This guide of the best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter is ideal for travelers looking to experience the rare sense of timelessness that seems to sum up this area of the city – you can still see glimpses of previous generations despite the modernization that is going on relentlessly. This prominent district is relatively pedestrian-friendly compared to other cities in Vietnam - on weekends and evenings, the streets are closed off to motorized vehicles to make way for bia hoi bars and food stalls selling a variety of Vietnamese food.
For a feel of rich old Vietnamese customs, you can also stroll along ancient commercial streets surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake, which are named after their original businesses dating back about 1,000 years. Located on the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Old Quarter’s most popular attractions comprise mostly quaint Buddhist shrines, street markets, and traditional Vietnamese arts.
1. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Opening Hours: Daily 15.00, 16.10, 17.20, 18.30 & 20.00
Location: 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
The world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi has its roots in an art form that dates back to the 11th century. The tradition of water puppet theatre stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi with tickets selling out well in advance so it’s worth booking yours as soon as you arrive in town. It is also advisable to pay more to get closer to the action as the theatre seats a few hundred people and the puppets are not that big. The theatre is modern and usually shows 17 short sketches within a one-hour performance. Aside from the general admission fee of VND 100,000, there's an additional camera or video fee if you wish to photograph or film the show.
2. Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Opening Hours: Daily 07.30 am – 17.30 pm (Ngoc Son Temple)
Location: Hanoi Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the center on a small island.
The temple attracts many visitors and was built in commemoration of the 13th-century military leader Tran Hung Dao who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Yuan Dynasty.
Homage is also paid to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. The island on which the temple is built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. The pagoda is also guarded by two towering posts decorated with Chinese writing. The lake and temple are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.
3. Dong Xuan Market
Opening Hours: Daily 06.00 am - 19.00 pm
Location: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Dong Xuan Market is the largest market in Hanoi and has a wide array of products for sale over four floors. Located on the northern edge of the Old Quarter, it is an imposing Soviet-style building, surrounded on all sides by merchant shops and stalls. It is a rough-and-ready type of market (some might even say ‘dirty’), especially in the ground floor wet market area.
However, head up the stairs and you will find cheaply printed tees, bolts of fabric, school uniforms, luggage stalls and much more, all available at wholesale prices. It is quite an experience, even if you only leave with a pair of cheap sunglasses and a Vietnamese conical hat.
4. Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi
Opening Hours: Daily 08.00 am – 17.00 pm
Location: 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi is known as the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the city. Prior to the construction of the cathedral in 1886, the French occupation demolished Bao Thien Pagoda, an important Vietnamese temple that was built during the Ly Dynasty. Saint Joseph Cathedral of Hanoi was inspired by Notre Dame de Paris, boasting a neo-Gothic architectural style, twin bell towers, intricately-designed altar, and colorful paintings and stained-glass windows from France. Surrounded by plenty of trees and flowers, a statue of Mother Maria is also set within the courtyard in front of the cathedral.
5. Bach Ma Temple
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 08.00 – 11.00 & 14.00 – 17.00
Location: 76 Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Bach Ma Temple dates back to the 11th century and is widely known as the oldest of its kind in Hanoi Old Quarter. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To, this small pagoda honors a white horse which locals believed had guided the emperor in constructing walls of the Hanoi Citadel. Bach Ma Temple has undergone several refurbishments throughout the years, where you can see colorful murals, a red-lacquered palanquin, the shrine of Confucius, and a phoenix altar that was added in the 18th century. Open daily, entrance is free of charge but do dress appropriately out of respect for the local monks and devotees
6. Maison Centrale Hanoi (Hoa Lo Prison)
Opening Hours: Daily 08.00 am - 17.00 pm
Location: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Maison Centrale in Hanoi, also known as Hoa Lo Prison and the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and American POW during the Vietnam War. The fortress was once a vast colonial-style prison, most of which was torn down in the 1990s. Visiting today you will find the small southern section resting alongside a hotel and office complex. The prison is still a popular tourist attraction for those on the war history trail. Official records claim inmates numbered in their hundreds although it was not unknown for up to 2,000 prisoners to be crammed into a space reserved for 600 inmates.
7. Hanoi Weekend Night Market
Opening Hours: Friday - Sunday 19.00 pm - 23.00 pm
Location: Hang Dao Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi
The Weekend Night Market in Hanoi is a busy, bustling gathering of stalls and vendors that bring crowds in droves. Taking place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 19.00 pm, the market runs through the Old Quarter, starting from Hang Dao Street and running north to the edge of Dong Xuan Market.
The fashion items on sale won’t turn many heads and the souvenirs can all be found in the surrounding stalls, but there it is a fun environment and the endless food vendors have interesting and exotic things to try. Bartering is normal here and, as with all busy markets, be aware of your belongings