Close to Hoan Kiem Lake is a small theatre hosting one of the most remarkable theatre performances in Asia. The Mua Roi Nuoc or Water Puppet Theatre has received much global acclaim for its unique performances, and taking in a show here is a must on any visit to the Vietnamese capital.

Firstly, it is important to get tickets for one of the three nightly shows at least a day in advance as performances are usually sold out on the day. When you enter the theatre you will enjoy an introduction of traditional Vietnamese music played by musicians seated to the right of the stage before the show begins.

You don’t need to speak Vietnamese to enjoy the show as the visual effects are amazing. Colourful puppets moved by skilful puppeteers glide across the water in a series of complex moves in time with the music. The re-enactment of traditional Vietnamese tales, scenes of rural life and historical events is captivating regardless of your age or nationality.

Water puppetry first began centuries ago, with rice farmers having constructed puppets from bamboo and used their paddy fields as stages. While the modern version has been enhanced with fireworks and other special effects, the traditional art form remains in essence, and by taking in a performance visitors can help to keep this ancient tradition alive. 

Tickets come in two classes, first and second, with first class being recommended for the best views.

Possible as a daytrip but much more worthwhile as an overnight trip, Halong Bay is easily reached from the Vietnamese capital and the most popular excursion from the city.

This magnificent UNESCO-protected World Heritage site features one of the globe’s most impressive landscapes, made up of more than 1,000 jagged karsts jutting out of the sea. 

The easiest way to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi is to sign up for a tour as getting here independently really isn’t worth the effort. You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and transported to the dock of Halong Bay by minibus in a few hours. Don’t let the dock put you off: once you escape the manic shuffling of junks and tourist coaches you can begin to unwind in this surreal landscape. 

There are different levels of luxury to choose from when picking a Halong Bay tour and generally the more you pay, the more comfortable your accommodation will be. Cabins are typically shared between two people so it helps if you are travelling with a partner and food is included, with guests buying drinks separately.

The junks cruise between the karst islets, stopping off at awesome caves and viewpoints for visitors to fully take in this spectacular natural wonder. Most trips incorporate kayaking into the journey, allowing passengers a short break from the boat and the chance to explore serene lagoons and mini tunnels through the karst.

Those who opt for an overnight stay will find themselves docked alongside other junks in the night’s darkness with opportunity to get merry with fellow passengers. The noise level can detract from the beauty of the experience but if you manage to out-sleep your cabin mates you may just enjoy a private moment between you, the stars and the karsts.

Many argue that the best time to appreciate Hanoi is in the early hours of the morning, and after checking out the city’s post-dawn goings on I’d have to agree. From steaming bowls of beef noodle soup to tai chi by the lakeshore, the morning is the best time to experience Hanoi activities.

The city begins to spring to life at 05:00, the same time loud crackly folk music is blared out over the city’s loudspeakers. This is the time you should wake from your slumber to make your way to Hoan Kiem Lake, where local tai chi enthusiasts greet the morning by practicing their moves.

If you’re feeling off balance at such an ungodly hour, you could always opt to have breakfast instead of participating in Hanoi’s favourite morning activity. Hang Hanh is Hanoi’s café street and where you will find a pleasant mix of croissant chomping businessmen, students sipping Vietnamese coffee and homeward bound stragglers from last night’s party.

If you want an authentic breakfast, however, you’ll need to get yourself to one of Hanoi’s streetside stalls serving pho, delicious beef noodle soup. Hanoi’s tourist hub, the Old Quarter, has a number of soup vendors to choose from. Expect the stalls to be packed at 07:00. For quick bites simply purchase a baguette on the street.  
 
As the clock ticks closer to 08:00 the streets fill with motorbikes and women in ao dai, and this shift in busyness goes hand in hand with a rise in noise level and the horn honking that is typical of Hanoi. This is an ideal time to plonk yourself in a coffee shop and watch the locals’ daredevil driving moves – a favourite Hanoi activity among visitors – as Hanoi sees another morning pass.

With travellers becoming increasingly aware of their carbon footprints, large numbers of conscientious visitors to Hanoi are taking to the streets on two wheels, and we don’t mean motorbikes.

You might think cycling in Hanoi is an impossibility when you first experience the road chaos of this city of Honda Dreams as a pedestrian, but things get considerably easier once you are in the traffic flow. Hiring a bike for a day can be a great way to see the sights and save money, or rather save getting ripped off by the local cabbies, not to mention you will avoid getting pestered by cyclo drivers.

But perhaps the biggest appeal to cycling in Hanoi is the independence it gives you. You can wind your way through the different districts of the Old Quarter, with each one specialising in a different product—whether it be mobile phones, metal ware or shoes—or head to tourist-free areas left uncovered by guidebooks.

Once you travel beyond the capital you will soon miss the freedom Hanoi cycling gives you in a country that tries its best to restrict independent travel by foreigners. Orangised tours—including cycle tours—and tourist buses are hard to avoid here so those who don’t like being processed as part of a herd of camera-toting sightseers might consider hanging on to their bicycles a little longer.

Historic Hanoi

Experience one of Asia’s oldest capitals, wrapped around 1000 years of legend from the mystical Hoan Kiem Lake. Dodge swarms of motorcycles, marvel at the ancient pagodas or shop in the ancient Hang districts. Hanoi is Vietnam’s proud, living museum of a capital, draped in Communist sensibility but brimming with life.

This blog will soon become a full travel guide to Hanoi, to help you get the most out of your visit to North Vietnam. It’s written by a well travelled Southeast Asian expert and produced by guide experts, to soon include hundreds of pages and dozens of pictures of Hanoi at its best and busiest.

Use this site to plan your trip, whether you plan to cruise beautiful Halong Bay, disappear into the intriguing mountains of the Perfume Pagoda, or go trekking amoung the montagnards of the Sapa highlands. Find out what a Com Pho is, how to pronounce Ao Dai (in the North) and why Ho Chi Minh is the saviour of the city. It’s all found here.

Day trips: there’s some fantastic day trips or overnight excursions from Hanoi, such as Halong Bay and the Perfume Pagoda, but you’ll need a hire car and driver to get there (Note! rental cars in Vietnam come with drivers since tourists are not supposed to drive). You can arrange this before hand with online car hire companies.

About Hanoi
All the basic facts for tourists visiting the city plus top tips for the interpid traveller… more

What to see
All the top attractions listed in detail including tours and highlights for those short on time… more

What to do
Whether you want to shopping for gifts, indulge in some pampering, play sport or see the sights… more

Hospitality
Everything from cheap rooms in hostels to the best luxury hotels in town plus spa, restaurant and nightlife tips… more

Shopping
Whether you need to pick up a few essentials or a seeking out that perfect wedding present, we’ve got the inside scoop… more

North Vietnam
Guide to areas of the countries which are an easy leap away from Hanoi for when the city gets too much… more

Vietnamese Culture
This diverse and oft-misunderstood land is begging to be discovered by cultured visitors… more

Living here
Complete guide to everthing an expat is every going to need for long-term stays in Hanoi… more

Getting here
All your transport needs taken care of in one simple section including plane, train or taxi… more