HANOI HOTELS

ABOUT HANOI

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and is one of the oldest cities in Southeast Asia with rich history dating back over a thousand years.

Back over 3000+ years ago the city was part of the Au Lac Kingdom. This kingdom was ruled by Thuc Phan (An Duong Vuong) who built the legendary Co Loa Citadel (Vietnam’s earliest known capital). Hanoi was then under Chinese rule for nearly 1,000 years, known as Tong Bình and later Dai La.

In 1010, Emperor Ly Thai To had a vision of a dragon rising from the Red River and renamed the city Thang Long meaning “Rising Dragon”. This marked the beginning of Hanoi as the imperial capital of Dai Viet, with cultural landmarks like the Temple of Literature in 1070.

In 1902 the city became an important administrative center during French rule.

During World War 2 the Japanese Imperial forces briefly occupied the city between 1940-1945. The city suffered heavy damage during the American Vietnam war. Today the city has been transformed into a manufacturing hub for machine tools, electric generators, plywood, textiles and chemicals.  

Vietnam is a multi ethnic country comprising of 54 ethnic groups. The Kinh ethnic group accounts for 85% the population. The Vietnamese language is the bridging language for all ethnic groups. Although English is gaining popularity it is not commonly spoken here. 

Vietnam has a population of approximately 100 million of which 10 million live in the city of Hanoi. There are approximately 100,000 expats living in Hanoi.

ATTRACTIONS IN HANOI

• Hoan Kiem Lake located in the heart of the city. The historic Confucian and Taoist Ngoc Son Temple is locate near to the lake. The temple is accessible via the red bridge known as The Huc Bridge.
• The Old Quarter which is a maze like network of narrow streets and alleys lined with traditional Vietnamese houses and markets with shops selling everything from handicrafts, textiles to delicious street food.
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Vietnam’s revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh and is surrounded by beautiful gardens located next to the Presidential Palace.
• The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is a unique form of entertainment of the Vietnamese culture that combines intricate puppetry, live music and storytelling to create a captivating story telling  performance. The theater has daily shows showcasing the history and folklore of Vietnam.
• The city is also home to a number of other interesting sites such as The Temple of Literature, The One Pillar Pagoda and The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT HANOI

Climate is Hanoi is subtropical in the north and tropical in the center/south. South-West monsoon from May-October (south region) and North-East Monsoon from November-April (northern & central region) brings heavy rain. Best time to visit Hanoi is from April to October.

HANOI TRAVEL ADVISE

The Vietnam Dong is used for all transactions in the country. Vietnamese Dong paper denominations are 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 while the coins are denominated in 200, 500, 1000 and 2000. The approximate exchange rate is 1USD = 26,100VND. Forex exchange is easily available at the local banks, money changer, jewelry store or at the hotel concierge desk. All major foreign currencies are accepted for exchange to VND.

The city is generally considered safe for tourist to move around at night. For fist timers to the city, stay at The Old Quarter for the classic Hanoi experience, The French Quarter for the elegance and quiet family, Tay Ho for peaceful stay and Dong Da for great value budget stay.      

The common electricity connection in the country is 220V / 50Hz. Some hotel may offer different electricity outlet socket types with stepped down power connection.

Getting around Hanoi is easy as transportation options such as taxi, bicycle rickshaw, motorcycle taxi, train, bus and skytrain are widely available.

HANOI DOS AND DON’TS

DO –

• Dress modestly at temples & mausoleums – cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering certain areas.
• Keep valuables secure – use hotel safes and carry bags in front of you in crowded spots like the Old Quarter area.
• Learn a few Vietnamese phrases – even a simple xin chào (hello) or cảm ơn (thank you) earns smiles.
• Try the street food – pho, bun cha, egg coffee. Affordable and part of the city’s soul.
• Carry small bills – many vendors can’t break large notes.
• Take a hotel business card – handy for showing taxi drivers if language is a barrier.
• Stay hydrated – always carry bottled water with you especially in the summer heat.

DON’TS –

• Don’t be loud or overly affectionate in sacred sites. It is seen as disrespectful.
• Don’t keep wallets or phones in back pockets – easy pickpocket target.
• Don’t wear revealing clothing in culturally sensitive places – locals may find it inappropriate.
• Don’t separate from your group in crowded nightlife spots – easy to get lost or lose belongings.
• Don’t expect Western style personal space – locals may ask personal questions as a friendly gesture.
• Don’t use banned substances – penalties are severe.
• small gestures of respect – like a smile, a slight bow of the head or waiting your turn goes a long way towards warm interactions with locals.