Located in the Ba Dinh district, the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts is definitely worth a visit. The museum showcases Vietnamese art of the 20th century, up to the seventies.

While the layout of the exhibitions is a bit crowded, the actual art is outstanding and there are detailed descriptions in English accompanying each piece. Typical of a communist country, there is a lack of works with innovative or controversial themes.

A lot of space is reserved for local techniques and art styles such as lacquer, silk painting, wood block and folk art. Explanations about these techniques are also provided in English. There are also interesting wood statues depicting daily life, or war events.

The top floor is dedicated to Buddhist sculptures and prehistoric artefacts, some of which are huge and striking. Most visitors are captivated by the statue of the 11th century goddess of mercy, and her 1000 arms and eyes.

The museum is housed in a beautiful colonial building, and there are some benches dotted around for when you need to a take a break. It is usually possible to wander around in peace, unless a tour group coincides with your visit.

There is a gift shop on site, selling modern works of well known artists, and also some of the pieces displayed in thematic exhibitions. If you wish to purchase a piece, the museum will register it and provide a certificate.

The warren of streets, close to Hoan Kiem Lake, is widely known as the ‘Old Quarters’. The streets date back to the 13h century, and the chaos found there echoes the past, when specialized trade guilds operated on designated streets. Despite being constantly bombarded with hawkers, motorbikes and cyclos while negotiating the area, most visitors fall in love with the quaint streets of the Old Quarters.

The streets are like branches of a tree stretching out over the area just north of the famous lake. The Old Quarter has always been the economic centre of Hanoi, and needless to say, is the oldest area of the city.

The communal houses are established by the guilds in each area. They function as small temples where locals can worship a local god, or the white horse which is a symbol of the city. Aside from these houses, there are also Buddhist and Daoist temples dotted along the jagged streets. The most notable structure is Bach Ma Temple, situated in the eastern quarter.

You may notice the more elaborate European style buildings, usually two story buildings with Western features, such as bay windows and high sloping roofs.

The Old Quarter originated from workshop villages governed by trades and guilds; today, streets are dedicated to a special type of product. Hang Thiec Street is the place to buy tin, Hang Via Street specialises in bamboo products, while other streets are lined with shops selling toys, laquerware or clothes.

Vietnam has around 54 ethnic minority groups, most of which reside in isolated mountain villages in the north of the country. The colours, embroidery and weaving of their clothing distinguishes each group.

Villagers are highly skilled craftspeople, and create an array of products such as bamboo goods, lacquerware, basketware and table linens, as well as embroidered fabrics. Due to the ever increasing influx of tourists, many goods can be found in markets and souvenir shops in Hanoi.

The embroidered and weaved goods are usually of an exceptionally high standard, and make ideal gifts or souvenirs. Embroidery is applied to cushion covers, bed linens, wall hangings, table cloths and lots more. The price is usually an indication of the amount of time spent and work involved producing the goods.

Hanoi’s best kept secret is a shop called Tribal Pan Flute on Hang Bac. The shop sells only the most authentic ethnic minority products, some verging on antique status. A wide range of second hand clothing such as Hmong skirts and Dao neck drapes are for sale, as well as old printing blocks and tools used in the weaving process.

Craftlink, a prominent non-profit making organisation in Vietnam, works to protect the country’s traditional crafts and ensure ethnic minority villages receive a fair profit for their goods. The Craftlink shop is located on Van Mieu and stocks a variety of beautifully crafted items.

The propaganda posters that flourished in Hanoi and elsewhere in the country during the Vietnam War have today been replaced by posters of government campaigns, yet this unique war-time art form has seen a renaissance as both national and artists take an interest in these once forgotten political masterpieces.

Today you can view original pressings of some of the most prized Vietnam War era propaganda posters at the aptly named Old Propaganda Posters gallery in Nha Tho. This quaint gallery specialises in rare Vietnamese propaganda art that was just over a decade or two ago considered of little value by many.

Gone are the days when you could find these vibrant posters in Hanoi’s junk shops for a snip, yet reproductions are affordable, widely available and easy to carry home. Even better; get the gallery to post your purchases home for you.

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