Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam that has had years of Chinese and French dominance. Despite all that this capital has endured, it has surprisingly been able to keep its old French colonial charm. The first of many western-style universities were founded here and as a result, it has become the leading center of scientific study and research in all of Vietnam. It is a city filled with much history, nightlife and a plethora of culture. You can go shopping, enjoy the nightlife, and even talk with a stranger or two while walking on the street.
Climate:
Spring is the best time to visit Hanoi. The flowers bloom to their most beautiful and the Lunar New Year Holiday is celebrated with exuberance. If it happens to rain around the New Year, it is believed that prosperity and luck will befall the city.
When it comes to the summertime, be warned that it can be very hot and humid. It is also best to watch out for mosquitoes because there a lot more than your average North American or European city during the same time of year. And it’s not only mosquitoes that the visitor needs to watch out for, but also other insects too.
Getting there:
Getting to Hanoi can be done by plane, bus, and train.
Most trains into the city use the Hanoi Train Station, especially for cities from the south or the Reunification Express which also goes all the way to Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets for all destinations are sold in the main train station through two different counters, and serving the respective destinations. If they sell out, try contacting a travel agent who might have some extras available.
By bus, most of them being or end in Hanoi and go to various cities in Vietnam depending on the company you use or book with. Tickets can cost around $8.
Outside the country, international flights can enter into the city by No Bai International Airport, which is about 50 minutes north, outside of the city. From there you can take either a public or shuttle bus or a taxi to the downtown area or your hotel. By train, you can enter into Hanoi via Gia Lam station from Nanning, China.
Getting around:
There are many ways to get around the city Hanoi. You can take taxis for long distances, pedicabs for shorter trips or ride on the back of scooters. You can also take buses which are pretty fast and comfortable. In this case, you can pick up a map with over 60 bus lines to find the bus stop you need to go. All you need is to pay at least 3000 dong.
Things to see and do:
Ho Chih Min Mausoleum --- This is the burial site of President Ho Chih Minh himself where one can view his body as if you were going into Vladimir Lenin’s tomb in St. Petersburg. It is open from 8am to 11am, and closed three months out of the year for the body’s maintenance. The admission is free but there is a strict dress code you must follow if you plan to visit.
Ho Chi Minh Museum --- This museum has symbolism and symbols within and outside it. It was completed in 1990 with architecture that was meant to look like a white lotus. The displays while somewhat odd and surrealistic in design, offer the most imformative information found in any museum in Vietnam. It is open from in the mornings and afternoons until 4pm and closed during lunchtime, Mondays, and Friday afternoons. The cost is 15,000 dong.
Hoa Lo Prison (The Hanoi Hilton) --- This prison was built by the French when they colonized the area at the start of the 20th century. It is now a museum that exhibits the atrocities of the French as the Vietnamese fight against them. During the Vietnam War, it was nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton for American POWs such as Senator John McCain who were shot down by the military.
