Places to visit in Hanoi

Places to Visit in Hanoi:
 
Introduction
 

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi, with an estimated population about nearly 7 milion, the area of 3328.9 km2. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River, in the centre of North Vietnam. Hanoi is the heart of a thriving modern, country and its economic, cultural and political centre. For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long (Dragon ascending), then changing to Dong Do, Dong Kinh and finally, in 1831, to Hanoi which means “the hinterland between the rivers”. The city became the Vietnam capital in the 7th century. It was oocupied by the French in 1873 and passed to them ten years later. From 1902 to 1953 Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina. In 1940, the city was occupied by the Japanese and was liberated five years later when it became the seat of Vietnam’s government. From 1946 to 1954, it was the scene of heavy fighting between the French and Viet Minh forces. After 1954 Hanoi became the capital of North Vietnam and following the 1975 events it became the capital of the unified country. Today, Hanoi is a modern city full of charm, with remarkable colonial architecture, large shady avenues, and numerous lakes and gardens.

Travel guide:
Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architechtural works worth a visit including the Old quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Marvellous places include the One pillar pagoda (built in 1042), the Teple of Literature (built in 1070), Hanoi citadel, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum & Museum (Inside the beautiful Ho Chi Minh complex), the National Fine Arts Museum, the Quan Thanh temple and the Hanoi Opera House. Hanoi’s unique beauty is improved by 18 charming lakes such as Hoan Kiem lake, West lake, Truc Bach Lake, Thien Quang lake, Seven hectas lake… that really deserve a visit. Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze silver carving, lacquer, embroidery.

Land Marks and historic sites
1.    Hanoi city tour
From Hanoi we organize several tour around Hanoi city and in Vietna. We propose you to try our city tour, to discover the enchanting and cultural capital. The First step of our city tour is important heritage of our nation’s great father, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, which were his home between 1985 to 1969. Now it’s a museum where you can get to know the life of this president and what he did for Vietnam. We continue our tour in Hanoi at the One pillar pagoda: a group of buildings erected as a symbol of peace, this structure consists of a pagoda and a tower built in the shape of a lotus in the middle of a lake. Our city tour of Hanoi proceeds with the visit of the Temple of Literature, built in the early 11th Century as a dedication to Confusius and later become the first university of Vietnam. After a cultural immersion in the history and art of Hanoi we will have lunch at a popular local restaurant and taste typical flavours of Vietnam. We will continue to visit of Ngoc Son temple on the Hoan Kiem lake, and the ethnic of history museum where is displayed culture, custome and house of 54 minorities of Vietnam. Or if you travel on Monday and Friday we will visit Bat Trang village stead of Ethinic Minority Museum. Bat Trang which is far from Hanoi around 18km, is a traditional pottery and ceramic village. Check more details of Hanoi city tour
Price ( join with group tour) is 28 US$/person (included: entrance fees, local English speaking guide, transfer, lunch).

2.    Ho Chi Minh MausoleumAddress: No 2 Ong Ich Kiem street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi tel: +84 4 38455 124
Ho Chi Minh is the father of the Republic of Vietnam and former prime minister and resident of the democratic republic of Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was built in his honour. The tomb complex encompasses a palace museum, a traffic free zone and some parks. The centre of the structure has a large tomb where the body of the great leader rests in a bier inside a glass case. No photographs are allowed within the mausoleum and visitors have to leave their personal belongings outside. The grand mausoleum overlooks the pond and, through the windows, visitors get a glimpse of the rooms where furnishings and belongings of the late leader still exist. Near the tomb is the Presidential place and a short walk from this is the tomb of the unknown soldier which looks stunning when lit up at night. Here you can also find the Hanoi citadel.

