Located in the north of Vietnam, Hanoi is the capital of the country and one of the two most populated cities next to Ho Chi Minh, the former Saigon. Most trips to Vietnam include a visit to this busy city. In this city, you will find the famous old quarter Hanoi. It is usually the best way to know what a city was like years ago and how it has been built and adapted over the years. To understand the Hanoi city, you have to know something about how these houses were built.
Most of the old quarters in Hanoi are occupied by whole families. They are narrow buildings of three heights, in which they use their ground floor to establish a business. The more you walk through them, the more you realize that the stores are distributed by trades. There is a street dedicated to each trade.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
You must consider hiring a guided tour to enjoy most of your tour to the mausoleum. The recent history of Hanoi is marked by the famous Vietnam War and the final liberation after the struggle led by the aforementioned Ho Chi Minh. The entrance to the mausoleum is free, but it is advisable to go very early.
Hanoi Presidential Palace
Hanoi presidential palace was once a French colonial building. It was a royal French residence reserved for the highest authorities and royal families. With its facade painted in a very striking yellow color, it is currently a reception place for the foreign authorities that visit the city. This building is surrounded by the Botanical Garden.
Ho Chi Ming House in Hanoi
The Vietnamese leader did not want to live in the aforementioned Royal residence, which seemed too big for him alone since he was single. It is why he decided to live in the surrounding gardens, in a wooden house that can now be visited. He also had a few more houses where he could meet with the leaders who visited him.
War Museum in Hanoi
To know the history of the Vietnam War, you should definitely visit this museum. Here, you can see different rooms with the most diverse objects, such as manuscripts, newspapers, helmets, bullets and all kinds of relics that you can imagine related to a war.
World’s longest mosaic in Hanoi
Next to the Red River and along more than 6 kilometers you can see a very special mosaic. It is the largest ceramic mosaic in the world recognized with a Guinness record.
Dong Xian Market in Hanoi
The Dong Xian market is undoubtedly the largest in the city and there is nothing you cannot find it. Strolling through its streets is to see all types of food, spices, preserves, dry and dehydrated foods and fruits imaginable. It is a place that you should not miss.
Hanoi Temple of Literature
This temple of knowledge was the first university in Vietnam, which in principle was built only for kings and prominent people in society. It is a group of magnificently preserved buildings and temples. Its origin is around the beginning of the 11th century, and it was built in honor of Confucius.