19 Things to do in Hanoi without breaking the bank!

It goes without saying that the first thing you will notice, upon arrival in Hanoi, is the traffic. Even we, having spent the last few years exploring many SE Asian cities, we’re a little overwhelmed! Scooters, taxis, cyclos, motorcycle and buses whizz past without slowing. Horn blaring – to say “lookout I’m coming through”. There is an art to crossing the road here in Vietnam’s second-largest city, and once conquered it there will be no stopping you!

This was our second visit to Vietnam, but our first in Hanoi. We love Vietnamese food, people, culture and the fact it is nice and cheap. It is a fabulous place for the budget-conscious to travel and, the way I think of it is – If I spend less, I can stay longer! In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, you will find cheap accommodation, food and things to do. Here is our list of 19 FREE or CHEAP things to do in Hanoi!

1. Explore the Old Quarter

If you are not staying in the Old Quarter, as we did, then you must make an effort to visit as this place; it is where all the action is. The Old Quarter includes many historical sites, such as temples and heritage buildings. It is also home to the 36 streets. The history of the famous 36 Streets, extends as far back as the early 13th century.

Many of the streets in the Old Quarter are still named after the goods that use to be sold on them… i.e. Hang Be Street where the bamboo raft makers sold rafts. On some of the streets, you will still find what you are looking for by street name. For instance, Hang Bac is “silver goods”, and this street has many silver and jewellery shops. Visit Hang Gai for silk goods and Hang Dau for shoes.

The Old Quarter is a great place to start your discovery of Hanoi as there are many attractions within walking distance.

2. Vietnamese Women’s Museum

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is within easy walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake. This excellent museum is listed among Asia’s Top 25 museums. It highlights the important role women have played in Vietnamese society throughout the ages, with well-organised displays cover such things as culture, dress, family life, marriage, work, the Vietnam War as well as women today.

Tip for the Vietnamese Women’s Museum – Get the ‘Audio Guide’ and allow yourself 2 – 3 hours to explore this museum.

Cost – Entry ₫ 30,000 and the Audio Guide ₫ 30,000 (AUD $1.85 or USD $1.30)
Opening Hours – Daily 08:00-17:00
Location – 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
Email – [email protected]
Website – http://www.womenmuseum.org.vn

3. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

The art of water puppetry originated in the rice paddies in the Red River Delta and is a tradition that dates back to the 11th century. We enjoyed the puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. It was intriguing, colourful, fun and inexpensive.

Cost – Tickets start at ₫ 100,000 (AUD $6.15 or USD $4.30)
Opening Hours – Daily at 15:00 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 and 20:00
Location – 57B Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Phone –  +84 24 3824 9494
Website – http://thanglongwaterpuppet.org/en/

4. Have a Beer at Bia Hoi Corner

Bia Hoi Corner is the area around the intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen where you will find local “pubs” serving super-cheap, freshly-made, preservative-free local beer for less than 50 cents!. It attracts large crowds of people, all seated at tiny tables on little stools. Bia Hoi Corner is a great place to meet other travellers. It is worth a look even if you are not a beer drinker. There are other drinks and street food available in addition to the cheap beer.

Cost – A glass of local beer cost ₫ 5,000 – ₫ 8,000

5. Free Sightseeing Tour with Hanoi Kids!

I wish I had known about the Hanoi Kids when we visited! It is a great initiative whereby students offer free tours. Through this cross-cultural experience, students get to practice their English as they guide you around their hometown, giving you an insight into their culture and tradition, as well as sight-seeing. They do spend a couple of months of training beforehand, so you are sure to get valuable experience. Founded in 2006, Hanoi Kids have received Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence seven times!

Cost – Free
Opening hours – Daily 09:00 – 18:00
Website – https://hanoikids.org/

6. Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hoàn Kiếm Lake – (meaning ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’) is a freshwater lake in the old quarter. Near the centre of the lake, standing on a small island is a tower called The Turtle Tower (Tháp Rùa). Mystical legend surrounds the lake and includes a Dragon King, an enormous golden turtle and of course, a magical sword.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake is the perfect place for a walk as you can see the lake, and the nearby architecture, as well as get a feel for the Hanoian leisure lifestyle. Local people come to the lake for their morning Tai Chi, and in the afternoons, to sit, relax and chat.