Hoang Thanh Citadel

3.    Hoang Thanh citadel (Hoàng Thành Thăng Long in Vietnamese)
Address: 18 Hoang Dieu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Also known as the central old citadel of Hanoi and it was former residence of the Vietnamese monarchs. This was the time when the city was known by all as Thang Long. In 1009, King Ly Cong Uan was enthroned, founded Ly Dynasty. In July, 1010, the King promulgated the royal decree (Chiếu Dời Đô) to change the capital city from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La citadel. After transferring the capital city, The Thang Long citadel was built and finished in early 1011.
This UNESCO SITES was constructed in 1010 under Ly dynasty and till 1810, it remained as the seat of the Vietamese court. In late 19th century, this place was destroyed by the colonial French people, though some strctures remained like the Flog Tower of Hanoi, the Down Mon gate and the steps of Kinh Thien Plalace along with the Hau Lau (Princess Palace). It was in 2010 that this beautiful citadel of Thang Long on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, this complex is in the process of being released by the Army, with two building being accessed.
This place is highly recommended for who is keenly interested in knowing its historic background and some insight into glorios Vietnamese heritage.

4.    Temple of literature
Adress: 58 Quoc tu giam street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Opening time: 8:00 to 16:30 everyday from Mon to Sun. Entry fee is 20,000 VND
This architectural masterpicece from 1070 is dedicated to Confucius. The Temple of

Khuê Van Cac

Literature was initially the first university of Vietnam. But, nowadays, the temple is a relaxing park in the centre of Hanoi. It is a symbol of the rich and great Vietnamese culture. When the temple was a university, it was a highly renowned centre which awarded doctorates to many eligible students. The 82 stone diplomas on the stone tortoises is an extraordinary sight. These stone sculptures hold the names and birthplaces of all the graduates from the university. The ealiest stele is in 1484 and the last one is in 1780.
The original reason for the construction of the temple was to make a place of worship of the saints of Confucianism. Six year after construction, the temple was turned into a centre of education. Altars to Confucius can still be seen and many fervent believers also visit the temple to pay homage to the site. There is a belief that if you rub the tops of all 82 tortoise steles, you will be blessed. That why if you have chance to visit temple of literature in summer (after summer holiday for student and nearly examition for university) you can see thousands of students come to Temple of literature to rub the tops of tortoise.

History Museum

5.    Museum of History
Adress: No 1 Pham Ngu Lao street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: (84-4) 38241384
Entry fee is 20,000VND. Opening time 8:00 to 16:30 everyday from Mon to Sun.
National museum of Vietnamese history is situated in the district of Hoan kiem behind the Opera House. The history of Vietnam is showcased here with large displays that cover each and every period. Housed in a colonial French building that got completed in 1932, the museum building was exclusively designed by architect, Ernest Hebrard. He is known to be a successful architecture using a blend of traditional Vietnamese and French colonial architecture, a style known as Indochina architecture. Visitors to this amazing museum are locals as well as tourists. It is worth for visiting and it is vast collection of displays, this historic museum focuses more on the history of Vietnamese people and their lifestyle. This museum is an beautiful display of ancient as well as historic relics of nicely displayed items with some basic descriptions in English to help along the way.

6.    Museum of the Revolution
Adress: 24 Tong Dan street, Hanoi. Entry fee is 20,000VND
Location: it is located in the Tong Dan street and opposite to Vietnamese History Museum

