All Hanoi Attractions We Visited 2023

Snapshots of the iconic tourist attractions we visited in Hanoi, Red River Delta, Northern Vietnam, Vietnam.

Home Hanoi Restaurant
75 P. Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Lê Đại Hành, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

https://homevietnameserestaurants.com/concept/home-hanoi/

Lẩu Gà Lá Giang / Herbal Chicken Hot Pot

The Running Bean
22 P. Nhà Thờ, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

https://www.facebook.com/therunningbeansg/

TRB Bò Né / Cow (VND ₫165,000)

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop 2023
42/12 Nghĩa Dũng, Quận Tây Hồ, Phúc Xá, Ba Đình, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

16B P. Nguyễn Như Đổ, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

https://www.facebook.com/Hải-Sản-Hương-Lan-484764664917964/

Meal Flat Lay At Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop

Hanoi Food Trail 2023

Hanoi Street Food - Part 2


More Hanoi Street Food that I've tried during other visits to Hanoi, Vietnam, continuing from Part 1.

Chả Cá Lã Vọng / La Vong Grilled Turmeric Fish And Dill

Pullman Hanoi Hotel
40 Cat Linh Street / 61 Giang Vo Street
Dong Da District
Hanoi 10000
Vietnam

https://pullman-hanoi.com/


Modern Comfortable Business Hotel

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Apr-2023
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 9
Value for Money: 9
Budget about VND ₫23,134,903 / SGD $1,300 per person.
- $1,000 Accommodation 7D6N
- $200 Room Service F&B
- $100 Laundry Service


Nearby Attractions: Vietnam National Museum Of History, Temple Of Literature, Hanoi Sky Lotte Observation Deck, Ngoc Son Temple, Ly Thai To Statue & Park, Hoan Kiem Lake, National Museum Of Vietnamese History, Hanoi Museum, Hanoi Opera House, Vietnamese Women's Museum, West Lake, Trấn Quốc Pagoda, Hoa Lo Prison / The Hanoi Hilton, Vietnam Military History Museum, Museum Of Ethnology, Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, Trúc Bạch Lake, Army Museum, Air Force Museum, Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh's Vestige In The Presidential Palace Area, One-Pillar Pagoda


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre (Connectivity Lounge), Free Wi-Fi, 8 Meeting Rooms, 1 Grand Ballroom, Gymnasium (Fit Lounge), Swimming Pool, Laundry & Dry Cleaning Service, Tennis Court Rental, 1 Restaurant (La Cheminée Restaurant), 1 Bar (Mint Bar), Executive Lounge, Doctor On Call Service, Spa & Sauna, Cable Television, Beauty Salon, Bicycle Rental Service, Shoe Shine Service, Babysitting Service, Currency Exchange Service, Tour Arrangement Service


Hotel Activities: Meetings, Work Out, Internet Surfing, Dining, Spa, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Tennis, Hair Treatments, Cycling, Tours


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Introduction
Located about 40 minutes drive away from the Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Pullman Hanoi Hotel is a modern 5-star business hotel, a cosmopolitan oasis between tradition (in the Old Quarter) and modernity (in the business district). Its relatively central location makes it easy to commute to most locations within the city.


Ambience
Ambience at Pullman Hanoi Hotel is classy but aging. The high ceiling, marble floors, glass panelled frontage, and large art pieces of coloured apples lend a premium feel when you step into the lobby. But corridors are dull and low lit, and the facade looks like it could use some maintenance. This was probably the only low point though, minor quibbles which won't affect the majority of the guest experience.


Room
Rooms at Pullman Hanoi Hotel are clean, comfortable, and cozy. I stayed at the Deluxe Executive room, which offers access to the Executive Lounge, a high-floor location with city view, complimentary laundry service, and more. The bathroom is well stocked with toiletries, and the rain shower is good. The in-room wifi is stable and fast, and while the cable television offers a good range of channels, I wish some of it wasn't dubbed into Vietnamese. The bed is large and comfortable, and I loved lounging on the sofa chair. The wardrobe and pantry are decent.


Food
Food at Pullman Hanoi Hotel is mostly served at the La Cheminée Restaurant. Here, they go for a blend of Modern European cuisine and local Vietnamese cuisine, done to decent standards. The breakfast is decent enough, with a good range, though there's little variation day to day - I got bored after awhile, but the caveat is I stayed longer than most. Alright, but I preferred wandering the nearby area which has a multitude of restaurants.