The Lake has many photo opportunities and differing vibes between daytime and nighttime. At night there are pretty lights, and the bridge to the temple is lit up bright red.

7. Ngoc Son Temple & The Huc Bridge

Ngoc Son Temple is on a little island in the north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It was built in the 19th century. To enter, you cross the Huc Bridge (‘Bridge of the Rising Sun’). We didn’t go into the temple as we were happy just having a look and snapping some photographs. Once you cross the bridge, on the outside of the first gate, two Chinese letters are painted in red. The one on the right means Happiness (Phuc) and the one on the left is Prosperity (Loc).

Tip for visiting Ngoc Son Temple – Dress appropriately. Men and women should have their shoulders and knees covered.

Cost – ₫ 30,000 to enter the temple.
Opening Hours – Daily 07:00 – 18:00

8. Eat Bun Cha

Bun Cha is believed to have originated in Hanoi so one could call it their signature dish! We have eaten ample Vietnamese dishes, but it wasn’t until our second visit to Vietnam, in the North, that we were introduced to this delicious lunch. Pork char-grill over hot coals, a noodle broth and a bowl of salad and herbs. It is delicious; a must-try if you enjoy food!

9. St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St.Joseph’s Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic church situated in the Old Quarter. It was built in the late 1800s and was, in fact, one of the first buildings erected by the French colonial government. The architecture is quite grand and the interior, with its tall stain-glassed windows and vaulted ceiling, is worth having a look at.

Cost – Free
Opening Hours – Anytime to see the outside. For the inside, there are selected times. Click here for more information.
Location – 40 Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

10. Cross the Red River on Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge was designed by French architects Daydé & Pillé and opened in 1903. I have seen it written that Gustave Eiffel designed it, but I cannot find anything to substantiate that. Eiffel did, however, design the Ghenh Bridge and Rach Cat Bridge in Bien Hoa City, and Trường Tiền Bridge in Huế city, in Vietnam. That aside, this 1.68-kilometre bridge, which spans the Red River, is an excellent place for viewing the surroundings and snapping some photos. This iconic bridge is still used by trains, pedestrians, motorbikes and bicycles, and has a fascinating history, including its survival of the Vietnam War.

Cost – Free
Opening Hours – 24 hours a day

11. Check out the Hanoi Night Market

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights they close off several roads, beginning at Hang Dao Street and moving north to the edge of Dong Xuan Market. If you haven’t experienced a South-East Asian Night Market, it is a must. Love it or hate it; it is always an experience. These markets have all the usual paraphernalia for sale including “genuine fakes” and local arts and crafts. You will see some cultural performances, and you will find many of the iconic Vietnamese street foods. Enjoy the hustle and bustle and get into the fun of haggling! It is common practice to barter in Vietnam.

Tip for bartering – I usually think about what I would want to pay for an item, i.e. what it is worth to me (this way I know whether to haggle for it or not). Then I ask the price. I offer them 50% of what they are asking, and then we barter until a price is agreed upon.

Opening Hours: Friday – Sunday 19:00 – 23:00
Location – Hang Dao Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

12. Hanoi Free Street Food Tour

There are a few free food tours available. A food tour is a fabulous way to begin your time in Hanoi, especially for those not familiar with Vietnamese food. On this tour, you can try many different Vietnamese foods with a local guide taking you to all the best local eateries. So if you are unsure of where to eat, what to eat and how to eat it… you can’t go wrong starting your Hanoi experience with this tour.

Cost – Free – But you will have to pay for any taxi (if any), entry ticket (if any) and the food.
Opening Hours – Starts at 17:30. Duration 3 – 4 hours.
Website – https://hanoifreelocaltours.com/hanoi-street-food-tours/

13. Hỏa Lò Prison

Hỏa Lò Prison was used by the French colonists to imprison political prisoners. Later it was used by North Vietnam to house US prisoners during the Vietnamese War. Although most of the prison was demolished in the 1990s, the gatehouse remains and is now used as a museum. During the Fench era, when Vietnam was still part of French Indochina, the prison was called Maison Centrale (Central House); however, it was known as Hỏa Lò which translates to “stove” or “fiery furnace”.

On a visit to the prison, you will hear about the horrific treatment of political prisoners (those who opposed French rule) by the French. It is unlikely you will hear anything immoral about when the American POW’s were housed there. However, lack of accuracy aside, it is a thought-provoking place to learn a little of Vietnam’s history.

