Exploring Hanoi's dynamic charm: Where ancient treasures meet modern marvels
If you have just a few days to spare, Hanoi may just be the place for a quick extended weekend getaway.
SHAH SHAMSHIRI
Welcoming visitors from all over the world, Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi continues to enthrall the curious and seekers of old Asian charm.
Situated in the northern bit of the country, Hanoi currently stands as the second largest Vietnamese city by population. According to Wikipedia, the population total was 8.5 million in 2023 and continues to grow along with the rapid progress of the city.
Conquered by the French in 1873, it became the administrative centre of the colony of French Indochina. And like all former French colonies, the city was given a French ‘make-over’ when the colonisers built a modern administrative city south of Old Hanoi, creating broad, perpendicular tree-lined avenues of opera, churches, public buildings, and luxury villas.
These changes have turned Hanoi into the popular tourist haunt it is today, attracting thousands each year. If you have just a few days to spare, Hanoi may just be the place for a quick extended weekend getaway.
There are several direct flights to this quaint city and the latest to fly to Hanoi directly from Kuala Lumpur is Vietjet, one of Vietnam’s most popular airlines. Offering world class service, it also serves Halal food for flights to and from Malaysia.
Demanding a flight time of about three hours from Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi’s Noi Ba International Airport greets international visitors with a seamless arrival process, bearing friendly immigration officers and helpful locals at hand.
And to kickstart a tour of Hanoi, it is best to begin by exploring the Old Quarter of the city situated about 30 minutes from the airport. With the convenience of ride-hailing applications like Grab, drivers can easily pick up passengers at the arrival gate without any hassle.
VIBRANT CITY WITH HISTORICAL CHARM
Within half an hour, first-time visitors should be able to see the myriad of colours that make up the Old Quarter of Hanoi. From street vendors selling food and drinks, to motorcycles filling up the streets and sidewalks along with trishaws and rickshaws, the old city truly depicts a glimpse of what could have been the original Hanoi from yesteryears.
Take a walk within the streets of old Hanoi and you will see flourishing businesses housed in the old buildings surrounding the city. Apart from the usual shops and cafes which Hanoi is famous for, the Old Quarter is also home to countless new age boutique hotels offering unique, attractive and affordable lodgings and other services.
The pulse or heart of the old city is said to begin at the Hoan Kiem Lake where locals usually flock to hang out during the evenings of most weekends.
Naturally it is also where most tourists go to take pictures of the buildings and cafes circling the lake. Several restaurants around the area also provide a nice view of the lake after sunset.
Right next to the lake is also the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, which stages the world renowned one-of-a-kind water puppet show.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi has its roots in an art form that dates back to the 11th century.
The tradition of water puppet theatre stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water.
Using large rods to support the puppets it appeared as if they were moving across the water with the puppeteers hidden behind a screen.
This tradition is unique to North Vietnam but has recently found fame on stages all over the world; so it’s a rare treat to see the puppets perform in their original location at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.
Performances are accompanied by a Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals.
After an entertaining evening of puppets and music, be sure to check out Hanoi’s famous night market which is held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It runs through the Old Quarter district from 7pm, starting from Hang Dao Street and goes all the way north to the edge of Dong Xuan Market.
Here you can find all sorts of items, from clothes to food and drinks, as well as various souvenirs consisting of local handicraft products.
If you wish to buy other goods like Vietnam’s famous cashew nuts, lotus or waterlily seeds and even dried fruits, then be sure to visit Dong Xuan Market which is also the main market of Hanoi.
Apart from food items, it is also famous for clothing material that are sold according to the requests of customers. Cloths wielding a million colours can be found here to make an assortment of garments for both men and women.
For those who just love the idea of chilling by the street and find pleasure in people-watching, then head over to Bia Hoi Junction. This junction in the centre of the Old Quarter is the place to be with friends in the late evenings.
Both locals and foreigners flock here to drink, socialize, and casually people-watch as they stroll by this busy street filled with several shophouses turned mini bars and cafes with plastic stools spilling out onto the streets. Most of the shops are opened throughout the day and late into the night.
Be sure to try out their famous local delicacies such as the ever popular Vietnamese spring roll and of course Pho, traditional rice noodle soup cooked with different types of meat. And coffee lovers, don’t forget to also try out their local Vietnamese coffee which is globally renowned to be one of the best!
For our Muslim friends, there are a few Halal restaurants in Hanoi that serve these delicious meals. One popular Halal restaurant that is worth a visit is Halal Food Abdul Karim that serves a mean bowl of Halal Pho!
INSTAGRAM WORTHY SPOTS
Another must-visit site of Hanoi is the famous Hanoi ‘train street’ where an active train track in the Old Quarter has become the most popular selfie destination in Vietnam's capital. The street which runs along this active train track sees several cafes allowing seats to be placed even on the train tracks for patrons to immortalize their moments in pictures on their cameras and mobile phones.
These small chairs and tables are removed when the train approaches and are placed back in their original positions after the train leaves the street. The walls of the shops surrounding this train track are decorated with all sorts of paintings making it an ‘insta-worthy’ spot for many visitors.
Other places worth a visit would be the French Quarter where old buildings from the days of French Vietnam are preserved with the main Hanoi Opera House standing as a legacy of this colourful past.
The Opera House’s architecture also bears a striking resemblance to that of the Parisian Opera House where it was modelled after. In fact, it was modelled after the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses, and is considered to be one of the architectural landmarks of Hanoi.
MODERN DEVELOPMENTS
Being the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is also seeing rapid development with the new city taking centre stage, away from the Old Quarter. The new part of Hanoi shows a more contemporary landscape with tall high-rise buildings and shopping malls slowly congregating the large spaces found around the area.
It is also complemented with the newly constructed Hanoi Metro, the city’s first internal train system which just started operations quite recently.
If you like malls and would like to purchase products by local Vietnamese fashion brands, be sure to check-out one of their biggest shopping malls, namely the Royal City Vincom Mega Mall or even the Lotte Shopping Mall.
The Royal City Vincom Mall is also quite unique as the mall is built totally underground and the exterior above the mall flaunts a beautiful landscape with a large fountain and several renaissance-like statues around it.
To remain close to these attractions it is best to stay somewhere central and The Somerset Grand Hanoi, would be a perfect choice.
Tucked amidst Hanoi’s largest commercial and business district, and situated close to the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, the residence is also within reach of countless restaurants, entertainment stretches and local attractions.
The apartment property boasts a range of accommodations from one to three-bedroom apartments with stylishly appointed interiors. It is also equipped with amenities like a large swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna, a gym, children’s playground and even a tennis court!
The serviced residence also sits on a high tower, offering beautiful, panoramic views of Hanoi city.
Truly, Hanoi is a beautiful city that blends old Asian charm and modernity. If you are ever in search of a city that preserves such balance so well, then this Vietnam capital must be on your bucket list!
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