Loud, hectic, but still incredibly - Hanoi is genuinely unique. If you travel to Hanoi for the first time and visit Instagrammable places, be sure you will get a little culture shock. Where is Hanoi? Although it is a popular destination, you may still not know everything about this city and ask where is Hanoi and what to do in Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, in Southeastern Aisa. Hanoi has a special charm, and there is no doubt you will have many chances to take the most-liked Instagram photos. Without being one of the most spectacular capitals in Asia, it has an urban and gastronomic vibe and Instagrammable places that usually hooks travellers. Hanoi offers too much to its visitors, and that is why every year, millions of travellers get their Vietnam visas and don't hesitate to travel to this country. There are enough things to do in Hanoi so that you will never say what to do in Hanoi. Among the must-see places to visit in Hanoi, you will surely find at least one interesting place in Hanoi Vietnam, to take your most liked photo on Instagram. Are you ready to travel to Hanoi, do not know which things to do in Hanoi, and where to take your most liked photo on Instagram? Read this blog about 12 Instagrammable places to go in Hanoi and find answers to your questions, such as where is Hanoi, why to travel to Hanoi, where to take the most liked Instagram photos, what is the most interesting place in Hanoi Vietnam, which places to go in Hanoi, what to do in Hanoi, etc.
1. The Temple of Jade Mountain
The Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of the Jade Mountain are definitely among the must-see places to visit in Hanoi that you cannot avoid. Both are located in the centre of Hanoi and are therefore easy to get to. As an oasis of calm away from the city's hustle and bustle, the temple attracts both tourists and locals, who make a pilgrimage every day over the striking red Huc Bridge in a classic Vietnamese design. Legend has it that Le Lok, a Vietnamese folk hero, fought the Chinese here a few hundred years ago. His sword, which he used in the battles, has caught his net while fishing in the lake. When he returned to the lake years later with this sword, a giant turtle emerged from the water and took it. Locals say that such a large turtle would still swim in this lake. The pagoda of the Ngoc Son Temple is enthroned on a small island in the middle of the Hoan Kiem Lake. The entrance gate is adorned with Chinese characters, and inside, incense sticks give off a spicy scent. An exciting place in Hanoi Vietnam!
2. Tran Quoc Pagoda
In addition to the Ngoc Son Temple, the Tran Quoc Pagoda is another of the Instagrammable places to visit in Hanoi. The Buddhist shrine dates back to the 6th century and is located on a small island in West Lake. Eleven floors tower imposingly 15 meters into the clear blue sky. Again and again, locals stop in front of the gigantic tower to say a prayer. And monks also go their way here. You will love the vibes in such spiritual places.
3. Water Puppet Theater
Not far from Hoan Kiem Lake, the Water Puppet Theater promises a very special way to get to know Vietnam's culture and make the most liked Instagram photos. This unique art with a long tradition is one of the most important Hanoi sights you will find in every travel guide. Even if you may find the warbling music with the very high, almost squeaky tones a bit exhausting and the performance is a very tourist attraction, the water puppet theatre is still an amusing entertainment.
4. Hanoi City Centre
When it comes to the most beautiful places to go in Hanoi, the city centre is probably in first place with most of them. Somehow you will get the feeling of getting a little closer to the locals, of becoming part of their lives and theoretically - even if only with hands and feet - being able to communicate with them. The typical Vietnamese tube houses, which are often only two to three meters wide, but 50 to 60 meters long or deep, are remarkable. This design is that taxes used to be based on the width of the shop front and should, of course, be kept as low as possible. There is usually a shop at the front, a workshop behind, and the end's living area. A rickshaw tour is a convenient way to get a first impression of the old town with its exciting mix of modernity and tradition.
5. Old Quarter
Flying vendors with countless colourful balloons or fresh fruit roam the streets. Seductive smells pour out of the food stalls and mix with the exhaust gases from the countless scooters. Hanoi's Old Quarter is loud, hectic, and smelly but still charming and inspiring. The quarter is divided into 36 streets, each named after a specific commodity. There is one for shoes, silver or bamboo goods, for example. How practical and helpful, right? If only you could now read Vietnamese! But even if you don't, Hanoi's Old Quarter's best activity is definitely to walk and take your most liked photo on Instagram.
6. Train Street
I don't know if you feel the same way, but train tracks are the best place to photograph. Hanoi Train Street has gained fame, especially on Instagram, in recent years. Twice a day, the train to the south of the country rushes past in a narrow street. The residents of the houses built very close to the tracks have to make sure that all their belongings and, of course, family members are stowed away or accommodated at a safe distance. In the meantime, cafes and restaurants have settled next to the tracks, which are quite busy.
7. Long Bien Bridge
An icon of Hanoi is the Long Bien Bridge, built during Vietnam's time as a French colony. One of the must-do things to do in Hanoi is to take a selfie there. During the Vietnam War, it became a symbol of Hanoi's resistance to the US bombing. It was built in 1902 and is also known as the Paul Doumer Bridge, a general from French Indochina. Today, Hanoi's oldest bridge is still used by trains, scooters, and cyclists to cross the Red River. The best photo spots are at the station if you go up the steps to the right or cross the street below and then walk along the bridge.
8. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
One of the most striking Hanoi sights is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Here the embalmed corpse of Ho Chi Minh is laid out against his will because he wanted to be cremated. In the museum, you can find out more about his political work. Next to the mausoleum, there is the one-pillar pagoda. It is one of Hanoi's landmarks and is located directly on the historic Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence in 1945.
9. The Prison Museum
The Hoa Lo prison museum from the French colonial era provides further insight into the history of Vietnam and especially the Vietnam War. Horrifying tools of torture, tiny death row, and dark music - not easy fare! The pictures and representations of American prisoners also make you thoughtful and create an oppressive atmosphere.
10. St. Joseph's Cathedral
Another monument worth seeing in Hanoi is the 19th century St. Joseph's Cathedral, for many, the most important Hanoi attraction. It was built in the neo-Gothic style based on the model of Notre Dame in Paris and shone, especially in the last evening light. Also, look up between the towers, where a statue of St. Joseph looks down on you.
11. Temple of Literature
There is another temple in Hanoi that is especially important and a must-see: the Temple of Literature. There the real protagonists are the turtles. Turtles? Do not think that there is a pond full of these live animals: they are statues that represent wisdom, that's why many students stop by to ask for luck in their studies. The turtles hold stone slabs with the names of only 1307 students who graduated between 1442 and 1779. And this temple, dedicated to Confucius, was the first university in the country.
12. West Lake
One of the city's emerging areas has become a meeting point for the expatriate community living in Hanoi. You can travel the route around this lake (known as Ho Tay in Vietnamese) by bicycle, a wonderful plan to escape from the bustling Old Town and enjoy the fresher air breathed in this huge lake. But if you want to enjoy a quiet evening, rent one of the swan-shaped boats in the southern part where we find the small Truc Bạch lake (near the Highlands Coffee).