Revolution Museum Hanoi

in the French style architecture area of Hanoi city (or we call French boulouvard). It was established in August 1959 in a two stories building and it was redesigned in 2008 with 30 galleries, it contains in excess of 40,000 historical exhibits, formerly used by the Trade Department of Vietnam. The content is divided into three parts
Part 1:1858 – 1945 which correspond with the French colonialism period. Topic covered are the National liberation movements of the Vietnamese against French troops.
Part 2: 1945 – 1975 with period Vietnam war and the Post-war
Part 3: and since 1975 – now with the social construction of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
As impressive as the range of topics covered is the interior and exterior design of the building, which can be found only in other historic places put up during the eary 20th century.
How to get here:
It takes about 10 – 15 minute walk from the Hanoi Old quarter area. Either you can take taxi, Xe-om or walk down to French architecture area and it is easy to ask people the way to Opera House (Nha Hat Lon in Vietnamese).
7.    Geology Museum
Adress: No 6 Pham Ngu Lao street, Hoan Kiem District.
The Geology Museum or Bao Tang Dia Chat narrates the stry of the geologic processes. Most of the explanations here are in Vietnamese though. This museum is  housed inside a beautiful French building that was constructed in early 20th century. The museum displays endless rocks and minerals kept on display. There are also sketchy blurbs that offer basic details for the geo-novice visitors. Moreover, the museum offers multicolored maps which look similar to works of art, offering visual glimpse of the complex geological history and resource lifestyle oof Vietnam. Further, there are also display of sampling of ores gemstones and fossils offering students other than researcher an insight of the extensive collection of practical materials. Many can see rubies too, which are the most abundant gem stone in Vietnam and can be bought at the shop for a reasonable price right next door to the Museum.
8.    Aircraft Museum or Air Force Museum
Address: No. 171 and 179, Truong Chinh Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. Tel: 04.8522658 : 04.5630630The Vietnam people’s Air Force Museum (Bảo tang phòng không – Không quân in Vietnamese) is on the edge of the disused Bach Mai airfield.
The museum tells the history of the Vietnam People’s Air Force from its formation in 1954 through to the present day. There is a heavy emphasis on its role in the second Indochina War and the Cambodian – Vietnamese War.
The Museum comprise one main building where displayed on the history of the Vietnam People’s Air Force, biographies of Vietnam People’s Air Force aces, uniforms and fightsuits, aircraft weaphonry and engines, items from downed US aircraft and the forward fuselage of a MiG-21. And Museum outsite is a static park with aircraft of Vietnam people’s Air Force including tanks, guns and American airplane which are explained and tell story of victory during the war. Some planes were created by Vietnam people’s Air Force.
It opens  from Mon – Thurs and Sat from 8: to 11 and 13:00 to 16:00. And the entry free is 5,000VND for Vietnamese visitors, 20,000VND for foreign visitors.

B52 - History Museum

9.    B52 Victory Museum
Address: No.157, Doi Can Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi Tel: 04.8237075 Website: http://www.btlsqsvn.org.vn . It opens from Tues – Sat from 8:00 – 11:30AM and 1:00 – 4:30PM.
The B-52 Victory Museum situated in Hanoi opened in 1998. This museum illustrates the Hanoi people’s victory and about the armed forces over the US strategic B-52 air raid held in late December 1972. Whether the display is of the scrap heap of giant tires, pieces of wing poking out or of engine parts, the museum takes one back t the usage of powerful artillery by the US military against Vietnam.
Moreover, this museum displays two surface to air missiles, Soviet made MG fighter and an entire room that is devoted to prisoners of the war. One can find photos, mental battle days and the victory along with the cunning and creative resources in the struggle of the People against the American empire. The section includes geographic and physical sand table,  sound and light systems, documentaries, models and smoke, bringing Hanoi’s 12-day and night air defence campaign in late 1972 to life. This museum is worth visiting for any tourst whilst in Hanoi, who interested in history can visit this museum.

Military History Museum

10.     Vietnam Military History Museum (or known by the name “the War or Army Museum)
Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Tel: (+84 4)  3733 4682
The Vietnam Military History Museum (Bảo tàng lịch sử Quân Đội in Vietnamese) the first opening is on 22nd December 1959 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of establishment of Vietnam People’s army.
It is considered as one of the seven national museums in Vietnam. It has an impressive collection of war relics charting the struggle of Vietnam for liberation.

