
There are loads of great cafes to choose from in Hanoi but my personal favourite is a chain called Cong Caphe. Introduced by French colonists, the Vietnamese have made ca phe their own. Vietnamese coffee is strong and flavourful, a single cup will set your pulse rate on a trajectory to the moon. You’ll want to pop into shops that catch your eye, grab a drink at a local cafe and try street food along the way. I recommend putting aside at least a few hours to wander through the Old Quarter. The buildings here are incredible and there are plenty of great spots to stop and soak it all in. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is best explored on foot so you can follow the never-ending maze of narrow laneways lined with street vendors. We loved it and highly recommend Bun Cha as a must-try dish in Hanoi.

Ours was also served with really delicious spring rolls and a plant-based option was available for me. Bun Cha consists of grilled pork, rice noodles, a flavourful broth and side dishes like chilli and fresh greens. The food was fresh, flavoursome and I ate every last bite. It’s always a good idea to immerse yourself in as many local food experiences as possible in Hanoi! I was a bit nervous that Bun Cha Huong Lien would be a bit of a tourist trip after being visited by Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain but when we stepped inside, the multi-storey restaurant was packed with locals! It was my first Bun Cha experience and it was perfect. Eat the same Bun Cha as Obama and Bourdain We love the drinks, food and service and the music is great too! It’s a bit more pricey by local standards but found it well-priced for what it is. It offers amazing views over Hanoi and is the perfect spot for evening drinks just as the sun is beginning to set. Our favourite rooftop spot is Diamond Sky Bar, perched atop The Gourmet Corner Restaurant. Hanoi is best viewed from above! It gives you a better appreciation for the layout of Vietnam’s capital city and just how densley populated it really is. We actually visited while it was POURING rain and got the tracks all to ourselves! Find out more about visiting Hanoi train street here. In between those times, the tracks are crawling with visitors seeking the perfect Instagram shot. A couple of times a day the train rips through the area, coming perilously close to the storefronts. You’ll find no shortage of other visitors at Hanoi’s famous train street but there’s a good reason it’s awesome! The train tracks are bordered by perfectly placed cafes serving local favourites like egg coffee and traditional Vietnamese coffee. We booked our Vietnam Vintage Vespa Tour here 2. We did our tours with Vietnam Vintage Vespa Tours and loved it! They also took us to places I’d never seen before, despite having visited Hanoi many times before.

Our guides were knowledgeable, sharing in-depth insight into all the spots we visited. We kicked off our visit to Hanoi with two guided scooter tours and absolutely loved it! There are loads of scooters in Vietnam and being able to get in amongst it and see Hanoi from the back of one was an exhilarating experience. If you’re planning a trip to Hanoi and are looking for some itinerary inspiration here are our tips on 24 things you absolutely must do in Hanoi including three amazing day trips and tours. We love travelling in Vietnam and Hanoi is a destination we seem to keep going back to time and time again. Scooters buzz through the streets, the smell of delicious food fills the air and everywhere you turn, there’s a friendly smile waiting to greet you.

An ancient city with an incredible food scene, Hanoi is a fun and affordable destination for travellers.
