10 Things to Do in Hanoi: The Ultimate Local Guide for 2025

Top 10 Things to Do in Hanoi

Whether you’re a foodie, explorer, or culture lover, Quiri Hostel Hanoi has rounded up the city’s top activities that show off its real charm and chaotic beauty.

1. Join a Street Food Tour

Hanoi’s street food scene is wild, flavorful, and endlessly fun. Joining a Hanoi street food tour is hands down the best way to dive into the city’s soul. Follow your guide into narrow alleys where smoky bun cha sizzles, pho steams in silver pots, and locals slurp happily on plastic stools. Go hungry, go curious, and don’t skip the creamy egg coffee – it’s Hanoi in a cup.

2. Watch a Hanoi Water Puppet Show

If you’re hunting for a must-do Hanoi experience, this is it. Hanoi water puppet show blends music, humor, and ancient stories told by wooden puppets gliding across water. It’s an art form that’s been part of Vietnamese culture for centuries. Performances at Thang Long Theatre near Hoan Kiem Lake are both beautiful and charmingly quirky – the kind of cultural magic you’ll only find here in Hanoi.

3. Take a Cyclo Ride

Slow down and see Hanoi the old-fashioned way – from the seat of a cyclo tour Hanoi! This three-wheeled bicycle taxi rolls through the city’s French colonial streets, buzzing markets, and the chaotic charm of the Old Quarter. It’s one of the most nostalgic Hanoi activities, offering a peaceful pace in the middle of motorbike madness. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the chaos with a smile.

4. Wander Hanoi’s Train Street

Few places on earth capture the thrill of Hanoi to do experiences like Train Street. Grab an iced coffee, sit in a tiny café, and feel your heart race as a train passes just inches from your table. Locals will tell you when it’s coming, and everyone scrambles aside – it’s exhilarating every single time. Just make sure you visit one of the legal, safe sections near Tran Phu or Le Duan.

5. Join a Free Walking Tour

Explore Hanoi through the eyes of a local. Free walking tours, often led by friendly university students, are a fun, personal way to discover the city’s hidden corners and stories. You’ll learn about Hanoi’s history, sample local snacks, and chat about daily life – all in a relaxed, friendly vibe. It’s donation-based, full of laughs, and perfect for solo travelers eager to connect.

6. Take a Vietnamese Cooking Class

One of the tastiest Hanoi activities you’ll ever try! Learn to make your favorite Vietnamese dishes from scratch – from market to kitchen. Most cooking classes start with a trip to the local market to pick out herbs, noodles, and spices before heading back to cook pho, spring rolls, or banh xeo. It’s hands-on, social, and delicious – basically dinner and entertainment combined.

7. Visit a Local Market Tour with a Guide

Markets in Hanoi are a full-on sensory adventure – colorful, loud, and full of character. Join a guided market tour to see locals bargain, laugh, and juggle baskets of produce like pros. Dong Xuan market is best at sunrise, when the city’s food supply comes alive. You’ll smell fresh herbs, hear vendors shouting prices, and capture incredible photos. This is real Hanoi – raw and unforgettable.

8. Stroll Around Hoan Kiem Lake

No trip to Hanoi is complete without a peaceful walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, just a 15-minute walk from Quiri Hostel Hanoi. Locals gather here at sunrise for tai chi, laughter, and morning coffee; by night, the area turns into a lively social spot filled with music and street performers. It’s where the city breathes between the chaos – and one of those rare things to do in Hanoi that feels different every hour of the day.

9. Drink Cheap Beer at Beer Street After Dark

You haven’t truly done Hanoi until you’ve sat on a plastic stool with a glass of bia hơi in hand. Ta Hien Street – better known as Beer Street – is where locals and travelers collide in the best kind of chaos. Laughter spills into the street, beers cost less than a dollar, and new friends appear fast. It’s messy, loud, and ridiculously fun – the true backpacker’s Hanoi.

10. Haggle with Street Vendors

Shopping in Hanoi isn’t just about buying – it’s about the dance of bargaining. Whether you’re hunting for handwoven scarves, conical hats, or quirky souvenirs, haggling is part of the experience. Keep it friendly: smile, stay patient, and don’t take it too seriously. It’s one of those must-do Hanoi interactions that lets you connect, laugh, and experience the local rhythm of trade and charm.

How to Get to Hanoi

Getting to Hanoi is easier than you’d think – it’s one of Vietnam’s most connected cities and a great base for exploring the north. If you’re flying in, you’ll land at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), about 45 minutes from the Old Quarter. You can grab a taxi, a Grab ride, or the local 86 bus (cheap and scenic!).

If you’re already in Vietnam, the train is a classic way to arrive. The Reunification Express runs from Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Da Nang straight into Hanoi Station – slow, but full of views. For the budget-minded, overnight buses from Sapa, Ha Giang, or Ninh Binh are comfortable and cost-friendly. Whether you arrive by plane, train, or bus, all routes lead to a wild mix of scooters, smiles, and street food waiting for you.

Where to Stay in Hanoi

To make the most of all these amazing Hanoi activities, stay right where the action is – the Old Quarter. It’s walkable, loud in the best way, and full of cafés, hostels, and cheap eats. Perfect for backpackers and solo travelers.

If you love social vibes, Quiri Hostel Hanoi is your spot – friendly staff, clean dorms, and nightly hangouts where new friendships start over beer and travel stories. For something quieter, check out the French Quarter for boutique hotels or head to Tay Ho (West Lake) for chill cafés and lake views.

Hanoi has accommodation for every type of traveler – from $5 dorm beds to colonial luxury. But wherever you crash, make sure it’s close enough to walk to your next bowl of pho.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it: 10 unforgettable things to do in Hanoi, from sipping street-side coffee to catching ancient puppet shows. Hanoi isn’t just a city you visit; it’s a place that gets under your skin – loud, lovely, and full of heart. So grab your chopsticks, hop on a cyclo, and let the adventure begin.

FAQs

1. What are the top things to do in Hanoi at night?
Nighttime hits different in Hanoi — Beer Street, night markets, lakeside performances, rooftop bars, and late-night pho spots are the go-tos. The Old Quarter stays busy until late, so it’s super walkable and active.

2. What are the best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter?
The Old Quarter is all about food tours, coffee shops, heritage streets, shopping alleys, and historic spots like Hoan Kiem Lake and O Quan Chuong Gate. It’s basically the city’s “everything in one place” zone.

3. What are the best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter at night?
At night, the Old Quarter turns into a full vibe: Beer Street, live music corners, colorful night markets, and lakeside hangouts. Super lively but easy to explore on foot.

4. What are the best free things to do in Hanoi?
Walk Hoan Kiem Lake, browse night markets, watch street performers, join free walking tours, chill at local temples, or explore the Old Quarter’s maze-like streets. Zero cost, full experience.

5. What should travelers know before planning travel in Hanoi?
Hanoi is super walkable, budget-friendly, and easy to navigate. Weather swings by season, traffic is chaotic but manageable, and Grab is cheap for getting around. Staying in the Old Quarter makes everything easier.