How to make the most of Hanoi on a budget

Qin Xie

Qin Xie

For many first-time visitors to Vietnam, Hanoi* is the natural place to start. As the country's capital, it's the gateway to standout attractions in the northern part of the country, including Halong Bay and Ninh Binh.

Cyclo on the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam
Cyclo on the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam © Graeme Newcomb - Flickr CC BY 2.0

Within the city, there's also plenty to see and do, covering everything from history and culture to restaurants and bars. Even better, most activities are relatively budget-friendly. If you're stuck for ideas, here are a few to get you started.

Getting to Hanoi: browse holidays for all budgets to Vietnam with Travelbag*, the leader in escapes to Southeast Asia.

Stroll through the Old Quarter

First established in the 17th century, shortly after the capital of Vietnam was moved to Hanoi from Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh province, the Old Quarter was where traders from the country's different provinces congregated to sell their wares.

There are 36 shopping streets here, each representing a different trade, ranging from fabrics and jewellery to household items and decorations. While it can be a good place to pick up a bargain souvenir, it's even better for showcasing everyday life in Vietnam at its most vibrant.

Colourful Hang Ma Street Market
Colourful Hang Ma Street Market © CravenA - Shutterstock.com

Hang Dao Street, for example, was once known for the silk trade. Today it's one of the main access points to the Old Quarter and is packed with boutiques geared toward tourists. Come on a weekend and there's a bustling night market with food and handicraft stalls.

There's also Hang Ma Street, one of the most colourful in the Old Quarter. The stalls here focus on paper decorations used during festivals and other special events.

Look out, too, for the ornate temples and traditional buildings sandwiched between shopfronts, like Bach Ma Temple and Dinh Kim Ngan.

See a water puppet show

Water puppet shows in Vietnam are believed to date as far back as the 11th century. A rural tradition, performances usually took place in flooded rice paddies, with puppeteers standing waist-deep in the water and hidden behind a screen. Because of this cultural link, many of the stories focus on the harvest and life in the countryside.

Take in a show at Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre
Take in a show at Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre © Ivo Verhaar - Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, which has been going for over 50 years, is one of the few places where you can still see it. There are several shows a day, with tickets starting from around £3, which you can buy from the box office on the day.

During the show, a small group of musicians will sing and narrate the story, while puppeteers behind a screen will put on a lively performance using wooden puppets.

Expect plenty of splashes, and to get wet if you're sitting at the front, as well as fireworks and smoke. The entire show is in Vietnamese; you can hire audio guides in English but it's just as entertaining without it.

Sip egg coffee

Vietnam* has a strong coffee culture and you'll find cafés on practically every street. But there's a slight variation in styles depending on whether you're in the north or the south of the country.

In Hanoi, the speciality is egg coffee, where egg yolk and condensed milk are whisked into a fluffy foam and dolloped onto intense, mocha-flavoured coffee.

This rich, indulgent hit of caffeine was invented in 1946 by Nguyen Van Giang. He was a bartender at what's now the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, where guests would ask for a cappuccino. But he had to get creative as the First Indochina War triggered a shortage of milk, so he used eggs as a substitute.

Today, his son Nguyen Van Dao runs Café Giang, where you can try the original egg coffee or a dozen other variations from as little as £0.80.

Grab a drink on Train Street

Train Street is effectively the length of single tracks that run between Long Bien Railway Station and Hanoi Railway Station.

On either side of the tracks are small restaurants, bars and shops where the vendors have to move out of the way each time the train comes, and it's become quite the tourist hotspot thanks to Instagram and TikTok.

Waiting for a close encounter along the rails
Waiting for a close encounter along the rails © Hanoi Photography - Adobe Stock Image

Yes, you will have to compete with everyone else for photos and videos of a train hurtling past at speed, but there's a fun atmosphere and the prices here are reasonable.

If you're planning a day of sightseeing, get there early to check the times of the trains. On some days there might only be three or four scheduled.

Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

As the first president of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh played a crucial role in the country's independence from French colonial rule as well as in the fight for freedom from Japanese occupation during WWII. It's a legacy that's celebrated across the country.

After he died in 1969, Ho Chi Minh's body was interred in a mausoleum where people could go to pay their respects.

Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum © Photo-maxx - Adobe Stock Image

The mausoleum itself is only open for a couple of hours each morning on Tuesdays to Thursdays and at the weekend. However, the complex that surrounds it is open daily in the mornings and afternoons.

On a visit here, you'll be able to see the simple house where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked, explore the gardens surrounding the Presidential Palace and pay a visit to the reconstructed One Pillar Pagoda that worshippers prayed to for fertility.

Entry costs from £0.80. Note that because of the solemn nature of the site, visitors are expected to dress modestly.

Learn the history of Hoa Lo Prison

Built at the end of the 19th century, Hoa Lo Prison was originally used to house Vietnamese political prisoners and dissidents protesting French colonial rule. Later, during the Vietnam War, it was also used to house American prisoners of war (POW), including Senator John McCain.

Since the very beginning, Hoa Lo Prison was known for its inhumane conditions. Prisoners were kept chained to the concrete blocks that they slept on, while a single toilet was placed in full view of everyone and used by dozens of people.

Some prisoners were also tortured. The conditions were no better for the American POW, which was why it was ironically dubbed "Hanoi Hilton".

Although it makes for a harrowing visit, the detailed displays, available in English, offer a fascinating insight into this period of Vietnamese history. The site is open daily, with an entrance fee from £1.50.

Climate in Hanoi

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall

The above guide shows the climate in Hanoi. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Vietnam.

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Qin Xie

Qin Xie

Posted on Thursday 28th November 2024 in: Asia City Culture

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