Service
Service at Pullman Hanoi Hotel is very good. Staff ensure guests feel welcomed, and issues are quickly addressed and resolved. The staff at the executive lounge strive to meet requests, and ensure guests are well taken care. I also commend the efficiency and thoroughness of the housekeeping staff, and the helpfulness of the maintenance personnel. The excellent service was a highlight for me.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at Pullman Hanoi Hotel are above average, modern and well equipped. The meeting rooms were in regular use, and the comfortable business centre and connectivity lounge is great for facilitating networking. The gymnasium and beauty salon were well equipped, and the pool is decent enough for wading. Laundry was efficiently cleaned and folded. There's a play area for children too. The only downside seems to be the condition of the tennis courts. Overall, I recommend staying at the Pullman Hanoi Hotel.


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Stoker Woodfired Grill & Bar
44 Mac Thi Buoi
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam

http://stokerwoodfiredgrill.com/

Charcoal Grilling Meat

Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel
No. 8A Mac Dinh Chi Street
Ben Nghe Ward
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam

http://muong-thanh-saigon-centre-hote.ho-chi-minh-city-hotels.net/en/


Convenient Business Hotel, Young In Age But Old In Spirit

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Visited: Feb-2016
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 3
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $400 per person.
- $380 Accomodation 3D2N
- $20 Room Service


Nearby Attractions: Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Hall, War Remnants Museum, Saigon Skydeck, Dai Nam Park, Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Municipal Theatre Of Ho Chi Minh City, Museum Of Ho Chi Minh City, Museum Of Vietnamese History, Fine Arts Museum, Suoi Tien Amusement Park, Dam Sen Cultural Park


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, Conference Rooms, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Laundry Service, 1 Restaurant (Gia Dinh Restaurant), 1 Bar (Sa Huynh Bar), Cable TV, Karaoke, Coconut Spa, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Work Out, Internet Surfing, Swimming, Meetings, Massage, Spa, Sauna


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Introduction
Located about 30 minutes drive away from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel is a new, less than 1 year old, 4-star hotel conveniently located in the business district of the city. Having opened in September 2015, Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel boasts relaxing amenities for weary business travellers, along with convenience due to nearby restaurants, shopping malls, and offices.


Ambience
Ambience at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel is clean and modern, but sorely let-down by decor which seems it's from the 90s. I like the high ceilings and ample natural lighting, lending a sense of space admist the brightly lit interior. But the drab grey beige walls, tiles, and carpets make the place look old. The overall design of the place is also blocky and square, and the exterior looks plain and unassuming.


Room
Rooms at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel are clean, comfortable, and spacious. Nice! The beds are large and comfortable, and the attached bathroom is clean and modern, well-stocked with amenities. I also like the ample lighting, and the spacious working desk. I only have 2 negative points about the room, the first is the lack of a cable television guide / instructions, it took me really long to figure out how to operate the remote controls, until I eventually had to call reception for assistance. The second is the lack of a soap holder within the shower, which means you either place the soap on the floor, or outside the shower.


Food
Food at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel, in the Gia Dinh Restaurant, is terrible. There is an overall lack of variety, and most of the food available, are carbohydrates. Of the little food options here, most of the dishes are poorly executed, with unappealing tastes or textures. Taste is only passable at best for their noodle dishes. But I find it unacceptable that a 4 star hotel will only offer 2 soups, both which taste almost similar, and even look similar. The room service menu is also extremely limited, and is the smallest room service menu I've ever encountered in any hotel. You are better off eating elsewhere, in fact, there are excellent food options around the hotel.


Service
Service at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel is good. Staff are able to converse decently in English, and work quickly and efficiently, even when handling large tour groups. They respond quickly to requests too. And while staff you meet in the hotel will offer greetings, I find the lack of a doorman somewhat lowers the experience, as it's odd to arrive at the hotel and not have assistance. Despite this, the service provided at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel is good, and I will return because of it.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel are catered mainly to business travellers, though they also attract a large number of tour groups on account of being new. The conference rooms are well equipped and can seat quite a lot of people, while the gymnasium boasts a good variety of work out equipment. The swimming pool is rather small, but offers a nice view of the surrounding area. They even have karaoke rooms in the basement! Overall, Muong Thanh Saigon Hotel has decent facilities, and the excellent location means it's a hotel of choice, nearly always fully booked at the moment.