 

Hanoi Opera House

11.    Hanoi Opera House (Nhà Hát Lớn Hà Nội in Vietnamese)
The Oprea house is stading as the architectural, cultural and political symbol in central Hanoi. It was built under colonial administration of the French between 1901 to 1911.
It was modeled on the oldest opera house of Paris, the Palais Garnier. The opera house is considered to be one of the architectural landmarks of Hanoi. It is not only the venue for art performances, but also a popular destination for tourists and visitors to enjoy the historical architecture of almost 100 years. It is the largest theatre in Vietanm and has always been one of the favorite haunting grounds for those who love theatrical performance, traditional music, songs, symphonies, classical opera and opera.
Opera House is located in French quarter. History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Sofitel Metropole, Hilton Opera Hotel situated near Opera House.

12.    Quan Thanh Temple (Đền Quán Thánh in Vietnamese)
Address: The corner of Quan Thanh Street, Thanh Nien street Near West Lake
Quan Thanh temple built in 11th Century, the temple was dedicated to Xuan Wu or Trấn

Quan Thanh Temple

Vũ in Vietnamese, one of the principal deities in Taoism Who is one of the Four Sacred temples of the capital including Bach Ma temple (Hang Buom street) in the East, Voi Phuc temple in the West, Kim Lien temple in the South, Quan Thanh temple in the North.
Quan thanh temple is located the end of Thanh Nien street on the left hand of Ho Chi Minh museum.  Quan Thanh is attractive tourist places because of structure, culture and history.
Quan Thanh temple has been renovated several times, most recently in 1893. Architecture is a mixture of the many different styles of the imperial era. The main furtures of Quan Thanh temple are a large yard shaded by a giant bayan tree and a shrine that contains that famous bronze statue Tran Vu.
For more information of Quan Thanh temple you can find in link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qu%C3%A1n_Th%C3%A1nh_Temple

Tran Quoc Pagoda

13.    Tran Quoc pagoda (chùa Trấn Quốc)
Address: Thanh Nien road, Tay Ho district, Hanoi.
Opening everyday from Mon to Sun from 8:00 to 18:00
The Tran Quoc pagoda is situated on an island to the east of West lake. This pagoda is a remarkable place worth visiting for any tourist as it has a history of 1500 years. It known to be an oldest pagoda with highest tower in Hanoi, the architecture is a beautifully done. This place is a popubar sacred place of Buddha, an attraction for many Buddhist devotees as well as visitors.
In 1989, this pagoda was recognized as a historical monument to the national culture. As years passed, the site has been renovated many times and presently is surrounded by modern amenities like shops, otels, restaurants… The historic place is situated on a single island of biggest freshwarter lake in Hanoi (West Lake).
This pagoda is a must visit place while you are visiting Hanoi for any tourist with family and friends.
14.    Fine Arts Museum (Bảo Tàng Mỹ Thuật in Vietnamese)
Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hanoi.
Opening time: Opened from Tues to Sun time from 8:30 to 17:00. Entry fee is 20,000VND (1US$). It is just cross the street from back wall of the Temple of Literature. For more information you can visit their website: http://www.vnfam.vn/index.php?lang=en
The Fine Arts Museum is housed in a building with two floors of exhibition with planty of

Fines Art Museum

artworks from Vietnam and foreign country and two floor for new wings with selling art and souvenir and display costumes and decorative arts of Vietnam’s ethnic group. It is served as the French ministry of information. The structure and form is very classical.
The ground floor of the main wing houses the oldest artifacts. These include tha sandstone sculptures of the Champa and Funan kingdams. The best reason to visit Fine Art Museum is the evolution of lacquer as a fine art in Vietnam. In the first floor there is one of the largest and most impressive works is the “One thousand Eye, One thousand arm Guan Yin”.  In the last rooms on the first floor contain lacquer Buddha images from the late 18th century.
On the second floor that is changing from sculpture to painting. In the early 20th century, the works are very impression with oriental touches.
On the first floor of New wings, there are some galleries lining the walkway selling art and souvenir.  On the second floor displayed the costumes and decorative arts of Vietnam’s various ethnic groups.