Bún chả
Chargrilled pork, as little patties and slices, served in a sweet-and-sour broth with rice noodles and heaps of fresh herbs. It is Hanoi's lunch par excellence; Đắc Kim has been serving it on Hàng Mành Street since the 1960s.
Where to try it
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Free walking tours in Hanoi
A thousand years as a capital, among lakes, temples and the hum of motorbikes.
- 3 themed routes
- 18 stops
- Audio guide
Hanoi was once Thăng Long, the city of the ascending dragon, and it still feels that way: temples tucked between shops, a lake with its own legend, an imperial citadel and the boulevards of the French Quarter. Three free walking routes to explore its history, its mysteries and its highlights at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
One city, three walks.
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the mixed route.
History
A thousand years of Thăng Long: from mandarin academy to Ba Đình
The Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel, the gate still scarred by the shells of 1882 and the square where independent Vietnam was born.
Mysteries & legends
Sacred turtles, a magic sword and jailbreaks: legendary Hanoi
A prison escaped through the sewers, a vanished tower, the sword that returned to the lake and the white horse that traced the city walls.
Mixed
From the iron bridge to the Opera: Hanoi highlights
Long Biên Bridge, Đồng Xuân Market, an Old Quarter tube house, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Opera House and the French Quarter's museum.
The map
The whole city on foot.
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
History
Mysteries & legends
Mixed
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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Itineraries
How many days do you have in Hanoi?
We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.
1
Hanoi in 1 day
All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.
See the itinerary 2Hanoi in 2 days
A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.
See the itinerary 3Hanoi in 3 days
The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.
See the itineraryWhat to eat
Flavours of Hanoi
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
Chả cá Lã Vọng
Fish marinated in turmeric and galangal, finished at your table in a pan full of dill and spring onions, and eaten with noodles, peanuts and shrimp paste. The house at number 14 Chả Cá Street claims to have served it since the 19th century; the street itself is named after the dish.
Where to try it
Bánh cuốn
Paper-thin sheets of rice batter steamed on cloth, filled with minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms, topped with fried shallots and dipped in fish sauce. At Thanh Vân they make them in full view, right by the door.
Where to try it
Phở
Rice noodle soup in a bone broth simmered for hours with star anise and cinnamon, topped with beef. Hanoi claims to be its birthplace. At Bát Đàn you queue and carry your own bowl to the table; Phở Thìn, opened in 1979 at 13 Lò Đúc, is famous for its garlic-stir-fried beef.
Where to try it
Egg coffee (cà phê trứng)
Strong coffee crowned with a thick cream of egg yolk whipped with sugar, almost a dessert. According to the Giảng family, Nguyễn Văn Giảng invented it in 1946, when milk was scarce. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon break.
Where to try it