years.

Thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims flood the site regularly, particularly during an annual Bai Dinh Temple Festival combining new and old rituals around the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some sources duby this the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam, but regardless of ranking, there’s no question this superlative site is worth a visit. Just don’t expect to have the place to yourself.

Established in 1992 as Vietnam’s eighth national park, Ba Be National Park protects nearly 39 square miles (100 square kilometers) of rainforest, lakes, limestone peaks, caves, waterfalls and a sprinkling of ethnic minority villages, many of them part of the Tay minority. What’s often referred to as Ba Be Lake is in fact three interconnected lakes linked by wide channels.

Visitors to Ba Be National Park have their choice of a variety of experiences — lazy boat tours on the lakes, treks to caves and waterfalls, homestays in minority villages and kayaking trips through the park. The park also boasts surprising biodiversity, with some 550 plant species, 65 species of mammals, 353 butterflies, 233 birds and more than 100 types of fish. While some of the wildlife can be quite shy and difficult to spot, it’s common to see macaque monkeys, colorful parrots and herons near the banks of the lake.

Originally constructed in the 11th century, Do Temple in Dinh Bang Village is dedicated to the deities of the eight male kings of the Ly Dynasty. Known for its beautiful architecture, the temple was destroyed in 1952 by the French, and reconstructed in 1989 according to the original layout.

 

In front of the temple is a half-moon shaped lake, with a floating two-story pavilion used to host water puppet shows and Quan Ho folk performances. Enter the inner courtyard through the Five Dragon Gate, taking note of the Bat Trang tiles on the ground. The main hall is used to worship the eight Ly kings, while two side halls are dedicated to high-ranking civil officers and generals from the Ly Dynasty. The final, female ruler of the dynasty is worshipped at Rong (Dragon) Temple, about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) west of Do Temple.

 

 

Do Temple is located in Dinh Bang Village, 9 miles (15 kilometers) from Hanoi. It’s easiest to take a taxi here from Hanoi. You can also it by taking bus 10 or 54 from Long Bien bus station in Hanoi.

 

Do Temple doesn’t usually get too crowded, so it can be a good alternative when other attractions are busy. The temple will be at its most festive during its Temple Festival, which takes place from the 14th to the 16th of the third lunar month, and which attracts thousands of pilgrims and other visitors.

 

Nearby attractions include Rong Temple; Dinh Bang Communal House, one of the largest communal houses in Vietnam; Dong Ho Painting Village, famous for its folk paintings; and Phu Lang Pottery Village, where pottery is still made using traditional methods.