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Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop 2015
42/12 Nghĩa Dũng
Phúc Xá Ward
Ba Đình District
Hanoi
Vietnam

https://www.facebook.com/Hải-Sản-Hương-Lan-484764664917964/


Excellent Local Seafood In This Casual Eatery

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 3
Value for Money: 10
Spent about VND ₫220,000 / SGD $14 per person.





Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan, known in English as Huong Lan Seafood Shop, is a casual dining eatery that specialises in seafood, and only seafood. They offer in done in 3 ways; boiled, grilled / barbecue, or stir fried. Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop is very local, everything here is in Vietnamese, and the locals like to dine here because the seafood is fresh, and the prices are very cheap even for Hanoi / Vietnam locals.

Ambience at Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop is a little run down. The outlet is housed in a narrow shophouse, just off a busy main road. It's easily visible from the main road, thanks to its large, yellow signboard on the 3-story facade. Furniture is functional at best, though the place is brightly lit and clean, and hygiene is of a decent standard.

Service at Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop is passable. This is a local casual eatery after all, so staff are brusque, and speak only Vietnamese. There is a large, clearly labelled menu, with prices, though it's also in Vietnamese. There aren't any pictures, so knowing what to order is important. Pointing at the menu items, or showing them pictures of the food, helps as well. Orders are fulfilled quickly, usually within 10 minutes, and I note that staff are also quick at clearing empty / dirty tables.

Food is the highlight at Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop, and as its name suggests, the seafood here is fresh, sourced daily, and incredibly tasty. They offer crabs, snails, clams, squid, prawns, scallops, oysters, fish, and cockles, in any of the 3 cooking styles. Besides seafood, they only have noodles and rice. Portions are designed for communal dining, at least 2 - 4 people is recommended, though they can take larger groups as well. Prices are incredibly affordable. Overall, highly recommended to dine here if you're in Hanoi, Vietnam!





The large, bright yellow signboard is easily visible from the main road nearby, and since this is a busy area, it's nearly unmissable. Choose to dine on either the 1st or 2nd floor. The hygiene here is decent for a casual eatery.

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Side Signage

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Main Signage

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Exterior

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Interior

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Address & Contact

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Facade

This is a very local Vietnamese place, so the Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop menu is also in Vietnamese, without any English translations. It's best to have a translator / guidebook / local people with you when ordering. Prices here are incredibly cheap, and the seafood is fresh. They tend to stack plates on top of each other if you order more than the table can fit.

Quán Hải Sản Hương Lan / Huong Lan Seafood Shop Menu 2015

You only get simple utensils here, as most of the food is supposed to be eaten with your hands, or with chopsticks. The sharp metal pick is for spearing food, and prying open shellfish, so be careful when eating with it. You get a default of 2 dipping sauces per diner.

Metal Pick & Bowl, Spicy Chili Dipping Sauce, Salt And Lime Juice Dipping Sauce

The Nướng Hành method of grilling / barbecue with fish sauce, ginger, and scallions lends a fragrance to the seafood, yet still allows the natural taste to come through. This is especially evident in the Sò Diệp Nướng Hành Củ Lạc / Grilled Scallops With Scallions And Peanuts (1 Scallop - VND ₫15,000 / SGD $1), where the chef has ensured that the scallops still remain moist, not dry. The Con Hàu Nướng Hành / Grilled Oyster With Scallions (1 Oyster - VND ₫30,000 / SGD $2) also allows the taste of the oysters to shine, though this large, plump oysters naturally carry more flavour on their own.

Sò Diệp Nướng Hành Củ Lạc / Grilled Scallops With Scallions And Peanuts

Con Hàu Nướng Hành / Grilled Oyster With Scallions

Love the eggy roe within the Mực Trứng Chiên / Fried Squid With Roe (1 Squid - VND ₫25,000 / SGD $1.60)! The squid itself has a nice tender chew without being tough or rubbery, still retaining a slightly bouncy texture. Clean, fresh flavour, great when dipped into the sauce!

Mực Trứng Chiên / Fried Squid With Roe

The large, meaty Tôm Nướng / Grilled Prawns (1 Prawn - VND ₫30,000 / SGD $2) means that the prawn / shrimp meat still retains some moisture even after being barbecued / grilled. The shells come clean off rather easily, and the meat is great with the dipping sauce!

