September
Tết Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival)
Nationwide
A children's festival of mooncakes, paper lanterns and dragon dances. Best seen in Hanoi's Old Quarter, where Hàng Mã street fills with lantern stalls.
Best time:October – April (cool, dry)
Vietnam's capital is a city of two halves — the lake-ringed French Quarter with its boulevards and patisseries, and the lantern-lit Old Quarter where 36 trade streets have been doing business since the 11th century.
Mornings start with pho at a plastic-stool stall. Afternoons drift through pagodas, the Temple of Literature and incense-scented assembly halls. Evenings belong to bia hoi on Ta Hien Street and water-puppet shows by Hoan Kiem Lake.
Use Hanoi as a base for day-trips to Halong Bay, the karst valleys of Ninh Binh and the rice terraces of Sapa.
Highlights
- Old Quarter walking tour — 36 trade streets, hidden temples and street food alleys
- Egg coffee, bun cha and banh mi within a 5-minute walk of any city-centre hotel
- Day-trip range covers Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau and Perfume Pagoda
Attractions in Hanoi
3 places worth visiting.
Best time to visit
Explore the perfect time and plan your trip to Hanoi at its best.
Best time to visit
October – April (cool, dry)
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What to eat in Hanoi
Signature dishes you should not leave without trying.
Festivals & events in Hanoi
Time your trip around Hanoi's most colourful moments.
Tours featuring Hanoi
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