Cost – ₫ 30,000 (AUS $1:85 or USD $1:30)
Opening Hours – Daily (including holidays) 08:00 to 17:00
Location – 1 phố Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Website – http://hoalo.vn/

14. The Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is a Temple of Confucius and Vietnam’s first national university. The temple was built in 1070 and is a well-preserved example of the ancient architectural styles of many dynasties. It covers an area of 54000 square metres and includes a lake, park and courtyards all within an outer wall. It is a pretty place to visit. When we were there, we saw a musical performance with traditional instruments, inside one of the buildings. The Temple of Literature features on the back of the 100,000 đồng banknote.

Tip for The Temple of Literature – make sure you wear appropriate attire. Men and women both should have there shoulders and knees covered.

Cost – ₫ 30,000
Opening Hours – Daily 08:00 – 18:00
Location -58 Quốc Tử Giám, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hà Nội

15. Hanoi Train Street

There are a few “train streets” around the world, and the first one I saw was in Surabaya, Indonesia. However, this was the first I took time out specifically to go and have a look. It is fascinating to see life moving on as usual. A lady watering her garden, a man having his hair cut, a motorbike at the mechanics being repaired… and all only a few feet from the train tracks.

While we waited for the train, we took photos of the tracks and had a juice at Hanoi train Track Cafe, which had only just opened the day before. We chatted and around us daily life moved on as usual… and then people disappeared inside, and a train came barreling full speed through this little slice of suburbia. We pressed ourselves to the wall of the building and took some photos as it passed… and then it was over. I don’t know where you are from, but in our country, we do not have ‘train streets’, and it was a novelty to visit.

Cost – Free
Opening Hours – Daily – train passes twice a day at approximately 15:30 and 19:30 (it was a lot later when we were there).
Location – 5 Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội (one of the places you can see it).

16. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese Communist Revolutionary leader. Uncle Ho, as he is affectionately known by the Vietnamese, wanted his body to be cremated and his ashes scattered over Vietnam. However, his body was embalmed and dressed in a khaki suit. The mausoleum opens at 08:00, and there is always a long line of people wanting to pay their respects and view Ho Chi Minh.

Tip for visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – You need to wear appropriate attire (men and women should both cover their shoulders and knees), and maintain an attitude of respect. You need to keep quiet, i.e. no clowning around or talking loudly. You will be expected to walk slowly and steadily through the mausoleum.

Cost – Free
Opening Hours – Monday 08:00 – 11:00, Tuesday – Friday & Sunday 08:00 – 17:00, Saturday 08:00 – 17:15
Location – 2 Hùng Vương, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

17. Ho Chi Minh Museum

Ho Chi Minh Museum is nearby the Mausoleum and contains an account of Ho Chi Minh’s life and some of his personal effects. This museum is fascinating, but unfortunately, not all information is in English. I would suggest that if you were interested to learn about Ho Chi Minh and his role in Vietnam’s history that you get a guide for the museum. You can sometimes find a free guide at the museum.

Cost – ₫ 40.000 per ticket for international visitors (AUD $2.45 or USD $ 1.70)
Opening Hours – daily 8.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.30
Website – http://baotanghochiminh.vn/

18. Museum of Ethnology

This is a fascinating museum which comprises 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam to protect the cultural heritage and promote cultural heterogeneity within the country. It displays the traditional Vietnamese ways of life with rebuilt traditional housing and more than 15,000 artefacts.

The Museum of Ethnology is engaging for adults and children alike. Do not be surprised if you spend 2 hours exploring this museum.

Cost – ₫ 40,000 per adult and ₫ 15,000 per concession
Opening Hours – Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 – 17:30
Location – Nguyễn Văn Huyên, Quan Hoa, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

19. Vạn Phúc Silk Village

Vạn Phúc, 8 km south-west of Hanoi, is a village traditionally associated with silk weaving. If you are after silk, this would be an excellent place to visit. There are many shops selling silk products such as dresses, pyjamas, scarfs and bolts of silk from which you can have something fashioned.

If you want to learn about the traditional silk weaving, it is advisable to do a tour where you will learn about the silkworms and how the silk is prepared.

Cost – Free to visit the village.
Location – Click here for Google map.

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