Tôm Nướng / Grilled Prawns

The fresh, crunchy Nộm Sứa / Jellyfish Salad (1 Plate - VND ₫50,000 / SGD $3.20) is a delight on the palate. This mixture of vegetables topped with jellyfish is sweet, salty, sour, zesty, fruity, all at once, when varying textures of crunchy, chewy, and soft. Delightful, also helps cleanse the palate somewhat after the heavy tastes of grilled seafood!

Nộm Sứa / Jellyfish Salad

The Miến Cua Ngao / Stir Fried Vermicelli (1 Plate - VND ₫50,000 / SGD $3.20) I thought was rather underwhelming, and ultimately, rather forgettable. Taste is decent at best, though the texture is somewhat clumpy, with the noodles sticking together. Possibly the weakest dish I had here, with good reason because it's not seafood. Skip this.

Miến Cua Ngao / Stir Fried Vermicelli

There is a satisfiying appeal in digging out the snails from their shells with the metal pick, in this Ốc Mít Luộc / Boiled Snails (1 Bowl - VND ₫60,000 / SGD $3.90). The gravy is savoury and sour, with a hint of lime juice and chili spice. The snails are meaty and chewy in texture, rather clean without any muddy taste. Good, and somewhat addictive!

Ốc Mít Luộc / Boiled Snails

Top 5 Hanoi Attractions

City: Hanoi
State: Hanoi Capital Region
Country: Vietnam

The 2nd largest city, as well as the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has a long history, having being ruled previously by the Chinese, the French, and the Japanese, before achieving independence. Hanoi has the most cultural and historical sites in Vietnam, and these are relatively well preserved. As an urban metropolis, the city is noticeably lacking in biodiversity or natural scenery.

Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Hanoi, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.


1. Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

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Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum (Purchased Stock Image)

The Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum is the country's primary art museum, showcasing over 20,000 art pieces spanning from ancient to modern times. Housed in a restored French colonial building in the center of Hanoi, the museum seeks to inspire both Vietnamese and international tourists in the domain of art, in particular, Vietnamese children, with creative spaces and educational themetic tours. The collection spans 8 categories - ancient sculpture, modern sculpture, oil paintings, lacquer paintings, paper and silk art, traditional arts, ancient ceramics, and the cu lao cham shipwreck ceramics.



2. Vietnamese Women's Museum

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Vietnamese Women's Museum (Purchased Stock Image)

Paying tribute to the women of Vietnam across the ages, the Vietnamese Women's Museum in the Old Quarters of Hanoi features over 28,000 objects related to Vietnamese women, spread across 3 permanent galleries. The 'Women In Family' gallery tells the story of traditional family rituals, the 'Women In History' gallery showcases notable ladies, while the 'Women's Fashion' gallery displays the diverse fashion of the 54 ethnic groups of the country. Also notable here are the thematic special exhibitions which focus on modern day issues such as single mothers, or women participation in ASEAN.



3. Hoan Kiem Lake

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Hoan Kiem Lake (Purchased Stock Image)

As a popular scenic location amongst locals of Hanoi, Vietnam, the Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake Of The Restored Sword / Sword Lake, is a focal point for the community and public life. Located here is the photogenic Turtle Tower / Tortoise Tower, the wooden red-painted Thê Húc Bridge, and the Temple Of The Jade Mountain. Large soft shell turtles can be spotted swimming in the lake, and locals often people watch, exercise, or go for long, relaxing strolls here.



4. Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long

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Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long (Purchased Stock Image)

The Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long in down town Hanoi, Vietnam, is a complex of historic buildings built under the reign of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ of the Lý dynasty. The site serves to provide insights into ancient Vietnamese architecture, a unique blend of Asian and Western influences. The grounds are also home to the Hanoi Flag Tower, the impressive Đoan Môn main gate archway, and the Kinh Thiên Palace Dragon Steps.



5. Museum Of Ethnology

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Museum Of Ethnology (Purchased Stock Image)

Vietnam is multi-ethnic, with 54 ethnic groups living across the country. To preserve this rich heritage and showcase their way of life, the Museum Of Ethnology in Hanoi was established in 1997. Considered one of the finest tourist attractions here, the 9 permanent indoor galleries with over 15,000 artifacts are housed within a building designed in the shape of a Dong Son drum. But the spacious grounds are also home to an outdoor exhibition area, which features life-size, authentic, traditional ethnic houses from all over the country, in their own unique architectural style.





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