Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and is one of the nation’s major tourist destinations. It’s a magical kind of place where old and new exist side by side. The city offers a cornucopia of fascinating historical sights to see, featuring carefully preserved colonial French architecture, ancient temples, and shrines dedicated to a variety of religions and philosophies including Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, and Taoism, as well as many wonderful museums.
On the modern side of things, Hanoi is a great place to do business, boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in the world in regards to GDP. Anyone thinking of doing business in this exciting and forward-moving country can find everything they need with company formation services which can help you navigate the sometimes complicated process of starting up in Vietnam.
Even busy business people need to take a break and get out of their hotels once in a while, with that in mind we have prepared a small list of some of Hanoi’s must-see sights for your off time!
- Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son – Hoan Kiem, the city’s beloved Turtle Lake is a central landmark in Hanoi that’s very popular with the locals, who love to walk and bike around its shore, practice tai chi, or just hang out and relax. The main attraction is the charming Ngoc Son Temple built on a small island in the lake’s middle which you can reach by a bridge. This is a great place to take photos, especially around sunrise and sunset.
- The Hanoi Old Quarter – This fascinating part of the city is home to many fine examples of colonial architecture towering over narrow streets, with some multi-storey buildings being only a few meters wide! This is the perfect place to sample Hanoi’s excellent cuisine in the friendly open-air bars, feasting on local delicacies and washing them down with a pint of refreshing bia hoi draught beer made right on the premises. The Old Quarter is so quaint and festive you will find yourself wanting to visit it again and again!
- The Temple of Literature – This soothing oasis in Hanoi’s centre was originally constructed as an institution of learning dedicated to Chinese sage and scholar Confucius. The large temple complex features ornate pavilions, shrines, and a lovely traditional Chinese garden.
- Thang Long Puppet Theatre – A favourite of every Hanoi visitor, this delightful theatre showcases the ancient art form of water puppetry, a tradition long associated with Hanoi and truly a living natural treasure. The elegantly gliding puppets dance across a unique liquid stage, performing cultural classics like the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le. Don’t miss this incomparable example of puppet mastery!
This barely scratches the surface of all the exciting sights, sounds, and experiences historical and beautiful Hanoi has to offer, whether you come on business or for pleasure be sure to visit Vietnam’s official tourism website for more information. See you in Hanoi!
