Hanoi was one of our least favorite cities of the two months we spent in Vietnam. Nicole and I just couldn't get into the crowded, sprawling vibe of the city. But we still found fun stuff to do and, for most people, it will be their base for visiting Halong Bay, an absolute must do.
1. The Dragon Legend Cruise
Halong Bay was spectacular. Please don't go to Vietnam and skip it. We did a two night / three day cruise and thought that was a perfect amount of time. Our tour operator was great. Not overly high end, but also not one of the run-down budget boats trolling these waters.
4. The Fat Pig
Our favorite restaurant in Hanoi was an American style BBQ joint? Another great restaurant around the area where we stayed. All of the BBQ meats we had were excellent.
2. Pho @ Quan Pho Hoc
Nicole and I are extremely biased on this one. We are huge pho fans and this was our first Vietnamese pho experience. Our meal could no doubt be replicated in other places throughout Hanoi but this very local place will always have a special spot in our hearts.
3. Egg Coffee @ Oriberry
Egg coffee! A sweet Vietnamese treat. We loved this coffee shop with excellent views of the nearby lake. Admittedly, it was located close to our hotel, so I would only recommend it if you are staying somewhat nearby.
Click on the star in the header of the map above to save these locations to your own Google Maps.
Last visited: April 2017
Like these recommendations? Check out our Blog here and Pinterest page (link below) for additional recommendations. Sign up for the Sunday Shoutout, our weekly email newsletter providing a link to that week's blog posts and a few other odds and ends we are interested in.